Once we finish breakfast, I take Micah’s hand and walk through the corridors and up the vast amount of steps until we reach the open terrace at the top of the North Tower.‘Practising spells?’ Micah guesses.‘Yep,’ I say.We sit together on the stone bench. Micah holds the book for me while I wave my wand repeating incantations and spells.‘Visionous Memorious!’ I say firmly, holding my wand.‘Tremendous Nebulus!’ I say, flicking the wand.Nothing but a natural cool breeze blows past my face.‘Focus, Lylah,’ I say.I face the small pot plant, pull my sleeves up, and wave my wand, ‘Lifto Levitatous,’ I repeat a few times in different tones.After an hour of failed attempts at casting spells, I sigh and turn to Micah, ‘Let’s do something else,’ I suggest.‘What do you want to do?’I tap my foot and look around in thought and an idea springs to life, ‘Catch me,’ I smile.‘Catch you?’ Micah says, confused.I shake my head yes, race from the open terrace back into the tower, and run down t

Chapter 44Micah lays on my bed and watches me as I pack my bag, placing a change of clothes and a torch on top. Then, noticing cake smeared on my hoodie, I laugh, pull it off, and toss it aside before grabbing a fresh one from my wardrobe and putting it on.‘Ready to go camping? It’s going to be nightfall soon, and we haven’t even left yet,’ Micah laughs.‘Yeah, well, it’s not my fault Dad had my party drag out all afternoon,’ I reply.‘Alpha Maximus was just so excited for you, for us, that we are fated mates. He was definitely making the most of it and was very proud to show us off. It was also a great party,’ Micah laughs.‘Yeah, I’ll admit it was lots of fun,’ I say, swinging the bag over my shoulder, ‘Ready?’ I ask.‘I’ll carry your sleeping bag. Do you want me to carry that bag too?’ Micah asks, pointing to the bag over my shoulder.‘Nah, I’m a big girl. I can carry this myself,’ I say and kiss his cheek.Micah smiles and nods then follows me downstairs to where we find everyon

My mother hovers her hands over Micah, crying, while my father squats down to be eye level with me, and he grabs my face.‘Who did this to him? What happened?’ He asks me. I can see the anger and heartbreak in his eyes.‘I couldn’t see them at first. Even Micah struggled to see them. He said they were so fast. Faster than werewolves and smelt of death. There were so many of them, Dad. There eyes…’ I say, and my hands begin to tremble.My dad takes my hands in his and holds them firmly to cease the shaking.‘Keep talking, Lylah. We need to know,’ he says,‘Their eyes were red like blood. I saw one. He was tall in a black cloak, and he was….’ I take a few moments, feeling dizzy. ‘He was drinking Micah’s blood and only let him go when I heard your howls. The others with him had already fled before I could get a look at them. Vampires did this. They did this to my mate,’ I say, bursting into tears again.Billy and Leo are vomiting in the bushes from the gory sight of Micah’s body. Nathan,

Kayla wipes the tears from her face as she sees me entering the apothecary. Her dark skin tone shimmers against the many coloured liquids bubbling throughout the apothecary in the beakers, flasks, pipettes, and test tubes. Her long, dense wavy hair sits in a large braid with thick gold chains. Kayla’s obsidian eyes flicker with sadness as she holds her arms out and approaches to embrace me. ‘Lylah,’ she sobs. ‘I’m so sorry,’ I allow her to embrace me, even though I don’t want to be touched by anyone, ‘I’ve come to see Micah,’ I whisper. ‘Of course,’ Kayla nods and walks me down the spiral stone slope. There are tall wooden shelves along every wall that reach the ceiling. The shelves are mainly stacked with books with objects, such as the odd animal skull, candles, and jars. Tables are aligned with Bunsen burners, tripods, flasks, and a mortar and pestle. There are bottles of potions and other substances. Bouquet garnies of parsley stalks, bay leaves, thyme, rosemary, tarragon, basil

Trigger Warning: Suicide attempt. If this topic is distressful for you, then please do not read this chapter and skip to the next chapter when released.With a struggle, I manage to open my eyes. I’m feeling groggy and realise I’m in my room on my bed. My Dad is leaning against a wall with arms crossed and a not-impressed look on his face. My brothers stand in front of my door as if guarding it, and my mother wipes the blood from my arm where I have been bitten. I flinch from the pain and pull my arm away from her as she dabs too close to the bite mark.‘Lylah,’ Dad says. ‘I know you are grieving, but what on earth were you thinking? Attacking Tamara and Vicky like that? They are both seriously hurt!’‘Good! They got what they deserved. I hope they never come near me again!’ ‘Lylah!’ Everyone says.‘They said it’s my fault Micah’s dead. Do you expect me to sit there and listen to them ridicule me and blame me for my mate’s death?’ I argue.‘No, but violence is not the answer, Lylah,’