LOGINVioletEverything happened all at once.My eyes were on Nate’s back as he shifted first, his bones snapping and reforming with a loud crack before a Lycan pushed out of him with a sharp growl.Lian followed, pushing out a Lycan with deadly eyes, and then Dylan and Trinity shifted into wolves. It was like they all knew what to do without even thinking about it.My gaze shifted to the side, and Kylan was next. One second, his eyes were on me, and the next, his bones shifted, body lengthened, and fur tore through.Valerius came through with a sound so deep it shook my own chest. He wasn’t just big…he was massive, towering over everyone in the circle. His fur was pitch black, and his bright, purple eyes glowed like they had been waiting to finally be unleashed.He had been hungry for it.He stood on two limbs, rising so high above me that for a moment I wasn’t even looking at his face, but just one thick, fur-covered leg. That was how huge he was.He was terrifying and beautiful at the sa
VioletEsther…I had never seen her like this before. Not through Adelaide’s eyes, and not even through my own. She looked so powerful in a way I could’ve never imagined.Her hair was tied up in her usual bun, but it was no longer gray. It was dark brown, the exact shade I had seen through Adelaide’s memories. Her face looked much younger, too.The woman in front of us didn’t look like Esther, yet she was. And she was much more real than those cloaked shadows standing behind her or that creepy raven.Lian’s voice broke the silence. “Do you know her?” she whispered to no one in particular. She must have felt the tension coming off us.Nate swallowed hard. “She’s a professor at Starlight.”Esther’s eyes landed on Mom. “Claire,” she greeted in the most casual tone.Mom’s face went pale, and she took a small step back without meaning to. I could tell she was trying to stay strong, but this had to be difficult, even for her. I remembered the way she was so fond of Esther back at Starlight.
VioletPrepare ourselves?How?Aelius gave the order so calmly, like we were all supposed to have any idea what that meant. Jason moved first. He grabbed Little Violet and Little Dylan’s hands, leading them to the center.Both children looked at him with big eyes. “It’s going to be okay,” Jason reassured with a smile. His eyes moved to Mom and Dad, who gave him a nod. Jason placed his hand on the boy’s shoulder, and Little Dylan’s eyes lit up with a bright glow.He jerked back in surprise. “What was that?”He was still trying to sound tough, but I knew that little boy was scared, and it was okay. We were all scared.Dylan was still like that, and I knew for a fact even the older version was shitting himself, but would never admit it out loud.“Don’t be scared, Dylan!” Little Violet said.“I’m not scared,” he muttered. “I was just asking, but I’m not scared.”“Good,” Jason exhaled. He raised both hands and created a shield around the two, a second one wrapping itself around Little Viol
VioletKill her?Kill me?I stared at Aelius, searching his face for something. Anger, sadness, or maybe even regret, but there was nothing.The worst thing was that he had said it as he had already come to terms with it. Like he had known this would always be the price. I suppose it was a good thing he could at least admit he didn’t want to do that, right?Mom straightened. “He will not get to her,” she stated. “We will make sure of it. We will protect her.”Her eyes softened as she looked at her nephew. “You too, Dylan. I promise.”The corner of my mouth twitched while I looked at my parents. These two had made it clear they were prepared to die. My eyes shifted to Little Violet.She was shaking her head, her eyes angry and glassy as she clutched onto Mom. She knew what would happen and had told me so herself. She knew exactly how tonight would go, and she was terrified.Something inside me cracked. Knowing my parents would risk everything, the same way they were prepared to risk ev
VioletI couldn’t believe my eyes as I took in the three figures who had stepped inside.Aelius stood at the front, and Jason beside him. And Varius…Varius stood a step back with his hood pulled low over his eyes. There was no cane in his hand this time, but I knew it was him. We all knew it was him, and glanced at each other to confirm it.He didn’t seem to recognize any of us, which made sense. The Varius of this time had no reason to know who I was. I finally understood what he meant when he said one day we would communicate in a less invasive way. That day was this day.Though I was still unsure why he would give me the box of ashes.What was his goal?My eyes shifted to Jason. Seeing him felt strange, almost unreal. This was the same boy who had held me when I was a baby, and he looked exactly like I had seen him through Adelaide’s eyes, only a bit older.He had the same dark curls, same warm eyes, same face. How old would he be now?Thirteen, maybe fourteen? Not much older than
VioletI could only hear my own breathing. I didn’t know how I’d done it, but it worked…it had actually worked, and Grandpa Aelius answered.He was coming…The room stayed frozen as everyone’s eyes were still fixed on me. Waiting, searching, hoping I would tell them that I had actually done something.A sigh left my lips as I removed my hand from Little Violet’s head. The little girl released a gasp, running straight to dad and clutching his leg like he was the only safe thing in the world.“You’re alright, princess.”Kylan, whose jaw was still tense, stepped in front of me, as did the others. “And?” he asked, his voice tight. There was this coldness, but I knew it wasn’t aimed at me. It was aimed at whatever waited outside this house.“Were you able to connect with him?” Trinity asked.The question was meant for me, but it was Little Violet who answered. “Yes,” her voice trembled as she squeezed Dad even tighter. “And now they are on their way. They will be here soon.”Mom brushed th







