226Celene POV I nodded abruptly at his words, got up automatically, and walked away. I left Alpha Daniel with Ella.I couldn’t stay with him while he mourned her and tried to make me feel good. I couldn’t watch him cry because his daughter was dead because of me.Each step I took felt heavy. My chest ached. I couldn’t breathe right. My heart felt like it was breaking more with every second. I wanted to scream again. I wanted to break something. But I just kept walking. I walked through the halls. I walked past the guards. I walked until I found a quiet place behind the palace.There was a tree there. A tall one. I sat under it. I placed my hands on my knees as I stared at the sky. Funny enough, It was blue and so calm despite the fact a war had just happened. How could the sky be calm when my world was falling apart?I closed my eyes. I didn’t want to think. But the images came.Ella’s smile. Her laugh. Her last breath. Her body is going cold in my arms. Tears fell again. I didn’t
225Celene POV I fell to the ground, my knees hit the dirt. My arms were stretched out in front of me as I caught her. Ella’s body was heavy. Her head rested on my shoulder. Her eyes stared at me, but they didn’t move. They didn’t blink.Her chest didn’t rise like someone who was breathing.“No… no, no, no—” I wailed out.My hands touched her face. It was warm, but the warmth was leaving fast. I shook her. I held her tighter.“Ella, wake up… please… please open your eyes…it's me... Celene...you can't die now and you know that....”I screamed out loud. My voice broke into the sky. The wind carried it. It sounded like pain. It sounded like I was being torn into pieces.“Don’t leave me! Don’t—don’t do this to me, Ella!”I touched her chest. I pressed my hand on the place where the red light hit her. I tried pouring my healing magic knot on her, but the green light was only faint. I was out of power. I was useless. I can't save my sister. But I don't care. I didn’t care if it hurt. I dec
224Author's POV The sky was full of dark clouds. The wind blew hard. Dust rose from the ground. Everything felt heavy. The air was thick like it was full of fear. Soldiers stood with swords in their hands. Their eyes looked different. Their faces had no emotions on what was going on in front of them. Their bodies shook with rage.Christoff stood tall in front of his armies. His cloak moved in the wind and he looked like some fallen angel. His eyes were cold. He raised one hand and a red light shined from his fingers. That was one of Christoff's hidden skills, including strengthening his armies until they were mindlessly aggressive. His army stood still, waiting for his command as the power from the light on his hand had boosted their ability. His voice was deep and loud."Go," Christoff said. "Fight. Kill. Destroy everything. And don't hold back. Spill their blood!"His army roared. They ran forward like wild animals. They did not speak. They did not think. They only wanted to hurt.
223Author's pov.Ella's words rang through the silence, and Christoff's gaze darkened, “You insolent bitch how dare you.”Ella raised her chin, “I might be a bitch but I'll never be yours. And if you want this power you'll have to kill me for it.” Before Christoff could speak, Ella lunged at him. The charge was defiant bordering on suicidal. With her hand already reaching for her blade and her mind screaming to protect Ella from the monster who dared to claim her Celene was propelled forward by a wave of protective rage. But a powerful, unforgiving hand clamped down on her arm. Mondrian. He stopped her mid-stride with an iron grip. “Let me go, Mondrian!” Celene growled, defying his grip while staring at Ella's fighting body. “No, Celene,” Mondrian said in a low, firm, and unyielding voice. “Let her do this. She needs to do this. Let her prove herself.”His hold remained firm. “This is something she must do. She is fighting this battle. It might not be her destiny but she has to
222Celene povThe training grounds reverberated with the sharp clang of steel on steel, Ella moved with a fierce agile grace, she was sweating profusely. She was becoming faster, stronger, and more assured of her developing skills. I felt a silent sense of pride as well as an even greater more intense fear. I pushed her and said again in a firm voice. “Ella! Feel the strike instead of expecting it. Don't let your eyes lead you, follow your instincts.”She was forced to react as my blade hummed as I feinted and then lunged. “I’m feeling it just fine Celene!” She responded with a lighthearted smile on her lips even though she deflected my blow with an accuracy that shocked me. Her once-secret abilities were now more visible they were a lively energy that hummed beneath her skin and caused her movements to be almost unnaturally quick. I made a fake gasp and said “Perhaps you're simply growing slower in your old age.”“Old age?! I'll show you old age, little sister!” I barked, launc
221Mondrian's povThe normal hum of distant activity within the fortress was smothered by the silence in my war room which was a thick cloak. Rarely does good news come before silence. Standing in front of my command table, My beta and Friend Alex had a somber expression on his face and the tactical map dim light highlighted the concern in his eyes. Drama was not his style. “Lord Mondrian.” Alex said, his voice a low rumble lacking its booming confidence “Our deep-scout patrols have just left the eastern territories. They have bad news.”With unwavering eyes, I steepled, my fingers. “Speak clearly Alex. I find it difficult to tolerate veiled statements.”“Christoff.” he said, the name itself acrid “His vanguard has crossed the Rolling Peaks of the Eastern border, they were seen deep trecking into around the pack. They moved so smoothly that it looks like they are avoiding the outer watchtowers."My jaw tightened. Could there be a breach within the pack? “Alex, do you think they ha