71

71

SPENCER

The alley was dark and cold, a perfect hiding spot for shady dealings. I leaned against the damp brick wall, the shadows swallowing me whole. I had just left another frustrating meeting, my mind racing with all the ways I had to regain control. This was not how things were supposed to go.

Suddenly, I heard footsteps echoing off the cobblestone. A guard stumbled into view, bloodied and panting. His face was pale, and I could see he had been in a fight. I pushed myself off the wall, curiosity piqued.

“What happened?” I asked, my voice steady, though anger simmered just below the surface. “You look like you’ve been through hell.”

The guard leaned against the wall for support, wincing as he tried to catch his breath. “It’s Annalise,” he gasped, struggling to speak. “She’s back. And she’s regained her powers.”

A chill ran down my spine. I felt my blood boil at the mention of her name. “What do you mean, ‘regained her powers’?”

“Something happened in the sacred cave,” the guard e