Eva’s POV As Sonia leaves the house, the front door clicking shut behind her, Samantha turns to me with a look that’s equal parts stern and motherly. “Let’s go make breakfast,” she says, already walking toward the kitchen. “And while we make it, I want to hear everything you’ve done for the last fifteen years. Everything. I want to know if you were safe… if you were happy.” So, we enter the kitchen, warm morning light slanting across the tiled floor, and I find myself rolling up the sleeves of a borrowed sweatshirt. The air smells faintly of cinnamon and old coffee grounds, grounding me in a kind of mundane comfort I rarely get to feel. We decide on pancakes. Or rather—Samantha decides, and I follow orders. She bosses me around with the confidence of someone who raised twins and could probably run a small army. “Don’t overmix,” she warns as I stir the batter. “And let the pan heat before you pour it—what were they teaching you in that assassin life of yours?” “Certainly not how
Sonia’s point of view I watch Eva trembling in her mother’s arms, and for once in my life, I don’t feel the need to crack a joke or roll my eyes. I never thought I’d see this day—Eva, of all people, crying into the shoulder of the woman who gave birth to her. And no, I don’t envy her. Not even a little. She looks like someone dropped her into a blender full of emotions and forgot to put the lid on. But she’s Eva. She’ll manage. And if she can’t, well… that’s why she has me. My attention drifts to the boy—the brother. Elias. Angry little storm cloud in a teenager’s body. I get it, kind of. His long-lost sister shows up after fifteen years, looking like she just walked out of an undercover mission and expecting a family reunion. Not exactly subtle. He storms outside like it’s a soap opera and he just got written out of the will. Eva hesitates, torn between going after him and staying with her mother. Her knuckles are white at her sides. I step in. “I need to get something fr
Eva’s point of view Samantha doesn’t rush. She doesn’t blink. She just walks toward me, one trembling step at a time, as if she’s afraid I’ll vanish if she moves too fast. Her eyes never leave mine. Her breath catches. Her hands, clenched at her sides, slowly rise as if remembering how to touch. Her gaze drops to my neck. The necklace. Her fingers hesitate in the air between us, as though the metal might burn her. It’s the same necklace—the one with the Artemis pendant—that she gave her daughter fifteen years ago. The only gift she was allowed to give me before they took me away. Her hand finally settles on my face. It’s warm, and shaking, and heartbreakingly soft. She traces my cheekbone like she’s trying to memorize it. Trying to believe it’s real. “I thought I’d forgotten your face,” she whispers. “But I didn’t. Goddess, I didn’t.” I don’t know how to respond. My throat feels tight. My eyes sting. And then her arms are around me, and mine are around her, and I feel so
Eva’s point of view The other guard steps closer and leans down to my window, sniffing the air like he’s trying to place something familiar. “Are you lost?” he asks kindly. His voice holds no malice—just calm curiosity. Just as I remember. This is a pack of peace. “Actually,” I say, offering him a small smile, “we come at the King’s orders. We have business with the Grimson family.” At the mention of that name, his expression tightens. “Haven’t they suffered enough?” he asks, his tone sharper now, protective. “I assure you,” I reply evenly, still smiling, “we mean no harm to them.” He studies me carefully, his brows drawing together as he tilts his head. “That’s strange,” he mutters. “You look like a copy of—” He trails off, eyes narrowing. “But you’re human… traveling with a werewolf… at the King’s orders…” His voice fades again as something shifts behind his eyes. He goes still, probably mind-linking his alpha. A tense silence stretches out between us. I don’t move. Final
Eva’s point of view We just switched places and I took the wheel. The road ahead is dark and endless, winding through a dense stretch of forest. But we’re close. Soon, daylight will break through the night, and we’ll reach our destination. I don’t sleep anyway, so I might as well let Sonia recharge. She’ll need the energy. As I drive in silence with Sonia snoring lightly beside me—poor Michael—I can’t help but wonder: does the Dark Mage know where we’re going? How the hell did he find us before? A cold trickle of worry slides down my spine, but I shove it aside. Not now. The sky begins to shift. Pale light filters through the trees. Almost there. I reach over and gently poke Sonia’s nose. “Rise and shine, beauty.” She groans, rolling her head to the side. “One more minute… I don’t wanna go to school today.” I stiffen a laugh. “But you have to. Final exam’s today. Miss it and you’ll have to repeat the whole year.” She jolts upright like she’s been electrocuted, her eyes wide and
Eva’s point of view The hum of my car engine fills the cabin as I grip the wheel, the forest blurring past the windows. Sonia’s Jeep trails behind, her bright red taillights bobbing in the fading light. After days on the road, it’s a small comfort — even if my car is falling apart like an old relic. I glance down at my phone for the umpteenth time. No signal. Figures. I tuck it into my jacket pocket and try to focus on the winding road ahead. The road curves sharply. I take my foot off the accelerator just a fraction too late. Suddenly, a blast of blinding white light slams into my windshield like a hammer. The world flips sideways. The car skids, tires screaming, as it careens off the asphalt and crashes through a tangle of trees. Branches whip against the metal as the car rolls violently. I’m thrown around like a rag doll. When the tumbling finally stops, I’m dizzy, disoriented, and the world is a blur of shattered glass and broken branches. “Eva! Eva!” Sonia’s voice cuts