Pain clawed through Ronan’s body, relentless and burning, as if something inside him was unraveling and reforming all at once. He clenched his teeth, every muscle taut, but the sensation only intensified. A raw heat surged through his veins, and beneath the agony, something else stirred—something unfamiliar.He forced his eyes open.The chamber was dimly lit, the stone walls damp and cold, but none of it registered beyond the weight of the chains binding his wrists. Not just iron. Enchanted. The silver glowed faintly, pulsing in time with his heartbeat, sapping his strength. He shifted, testing their hold, but the effort sent a wave of pain radiating through his bones.A shadow moved in front of him. Elias.“You feel it, don’t you?” His voice was almost gentle, edged with something like satisfaction. “The change taking root.”Ronan forced out a breath. “Go to hell.” His voice was rough, strained, like something raw had clawed its way up his throat.Elias chuckled. “You still think you
The fortress loomed before them, a black silhouette against the starless sky. Selene barely registered the danger—her entire being focused on one thing. Ronan. He was inside. Changing. And if she didn’t reach him soon, she might lose him forever.Cassian placed a firm hand on her arm. “Selene, slow down. This isn’t just some reckless fight—Elias wants you to rush in. We need a plan.”Her breath came fast, her pulse a frantic rhythm in her ears. “Then stay behind. I’m not waiting.”“You think I’d let you go alone?” His grip tightened. “You’re not thinking straight.”Varian took a step forward, eyes dark with something unreadable. “She’s not wrong. The longer we hesitate, the worse it gets.”Selene pulled free of Cassian’s grasp and unsheathed her dagger. “Then let’s move.”She sprinted forward, leaving them no choice but to follow.The fortress walls pulsed with enchantments—layers of protection designed to keep intruders out. But that wasn’t going to stop her. She reached out, feeling
Selene’s breath caught as Ronan collapsed, his body crumpling like a marionette with its strings severed. The room seemed to shrink around her, the flickering firelight casting grotesque shadows over his unmoving form.“No—no, no, no,” she whispered, dropping to her knees beside him. His skin was ice-cold, his pulse a faint whisper beneath her fingertips. “Ronan, stay with me.”His eyes were shut, his breathing shallow, but something was wrong. He wasn’t just unconscious—he was slipping away.“Cassian! Varian!” Selene’s voice was raw as she looked up, desperate for help.Cassian was already moving, pressing two fingers against Ronan’s throat, his jaw tightening. “He’s alive, but it’s like something’s—”“Taking him,” Varian finished grimly.Selene’s heart pounded as she turned her attention back to Ronan, her fingers brushing over the fresh marks on his chest—the scars from Elias’s magic. A cold realization settled in her gut. Elias wasn’t just trying to break Ronan. He was claiming hi
The crash of splintering wood shattered the moment of fragile relief. Cassian spun toward the entrance, sword already drawn. “They’ve found us.”Selene’s pulse spiked as the air thickened with the acrid scent of burning embers and something darker—corruption.Ronan pushed himself upright, but he barely managed to stay on his feet. His breath was uneven, and the shadows still clung to him, flickering beneath his skin like remnants of Elias’s control.“How many?” Ronan rasped.Varian moved to the door, his golden eyes narrowing. “Too many.”Another boom shook the walls, sending dust raining down from the ceiling. The torches flickered violently.Selene grabbed Ronan’s arm, steadying him as he swayed. He was still too weak—whatever Elias had done wasn’t gone, merely dormant, waiting to resurface.“We need to move,” she said, her voice tight.Cassian cursed under his breath. “No way out except through them.”Varian cracked his knuckles, dark magic sparking at his fingertips. “Then we carv
The wind howled across the cliffs, whipping Selene’s hair around her face as she stared at the woman standing before her.A crimson cloak billowed around the stranger’s tall frame, and her silver eyes glowed faintly in the moonlight. The twisted smile on her lips sent a cold shiver down Selene’s spine.No. It couldn’t be her.Selene’s fingers curled around her daggers. “You.”The woman chuckled. “Hello, little moon. It’s been a long time.”Cassian stiffened beside her, his sword raised. “Who the hell is she?”Ronan, still unsteady, shifted toward Selene as if to shield her. “You know her?”Selene’s jaw clenched. “Her name is Lyra.”A name she hadn’t spoken in years.Once, Lyra had been her mentor—an assassin who had trained Selene in the art of killing. She had taught Selene how to strike from the shadows, how to survive.And then she had betrayed her.Selene’s heart pounded. “I watched you die.”Lyra smirked. “Clearly, you didn’t watch close enough.”Cassian’s grip tightened on his b
The fire crackled weakly, casting flickering shadows across the rocky outcrop where they had taken shelter. Selene sat with her arms wrapped around her knees, staring into the flames, but her mind was far from the warmth. Three days. That was all Elias had given her. Three days to decide whether to walk into his grasp or leave Varian to suffer.The thought made her chest tighten, her fingers digging into her arms.Cassian paced behind her, restless energy rolling off him in waves. “We need a plan,” he muttered. “If we wait, Elias gains the advantage. We have to strike first.”Selene barely heard him. Across from her, Ronan sat against the cave wall, his breathing uneven. His usual strength was gone, replaced by something fragile, something unnatural. The dark veins beneath his skin hadn’t faded. If anything, they had spread.She clenched her fists. “Ronan—”“I’m fine.” His voice was low, but it lacked conviction.Cassian scoffed. “You’re not fine. And neither is this plan.” He turned
Selene tightened her grip on the dagger at her waist, staring into the flickering firelight. The night was silent, but the weight of their next move pressed heavily on her chest. They had one chance to turn the tables on Elias, and yet every instinct screamed that walking into his trap was madness.Across from her, Ronan leaned against a tree, his breathing uneven. The shadows beneath his eyes had deepened, his skin paler than before. He was changing—Cassian saw it, Varian saw it, and deep down, Selene saw it too. But she couldn’t lose him. Not now.“We need to move before dawn,” Cassian said, his voice edged with frustration. “If we wait any longer, we’re giving Elias more time to strengthen his hold.”Ronan scoffed, his arms crossed. “And if we rush in without a plan, we’ll be walking straight into his hands.” His voice was rougher than usual, the darkness in him seeping into every word.Selene exhaled, trying to steady herself. “We’re not going in blind. We know Elias wants me aliv
Selene’s breath hitched as the shadows thickened around them, tendrils of darkness twisting like living things. She scrambled to her feet, her pulse hammering as she searched for Ronan.Then she saw him.He was on his knees, clutching his head, his entire body trembling. His breath came in ragged gasps, his fingers digging into the dirt as if he were fighting something unseen. But the worst part was his eyes—no longer the deep, stormy blue she knew, but glowing with a golden fire, an eerie light that mirrored Elias’s.“Ronan!”She lunged toward him, but the moment her fingers brushed his shoulder, he jerked away as if burned. A low, guttural snarl tore from his throat, one that sent a shiver through her spine. His body tensed, muscles straining as the shadows around him pulsed and coiled.No. This wasn’t him. This wasn’t Ronan.Elias’s laughter echoed through the courtyard. “Fascinating, isn’t it?” he mused, stepping forward with leisurely confidence. “He’s fighting it now, but how mu
Great! Let’s dive in and start writing Chapter 55: “Cracks in the Alliance”.Chapter 55: Cracks in the AllianceThe night was quiet, too quiet. It should have been a relief after everything they had been through, but for Selene, the silence was deafening. As the darkness surrounded them, so too did her growing unease. She had thought their bond was unbreakable—after everything they’d survived together—but now, she wasn’t so sure.Ronan was getting weaker. She could see it in his eyes, in the way he moved so carefully, like he was trying not to make a sound. He’d been injured in the battle days ago, but there was something else now. Something more. He refused to admit it, but Selene knew. He was hiding the pain.She watched him from a distance, his figure sitting on the edge of the campfire, his face partially illuminated by the flickering flames. He had always been the strong one—the one who protected her, the one who held everything together. But now… now she was the one who had to b
The quiet of the abandoned cabin felt almost surreal, the kind of silence that settled deep into your bones, a quiet that wasn’t peaceful but unsettling. Selene stood near the door, her back pressed against the wood, trying to steady her breath. The tension in the air was thick, as if the whole world was holding its breath, waiting for the next move. She could feel Ronan’s eyes on her, his presence like a constant weight at her back.“What are you thinking?” he asked, his voice low but unmistakably filled with concern.Selene didn’t answer immediately, her gaze drifting over the wreckage in front of them. The room was in ruins, remnants of a once-used, comfortable space now scattered and broken. Alys had done this—had orchestrated this whole mess. The woman who had pretended to be their ally, who had carefully weaved her way into their trust, was now the very thing they needed to be wary of.“I’m thinking about what comes next,” Selene replied quietly, still not looking at Ronan. Her
The world seemed to tilt beneath Selene’s feet as she stared at the woman standing beside Elias. Her sister.Alys.The name burned through her like a ghost from a forgotten past. For years, she had believed Alys was dead—swallowed by the darkness that had taken so much from her. But here she stood, alive and changed.Selene’s heart pounded, a painful mix of emotions twisting inside her. Alys was older now, her features sharper, her silver eyes guarded. There was no warmth in them. No recognition of the love they had once shared as children.She had once idolized her sister. Now, she barely recognized her.“Alys?” Selene’s voice barely came out.Alys tilted her head, a slow smirk forming. “It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”Beside Selene, Ronan tensed. Even injured, his stance was protective, his golden eyes narrowed with suspicion. “Who is she?” His voice was low, edged with warning.Selene swallowed hard. “My sister.”Cassian let out a harsh breath, stepping in front of her. “And she’s s
The night air was thick with the scent of damp earth and blood. Selene crouched beside Ronan, pressing a hand against his shoulder where a fresh wound bled through his torn tunic. His breathing was uneven, labored. The battle had been brutal, and though they had managed to escape, the cost was becoming unbearable.“You need to stop moving,” she murmured, but he shook his head stubbornly.“We don’t have time,” Ronan gritted out. His jaw was tense, his hands clenched into fists as if willing himself to ignore the pain.Cassian hovered nearby, arms crossed, his sharp gaze sweeping their surroundings. “He’s right. We have to move before Elias sends another hunting party after us.”Selene shot him a glare. “And what do you suggest? Let him bleed out while we run blindly into the woods?”“Better than being caught,” Cassian countered.Before Selene could snap back, Varian stepped forward. “We’re not safe here, but we also can’t go far with Ronan like this.” His gaze flickered to Selene. “The
Selene stood at the edge of the ancient stone circle, her breath coming in short, erratic bursts. The air around her felt thick, charged with energy that made her skin prickle. In front of her, the mysterious figure from the shadows had stepped into the light, revealing a face that was both unfamiliar and hauntingly familiar.The woman before her was dressed in robes of midnight blue, adorned with intricate silver symbols that shimmered in the dim light. Her long hair cascaded around her shoulders like a river of silver, her eyes glowing with an unsettling power. There was no mistaking it now—this was no ordinary person. This was someone who belonged to the depths of Selene’s bloodline, someone who had been lost to time.“You are my descendant,” the woman said, her voice a low whisper, but it carried with it a weight that pressed against Selene’s chest. “And you have awakened.”Selene’s heart pounded as she tried to make sense of the words. “Awakened?” she repeated, her voice shaky. “
The healer’s hut smelled of damp earth and burning herbs, a suffocating mix that made Selene’s stomach churn. Ronan lay on a stone slab at the center, his body taut with tension, veins darkening like spreading ink. His breaths were ragged, uneven, as if he were fighting a battle within himself.“This ritual must not be interrupted,” the healer warned, her wrinkled hands hovering over Ronan’s chest. “If he resists, the beast inside him will take over.”Selene swallowed hard, her heart hammering. “He won’t resist. He’s strong.”But was he? She had seen the way his control frayed in the past days. The way his eyes darkened, how his hands trembled when he reached for her as if he feared he’d crush her instead of hold her.The healer pressed a silver blade to Ronan’s palm, drawing a thin line of blood. “This will force the darkness to reveal itself.”The moment the blood touched the ritual stones, Ronan’s body convulsed.A snarl tore from his throat, his fangs elongating as his muscles sei
The fire flickered weakly, casting jagged shadows across the cave walls. Selene knelt beside Ronan, her fingers trembling as she pressed them against his burning skin. His breath came in short, ragged gasps, his body locked in the grip of something unnatural. Dark veins, pulsing like poisoned roots, crawled up his neck, vanishing beneath the collar of his tunic.“Ronan,” she whispered, shaking him slightly. His eyelids fluttered, but he didn’t respond.Cassian crouched nearby, his expression grim. “It’s getting worse.”Selene shot him a glare. “I know that.”Cassian didn’t flinch. “We need to do something now. This isn’t just a wound—Elias cursed him.”Her pulse pounded. “Cursed?”Cassian nodded, his gaze dark. “If we don’t act fast, Ronan won’t be Ronan anymore.”Selene’s grip on Ronan tightened. His body twitched, his muscles locking as if something inside him was trying to claw free.She had seen dark magic before. The way it twisted its victims, leaving nothing of their former sel
Cassian stood in the doorway, his silhouette framed against the flickering torchlight. His sudden arrival sent shockwaves through Selene’s body, a mix of fury and disbelief tightening in her chest. She had trusted him once—only to be betrayed. And now, he was here again, standing beside Elias as if he belonged there.Ronan tensed beside her, his body weakened from Elias’s magic, but his eyes burned with raw hatred. “You,” he rasped. “You son of a—”“Save your breath, Ronan,” Cassian cut him off, stepping closer. His face was unreadable, but there was an urgency in his voice. “I’m here to help.”Selene clenched her fists. “Help?” she spat. “After what you did? After you sold us out?”Cassian’s jaw tightened. “If I hadn’t, you’d be dead.” His gaze flickered toward Elias, who watched the exchange with an amused smirk. “I made a deal to stay close to him, to keep you alive long enough for this moment.”Elias chuckled. “And yet, dear Cassian, I wonder—whose side are you really on?”Selene’
Ronan knelt on the cold stone floor, his wrists bound in iron shackles, his body bruised and bloodied from the relentless torment Elias had inflicted upon him. But his golden eyes burned with defiance, refusing to yield.Selene struggled against the guards holding her back, her heart pounding wildly. She had never seen Ronan so vulnerable before, yet the fire in his gaze remained unbroken.Elias circled him like a predator savoring its prey. “You could make this easier, Ronan,” he mused, voice laced with mock concern. “Pledge your loyalty to me, and I’ll spare you this suffering. Or would you rather continue bleeding for a lost cause?”Ronan lifted his head, spitting blood onto the floor at Elias’s feet. “I’ll never bow to you.”Elias sighed dramatically. “So stubborn. But you see, I don’t need your cooperation. I just need to find the right pressure point to break you.” His eyes flickered toward Selene. “And I believe I already have.”Selene’s stomach twisted as Elias strode toward h