Somehow it felt easy to speak to Caspian in his wolf form. There was nothing stopping him from turning back, of course, but I think he knew I needed to talk. Needed to let everything I had been holding on to out in the open. There were no signs within his face to show me that he was displeased, nor worried. His ears would perk up at certain times, the only sign he was still listening to me. For once I didn't want advice. I had the Valkyrie for that. I needed someone that would just listen. So my entire life story bled into being. Every trouble I had, every worry. I voiced it all to him. Julian and I had barely shared such a bond. He knew of my history and all I had endured, but I so rarely spoke to him about any of it. He had his own problems, as king, and I didn't want to increase the weight upon his shoulders. Instead, Julian had turned towards Mikaela. I knew of their late night conversations and all the emotions they held between each other. When I had left for war, they

Julian's Point of View Flashes of despair throbbed through me the entire way down that mountain. Images of Luciana splayed on the forest floor, blood soaking into the ground. It was all I could muster not to rip out Ezekiel's throat when he and Sophie had run to me. My baby girl. Sophie was on the verge of tears as they told me to go with them. That something had happened with Luciana whilst she was out. I barely had time to think, let alone ask why Caspian was with her. Why they were frolicking in the woods when our enemies could be anywhere. Gripping the steering wheel even tighter, I put my foot down, increasing my speed faster than Sophie could keep up behind me. We had called Sonja to inform her. The Valkyrie was on their way. You could practically feel all of their guilt for leaving her. For being drunk whilst she might be losing her life. Sonja would never forgive herself for easing up her protection over Luciana. The woman would blame herself

Mikaela's Point of View Katharine woke before me, her fingers gripping my bicep with considerable strength. Worried blue eyes came into crystal view and I panicked, shooting up in my bed. What else could have gone wrong in the short amount of time I had been asleep? Katharine seemed in one piece, no bruises on her small body. Loosening a breath, I raised my eyebrows at her. "What's wrong?" I asked urgently and gave her another once over. She had tied back her own hair into a messy ponytail. Curls fell into her eyes, but that didn't stop her from staring into my soul. Last night's events flashed in my mind. Katharine was more than likely a witch. Shoving away that thought as well, I listened. "We need to leave. Adriaan wants to move on mommy and them. He wants to keep us here. He was never planning on exchanging us for her." She whispered harshly and stepped towards the window. The usual smell of fresh wolfsbane had died down considerably. It

Caspian's Point of View Julian had laid Luciana down in her old bedroom. Maids had prepared it extensively, only choosing the finest sheets and best clothing to put her in. I hadn't stayed long after that, not whilst everyone else was saying their goodbyes. Staff members were tearful as they said their goodbyes and I understood why. She had given them the luxury of choosing where they wanted to be. Who they wanted to serve. They had chosen her time and time again. Now the girl who had promised freedom was no longer free herself. Bound to the next world for all eternity. There would be funeral preparations to come in due time. Julian was too out of it to plan anything just yet. He needed time and so did I. Father had asked me to head back to my pack. To govern and rule my people again, but I had declined his offer. For now, all I wanted was to be as close to her as I still could. We had spent barely any time together, started a bond that now crumbled

Julian's Point of View Three days. That's how long she had been gone. Cold as ice. Pale as marble. Beautiful as an angel sent to me all those years ago. With her fiery temper and resolve of steel. Those flames within her soul had gone out, leaving this world colder than when she had come into it. Regret gnawed on my insides, tearing apart the parts of me that hated myself the most. I had lost her once, but that was nothing compared to this pain. This suffering. Whiskey came in short coming. Even my staff knew to steer clear of my office. How could she have been gone? With her smile and tenacity to raise Cain. There was nothing in this world that could bring her back. Witches were long since dormant and I feared that even they wouldn't have been able to raise her from her eternal slumber. Caspian had taken to his own room, leaving only to get another bottle of bourbon. We often met in the bar. Both looked as if we had seen better days. Those d