Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 51 - Chapitre 60

Lucian's povThe east tower was way too quiet.The kind of quiet that made my wolf prick its ears and scan the shadows for threats. Every step we took echoed off the stone walls. Every breath sounded like a shout. I kept waiting for someone to jump out, to sound an alarm, to stop us.No one did.Kade led the way, his movements silent, practiced. I followed, each step sending pain shooting through my side, my arm, my hand. The bandages were soaked through. I could feel blood dripping down my ribs. I didn't care. I only hoped it wouldn't drop on the floor.We reached the third floor.Two guards stood outside Elder Marlow's door.But guess what???They were asleep.Not pretending...not resting their eyes. Asleep. Heads drooped and their mouths open. One of them was snoring, a soft, rhythmic sound that made my blood boil.I stopped walking.Kade noticed and he turned and saw my face, and immediately stepped between me and the guards."Don't," he whispered."They're asleep.""I can see tha

Cressida's pov Everything kept coming back to me.Not in order. Not clearly. Just flashes. His wolf's sanctuary...the cracked walls, the fading light, the way he had looked at me like I was the only thing keeping him alive. The storm that had ripped through us, cold and hungry, draining me until I couldn't stand. The way he had carried me. The way he had shouted my name.And then the absolute darkness.Not the peaceful kind and it was definitely not sleep. This was different. This was like falling through ice, sinking into water so cold it burned, reaching for something I couldn't see.Christ, it was really bad.I didn't know how long I was there. Minutes...hours...days? Time didn't exist in the dark. All I knew was that I was alone.Then I heard his voice.I love you.The words pulled me up and through the ice...through the water...through the cold.And then I opened my eyes.The infirmary was warm.Not the usual cold sterile warmth of healers and bandages. This was different. Candl

Lucian povThe council chamber was cold and I hated every stone in it.Elder Marlow sat at the head of the table with her gray hair coiled tight and her fingers steepled beneath her chin. Elder Thorn was beside her and his broad face was carved from something that never learned how to soften. Elder Whitmore adjusted his spectacles and stared at me like I was a problem he had been trying to solve for weeks.Marcus Voss stood by the window and his arms were crossed and his jaw was tight.I stood at the center of the room and my bandages itched and my side ached and I wanted to be back in Cressida's room. I wanted to be watching her sleep and counting her breaths and making sure she was still warm. Instead I was here and these wolves wanted answers I did not want to give."Alpha," Elder Marlow said. "Report."I kept my voice flat. "The eastern border was breached at approximately midnight. Rogues came through a gap in the wards. Species hunters followed.""How many?""Twenty rogues. Mayb

Lucian's pov I was in the middle of a lecture when Kade mind linked me.We haven't returned the scroll.The words hit me like a punch to the chest. I had been so focused on Cressida and the council and the breach that I had forgotten. The scroll was still in my quarters. Hidden under a loose stone in the floor. Wrapped in cloth and sealed with wax that Voss had used to keep its magic contained.I know, I sent back.We need to put it back. Tonight.Tonight.Marlow is going to notice it's missing. She's old but she's not senile.I said tonight.Kade's presence in my mind flickered and then faded. He was annoyed. I did not care.The Professor was still talking. Something about dramatic structure. Something about the weight of silence in a scene. I had not heard a word she said. My mind was elsewhere. On Cressida. On the scroll. On the fact that I had broken into an elder's chambers and stolen something that could get me executed if I was caught.And now I had to do it again.I visited C

Lucian's pov The council chamber was cold and crowded and I was in no mood for either.Elder Marlow sat at the head of the table with her gray hair coiled tight and her fingers pressed together like she was praying. Elder Thorn was beside her and his broad face was carved from something that had never learned to soften. Elder Whitmore adjusted his spectacles and stared at me with those mild eyes that missed nothing.Marcus Voss stood by the window and his arms were crossed and his jaw was tight and he looked like he had been waiting for me all day. He probably had."You requested my presence," I said and kept my voice flat."We did," Elder Marlow said. "There have been more sightings along the eastern border."My stomach tightened. "What kind of sightings?""Hunters. Rogues. Something else." She paused and her eyes were sharp. "Something the patrols cannot identify."I stepped closer to the table and my boots echoed on the stone. "The patrols sent reports. I read them. There was noth