LOGINGavriel did not turn around right away but his jaw tightened. The soft glow of the Tree of Life bathed Althea’s pale face in silver light, making her look as though she were merely sleeping, caught in a dream too deep to reach.“My cousin will be in good hands here,” Zander added. “I will personally oversee everything. I’ll send you updates daily. Nothing will be hidden from you. You should return to Lunaris first and stabilize your kingdom.”Still, Gavriel did not move.For a long moment, the only sound between them was the faint rustle of leaves above, the Tree of Life whispering softly as if breathing on its own.“I just got her here,” Gavriel said at last, his voice low. “Or at least… I found where she needs to be. And now you’re telling me to leave her.”Zander stepped closer, stopping beside him. He looked at Althea too, his expression no less heavy. “I know how it feels,” he said. “You think walking away means abandoning her. But it doesn’t.”Gavriel finally turned, his eyes da
Gavriel did not waste a single moment.The moment the gates of House Aetherion were fully secured and the cries of battle faded into uneasy silence, he turned his back on everything else. Titles, victories, bloodlines, judgment… None of it mattered to him right now except for Althea and the Tree of Life.“Zander,” he said sharply, already moving. “Make the arrangements. Clear the path. I’m taking her to the Tree of Life.”Zander understood without needing further explanation. He gave a firm nod and immediately began issuing orders to the men who now answered to him. Guards were stationed. The inner grounds were sealed. No one was allowed near the sacred heart of Aetherion without permission.The Tree of Life stood deep within the ancestral grounds of House Aetherion, beyond stone walls and ancient paths worn smooth by centuries of footsteps. Even stripped of magic, even after the heavens had gone quiet, the Tree remained… in the most breathtaking way.It glowed. Not brightly, not blin
At the House of Terravane, Candice paced back and forth inside her bedchamber with her hands clenched at her sides.Every step felt heavier than the last. She hated being here, hated waiting and hated doing nothing while a war that could decide the fate of the continent was unfolding. If only magic still worked, and if only she could fight beside them instead of being trapped in silk curtains and polished floors.She stopped by the window and stared out. Her chest felt so tight as minutes passed, which turned to hours. Doing nothing was worse than fear. It was unbearable. So she left her room and went straight to the place where decisions were made.The council study was quiet when she arrived. Her grandfather, Archon Randal of House Terravane, stood by the long table covered in maps and sealed letters. Beside him was her father, Merlin, his brows drawn tight as he listened.They both turned when Candice entered.“Grandfather. Father,” she said, her voice steady only because she forc
The gates of the House of Aetherion stood wide open. People watched from the walls in tense silence. No magic filled the air, no shifting, only steel and men stood ready.Gavriel stepped forward first. He removed his cloak and handed it to Simon without a word. The weight of the sword in his hand felt different now. He could feel every ounce of it, every strain on his muscles. Once, this blade would have been an extension of his Lycan strength.Now, it was simply steel. And yet, he felt calmer than he ever had.Across the open ground, Archon Lemuel Cross emerged with a slow, confident stride. His armor gleamed darkly, ornate and heavy, more ceremonial than practical. A smile curved his lips as his gaze swept over Gavriel, then Zander, then
Gavriel stayed beside Althea, holding her close every time the convoy stopped to rest. He slept lightly, always half awake, as if his presence alone could keep her tethered to this world.If magic and shifting were still possible, the Cross Clan would have already been buried beneath the earth by his hands. The banner of Althea’s bloodline should have been raised over the House of Aetherion by now, restored to where it belonged.He did not know how many days had passed anymore. Time blurred on the road. Yet one thing was clear to him. His patience had grown in ways he never thought possible.Before, he would have demanded answers, forced outcomes, crushed anything that stood in his way. Now, he simply watched her chest rise and fall, steady and quiet, and t
Some of the men faltered. Others, driven by hunger and fear, rushed forward anyway.The clash was brutal. Steel met steel. The sound of grunts, shouts, and bodies hitting the ground filled the air. Without magic or shifting, everything came down to skill, strength, and sheer will.Osman fought close to the carriage, his movements precise and controlled as he deflected one attacker after another.The Alpha King decided to split their convoy, choosing caution over pride. His own group moved ahead disguised as simple merchants, their armor hidden beneath travel cloaks, their banners stripped away until nothing remained but wagons, crates, and weary-looking men.It was a calculated risk.







