Mag-log inVioletThe High Command?I lifted a brow at the unfamiliar term“I have,” Rochwall immediately answered. “The High Command is when the Alpha King issues an order for the Alpha and its pack to obey,” he said. “They can't refuse it, not if it comes from the crown.” His jaw tightened. “It's a forbidden practice...abuse of power, but it exists.”“Correct,” Sterling said.Kylan shifted beside me. “So you think it wasn't only Gloria?”Sterling gave a small shrug. “I think it's worth considering.”My mind started turning it over. If it was the High Command, then someone with a claim to the Common Lands throne was behind those wolves. And the only person I could think of who fit that...Eamon.Was Eamon working with Gloria? And if he was, was he inside that cave, or did he have the privilege of staying outside? No. That was a stupid theory, because otherwise he would've been there and ended everything all at once.“That doesn't make sense,” I said slowly. “The Alpha King hates Gloria...always
VioletTime went by, and by the end of it, everyone knew everything. Rochwall spoke about his past with the Elite Team, Kylan about what happened in Lyperia, Nate about his sister and Sterling about everything but the scroll in his hands.I spoke too. They knew about my identity, Bloodstone Haven, Mom, Dad, who they were, what happened to them, and what Gloria had been doing with them all this time. Baelor and what he was, going all the way back to the beginning.Even Chrystal and the trial had been brought up at some point, and just like that—everyone, mostly Jorn, was up to date.I also told them about my suspicions about the cave, and what might've been above our heads this entire time.The other thing we hadn’t touched in depthwas that thing living inside Kylan. Though after the fight, that part had already become very clear.Jorn took it the hardest. He didn't say much. Not that he could have, with the state he was in, but I watched his face the whole way through and could see h
Violet“Bad news for you,” Jorn groaned. “I’m still alive.”He tried to laugh, but it turned into a painful cough. Rochwall immediately held the back of his head, with Nate helping him. Dylan was crouched beside Trinity, who was still treating the shadow wound.She was focused. Her hands glowed faintly, and she looked exhausted. Sweat lined her hairline, and a few curls clung to her forehead, but she hadn’t stopped.Kylan and I joined them. I wasted no time and placed my hands beside hers to join in. I pulled with her, taking as much of the weight off her as I could. But she had already done such an amazing job that the darkness fighting against us was much weaker now.“Trinity.” I chuckled at her. “You did amazing. Seriously!”She simply shook her head, refusing to accept any praise. “I can do more,” she stated. She pushed harder and pulled another thread of black smoke from the wound. Her hands were trembling, her breathing ragged, but that didn’t stop her.“No, Trin. You are amazing
VioletI dropped to my knees as I reached him. The dirt scraped my skin, but I didn't care. "Look at me."I cupped his face in both hands and gently lifted his chin so I could see him clearly.He looked wrecked, pale, and drained. But when those brown eyes met mine, it was all I needed. He was really here. He came back.“Thank the Goddess.” A sigh escaped me as I ran my thumb along his cheekbones, tilting his head in every direction as I searched for any scratches.“What have you done?” he rasped.His voice was barely there. I knew what he meant. But of all the things he could have asked me right now, that was the one he picked. I pulled him against me and wrapped my arms around him as he let his head drop onto my shoulder.“No, Kylan.” My voice cracked as I ran a hand through his hair. “What did you do?”That was the real question. He was the one who had made a deal with the devil. He was the one who had decided, again, to take matters into his own hands to protect me. All of us.“Id
VioletA cold sensation ran down my spine as I repeated those words inside my head.We will lose our mate.No, no, no...My stomach dropped as I watched Kylan’s fingers squeeze harder. The red in Kian’s eyes had already begun to flicker.I doubted the two were suddenly working together, so it was hard to tell if this was Kylan’s doing or Baelor’s. Both had their reasons.Baelor would want to be whole again. And knowing Kylan, he would want to make sure Kian would never be able to hurt anyone again. And knowing Kylan, he would want to do his part in making sure Kian would never be able to hurt anyone again.Especially after he had been forced to watch all of it on his knees, unable to do anything.Maybe I was wrong, and they were working together. Some kind of understanding, like the one they supposedly already had today.High-pitched laughter rolled through the woods, and my head snapped toward the source.Gloria.She still hadn’t moved from her spot and didn’t seem like she was even
VioletMy hands stayed frozen midair above Jorn, but I let my attention slide to Kylan for a second. There was too much happening all at once, and I didn’t know what to do.Nobody moved.The witches, wolves...Gloria.Whatever had just come out of him and given him that strength was ten times more terrifying than Kian. Even he looked stunned, his jaw clenched.My eyes darted between Jorn, who needed whatever help he could get, and Kylan.‘Kylan?’ I reached for our link, but there was nothing.No pain. No anger. Not even the warmth I’d grown so used to. It was as if every light inside him had been snuffed out.He took slow, steady steps toward Kian.‘Kylan—‘‘Don’t bother.’ Lumia’s voice slipped into my mind. ‘He isn’t exactly himself right now,’ she said. ‘Focus on what you can do.’“Okay.” I breathed loudly. Just as my eyes were back on Jorn again, he let out another groan. Smoke began to curl up through his gear. My stomach turned. This was so much worse than an apple.“Wolves, retre







