Semua Bab MAD END'S DECEPTION: Bab 201 - Bab 210

ARAHRoselia hadn’t been able to remove the bullet, but she managed to stop the bleeding, prevent further damage, and numb the pain. Mabel’s friend would still need to be taken to a hospital for proper treatment. Roselia explained that if she tried to heal her using supernatural methods and alter her memory at the same time, it could cause unpredictable side effects.Mabel’s friend had fallen unconscious. They bandaged her wound and gently moved her to the couch. Cora brought over a blanket and draped it over her.“W-What are we going to do with them?” Mabel’s sister asked, staring at the three corpses lying across the living room.Arah handed her a glass of water. “I think it’s better to leave them as they are. The police will take care of it.” She figured the authorities would arrive soon, especially if they believed Sharko’s gang had already finished whatever they came here to do.Thug Number Two would be a problem. He’d definitely run back to Sharko and report what happened. Then

GILDEONHe’d first crossed paths with Sharko during his and Arah’s early weeks on Caylao Island. Back then, he’d been sweeping the place—mapping the terrain, scouting escape routes, tagging danger zones. Getting a feel for the land.That had been when he saw it—a woman being assaulted by Sharko’s men.He hadn’t come to Earthland to play hero. Meddling in human filth hadn’t been part of the plan. But that scene had reminded him of what happened to Nalini. So he’d made an exception. He’d beaten the bastards and saved the girl.A day later, he’d stumbled onto one of Sharko’s operations—human trafficking, on top of drug dealing and whatever other scum-work the gang ran. That was also when he met Donny’s brother and helped free him from their clutches.Gildeon had confronted Sharko directly—broke enough bones to make him piss himself and swear he’d shut down his human trafficking ring and leave helpless women alone. Gildeon had thought the warning had landed.But after what had nearly happ

ARAHShe reached across the bed, only to find cool, empty sheets. Gildeon was gone. But outside the house, she could hear his voice, talking to Roselia.She glanced down at her forearm. The vine strands had withered, and the bite wound was already healing.Sliding out of bed, she headed outside and found the two standing over the ritual vine circle on the ground. Part of it was broken, with paw prints scattered through the dirt.Arah spotted Barky by the doghouse, munching on his food like nothing had happened.Roselia paused mid-sentence when she noticed her. “Miss Arah, you’re awake.”Arah smiled and walked over. Gildeon pulled her in by the waist and pressed a kiss to her forehead. Her heart skipped at the gesture. For a moment, it was hard to believe this was the same man she’d been living under the same roof with almost a year ago.“How was your sleep?” he asked.“Fine. I just wish you’d woken me when you got up.”He brushed a lock of hair from her face. “You’ve been through a lo

ARAHShe launched her wind tattoo into the air just as she slipped into an empty room. Students and teachers were still rushing through the corridors. Some shouted wild speculations about what was happening—fire, a serial killer on the loose. That one made sense, given the rumors about Baccayo Prison still floating around. Someone even mentioned an invisible beast attacking people.Well… that part was accurate.“Protect me, but stay low, okay?” she told the wind tattoo. Saying it out loud felt a little silly. She’d never actually spoken to it before and wasn’t even sure it understood her.But it wiggled in response, and for a moment, she wondered if it had some awareness of its own.She began herding students and staff in the corridor, guiding them to the exits. Her wind tattoo hovered around her ankles. At times, it seamlessly camouflaged against the lockers; other times, it flattened itself against the ceiling to stay out of sight.Some teachers paused to ask who she was and what wa

GILDEONEarlier, he’d set fires in the surrounding buildings—just enough to keep the firefighters and the police busy. He needed to buy time, delay their full sweep of the campus.He’d made sure the security room got the worst of it. The last thing he needed was footage of him and Arah showing up on some CCTV feed.Then he’d had Ghulik cornered in the gym. Tried to force him to stand down, to rebind the companion link.He’d almost had him, until the bastard flipped it on him.Gildeon had let his guard down, forgotten that goblins always had something up their sleeve—especially when they were off the leash. Ghulik had absorbed his salamander venom, warped it into something of his own, and blindsided him.The goblin had driven a claw straight into the back of his neck. Gildeon was paralyzed for a few minutes while Ghulik slipped off to find another victim.Damn good thing Gildeon had tracked him down again, just in time