Sonia’s point of view “To see through the mirror, you must first break the one within.” Nathaniel’s words ring in my ears as I pace through the hallway, my palms clammy and heart hammering in my chest. The truth has weight—crushing, suffocating weight—and I feel it pressing against my ribs like a cage. The spell he gave me wasn’t meant to be used lightly. But this isn’t light. This is darkness dressed in a crown and smiling with Eva’s face. Except… she’s not Eva. Not our Eva. Not Theo’s Eva. And now I have her name. Britney. I step into the room where they’ve all gathered. Theo’s standing near her—near it—his hand curled protectively around her waist. Her eyes flash when she sees me, like she knows something’s wrong. Good. She should. I don’t bother hiding my disgust anymore. “Can I speak with you?” I ask her, keeping my voice calm, even. Deadly. Fake Eva tilts her head with a smirk. “Of course, Sonia. What’s on your mind?” She brushes imaginary dust from her dress, every mo
Nathaniel’s point of view Two days. That’s how long we’ve kept him caged like the animal he truly is. Rufus hangs suspended in the center of the cabin, wrists bound by enchanted iron chains that burn his skin with every twitch. His mouth is swollen from biting his own tongue, maybe hoping he’ll swallow the truth before we dig it out of him. But I’m patient. I’ve waited years to see him broken. Isabella stands behind me like a statue, face unreadable, but her trembling fingers betray her. This is the man who once kissed her, who held her as she gave birth to a daughter he later weaponized. The man who convinced her love was real—then drained her like a chalice of power and tossed her aside to die alone. But now? He’s just a man. I step into the blood-soaked circle we’ve carved into the floor. “Again,” I say, voice sharp and calm. Malcolm, to his credit, doesn’t hesitate. His fist cracks across Rufus’s jaw, followed by the snap of bone. Blood spurts from his lips, and for a mome
Nathaniel’s point of view “This is the third place you swore he’d be,” I mutter, eyeing Isabella with a mix of frustration and concern. “Well,” she murmurs, narrowing her tired eyes at the empty clearing, “he was here. But apparently he isn’t anymore.” She sounds exhausted, like she hasn’t slept in days. Her posture is proud, regal even—but her face is pale, jaw tight, and hands clenched at her sides. I’ve known Isabella a long time. Long enough to recognize when she’s barely keeping it together. “There’s one more place,” she adds, her voice quieter now. “If he’s not there, we’ll have to change strategy.” “Lead the way,” Lily snaps from behind us, arms crossed, always the sharp one. “Time’s not exactly on our side.” Isabella whips around with a glare that could melt steel. “Do I look like I give a fuck, little girl? You came to me for help. So mind your tongue before I rip it out and shove it where your attitude comes from.” Lily’s mouth opens, probably to throw back something
Aries’s point of view It’s frustrating. Maddening, actually. A full day has passed, and I still haven’t managed to get close to fake Eva. It’s like she’s actively avoiding me—slipping through the halls like a ghost wearing my mate’s skin. And the worst part? Every time I catch a glimpse of her, my heart skips like I’m a damn teenager. That’s the potion talking. It clings to me like a second skin. Everything in me screams that she’s Eva. That I love her. That I want her. But some quiet, buried part of me—a whisper I have to cling to—reminds me she’s not real. That she’s not my mate. That this… is a lie. I need to keep her close. Get answers. While I’m still in control. At least Parker, Elias and Sonia know the truth. Thank the Goddess for that. I hope I still know it too. I open a link to Parker’s wolf. “Hey, Cesar. Any idea where she is?” “Yep,” Cesar answers without hesitation. “I’m watching her right now. She’s having breakfast like a queen she’s not.” “Thanks. I owe you.”
Eva’s point of view I close my eyes the moment I hear them leave the room. I want to scream. I want to break something, hit someone, do anything to fight this feeling crawling up my throat like bile. But instead… I just swallow it. I feel lost. And I need to stop. I need to stop feeling like this—like I’m breaking into a thousand sharp pieces that will never fit back together. Maybe Sonia’s right. Maybe Elias is too. Maybe I do need rest. Clear my mind. Breathe. Become the executioner again. I force my body to relax and let the darkness cradle me. I don’t dream—executioners don’t dream—but tonight… I do. A blinding white light crashes into me like a tidal wave. It doesn’t hurt, but it pulls. Pulls me up, through the fog, through the pain, until I land—of course—on the same green field I always come back to. The sky here is too blue, the grass too perfect. The kind of place that shouldn’t exist outside memory. The farmhouse stands ahead, hazy and glowing like a promise I stopped
Parker’s point of view I sit on the windowsill, staring out at the trees beyond the courtyard. It’s quiet. Peaceful, even. But my mind is anything but. Inside, it’s a warzone. I feel like I’m drowning in everyone else’s chaos. And the worst part? I can’t fix any of it. Trixie doesn’t trust me. She’s been distant since the camp. Cold. I don’t blame her. Not really. I did keep secrets. I did let Eva heal me with her blood and swore not to tell a soul. And now, even though I broke that promise for a good reason—Sonia—I still feel like I betrayed them both. Eva… Eva’s unraveling. Slowly, quietly, like a thread being pulled from the center of her. And I can’t reach her. Not the way I used to. And Aries? Aries is falling under a damn love spell. Cesar told me everything this morning—my wolf, always too good at sniffing out other people’s pain. He’s been talking with Aries when I’m asleep, apparently. Don’t ask me how. Wolves have their own network, I guess. The Dream Howl Hotlin