EREBUS Lightly I knock on Ella’s door but there is no response. “Vixen,” I call through the heavy wood, but she doesn’t respond. “Vixen, I want to apologize,” but still she doesn’t respond. Her scent lingers in the air, but it is not strong, almost as if she hasn’t been in her room for a few hours. Without knocking I place my key in her lock and open her door. A burst of cold air hits me as I walk into the room, and I notice that one of her windows is open. Racing to the window, I peer out and see footprints in the snow leading towards the woods. My inner lycan rises to the surface and lets out a terrifying growl at the thought of our mate running. Connecting all of my warriors through the mind link I tell them to span out and follow the tracks left below Ella’s window. Not caring about anything but bringing my mate home, I jump out of her window and shift in midair. Lifting my nose to the sky I let out a sorrowful howl as I race through the forest tracing my mate’s steps

ELLA The cold slab marble that I am bonded to is beginning to hurt my back. The seven witches on the council study the runes that are tattooed on my arms. They murmur to one another in a language that I am unfamiliar with while they try different spells to remove the markings.“I know if we could free her from the chains that traitor put on her, her powers would come to life,” the High Witch says curiously. “But these runes are more than simply etched into her skin.” “They were burned on,” I yell from the table unable to stand their hands on me any longer. “What was that dear,” another of the witches yells in my direction. She has been holding a funnel up to her ear to be able to hear me better. “They were burned on,” I yell louder, and I can see her nod in the direction of the other witches.“They appear to be burned on,” she yells to the other witches surrounding me and I catch many of them rolling their eyes at her. I have to stifle a giggle from escaping my lips.

EREBUS As soon as I sink my teeth into Ella’s neck I can hear the wind stop blowing downstairs. My skin stops burning and I fall onto Ella’s chest exhausted. Ella’s eyes are tightly closed as she tries to fight off the effects of my venom, but she isn’t strong enough and I feel her body go limp under my own. Placing my ear on her chest I can hear the subtle beating of her heart and I know that she is still fighting in there somewhere. I try to push myself off of her, but my arms are weak. Looking at the skin on my arms it appears as if I have walked through fire. Huge pieces of flesh are missing, and the rest is bubbled and blistered. The sound of footsteps running in the hallway outside catches my attention. I force myself into a sitting position, ready to fight for my mate. The door to Ella’s prison swings open and hits the wall with a thud. Lucian is standing in the doorway panting heavily, partially shifted with his claws extended, ready to attack. Looking around the

ELLA I can hear voices surrounding me but all I can see is black. Every inch of my body feels like it is being engulfed in flames. I try to open my eyes, but it is as if they are sewn shut and my limbs feel as if they are made of lead. I can’t move, I can’t speak, so I can only burn in agony alone. Everything is dark until a memory fills my mind. “But I don’t want to be homeschooled,” I pout pushing my plate away from me in anger. Ten year old me is sitting with her arms crossed over her chest in protest. My brother, Emerson is pushing his vegetables across his plate refusing to eat them. My father, Andrew, pokes him in the side and points to the veggies with his eyebrows furrowed together in frustration. Emerson pops a piece of broccoli in his mouth and pretends to gag before he begrudgingly chews and swallows. “Ella,” my mother says gently. “It is time that you start your training.” “But I don’t even have powers,” I pout again. My mother uses her emotions to calm the t

ELLA Dragging my eyes away from the literal Goddess that is standing next to me, I look back at my unconscious body lying on the bed. “I am dying aren’t I,” I whisper to the Moon Goddess.“Not necessarily,” Selene says gently. She guides me over to the chairs in the corner of the suite and gestures for me to sit. “Whether you live, or die is up to you.” “He marked me against my will,” I choke out through silent sobs. “What was it that you said to your wolf before turning yourself over to the coven?” I can feel the Moon Goddess flickering through the memories in my head. “One life to save countless others,” she repeats my words. “Ella, this is what you have been doing for years. Why do you think I put you back in those memories? You constantly sacrifice what you want for the good of those around you. Your mate was only doing the same thing.” My memories flicker back to my time in the coven, and I remember how they refused to let me go because Erebus hadn’t marked me yet.