Spencer's POVThe moment I make it to the dungeon, chest heaving and breath rapid, I’m greeted by complete and utter disarray. Guards rush around in, sprinting in every possible direction without so much as bothering to greet me. I’m jostled incessantly as I do my best to make my way to the heart of the dungeon. The stone floors clatter beneath my heavy-soled boots, and I can hear chains rattling on the walls. The unrelenting crush of bodies means it takes me a few moments to notice that a dangerous amount of the cells in the dungeon are completely empty. I narrow my eyes, grabbing a random guard by the collar and pulling him towards me. “What in Hell’s name is happening here?” I growl, looking deep into his eyes. The guard starts trembling. “It–it’s the prisoners!” He cries out, shaking himself out of my grasp. “I’m so sorry, but the prisoners… they’ve all gotten out somehow. We’re doing everything in our power to retrieve them now.” Before I can respond, the guard runs off, chas
Ivy's POVAs the guards retrieve me from my room harshly and begin to drag me down the hallway roughly, I can feel the familiar set of anxieties starting to creep in. Have I done something to upset some member of the Lycan Royal Family? They seem to quite enjoy having me dragged out of my room and into dreadfully uncomfortable scenarios. I do my best to shrug the guards off of me, but their hands are thick and sturdy and I can’t quite shake their grasp. “Where are you taking me?” I cry out. “Do the dungeon,” one of the guards replies. My stomach twists. I remember my last dreadful trip to the dungeon. “No, please!” I shriek. “Whatever you think I’m done, I’m sure it’s all just been some sort of misunderstanding–” The other guard snickers. “We’re not arresting you, girlie,” he says. “We’re having you brought in so you can consult on a very fresh investigation.” “Oh,” I frown. “Then let go of me, you thugs!” The guards both laugh as they let go of my wrists. I glower up at both o
Ivy's POVAs I stare Spencer down in the grimy halls of the dungeon, I can’t help but marvel at his audacity. After everything he’s put me through, he really has me–having just recovered from passing out, as well as presently carrying his child–dragged into a dungeon crawling with prisoners just to ask me to integrate my own son. Well, Jason was supposed to be our son, but Spencer really dropped the ball on that, too. “Why don’t you talk to Jason?” I bite out. “Aren’t you the big scary military man? Scaring a child into a false confession seems way up your alley than mine.”“You’re so confident it would be a false confession,” Spencer remarks coldly. “I’m not asking you to torture the boy. Just speak to him, and find out if he’s a part of this or not.” “But he’s not a part of this!” I insist. “He’s just a child–how could he be involved with a whole prison break?” “He nearly killed you,” Spencer points out. I roll my eyes. “Under the guidance of a master manipulator, Jason slippe
Ivy's POV“It’s because you’re not fit for a life of royal decisions.” The words hit me like a dagger to the heart–brutally accurate, and with a cold sort of killing power. It’s enough to send chills rippling across my skin. I stumble away from Spencer, tears already starting to form in the corners of my eyes. I feel like my heart is fragmenting into razor-sharp shards that are shredding me up from the inside out. Not fit for a life of royal decisions? What does he mean by that? The realization hits me all at once, and I have to swallow back a sob. I place my hands over my stomach protectively, where my unborn child currently resides. I think Spencer is telling me that I’d be a terrible member of the Lycan Royal Family. That I’d be a terrible wife, a terrible queen, a terrible mother to this poor innocent child–I don’t think Spencer ever intended to marry me. I don’t think he ever intended to build a life with me. All of this, the mate bond and the Blood Oath Ceremony and all t
Ivy's POVI never thought I’d see Gamma Everly waver in battle, and yet as she and Alpha Leo continue to fight, I can’t help but notice a strange frailty to her. With a rough growl, Gamma Everly slashes out, sending her claws soaring in a wide arc. But with a snarl, teeth snapping relentlessly, Alpha Leo manages to dodge. He twists around just in time to avoid the blow and, with a quick arc of his own claws, draws a series of long, thin cuts all along the length of Gamma Everly’s shoulder. Gamma Everly roars in agony, taking just a moment to recenter herself before throwing her body at Alpha Leo. The two of them slam roughly against the wall with a sound that makes me wince. I can’t help but notice a strange hesitation in Gamma Everly’s gaze–almost a hesitation to hurt Alpha Leo in combat, despite the fact that he’s an enemy of the Lycan Royal Family, and is currently trying to break out of prison. Is it because of Alpha Jameson, and what happened with him? Gamma Everly was there
Ivy's POV“Gamma Everly!” The words tear from my throat, desperate and ragged with fear at the possibility of seeing my beloved friend and mentor killed in such a sudden, violent way. As my voice betrays my presence, Alpha Leo’s attention swivels my way, and I can see his eyes narrow as he looks at me with recognition. “Ivy,” he says simply, keeping his claws poised at Gamma Everly’s throat. “Take your hands off of her,” I growl. That same undecipherable emotion flashes through Alpha Leo’s eyes. The bitterness, the disappointment, the reluctance. “Just let me go in peace, and we can end this right now! Otherwise she dies.” I shake my head, Captain McAndrews’ words echoing in my mind. “Prison break. In no small part thanks to you, might I add.” I’m the reason Alpha Leo is alive to break out of the dungeon. Everything that’s happened since–any prisoners who have died, any guards–those deaths are on my hands. I’m responsible for enough disasters as it is. I can’t also be the reaso
Ivy's POVAs Alpha Leo thrashes against my hold but fails to break free, I bask in the sweet glory of my victory. Sure, he was already considerably injured from his fight with Gamma Everly, and I’m sure he’s been exhausted by his escape, too. But even still, this win feels good. It feels powerful. I was the one who captured him–not a guard or warrior, not Gamma Everly, not even Spencer. Me. I did it. I howl triumphantly, raising my muzzle to the sky and letting out a victorious howl. My paw presses even deeper into Alpha Leo’s wound, and I can feel the blood oozing out. While my hold is strong and Alpha Leo is steadily losing blood, I’m not entirely sure how long I can maintain this. So as Alpha Leo continues to struggle, I mind link several warriors at random. ‘Come to the southwest tunnel leading from the heart of the dungeon,’ I instruct vaguely. ‘Bring handcuffs and rope.’ ‘Yes, Miss Ivy,’ they mind link in response. I could have mind linked Spencer, too, but I don’t want
Ivy's POVIn response to my question, Gamma Everly’s expression immediately becomes guarded, and she twists her body away from me. “Nothing is wrong!” She says quickly, clearly nervous. “Everything is fine, I just… it was a hard battle, that’s all.” “Are you sure that’s it?” I ask, concerned. It’s obvious that Gamma Everly is hiding something. I’ve never seen Gamma Everly this rattled before–hell, I’ve never even seen her anything even remotely close to rattled before. Normally, she’s cool, impassive, and merciless. An absolute weapon on the battlefield. A pure, unfiltered representation of the might of the Lycan Royal Family.So why did she look so scared to fight Alpha Leo. “I was already injured from bringing down all those other prisoners!” Gamma Everly says hastily. “It was exhausting. A couple of them really got to me. I wasn’t prepared when I found Alpha Leo–I stumbled upon him by accident. None of this was planned.” I narrow my eyes. It’s evident that Gamma Everly is tryi
Ivy's POVI think I can feel my last breaths rattling in my chest. I don’t know how much longer I have left at all. I thought I’d be long gone by this point, if we’re being really honest. I feel like I’m mostly gone—my vision has gone completely, since I no longer have the energy to keep my eyes open, and I can barely breathe at all. My heartbeat feels like it could stop any moment. I’m aware of the pain wracking my body, that red-hot agony tearing me apart. It sizzles and simmers on my skin. It feels like it’s tearing me apart. But at the same time, I can’t feel anything at all. I know there are things I should be feeling. Grass beneath my body, maybe. The blood that’s seeped into the soil. The grime and metal residue on my skin from having been locked in that cage. I can picture all of these things, in a vague, spun-out way. I can remember what they'd be like. I can simulate the feeling. It’s not the same as actually experiencing it, though. ‘Please, Ivy, try to hold on,’ Venet
Spencer's POVI can feel Elder Jet watching me as the life slowly ebbs from my body, and I want to tear his eyes out. He’s smirking down at me, lips curled into a sickening grin. I grit my teeth as I look up at him. I think I could stand up if I wanted to, maybe land a couple weak blows, maybe draw a bit of blood, but what’s the point? I’d rather save my energy for when I know I’d at least have a fighting chance at getting something done. “Your army is failing,” Elder Jet says to me, crouching down by my side. “Or rather—you failed them, didn’t you? Because you weren’t strong enough, weren’t smart enough, weren’t able to do what needed to be done. I suppose losing Ivy rattled you even more than I would have anticipated, hm?” He chuckles, a bitter, rasping sound. “You can’t even begin to imagine how glorious it feels to get everything you ever wanted so perfectly laid out for you.”I’m still trying to reach out to my centurions, hoping to rally them and their troops to battle. But ag
Spencer's POVElder Jet’s cold laugh chills me to the bone. “My, my, Prince Spencer,” he says smugly. I can see him towering over me, can feel the droplets of my own blood pooling into the ground below me as the silver mist works its way into my skin. “I thought you’d at least be able to put up a better fight than that!” “A prince’s pride is often his own undoing,” comes the witch’s voice, prompting another wave of revulsion to come over me. “So I can’t say I’m particularly surprised.” I let out a ragged cough, droplets of blood splattering out this time. That can’t be good. My chest burns as small drops of silver continue to worm through my skin, and the sizzle of my flesh on fire combined with the iron tang in the back of my throat makes me want to puke. I want to speak, want to form words, but it feels like my vocal chords have been severed and drenched in lighter fluid. Reinforcements. We need reinforcements. Out of the corner of my eye, I can see Gamma Everly, Alpha Leo, and
Spencer's POV“I really did try to warn you.” The witch’s words are nonchalant, spoken with a sigh as she tucks the silver spray back into one of the pockets of her dress. She watches Gamma Everly, Alpha Leo, and Wilson carefully as the silver spray begins to take effect. A shiver of revulsion runs through me as I realize what’s happening. Their pained, piercing screams fill the air as they all swat at their skin frantically, as though they’re being stung by a swarm of bees. Those little droplets of silver mist, innocuous and beautiful as they seem, appear to be burrowing into everyone’s skin. I can see little pinpricks of blood running down every inch of exposed flesh–even Gamma Everly, who’s encased almost head to toe in her heavy red armour, has blood on her face as she tries desperately to rub the spray off her face. The smell of overcooked meat fills the air, and my stomach turns. Small wisps of smoke are rising up from the site of everyone’s exposure. Gamma Everly, Alpha Leo,
Spencer's POV“Step away from them!” Gamma Everly’s voice is strong as she levels her sword at the witch’s chest. Even in the pale moonlight, her red armour seems to glow, almost illuminating her in a crimson halo. The blade’s edge is wicked sharp, and even just looking at it makes my skin feel a twinge of sympathetic pain. Her eyes are cruel and hard as diamonds as they bore right through the witch’s skull. But the witch only lets out a calm, melodic laugh as she trails her fingers along the sides of the small silver bottle she’s just procured. Alpha Leo and Wilson exchange concerned looks as they stand behind Gamma Everly, prepared to back her up the moment she needs it. “Gamma Everly, please don’t be so foolish,” the witch says with a sneer. “And tell those men to stand down, too. Ivy and Spencer are dying. There’s nothing you can do to save them. I can take you down in an instant if I want to, but I figure I should do you the courtesy of sparing you that pain now.” “Not a chan
“I love you.”Ivy’s final words to me ring in my ears like gunshots. I hold her close, I kiss her forehead softly, I do everything I can think to do because I can feel her slipping away. Her body is so small in my arms, so frail, and I can tell I’m losing her, and then–Ivy’s strange, dreamed-up world flickers in and out of view, alternating between the woods and the battlefield outside of the barracks. All at once, she’s not in my arms. I don’t know where she is, but I’m lying on bloodstained grass and I can hear the fighting all around me and my throat feels like it’s on fire. I’m awake now. This isn’t a dream. It hits me all at once, the crushing weight of realization–if we’re not inside Ivy’s mind anymore, if we’re not intertwined in that beautiful place where we could avoid the rest of the world, that must mean Ivy wasn’t able to sustain the connection for any longer than she did. And considering the poison she’d swallowed, considering the undeniable consequence of that…She’s
Ivy's POVIt takes me a good couple of moments to realize I’m not dead. Death, I’d always imagined, would be cold. Distant. Disconnected–and that’s only if I’m aware of anything at all. But as my eyes slowly open and I continue to hear the overwhelming cacophony of war all around me, it slowly dawns on me that I’m not, in fact, dead. The pain hits me a couple moments later. In my mind, it had been a nagging sort of reminder. But all at once, my throat is burning like it’s been doused with acid once more, and blood keeps dribbling down my lips. The overpowering iron taste is enough to make me want to throw up, but I do my best to hold it back. The feeling of bile against my already-shredded throat would no doubt push my already-excruciating agony to new, unimaginable heights. I’m trembling from head to toe. My entire body feels weak and limb, barely within my control. It’s hard to feel much of anything beyond the pain, really. How am I alive? I should be dead. ‘Hang in there, Ivy
Ivy's POV“Loving you is the best thing I ever did.” Spencer’s hands in mine are soft and warm and reassuring. He feels like coming home. Like relaxing. Like finally letting myself feel peace. I look at him, and my heart flutters. He’s going to be the last thing I ever see, and I couldn’t have chosen a better view. “Thank you for telling me,” I say to Spencer. It feels as though a weight has been lifted from my shoulders. I’m almost ashamed to admit it, but for so long, I’ve been clinging to the notion that Spencer left me because he wanted to. Because he could. “I wanted to tell you sooner,” Spencer admits. “There were so many times… but then there would be people around, or Delilah would interrupt me, or–did you know she told me she’d explain the whole situation to you herself, so no one would be suspicious and think the engagement was false? That was her entire reason for me to keep it a secret! All so the rest of the world would believe that Delilah was my mate, not you.” I
Spencer's POVIvy and I are lying in the grass, and as time continues to pass in this stolen in-between, I can tell her mind is racing a thousand miles a minute. I roll over so I’m facing her. I could spend a lifetime admiring Ivy–her soft, sculpted features, her beautiful blue eyes as endless as oceans, the way her auburn hair spills over her shoulders. When I'm this close to her, when we’re almost face-to-face, I can see faded freckles splashed across her cheeks like constellations. She’s a work of art. Her gaze is fixed on the sky up above, lips parted ever so slightly, hands clasped over her chest. And she’s completely, utterly lost in thought. I reach over and grab one of Ivy’s hands. She jolts ever so slightly at the touch, then looks over and smiles distantly at me. I furrow my brow. “What’s on your mind?” I ask her. “It seems so silly to bring up now,” Ivy mumbles. “Don’t worry about it, please.” I tilt my head, looking her over once more. I’m trying to etch every last