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
The sky was painted with the deep shades of twilight as the moon rose higher, casting its ethereal glow over the land. The world felt suspended in time, as though everything had led to this moment—this decision. Selene stood at the edge of the cliff, the wind tugging at her hair, her thoughts as turbulent as the sea crashing below. The weight of the world pressed heavily on her chest. She had never imagined that the final choice would come down to this: the past, the present, and the uncertain future.Behind her, Ronan stepped closer, his presence as steady as ever, like a shadow that had been following her all this time, but never once imposing. His soft breath on the back of her neck made her shiver, but not from fear—more from the deep, unspoken connection that had been growing between them. It was real. It had always been real, even when she had denied it.“Selene,” Ronan’s voice was calm, but there was an edge to it, as if he too had been waiting for this moment to arrive. “You d
Selene’s heart ached as she stared at Kael, standing across from her, his face a storm of emotions. His eyes—once filled with a deep affection for her—now held a raw intensity that could have broken a weaker soul. She knew the hurt was there, the pain of her choice, and yet she couldn’t bring herself to change it.Ronan, standing just behind her, was silent, his gaze flickering between her and Kael. He had sensed the tension thick in the air since Selene’s confession, but the silence between them now was more deafening than any words could have been.“Kael,” Selene began, her voice trembling despite her attempts to remain strong. She took a tentative step toward him, but he recoiled, a flicker of something darker passing over his features.“Save it,” Kael snapped, his voice cold. “I get it. You chose him.” His hand clenched into a fist, and his body seemed to vibrate with the energy of the anger he was trying so hard to suppress. “But don’t think for a second that you’ve gotten rid of
The night air hung heavy with unspoken words as Selene stood in front of the gathered group, her heart racing. Ronan stood beside her, his hand resting lightly on her arm, a silent show of solidarity. It had taken them days to come to this moment, the decision to make their relationship public. They could no longer hide the truth from the people closest to them. It was time to stop living in the shadows.Selene took a deep breath. She had always known this day would come, but that didn’t make it any easier. Her gaze swept over the faces of their group—Cassian, who had a concerned frown on his face; Varian, who was unusually quiet; and Kael, standing a little to the side. His expression was unreadable, but his body language spoke volumes. His arms were crossed, his eyes darkened with what she could only guess was a mixture of hurt and confusion.“I—I have something I need to say,” Selene began, her voice shaking slightly despite her best efforts to stay composed. “I’ve spent a lot of t
The sound of hooves pounding against the earth echoed through the forest, a rhythm that matched the tumultuous beating of Selene’s heart. The starlit night above them seemed distant and cold as the moonlight painted their path, glistening against the bloodstained earth beneath her boots. She had barely been able to keep up with the group, the pain in her side flaring every time she moved too quickly. But she had to keep going.They had faced the onslaught together, survived the siege—barely—but now, the battle was far from over. The deeper conflict within her burned just as fiercely. The weight of her indecision was suffocating.She could still feel the sensation of Ronan’s healing hands, the way his magic had wrapped around her wounds, his power infusing her with an energy that had been so foreign, yet so welcome. But it wasn’t just the healing that lingered. It was the touch, the warmth of his presence that made her heart flutter against her will. And then there was Kael—silent and
The clang of steel and the cries of battle filled the air as Selene stood at the front, her eyes scanning the chaos that had erupted on the battlefield. Her heart beat in rhythm with the violence, and though every instinct screamed at her to retreat, she stood her ground. Her people needed her. Ronan was by her side, his eyes fierce but weary as he struck down another of the invaders, his strength finally starting to wane. But he was determined, and Selene could feel his resolve fueling her own.“Stay close!” she called out, her voice steady despite the tension in the air. “We’re not losing this!”Kael, his movements swift and dangerous, rushed forward, cutting down an enemy soldier who tried to flank them. Cassian was close behind, his usual smirk replaced with a grim expression as he took charge of a separate line of defense. The air crackled with tension, every movement sharp, deliberate. The battle wasn’t just a fight; it was survival.Selene’s mind raced through strategies, calcu
The air was thick with tension, every heartbeat echoing like war drums across the crumbling temple grounds. From her vantage point atop the weather-worn balcony, Selene watched the horizon darken—not with clouds, but with the approaching horde.The siege had begun.Below, Kael barked orders, still limping from his last encounter but determined to defend what little ground they had left. The allies they’d gathered—rogue wolves, witches who had once served in hiding, a handful of humans brave or foolish enough to fight—moved in hurried unison, preparing barricades and traps. But the numbers were not in their favor.Selene turned at the sound of approaching footsteps. Ronan stood there, quiet but intense, his gaze locked on the distant army.“They’re moving faster than expected,” he said. His voice was steady, but Selene caught the flicker of tension behind his eyes. “Your brother isn’t wasting time anymore.”“Elias never did,” she murmured, jaw clenched. “But he’s more desperate now. He
The forest still echoed with the chaos they had barely survived. Selene’s hands trembled as she clutched Kael’s shoulder, his blood staining her fingertips. The kiss they had shared—born of desperation, confusion, and something deeper—still lingered between them like a ghost. But it was the man standing just beyond them, cloaked in shadow and moonlight, that stole all the air from her lungs.Ronan.He was bare-chested, panting, blood smeared across his chest, his golden eyes still glowing faintly with the remnants of his transformation. Fury burned in their depths, but so did heartbreak. And betrayal.“Ronan…” Selene’s voice cracked. She took a step toward him but stopped when he flinched ever so slightly, his jaw clenching.Kael groaned beside her, struggling to sit upright. “You know him?” he asked, voice raw.Selene didn’t answer.Ronan took a step forward, his gaze locked on Kael, who still lay weakened on the forest floor. “You kissed him.”It wasn’t a question. It was an accusat
The air crackled with tension as Selene stood before the two men—Kael, weak and recovering, his breaths shallow, and Ronan, standing tall and cold, a shadow of the man she once knew. Her heart hammered in her chest, a storm of emotions crashing inside her. Ronan’s gaze was hard, his jaw clenched tight. His return was unexpected, but now that he was here, everything had changed.Selene stood frozen, her hand still resting on Kael’s shoulder, her eyes wide in disbelief. Her mind couldn’t catch up with the scene unfolding before her. The man she had thought lost forever was here, standing just feet away from her, though so much had changed. So much had happened.Ronan’s cold eyes scanned her, the expression unreadable. For a moment, it was as if the world had come to a standstill. The fierce urgency of the battle, the destruction surrounding them, even Kael’s ragged breaths, all faded into the background.“Ronan…” her voice barely a whisper, barely a breath of air escaping her lungs. Her
The air was thick with tension as Selene crouched beside Kael, trying to steady her breath. The sound of pounding footsteps echoed through the dense forest, growing louder with each passing second. She could hear the snarls of the enemies, their vicious growls almost drowning out the rhythm of her heartbeat. Her body ached from exhaustion, but she pushed through the pain, desperate to protect herself and Kael.“Kael…” she whispered, her voice hoarse with fear. “We need to move. They’re coming for us.”Kael’s eyes, once fierce and filled with fire, now flickered with weariness. He was still partially transformed, the edges of his wolf-like features barely visible beneath his skin. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he stood, leaning heavily on the tree beside him.“I’m… not sure how much longer I can keep this up,” Kael admitted, his voice strained. “But we have to hold them off… for a little longer.”The ground trembled as the enemies drew nearer, their presence like an overwhelming shad