[Raven]“Where have you been all this time? I thought you left,” I addressed Nyssa, walking towards the entrance of the council hall with Asher.Asher entered the hall while I stayed back with Nyssa.She glared at me. “What kind of boyfriend are you? Your girlfriend was missing for over an hour and
The door creaked open, drawing my attention away from the elder.Ezra entered the hall, all eyes turning in his direction.I thought he would come with Xanthea. Stupid, he should have talked to her before the meeting.Not my problem if he makes a fool of himself. I warned him already.As he neared t
[Raven]Xanthea’s eyelids fluttered to Ezra as he stood before her, her breaths shallow, and when he leaned closer to her, she wasn’t breathing altogether.Ezra held her gaze, his eyes dropping to her parted lips behind the veil as he took in her features like a drug. With a swift gulp, he looked aw
“Alpha?” Xanthea took in a sharp, broken gasp, involuntarily stepping back, shock clear through her veil.Ezra’s gaze softened as he smiled at her and then lowered his head as though in deep thoughts.Hesitating initially, he reached his hands towards his collars and pulled out the ring pendant he h
[Raven]“Luna candidate Xanthea,” Isagi’s voice reverberated through the hall. “With this contract, you begin a perilous journey no mortal has ever taken. I commend your courage and wish you all the very best for the challenges that lie ahead.”The special jury exchanged hushed whispers, their voice
“Congratulations to you,” Nyssa stepped forth.“Th-thank you,” Xanthea replied, clenching her fists to regain the control she had lost over herself because of me.I knew she feared me, but today, it felt different — like she was scared because she had done something she wasn’t supposed to.And I wan
I knew I was triggering Ezra’s deepest wounds, and I also knew I’d never forgive myself for it, but I couldn’t hold back my words. It was as though I was possessed by the darkest emotions a demon could have.I was hurting everyone around me because I knew of no other way to cope with whatever turmoi
[Raven]TW: Readers’ discretion advised.***‘No potion was potent enough to heal his heart, so he drank poison and kept drinking it everyday ever since. Not to kill the pain, but to suffer an illusion and call it a cure that just made him sicker.And he found solace in that sickness, his lantern
The controllers frequently singled out groups of weak bloods, forcing them into perilous situations before kidnapping the survivors under the cover of night. These survivors were subjected to experiments, injected with various drugs, and then sent back within the walls.Most died, but those who surv
[Xanthea]Asher’s tone grew heavier and I could see why through my mother’s memories.“The weak bloods were promised a permanent secure shelter within these walls…”All the giant gates and smaller exits of the walls were closed, trapping all the weak bloods while they were fast asleep.For the first
Waiting, uncertain if someone would show up, was the worst feeling. I knew because I’d felt it when I called Ezra for help with the kids and waited. Those few minutes shattered me. I couldn’t even imagine what six-year-old Ezra endured, waiting for years.“A girl had been observing Ezra all this tim
The soft flutter in my chest instantly turned into electrifying goosebumps as he wrapped his fingers around mine, his grip tightening, holding my hand with an intensity that sent a shiver through me.We stood at the same distance as before, yet somehow, we had come closer.There were no words betwee
[Xanthea]‘… to cure the curse your mother put upon us because only you can.’Asher’s words hit me like a blow to the chest, leaving me breathless and blank. I stared at him as thousands of thoughts rammed into my mind. I was scared like I had never been before.Although I couldn’t decipher who I wa
There were glimpses and unfinished sentences. Lifeless body of a child, probably a weak blood.‘Another disappointm—’Peeled skin. Severed muscles.‘Burn him, prepare the other—’Eyeballs leaking from the eye sockets. People struggling as her helpers stuffed clothes in their mouth to muffle their gr
Experimenting on living subjects thrilled her. It was all fun for her. It was astonishing how she remained utterly undisturbed by it all. She justified every action with the belief that it was for the advancement of healing and immortality.‘Thank you for your contribution,’ she would say to each te
‘And that is why they will be punished as well,’ Alpha Caelum replied coldly. ‘As for you, you are hereby expelled from the Solvaris pack — and the Celestial realm.’My mother looked devastated, but she didn’t plead for mercy.‘I accept,’ she said brazenly as she strutted out of the court.With a sl
[Xanthea]I stared at Asher, my chest tightening as his words echoed in the air, heavy and inescapable. My mind scrambled to process what he had just said.“No.” The word slipped out, trembling and frail. “That’s not… It’s not possible.”Asher’s gaze remained distant. There was a cruel pity in the w