ADDISONHours passed by, and the sky grew dimer, but Addison Madden, Albert Hart, and the soldiers were still stuck in the same clearing.No matter how many times they tried, how many routes they attempted or turns they avoided… they always returned to the same place. They had walked exceptionally slowly, making symbols on the stones to track their passage. They had moved as quickly as possible, trying to break through whatever force was misleading them.But everything they tried was futile… and they were growing increasinly restless and exhausted with each passing effort.The mist surrounding them was suffocating, too thick and too heavy. Addison stumbled toward a trunk and leaned against it, trying to catch her breath. A dull ache began to bloom in her head.She began to wonder if this was the end.What a hilarious thing to think about, she thought bitterly, a trace of laughter in her internal tone.Such an unforeseen twist.She imagined the shame she’d bring upon her family if she
ADDISONAs Addison removed the scarf she’d tied around her eyes, she realized that they had reached a large clearing.They were above the mist now, and from their vantage, they could see the entire mountain summit, unobstructed by thick fog.Around her, the soldiers began removing their own blinders, their voices filling the air with relief as they realized Albert Hart’s plan had worked. Cheers for survival and perseverance echoed in the clearing, a testament to their determination in the face of near certain death.But Addison didn’t allow herself to smile just yet. She scanned the group, her sharp eyes counting their numbers, and her expression darkened. A few soldiers hadn’t made it up.Maybe the mist’s effects made them give up, Addison thought grimly. It had nearly happened to her as well. Had it not been for years of grueling training and an unyielding desire to survive, she might have succumbed too.“I believe that’s our destination.” Albert said, appearing beside her. His deep
ADDISONThe air was taut with tension, the charged atmosphere almost as palpable as when they had ascended the mountain.“That’s impossible!” Frank snarled at Albert, his eyes blazing with anguish and anger. “You’re twisting the facts.”Lord Hart opened his mouth to speak, but Frank cut him off sharply, rage flashing in his cold eyes.“I gave you a way of living, but now you’re seeking your death.” He snarled, his voice low and venomous. “You seemed to forget – you were just as responsible for my sister’s death as the rest of them. You, Madden, and the scum. All of you should pay.” “I’ve never forgotten my sins for even a second,” Albert said solemnly, his tone calm as he met the accusation without flinching. “But if you want to lay ultimate blame, it’s not on me, Frank Crawford. It’s on you. It was you who condemned your sister to death.”“That’s bullshit,” Frank growled. “How could I have done that? It was that scum of a King who killed her.”.“Tell me this,” Albert pressed, his dar
EVELYNTwo days passed in the blink of an eye, the second slipping by faster than the first, as the engagement party of Cole Elrod and Skyla Fox drew ever closer.Over those two days, my dreams began to change. For so long, they had been haunted by the image of young – his painful childhood, the way he’d been treated as less than nothing by those who should have loved him, nurtured him.But ever since the news of his engagement had reached my ears, my dreams had taken on a new form. No longer was I haunted by images of the broken boy he had once been, but by the man he had become – the man who stood beside Skyla Fox.In every dream, Cole stood with her, his obsidian eyes gleaming as they stared a moment of undeniable beauty. Their arms were entwined, and they looked so perfect together, as though they had been forged for one another. They stood at the top of a grand staircase, smiling out at the crowd with warmth and grace. The celebration around them was filled with laughter, but it
EVELYNAfter what felt like an eternity, Marcel Fox stepped to the front and cleared his throat. The hall fell silent as he began to speak.“Well, Lords and Ladies, noble guests from far and wide, it’s with boundless pride and joy that I welcome you all to this most momentous occasion – a celebration that destined to echo through the halls of Hescor’s history. Tonight, we gather to honor the betrothal of His Majesty, our most revered King, and my beloved daughter, Skyla Fox – ”Marcel’s happiness was plain as he spoke, his voice buoyant with pride. A part of me considered paying attention, but the rest of me couldn’t stomach a single word uttered by the vile man. There was no point in listening. His speech was nothing more than gloating and grandstanding for this gathering.Unlike me, the crowd devoured every word. They appeared eager, thrilled even, at the prospect of the King’s engagement to the beautiful young daughter of House Fox.Jack’s hand found mine again, his finger curling
EVELYNAs I stared at my pained reflection in the mirror, two women entered the washroom.“Lady Skyla looks so beautiful, doesn’t she?” one sighed, shaking her head in admiration. “That dress is absolutely gorgeous. Of course, that girl could wear a sack and still be the loveliest thing in the room.”“And the King…” the other woman murmured in awe, mirroring the first woman’s gesture. “My goodness, he’s even more handsome than I imagined.”“He’s breathtaking,” the first woman agreed.I quickly tidied myself up and left the washroom, unable to endure another second of their gushing adoration, whether for Skyla or Cole. It was too much, a fresh sting to an already aching heart.I headed back toward the hall, knowing Jack would return soon. If I wasn’t there when he came back, I didn’t want to imagine what might happen.As I walked, I caught sight of a woman. It took a moment, but I recognized her – the same golden-haired woman I’d seen in the market earlier. There was something about he
EVELYNHad it been anyone else, the gesture might have seemed gentlemanly -but Jack Elrod was no gentleman.I gazed up at him, my voice trembling with barely restrained anger. “Are you satisfied now? Why did you do all of this? Does it make you happy to see me so desperate and miserable?”Jack watched me, his expression unreadable. “I never wanted to see you unhappy,” he said softly. “I regret that you had to witness how weak-minded and disloyal my brother is.”I stared at him coldly, sarcasm etched into every feature of my face. His word felt hollow, like a carefully crafted excuse meant absolve himself of blame. I didn’t believe a single word.He reached down, his thumb brushing against my cheek to wipe away a tear. “Why do you always think so badly of me?” he asked quietly, his tone almost wistful.I shrank away from his touch and pushed his hand aside abruptly. “Because you’re a manipulator!” I stood, glaring at him as my voice rose with anger. “You use people. You hurt them to get
EVELYNFor the first time, Jack’s face was fully exposed.Half of it retained its beauty and striking handsomeness; the other half was a grotesque web of scars, deep and jagged, cutting across his cheek and down his jawline. They were old wounds, yet they seemed vivid, as if freshly inflicted. Each line told a story of unimaginable pain and violence.As much as I despised Jack, a shiver ran through me unbidden, as I imagined the agony he must have endured. The crowd buzzed with hushed whispers. “Goddess, what happened to his face?” someone breathed.“Don’t stare—it’s rude,” another chided, though their own eyes lingered.“Is it true? Why does he look like that?”Jack’s jaw tightened. His expression turned dark and unreadable as he slowly bet to retrieve his mask.The homeless man froze, his earlier bravado evaporating in the face of Jack’s smothering fury. But it was too late. Jack grabbed him and drove a brutal punch into his stomach. Blood sprayed as the man crumpled to the groun
EVELYNThe street stretched out before us, unnervingly still. The stalls stood closed, their wooden boxes covered with heavy canvas. No guards patrolled the quiet alleys, and no pedestrians passed within sight as we crept along the corner. Our eyes scanned the empty expanse before we cautiously moved forward.Jasmine led the way, her hand resting on the hilt of the dagger at her hip. Her footfalls were nearly soundless as she glided through the shadows. She would lead us out before returning to help Stephanie and Seb in their rescue mission. Behind her, I carried Cole’s weight, struggling to move quietly. Though I could mostly manage, it was only with Leila’s help that I was able to keep pace without falling behind.“We’re lucky,” Leila whispered, her voice barely audible. “Everyone’s distracted, over by the execution ground. It’s so clear here. The plan’s going well.”I wanted to believe her, but an unsettling feeling crawled at the edges of my mind. The silence was too complete. The
EVELYN“Are you suggesting that I abandon you?” I whispered.Jasmine’s gaze locked with mine. The intensity in her eyes was undeniable, her determination sharp as steel. “I’m suggesting that we put the King’s safety first,” she said.“But—”Before I could protest further, Leila cut in. “Jasmine is right.” She seemed entirely convinced by her plan now, placing a hand on my arm. “You and Cole have to leave. That’s why we’re here—to rescue the King. Isn’t that what we want more than anything?”I couldn’t argue. Though it stung to think of retreating, I knew the gravity of the situation. Jasmine’s words struck deep. As if sensing my hesitation, she added, “Don’t think of it as abandonment. What’s on your shoulders is far heavier than ours. Remember our oath? The King’s life is the heart of Hescor. His reign is the promise of Ozora’s future.”Finally, I exhaled. “Okay. But how will this work?” I asked. “Jack Elrod isn’t easily fooled.”“He’s not,” Jasmine agreed, a faint sense of relief in
EVELYNThe air in the room thickened, pressing down on us as the weight of the revelation sank in. Leila blinked rapidly, her gaze darting between the runes and the others, struggling to process the enormity of what we were seeing. Even though she had been the first to suggest that Hescor might be connected to magic, the discovery that the ancient runes of Tiryn—the Kingdom of Wizardry—had ties to werewolves left her just as stunned as the rest of us.“Why would the pattern symbolize a werewolf?" Leila demanded before anyone else could speak. Her face was tight with alarm, her unease palpable. "Explain it to me!”Seb’s face remained unreadable, his features etched with a mix of exhaustion and resignation. He shook his head slowly, his voice flat. “I don't know,” he muttered, a bitter edge creeping into his tone. “The runes are an ancient language created by the first King of Tiryn. Only the kings can understand them. The wizards of Tiryn believed they held the deepest, most dangerous
EVELYN“What… what is this?” I asked Leila, my brow furrowing as I pointed to the symbol on the page. I strained to pull it out from my memories, but my mind felt clouded – overwhelmed by too many events, too many raw emotions. The sleepless nights had left me dizzy, my thoughts fragmented. It was as if I were reaching for something just beyond my grasp, a fleeting thread of clarity that refused to materialize.Leila studied the symbol for a moment before shaking her head. “I’ve seen the same pattern in other parts of the book, but I’m not sure what it means.” She flipped through the pages, showing me the other instances of the same design. “It could just be a random mark left by the book’s owner, something to remind themselves of something important.”“I don’t think it’s random,” Stephanie interjected. She moved closer to the book, her finger tracing the intricate pattern. “It’s far too detailed to be just a meaningless doodle. Do the pages with this symbol have anything in common?”
EVELYNI placed the kettle on the stove and began rummaging through the kitchen cabinets until I finally found some tea. After grabbing a couple of mugs, I dropped the fragrant tea bags into them, then waited for the water to heat.The kitchen remained quiet, with only the gentle hiss of the boiling kettle breaking the stillness. I was relieved that Stephanie hadn’t followed me. It gave me a rare moment to think.I glanced over at her – sitting absentmindedly by the table, her gaze lost somewhere outside the window. Stephanie’s appearance hadn’t changed much, but the weight of her experiences and suffering was etched in her eyes. Those once bright and confident eyes now looked evasive, as though hiding something deeper.Leila’s words echoed in my mind:She believes her brother was deceived by the wizards and wants to convince him to stop the bloodshed.It wasn’t that I disbelieved Stephanie, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that things were not so simple. She was intelligent, and by n
EVELYNThe night seemed to slip away unnoticed.When I glanced out the window, the first pale light of dawn crept over the horizon, the sun rising slowly in the east.The house was quiet once again. Leila, Jasmine, and Stephanie had retired to their rooms, while Seb—still unconscious from the overdose of medicine Leila had given him to ensure he wouldn’t cause trouble before sunrise—lay motionless.As the others slept, I sat at the edge of Cole’s bed, absently running my fingers through his thick, golden hair. Sleep eluded me after the conversation with Leila and Jasmine. Though their arrival should have brought me some sense of relief, the burden in my heart only grew heavier as I processed everything they’d shared.I had thought that if I could just find a way to bring Cole back to Halian, things might start to improve. But Leila had warned that Halian was no longer safe. Attacks were imminent, and Jack Elrod’s plan had already begun to unfold.As Leila and Jasmine explained, war se
EVELYN“Think about Sylvia! She wouldn’t want you to do this!” I struggled against the rope binding my wrist, trying to convince him to abandon his plan. But the man paid no heed. He walked toward Cole and stopped by the bed.He reached for something, but his hand froze midair as a rap echoed from the door.Both of us went still.There was a single, sharp sound, and then silence, as though it were nothing more than a shared figment of our overstrained nerves.The man shot me a glance before cautiously stepping toward the door. His movements were slow and deliberate, meant to make no sound. He gripped the handle, cracked the door open just a sliver, and peered outside.From where I was bound, I couldn’t see anything beyond the door, but something must have caught his eye. He opened it further and stepped outside.It was then that a shadow swooped in, knocking him to the ground.The poor night vision of humans gave him a disadvantage. The man scrambled to his feet, only to be grabbed by
EVELYNI looked up.Through the mist swirling around me, I saw Cole. His hand was outstretched, his eager gaze fixed on me. His chest was broken and bleeding, and he looked lonely and desperate, his dark eyes vast and pleading as they met mine.“Eva...”His voice reached me, pulling me back to the memory of two years ago. The day he’d pleaded, and I had retreated, shaking my head.I’d looked at him with fear and hatred.I’d said no.Every time I thought back to that moment, I believed I would handle it better if it happened again—that I’d calmly fix the confusion and the misunderstandings between my family and Cole.But I had been wrong.I felt glued to the ground, paralyzed. I opened my mouth, but only a harsh cry came out. Sadness and despair gripped me as guilt weighed on my heart like iron.“I… I can’t...” I whispered as I stared down at Conner’s lifeless body, the blood on my hands. No matter what I did, no matter how hard I tried, nothing was fixable. My family, my mate—none of
EVELYNI narrowed my eyes and focus on the paragraph. It was written in a completely different style from the rest of the announcement, looking more like a hasty draft—almost as if a careless scribe had used scrap paper to jot it down.And the paragraph, baffling in its oddness, turned out to be a poem, which the girl read aloud.The once pretty orange has begun its decay, yet the sapphire still gleams. The rotting orange could be saved for a worthy trade: The stone with the deep blue beam. If you still hold the fruit you cherish so dearlyCome and make the trade: Choose not to accept what’s written so clearly -The sapphire with shatter, and the fruit will fade.As the girl finished reading, the people around her erupted in laughter. The sound of their mirth filled the air, an overwhelming chorus that tightened my throat.A man jeered. “Even my teenage son could write a better poem than this. What a laughable mess.”A woman beside him giggled. “The scribe should be fired for sur