Rune's POVIt felt like a thousand claws tearing at my skin at the same time.Just as soon as the spell began taking effect on my physical being, I felt the recycling spell take over me, pulling me into that rabbit hole. It was painful, but I had made up my mind to do this, and I was not going to stop until I got through it. I tried my very best to stay in one piece.โWas this worth it?โ I kept asking myself.I could feel the force of the spells trying their best to hold out against each other, but the recycling spell was a whole lot stronger. Whatever happened next was a blur; I couldnโt remember anything. It was as though the recycling spell got to my memory. I could only remember a fragment of my time in the rabbit hole that was magical drainage here.I held on for dear life; reconnecting with my family was all that mattered at this point. I woke up to the sounds of tinkering and clanking.โWhat the fuck is going on here?โ I asked myself. I lay flat where I was, and my eyesight was
Rune's POVโAnd find a way to clean up this mess,โ she said again. The floor was littered with debris from the forest that came along with the spell.โI cannot deal with these leaves and twigs lying all about, and what is this...?โ Carmila said, referring to the pile of poop on the floor.โTake care of this before I return, and I do not want to perceive any foul odor upon my return.โโYes, ma'am!โ they chorused.This was my chance to do something.Snoop around the place, at least.โFunny, I mean, how could she not see me? Are they blind from the lack of sunlight?โโYou are the smart one,โ Thane countered. โYou do know that you placed a spell on yourself.โโOh shoot!โ I remembered, almost chuckling and revealing myself.โWell, do not just stand there. Follow her, try to find a way out of this... I dunno, rabbit hole!โ Thane said.โYeah, right!โAs a matter of fact, this was the last thing I expected, and it was very obvious.Anyone who could see my face at that point in time could tell
Rune's POVHe remained silent, and I ignored him.I had things to do, and they seemed to be working just fine.The dwarves ran as fast as their short legs would allow them. The sound of their feet on the floor almost made me giggle and expose myself.The sounds stopped. I could hear the clinking of metal, which I assumed were the keys.โWell, hurry now!โ I could hear one tell the other. โWe do not want to be caught now, do we?โโDo not rush me!โ the other responded.They ran down to where I was and opened the door.โThat is strange!โ the older-looking dwarf said.โWhat is?โ the other responded.โLook!โ the older one replied.โOh, I see! It stopped moving.โโOh yeah.โโOh well, hurry now and take care of this mess!โThey were done with the cleanup within a minute and left the study hurriedly.โWell, I must say, those dwarves are wizards with their hands,โ I commented.โWhat exactly are you going to be looking out for?โ Thane asked.Honestly, I did not know. It was stereotypical to say
Rune's POVโFuck,โ I said out loud.I did not need to turn back to know that the homeowner was back.It was Carmila. She returned at the worst possible timeโwhen my spell was down.โGreat timing,โ I muttered.โYou have a thing for foul language, do you not?โ she asked.I turned to see her setting the table and pouring what I assumed to be tea into cups.It could be worse, but I decided to go with the flow.At this point, I knew that the only thing that would save me was my wit, and I was going to employ that to the very last.โSoโฆโ I said as I stood up and dusted myself off. โCarmila, is it?โ She gave no response; the only sound I heard was the clinking of the teapot as she set it down on the table.โAnd here I was, thinking that you were smart. But then again, nothing really surprises me in this world.โโI have lived long enough to know what I am saying,โ she said.โHave a seat. Do not be scared; I do not bite!โI did as she instructed and sat in the seat closest to the glass contai
Rune's POVCamilla scoffed and paced around the room.โYes, not many wolves have this gift, but here you are, flaunting it around. This discovery changes everything,โ she said.โOkay,โ I replied, hell-bent on getting to the root of what she had in mind. โWhat does the discovery of this change mean?โโYou do know about the ongoing battle between wolves and witches?โOf course, how could I forget the age-old war between these two realms? She had taken it upon herself to finish the war between her ancestors and take it out on me.โOh, is that why you did all this? I mean, you do know that I could have fought back?โ I asked.โExactly. That was why I was prepared,โ she said. โYour tea was actually poisoned.โI laughed. Whatever was she thinking about poisoning a wolf? I was curious to find out what she had used, because there was no poison she could come up with that I did not know.โSoโฆ what did you poison me with? Silver? Wolfsbane? Arsenic?โ I asked, intrigued.She chuckled. โI am not f
Lucas' POVWhat a fun time to be alive, really.The rush I felt in my veins these past few days could not be compared to anything else. All those years of planning, and it was going down the drain all because of one person.I needed to get to this person first before anything else.โSir?โI did not even bother to swivel in my chair. I already knew what the news was going to be like. Another observation I had made in these days was that every piece of news that reached my ears always ended up being negative. I was getting used to it at this point.I have to admit I was a little tempted this time to hope. To hope that things were going as planned, that they were going my way again. I could only dare to hope.But then again, what is life without its downs?โYesโฆโ I responded hesitantly, asking myself if I really wanted to hear what he had to say. โWhatโs the worst that could happen?โ I thought.Reluctantly, I continued, โWhat is it this time? Speak up and be out with it.โWhoever it was
Lucas' POV I needed to find a way to divert his attention while also offering an explanation for everything that had been going on with Lyra. I took a long look at her, whatever was going on in her mind, I needed to know.โAnd trust me, I will do that soon enough. I just need to get this lady here to calm down.โโSee it and take care of it,โ he said to me.I gave him a weak smile and bowed. They seemed to have unresolved tension, as the next words he spoke gave me concern. But first things firstโNikolai came before their little bickering. This was not the first time they had done this, they always found a way to get back together. I was not going to be the catalyst for that.Turning to Lyra, he said, โGet yourself together, you are quite a handful!โI could see her eyes flash and her face flush with embarrassment. She rolled her eyes and said, โIโll be out of your hair in a few minutes. I need to get my pound of flesh back from that bastard!โโBastard?โ I thought, โWho is the bastar
Rune's POVโDo you mind?โ I yelled at the man who kept following me around the alley. โIf you could spare me some change, I would be very grateful!โ he pleaded. โThere is nothing on me,โ I replied, trying to control my tone as best as I could. โYou could get me something from that deli over there,โ he said, pointing to the store across the road.I was livid. What the hell was this man talking about?The temptation to end his life right there was strong, but I knew that would only cause more trouble. I had to try my best to keep my cool.Carmila was not a complete dead end after all. I mean, she had tried to steal my life force and essence, assuming that was the only way she could live this long. I knew she was horrible, but not to that extent. I remembered her horror when I countered her spell the moment I realized she had let her guard down.โI am not done with you,โ I said, my grip tightening around her wrists. โYou have something to do for me.โ Her hands remained fixed in my ti
Lyra's POVThe ground rumbled for a few seconds and opened wide, taking a large part of the rogues inside it. I saw Nikolai's corpse falling in too, but there was nothing that I could do.โWhere is he?โ I asked without wasting any more time.I turned back and ran, leading Rune to where Xavier lay.The remaining rogues who were there still ran after us, but they were the least of my problems.I just wanted Xavier alive and well.We got to where he was. โRune? Is that you?โ Xavier asked.โOf course, it is me,โ Rune called out to him, while his grimoire flew closely.โLyra, there is a spell here, but the ingredients and the time for this spell are impossible to get and prepare.โโWell, not for me, but given the time and the availability of these materials, I am sorry; there is nothing that we can do!โ he said to me.โDo something!โThe rogues had already caught up to us and were coming closer and closer.โHold!โ Rune said to me.โThat should be able to hold them.โ A protective form of li
Lyra's POVโYou bastard," I said, slapping him across the face. โYou did this. This is all your fault. After all that I have done for you, this is how you decide to pay me back?โโBy betraying me? I should take your life right here and now, and there would be nothing that would happen.โโDo that, please,โ he said, bleeding seriously from his shoulder; he was not healing.โThe poison has got to you badly, has it not?โ I asked him, and he shook his head.I thought he had healed from the poison Lucas injected him with, but I was wrong.That bastard strikes and wins again, with Nikolai.โAkira asked me to protect youโฆโI saw the shock in his eyes. โAnd that, I swear, I am going to do!โHe was teary; his eyes were saddled with regrets. I could see that he was willing to turn back the hands of time just to correct the mistakes he had made before.โThat is too late. There is nothing that you can do now. I am still holding on to tell you some things.โโEven if you figure something out, that w
Lyra's POVThere was something uncomfortable on my face. I was too weak to open my eyes, and for some reason, I felt oddly comfortable where I lay. I didnโt want to move a muscle, but the crawling sensation grew worse, becoming unbearable.I tried to brush whatever it was away with my hands, but it was no use. I had to open my eyes. My heart leapt when they finally came into contact with the green leaves hanging and swinging freely above me.The tingling sensation I felt was from a spider trying to weave a web on my face. I remembered why I was here.I could hear thunder and sizzling sounds nearby, and I knew something was happening. Random screams and shouts echoed around me. I realized people were getting hit, and the moment I thought of who might be on the receiving end, I summoned every last bit of strength I had to stand and fight.As I made my way through the bushes, I began to wonder who was fighting. โNikolai?โ I thought in disbelief. There was no way he could have done this.
Xavier's POVโHow?โ he said, laughing. โI do my study. Not everyone has to tell you everything,โ he added with a smirk.โItโs not every day you see a three-tailed wolf laying around at her initiation ceremony.โPity filled me as I recalled all the times I should have been there for her. But it was too late to turn back now. If I had one wish, it would be to go back and support her then.โOf course, I knew what that meant,โ he said, taking a step forward. โI and Lyra have history.โโRemember that one time you subjected me to the human realm, forcing me to live amongst them for over a century? Yes, that one time. I obeyed, and it turned out not to be as bad as I expected.โโIt was wonderful. She was one of the reasonsโI loved her dearly.โโShe didnโt give me a chance anyway, and my punishment was nearing its completion. I was going to make my move until you cut me off.โโI mean, you brought her back to meโฆโHe must have seen the confusion in my eyes. โOhโฆ I understand how confusing that
Xavier's POVI had heard enough from Rune. I could have found ways to shut him up if this were not true and if he had not just been to hell and back. His explanations gave logical reasons for everything I experienced the very first day I came in contact with Lyra. It could also explain why Ozed was skeptical about me touching her that night and why I felt attracted to her.But there was a catch: if all that Rune had said were true, I was yet to see her as my mate. She was still with her exes, as far as I knew, and I did not want to ruin whatever we had going on between us. I trusted Rune, but this was a significant risk to take. But first, I needed to get to Lyra.He was still speaking when I felt something strange. Whatever it was, I could feel it, and it felt familiar. I needed to get to her.I impulsively entered the bushy road without consulting Rune. This was one of those times I fully trusted my instincts and whatever I felt.โYou feel that too?โ I asked.He responded in the a
Rune's POVI had been through hell and back, and today felt like the worst of it. I was certain this was the least that could happen to me.I opened my eyes to see Xavier looming over me, his face a mix of concern and confusion. He was calling my name repeatedly, but I was just as lost as I had been moments ago. Where was I? What was happening?As my surroundings came into focus, I realized I was in Kayla's room. I struggled to piece together how I got there, my mind still foggy. Xavier's urgent voice was a constant in my ears, shaking me as if he could rattle the answers out of me.โRune,โ he called again, and I felt a surge of irritation. The pounding in my head was growing unbearable. Just as I was about to respond, an unexpected sneeze overtook me. It felt like a reset buttonโmy heart kicked back to life, and memories flooded my mind.โI remember trying to...โ I began, but the thoughts were jumbled, causing a splitting headache. I could barely differentiate between past and presen
Xavier's POVThane quickly noticed my sour mood. โDo not mind meโฆโ I began, but the sounds returned, and this time I was sure something else was in the room with us. I turned to check on Rune and saw he was still asleep. I followed the movement behind the headrest. It was fastโdefinitely not a rat; they wouldnโt survive long in this meticulously clean manor.The sound moved to the closet. I opened the door and found itโRune's grimoire. โYou sneaky tome!โ I chuckled, mentally exhausted. I fell back onto the bed, trying to catch my breath.โWaitโฆโ A bright idea struck me. We didnโt actually need Lyra; I just needed the grimoire.โYour master is sick and not himself,โ I told it. The book pulsed with a glow, responding, but I couldnโt understand its message.โYeah, yeah,โ I muttered, still unsure how to communicate. The one who could explain everything was unconscious, and I couldnโt risk waking him without facing repercussions.The grimoire pulsed again. I tore open the bag containin
Xavier's POVI needed to handle this matter wisely. Something was going on, and I had to get to the bottom of it. Rune had become audacious. I knew he was bold, but today felt different. He was embittered, fueled by every negative energy I could think of. This wasnโt the Rune who stood for the right things.I had no one to blame but myself. I left him to whatever had changed him. โLyra was right,โ I sighed. I needed to know what was wrong with Rune and, most importantly, if the one I held in my hands was truly him. This was a serious debate in my mind. Certain signs made me believe this was Rune, while others made me doubt. He had knowledge no one else could have about me. He was my right-hand man for a reason, privy to my deepest fears. He was a magic user, and the spells he cast were ones I had seen him use before. But the fact that he couldnโt heal as quickly as usual threw me off. He was a wolf, after all.โWhy do I even bother?โ I groaned. โJust donโt let him die. Whoever he
Nikolai's POVโYou had better start talking!โ Lyra said as she opened the door to her closet.It was a close call.She had been a good host to me all this while.Either she knew what she was up against and didnโt care, or she was just foolish to help me. Whatever the case, I was grateful.Luca came inside and saw me.I pleaded with him to spare my life. โWhat the hell do you want from me? Iโm done with this,โ I said.โIโm tired of your control and reign of terror. Have you done enough by taking my sister too?โโJust leave me alone. You have a lot of people under you, yet you cling to me like a plague.โHe chuckled. โAnd there he goes, the little pup has begun to grow teeth and thinks itโs okay to nip at the elder wolf! The audacity,โ he said, walking closer to the window.โYou know Lyra is a lovely wolf,โ he said. I knew he was watching her from the window. My heart skipped a beat.โDo what you want with me, but leave Lyra out of this.โโReally?โ He laughed. โYou think this is about