Borderland Zero Novels & Stories

I said firmly, I needed to know, "I appreciate your concern, but we can't afford to delay. Brief me on the situation at the border as soon as possible." Xander hesitated, concern etched across his face, but he nodded. "Alright, Little mate. But promise me you'll take it easy afterward." I nodded in agreement, and he began to brief me on the dire state of the border. "Kai and I have been patrolling for over a week. We discovered a dead zone at the border, completely void of any signals. Ritual sites are scattered around the dead zone, and there seems to be some kind of barrier preventing entry."

When it connects he says: "Tell her I'm looking. Don't tell her who's looking." He ends the call. Outside, on the Borders coast, if you stood on the cliff path and looked hard enough, you could see a woman standing in the wind, watching the tide come in. She is not afraid. She is counting.

He did not yet know why those choices had been made. The border territories began three hours south of the Dreadmourne estate, marked by a change in road quality and the appearance of the first checkpoint station. Imperial border management, as the novel had described it, operated on a tiered system. Core territories required full documentation and System verification. Border territories required basic identity confirmation and a Karma scan. Collapsed territories required nothing because no one monitored them. Ashfen was classified as collapsed. To reach it, they would need to pass through border territory first.

Only her reflection just for a second smirking in the window,The march east began at dawn Nightwind’s warriors rode in silence, their armor cloaked with salt-stained cloaks. At the front rode Queen Liora, flanked by Sera and Theron, with Ghostfang scouts dotting the hills above. Behind them came battle-mages, healers, and watchers those who carried soul-flames in jars to light the path through cursed terrain, But the land beyond the Border Dunes welcomed no one. The storm struck on the second day. Sand rose like a serpent, hissing. The sky turned amber, then black. Theron shouted, “Hold formation!” But his words were eaten by the wind.

“From inside the pack, you’d have to cross the entire pack to reach the cottages. But if you come from the outside—through the neutral forest—you have a chance to slip past the border patrol at night.” “Tomorrow. After my date, I won’t return to the Morning Star packhouse immediately. I’ll try to slip through the border then,” Zoriana replied. She’d need to gather a few tactical tools in case things went south. “Since we can’t do anything more for the mission today, can we please go for a run?” Kalina nagged. Zoriana was happy to agree.

Blood is dripping from her neck, ruining my floor. “She crossed the border” Lori responded. “Now, why would she do that?” I mumbled, inspecting the girl. Her eyes lightly flutter open and as if on instinct the two warriors tighten the grip on her arms. She lets out a groan before her head slightly lifts and when her eyes fall on me, they instantly go wide. “Alpha!” she said, her voice actually clear. “Well if it isn’t our little escapee” “I… I…” “You sure know how to create trouble for yourself don’t you” I lift her chin up with my fingers, inspecting her scared, but somehow determined face.

His skin was tanned, as if he spent most of his time outside – killing territory passers – and he had a light stubble lining that perfect jaw. “Name’s Chase, never come into my territory again” he says and I’m suddenly pushed backwards. I land on my bum again, knowing that it will join the parts of me that will become blue. I scramble up, rushing towards Felix. For the first time in our lives, he wraps an arm around my waist, comforting me. “If I see any of you close to the border again – I will end you!” Chase warns. He glances at me for a second, giving me a wink before disappearing into the woods. When he’s gone I nestle my head into Felix’s shoulder, tears leaking out of my eyes.

Too bright for the dark mood I was in, and have been in since he left me here in this situation. “I’m not in the mood Alex. If you want to chit chat, call mom or April” I said dryly. I heard a sigh on the other end and then his voice was back to serious again, just the Alex I missed and couldn’t wait to hug again “I have news for you. I finally figured out what Zade wants with our borders and Stefan was right. It wasn’t about drugs” “What then?” I asked as I clutched the phone tighter, anticipation for the new information slowly killing my sour mood and bringing me to life again.

She had not stopped trembling since she felt the child was listening to something inside the seals. And Dax believed her when she told him. He had long learned never to doubt her instincts. He couldn’t afford to doubt her. Not when the world always kept proving her right. Ahead of them, the borderlands sat like a scar across the surface of the earth. Sharp-edged hills rose ahead, divided by glowing fractures where reality couldn’t heal properly. The air grew thin and heavy with magic that could cut the skin. Wolves slowed as they got closer to the outer edge.

The forest thinned abruptly. Elara burst out onto the narrow strip of land that marked the edge of Blackmere territory. The air felt different here, thinner, like she had stepped into a place that did not know her name. She crossed the border without stopping. The moment her foot touched the other side, the bond inside her screamed.