Novels by EphraStorm

Chapter 120: Fiona's POVDespite my determination, something had been eating away at the edges of my confidence. I wasn't scared of Mara. No, I had stared down danger before, had dealt with enemies trying to destroy me and my family, my pack. And I had always won out in the end. But this time… this time was different. This woman was not only powerful — she was primeval. Her magic felt like it infiltrated the soil beneath our feet, so that everything felt heavier, more oppressive.Tightening my fists as fiery rage pulsed in my veins, begging me to do something. I had to defend everything — my house, my family, people I loved. And then, just out of the corner of my eye, I saw him.My father.The patriarch of our family, Lucian Ashford, entered the courtyard. When I first saw him, my breath caught in my throat. He had this calming effect on me in the chaos, his presence an anchor in the storm. He was strong, he was powerful, and yet in that instant I was suddenly inundated with vulnerabi

Chapter 119: Author's POVMara cackled, her voice ricocheting off the cold, the courtyard as Fiona tried to fight through her magic. It was almost too hilarious — the belligerent young wolf, full of fire and fury, attempting to hold her ground. Mara had seen this all before — the resistance, the defiance, the faith that sheer will could do battle against centuries of power. But it was always the same. They never learned.“This is the best you can do little wolf? There was a note of mocking amusement in Mara’s voice. She watched Fiona struggle against the magic, and her age-old eyes sparkled with triumph. “Little flames of yours aren’t going to cut it. There is no fire that can kill me now."Fiona’s hands were still up, the flickering orange of fire dancing around her fingers, but Mara could feel the energy ebbing out of her. She was old—older than most of the men who crossed her path—but not old enough to beat Mara’s decades of practice. Fiona’s flames might roar for attention, but Ma

Chapter 118: Fiona's POV“She’s older than I thought,” I said, my voice steady in spite of the fear snaking up my spine. “Maybe 400 years or more. Her power is not merely about natural talent. It’s honed. Ancient.”Ethan’s gaze flickered to mine, the intensity in his eyes matching the weight of my words. “That’s how she’s been able to manipulate so much so quickly.” She has had time to hone it.”As the crowd began to disperse, the estate buzzing with uncomfortable whispers. My parents were still shaking, their faces looking pale, their eyes flicking to my direction, as if trying to comprehend what had just happened. I wanted to comfort them, but there was no time.But before I took another step, the very atmosphere around me changed. It was subtle at first — a ripple, a hum in the air that raised the hairs on the back of my neck.And then she was back.Mara’s shape coalesced in the center of the courtyard, dark and imposing. This time, she didn’t bother with illusions. The real her wa

Chapter 117: Fiona’s POVI wasn’t surprised.As soon as I arrived at the estate I felt her—dark, intrusive energy that didn’t belong. It made me creast, and boiled my blood that Mara walked through my house pretending to be me.It didn’t surprise me that Maeve, standing next to me, noticed the obvious: “She’s going to tell Ethan she’s the real you.”I grinned grimly, clenching the enchanted stone in my fist. “Let her try. Ethan will see through it.”Maeve arched an eyebrow, her faith in Ethan not as solid as mine. “You have a remarkably steady disposition if you’re being impersonated.”“Calm?” I scoffed. “I’m furious. But this is not the moment to hit the panic button. I have to catch her something that nobody can dispute.”Maeve crossed her arms with a twinkle in her eyes. “What’s the plan?”I raised my hand, allowing a small flame to dance on my palm. Waves come in, back out, suck it all back down for another run. “I will call upon elemental fire and bring her true face to light. Ma

Chapter 116: Mara’s POVI sat in her chambers — no, my chambers now. It was strange how quickly I’d settled into this space, how easily I’d commandeered everything that once belonged to her. My fingers rapped in measured time on the armrest of her chair. Servants moved about the estate, oblivious to the storm I was about to unleash on these walls. They believed I was her. Her parents were convinced, as was she. They had all accepted me, no questions asked, no doubts raised. They didn’t know the truth, nor did they need to.But then there was Ethan.Ethan was the problem.He was in the courtyard, pacing, as I had expected. He was never gone, always looking, always hoping for a slip, for something to tell him the truth. His suspicion had been building for days, ever since I had set foot on the property, and I felt it whenever his eyes landed on me, scrutinizing me, as if I were a problem he was determined to solve. It was maddening, but exhilarating. He was a challenge. And I always lik

Chapter 115: Fiona’s POVThe call with Ethan played in a loop in my brain, like a record that had skipped and wouldn’t stop skipping. The more I thought about it, the louder every word got. Someone was out there, wandering through my life, wearing my name, my face — living as me. It was not only unsettling; it sent a chill deep, deep into my bones. That thought clung to me like a second skin, cold and suffocating.Mara. She’d gone too far this time. Way too far.I sat by the fire, gazing into the dancing flames, but the heat did not comfort me. It was a jumble of hazy thoughts and fears I was afraid to voice. Next to me, Maeve quietly packed our things with an efficiency that was almost reassuring. She always knew what to do when the rest of the world seemed to be spinning out of control. Her calm steadiness kept me grounded when I felt like I was falling apart.“Maeve,” I said suddenly, shattering the leaden silence. My voice sounded odd even to me — hoarse and choppy, like it didn’t

Chapter 40 - Luca Romano"I'll tell her the pure truth," I think to myself, but I know that it doesn't matter what I say—what really matters is how I say it. So I get my information across as tactfully as I can manage, hoping that I wouldn't come off as a traitor."The girl I'm involved with, well, I was involved with," I start out, typing another message. "She knows that someone is trying to kill me. I continue, and she's an investigative journalist. I had... After my first encounter with you, I told her about it in one of our meetings," I say simply, because I'm not about to completely deny my involvement, tell her that somehow Vanessa just wants to look into her for no reason at all. I need to let her know exactly what's going on no matter what. And if it means taking some of the blame, then I would do it."She is very good, and I think you might be in danger, so I decided to warn you. I've told her to stop, but she just wouldn't listen," I finish before waiting patiently for a res

Chapter 39 - Luca RomanoI realized my mistake the moment after I make it. I feel a sense of dread creeping upon me. I might as well have simply confessed that the name she professed was true. I know that there is a tendency that she doesn't exactly know, that she is not sure yet and simply tries to sound sure so as to deceive me. How could I let such a simple tactic work on me, I think to myself in dismay, knowing that I've given her away nicely now.I should have known that this girl is an investigative journalist and that as such she has a lot of techniques. She already had a very good idea, I tell myself internally so as not to blame myself too much—a very, very good idea of who she is, so I can't exactly be the cause now, can I? I think to myself as I contemplate what else would have happened. When I think about it now, I wouldn't have said anything if not for the fact that she had been so accurate in her depiction of her, and for her to have the name like that, well then, most l

Chapter 38 - Luca RomanoNot wanting her to kill me herself is one thing, but it's another entirely to stop me from wanting to die. Somehow I feel lighter and happy, at least just at the thought of seeing her again. After the conversation with her, I don't feel that heavy feeling in my soul anymore. I feel refreshed, rejuvenated, and ready to continue living, pushing forward.Sure, my sister might be already poised to take everything that I own by birthright, but it doesn't mean she has to get it so easily. The odds are still in my favor even though everything is probably already set. I'm not going to waste my opportunity. I'm going to do my best and get my ultimate goal. Of course, I know that there are a lot of chances of me failing, like the last failure, and the consequences might be dire, especially to the men that work with me, but I'm willing to take that risk. I'm willing to continue fighting and acting according to plan in order to bring my future to reality and take hold of

Chapter 37 - Kira RogersI don't expect to find a depressed Luca Romano this time around. I heartfully kidnap him and Serge Vang, succeeding in my mission because, well, it is somehow getting easier and easier. Either he is getting more careless, or I'm getting more used to maneuvering his security personnel, who don't seem to be skilled in the art of protecting him at all. They don't even do their jobs right, I think to myself, shaking my head as I bring him over to a valley.I think it's nice to talk with him one last time in such a scenario before taking him out, but unfortunately, he somehow has suicidal tendencies at the moment. I feel completely shocked by the words that he says, and somehow my will to kill goes away. He seems to not want to kill himself but rather have me do it. I wouldn't have had any problems with that previously, but I'm not about to be used as his tool to get what he wants. At the same time, I just somehow feel a little apprehensive.So I decide not to kill

Chapter 36 Luca Romano She doesn't look like she's joking this time around as she points the gun straight to my head—clear indication that she's here to finish everything. I will consider myself blessed. At the field and the flowers around us, remembering how the lights at the end of the tunnel had looked a moment before we got here, I find myself smiling even more. She frowns at me, but the joy can't leave me at the moment."Well, at least you are very thoughtful," I tell her, nodding in appreciation."Thoughtful?" she says, glaring at me. "What do you mean?""It's a wonderful place to die now, don't you think?" I question.She looks around and seems to consider it. "Well, not the worst place," she says. "Better than my bedroom.""Definitely better," I say, recalling how I had almost died that day right in my bed where I'm supposed to be safest."What's up with you?" she questions, frowning apprehensively. Her gun lowers ever so slightly, but that's not what I want at the moment."

Chapter 35Luca Romano. Yet another day at my office, but this time around I'm feeling drained and tired of everything in general. Somehow my life seems to have turned upside down all of a sudden, and there doesn't seem to be anything looking up at all. My sister is diligently working hard to take my place, and I've been trying to compete with her—something that was not supposed to even be a competition in the first place.What's more, I'm failing badly in my task because, well, the last attack didn't go so well. It's all my fault, I think to myself, as I recall how the men died then, for no just reason at all. As I think more about it, simply reminiscing about how it all fell through makes me feel overwhelming guilt. That day, just three days ago, I lost about 20 of the men assigned to me, and there was hardly any result at all. We were supposed to raid their hideout, but as it happened, we didn't have the right location.I remember telling them that it's not time yet, wanting us al