The Hunter

The house was silent when night fell, the kind of silence that came after a long, hard fight.Rio was the first to stir, his golden eyes flickering open in the faint lamplight. He took a moment, listening—soft breathing in nearby rooms, the steady pulse of familiar heartbeats, and the subtle stirrings of the others waking.Junie was curled beside him, hair a tangle of copper and gold against the pillow, her hand resting lightly on his chest. He brushed a kiss across her hair before carefully sliding out of bed.In the adjoining room, Sophie was sitting cross-legged on her bed, a mischievous smile on her pale face as she examined a goblet of deep red blood.“Breakfast,” she announced, lifting it like a toast when Rio leaned in the doorway.“Better than a granola bar?” Rio teased.She wrinkled her nose. “Granola bars are gross. This is way cooler. And tastier.” She took a dramatic sip, then wiped her mouth with the back of her hand like she was trying to look extra tough.Rio chuckled. “

Last Updated : 2025-10-04

The Figure

The Hunter’s hiss echoed through the swamp like a blade scraping stone, rattling nerves and making every shadow seem alive. Rio’s hand tightened around Junie’s as they moved cautiously along the muddy path, following the faint tracks Jules had identified earlier. Lucien, Odessa, and Celine flanked them, each step silent, alert to the slightest sound. Silas’s magic shimmered faintly around the house in the distance, holding it hidden—but they knew it was only a matter of time before the Hunter found a way past.“Keep low, stay quiet,” Lucien murmured, eyes scanning the fog. “It senses everything—movement, magic, even fear.”Junie’s fingers brushed Rio’s arm. “Do you think it knows we’re here?”Rio shook his head. “Not exactly. But it’s aware something’s off. That’s dangerous enough.”The swamp grew thicker, fog curling between cypress knees like restless spirits. And then, the Hunter emerged, massive and solid, red eyes glowing as it advanced with deliberate precision. Muscles coiled b

Last Updated : 2025-10-05

The Third Shadow

The group moved cautiously, putting as much distance as possible between themselves and the Hunter and the towering figure. Mud clung stubbornly to their boots, sucking at every step, while the fog thickened with each passing moment, curling around cypress knees like restless fingers. Every shadow seemed alive, every rustle of leaves or snap of a branch amplified their sense of vulnerability, as if the swamp itself conspired against them.“Keep moving,” Rio murmured, scanning the fog. “Don’t stop. Don’t look back.”Junie stayed close, her senses alive with the rhythm of the swamp. “I can help,” she whispered, brushing her hand across a nearby cypress root. Slowly, imperceptibly, the roots twisted and rose, weaving over their footprints, masking the path behind them. Water from the swamp swirled in subtle eddies around their ankles, soft currents that muffled their steps, while mud shifted to cover their tracks. She felt the pulse of the swamp in her veins: earth, water, trees, an

Last Updated : 2025-10-06

Shadows of Deception

The swamp’s fog twisted around them, thick and heavy, each step sinking into the mud. Junie’s fingers trailed over roots, coaxing vines and water to shift, hiding footprints, masking their scent. Every subtle ripple of the swamp was a thread in the maze she wove around the group.Lucien moved beside her, eyes scanning the fog. “We’re close. I can feel it. The presence… it’s unnervingly precise.”Junie’s gaze flicked through the mist, catching every shadow, every shifting shape. The Hunter’s massive form loomed behind, obedient, but restrained by Junie’s subtle manipulations. And then she saw it—a figure stepping from the fog with the predator they had glimpsed before.At first, Junie’s heart skipped. The face… the movements… the aura. Everything screamed familiarity. Her mind raced, tugged between hope and dread. She gestured subtly, calling the others’ attention.“Look,” she whispered, barely audible.Rio’s eyes narrowed, and even through the fog he could see the unmistakable form: C

Last Updated : 2025-10-07

Falcon in the Mist

The swamp trembled as if it had a heartbeat of its own, the thick fog curling around cypress knees like restless fingers. The air was wet, heavy, and alive with danger. Every sound was amplified—the snap of a branch, the splash of water against twisted roots—and Rio’s senses were taut, nerves humming with alertness. The towering figure moved with terrifying precision, muscles coiled beneath dark clothing, eyes glowing an unearthly red that seemed to pierce the fog itself. At its side, the shapeshifter wearing Celine’s face lingered, cruel and mocking, movements fluid and predatory. Hunters crouched and advanced silently, sinewy forms blending into mist, claws and teeth poised for death.“Stay close,” Rio growled, glancing at Junie. “We need to stay low and quiet. Keep the swamp on our side.”Junie nodded, hand brushing over a root. Her fae magic stirred like a living pulse, coaxing the earth, the water, and the moss beneath their feet to shift subtly. Roots twisted to create fals

Last Updated : 2025-10-08

Carry Me Home

The falcon-shapeshifter had disappeared into the high cypress canopy, wings slicing silently through the mist, leaving only the faintest shimmer of displaced fog as it retreated. The group stood in the aftermath, the swamp vibrating faintly with residual energy. The bodies of the Hunters lay scattered, twisted and broken, mud and blood soaking into the earth. Rio’s golden aura had dimmed, leaving him trembling, sweat streaking across his face. Junie clung to him weakly, still pale, pain radiating from the wound in her abdomen.Slowly, they began to move back toward the plantation. Every step was cautious; even with the immediate threat gone, the tension in the swamp lingered like a living thing. Lucien and Jules scouted ahead, silent and watchful, while Adonis moved with quiet precision, keeping his senses alert for any remaining traces of the shapeshifter. He had found Celine picked her up to bring her home.“It could be anyone,” he muttered quietly to Rio, voice low but firm. “Wa