LOGINGILDEONHe tried calling Arah several times, but she wasn’t answering.“Damn it, Arah,” he muttered, throwing the phone onto the dashboard and slamming his foot on the gas, pushing the car harder down the road.“How the fuck is there a hunter here?” he growled through gritted teeth. Thoughts of those Earthland sylphs detecting Eitan and Yadira’s arrival flashed through his mind like warning flares.“Witch,” Yadira said from the backseat, “didn’t Caylao Island have enough chaotic energy to make it difficult for them to sense the anomaly?”From the corner of his eye, Gildeon saw Roselia’s lips pursed. She clearly didn’t like the way his lieutenant addressed her.“Well, something big must've drawn their attention,” Roselia replied beside him, a restrained bite in her tone. “These hunters aren’t fools, salamander.”
ARAHShe sprang to her feet, skin prickling with a sudden wave of unease. She didn’t know who the man in the white suit was, but every instinct screamed threat. He hadn’t come here as a friend. He didn’t look like a tourist, either. There was something about him—something cold, practiced, dangerous—that made her want to run and not stop.Finn rose as well, much calmer than she was, stepping slightly forward as if to position himself between her and the stranger.“Do you know him?” she asked, eyes flicking to Finn. Maybe this guy was after him.But then her gaze shifted to Mabel, who was still refusing to meet her eyes—and Arah knew, right then, that this was about her.“I appreciate your assistance in locating her, Mrs. Torres,” the man said, addressing Mabel.Arah’s eyes narrowed. She noticed Mabel’s fingers briefly graze her shoulder—the same spot where the man’s hand had rested just moments ago.If Arah had to gues
GILDEONThat afternoon, after his last class was canceled, he felt an urge to swing by Roselia’s place. The witch had returned. He could sense her energy pulsing faintly from the workshop. Confirming it through his dragon sight, he strode straight inside.The smell hit him first—a heady mix of herbs and simmering animal bones that burned the inside of his nose.“I told you to see me the second you returned,” he growled low.Roselia stopped stirring the cauldron and spun to face him. He froze at the sight of her eyes that had turned eerily white.“What happened?” he demanded, the hardness in his voice cracking with worry. Whatever this was, it didn’t look like something magic could simply mend.Roselia’s hand swept across the table, searching until her fingers brushed a chair. She pulled it out and lowered herself onto it with quiet control.“I found other witches abroad,” she said. “We worked together to locate the br
ARAHShe drove to the other side of the island—somewhere no one would recognize her. But more than anything, it was to make sure Gildeon wouldn’t find her too quickly if he decided to follow. Her phone rang a few times before she powered it off completely.Arah ended up at a quieter beach. A few locals lounged under trees, chatting. Children splashed in the shallows, their laughter distant but warm. The sand wasn’t as white as the sand from the tourist spots, but it was just as soft beneath her hands. She sat down and stared out at the horizon.The sky was beginning to change. Muted shades of copper and bruised violet stretched across the clouds. The hue felt heavy, like the weight pressing down on her chest.The wind was still reacting to her restraint anger, tugging at her hair in restless gusts. But here, it blended into the stronger afternoon breeze—easier to lose, harder to trace.She took a long breath and closed her eyes, bi
ARAHShe padded toward the edge of the porch, her footsteps feather-light on the wooden planks as she strained to listen.“I can’t bear staying under the same roof as the enemy anymore,” Yadira said, her words stinging Arah’s chest. “The sooner the Captain gets his Awakening, the better.”Her breath caught. Awakening? Gildeon had never mentioned anything about that. What did it even mean? Was it like accessing the Dark Plane?“These things take time, Yadira,” Eitan replied.“How long?” the female lieutenant snapped. “Why isn’t it working yet? Captain said he’s already coupled with the sylph several times.”A flush crept up Arah’s neck. The word ‘coupled’ may have sounded clinical in Earthland, but the implication landed clearly. But why would Gildeon share stuff about their sex life with his comrades?“Even Capt
ARAHShe wanted to run after Mabel and explain herself, but Cora grabbed her arm, shaking her head.“Give her time,” she said. “What you told her isn’t something she’s going to believe right away. Besides, you just admitted to making her a widow on her wedding night.”Arah sighed, clutching her collarbone as she watched Mabel storm off through the window.“Gotta give it to you,” Cora said. “I didn’t think you’d actually say it to her.”Arah sank into the couch. “I didn’t want to lie. And honestly, I wanted to see how she’d react. I needed that.”Cora sat beside her. “You’re planning to alter her memories, aren’t you?”Hearing it out loud made her stomach twist. She looked down and gave a small nod, shame creeping in. She had hurt their friend, knowing full well she could just erase it afterward.Cora exhaled deeply and leaned back into the couch. “It’s a shitty thing to do, I’ll tell you that,” she said. “I sti







