Ava’s POVThe air heavy with the stink of perspiration and anxiety, the walls of the poorly illuminated room felt closer than they were. Our run from the wreckage had rocked me. The informant's whispering voice persisted in my head: "There is one among you... one who is not what they seem." It bit me, turning every look, every phrase into something dark.Eli moved tense with stress as he walked back and forth. Sharp shadows on his face came from the dim light of one flickering bulb. His mouth closed and he said, "It doesn't make sense." "How can we be sure he was not merely trying to rattle us?"From the corner, Lucia whispered, "We can't," her eyes never leaving Eli. But we would be idiots to dismiss it.Adrian leaned with arms folded on the wall. Trust is like playing a risky game. As always is the case."Easy for you to say," I fired back, the sharpness in my voice stronger than I meant. "You have been hiding things from the time we first met."His eyes clouded, but he did not rise
Eli’s POVAva roused across from me, her face pallid and wan. When she saw her injuries, my chest contracted. It was like a sledgehammer as I remembered Adrian's treachery. I battled next to him and trusted him. Trust was ashes at this point."Ava," I said, my voice raspy. Are you alright?She blinked confusedly, then turned to look at me. Eli, we have to leave here."I know," I murmured, pushing myself to sit up. A nasty reminder of our circumstances, the shackles encircling my wrists shook. First, though, we must have a strategy.I stiffened as footsteps reverberated in the passage past the bars. A guard came up; shadows covered his face. Stopped in front of the cell, he wore a weird smile."Comfortable?" he snipped, metal-rod hitting the bars. Your friend will be here shortly.I bit back a response while my mind flew. Adrian was on route. The idea sent out a flash of wrath that briefly eclipsed the suffering. He had answers—answers I meant to get regardless of the price.The guard
Ava's POVThe bruises from past stillings seared on my wrists as the cold metal of the shackles burnt. Though I battled it, I could feel tiredness dragging down on me. Eli was still asleep as they hauled him off. For him, for us, I had to keep it together.It was not intended to be this way. The treachery of Adrian ached more than I could have conveyed in words. I had come to trust him. Each of us had trusted him. Now, though, that trust was destroyed beyond repair and we were trapped in a cell devoid of hope and strategy—yet something inside me resisted to accept that. I could not let it finish this way.The quiet of the cell was stifling, broken only by the faint sound of footfall emanating from some down the way. The door creaked open, and my heart surged as a shadowy figure entered."Lucia?," I asked With a rough voice.The shadow nodded and entered totally into the low light. Her eyes were keen, deliberate, yet just now they revealed something else I hadn't seen before. Possibly
Eli’s POVCallum's hideout's stifling air was accompanied by lengthy, flickering shadows over the walls from the low light. The walls themselves seemed to be closing in, weighty with Callum's disclosure. Ava's father, her own blood, was behind the mess of anarchy that had caught us. Her face was clearly marked with incredulity and anguish. Watching it brought me great emotional resonance.I moved toward her, hands extending out naturally. Ava...She neither flicked aside nor looked at me either. Her eyes were unfocused, fixed on some spot some distance outside the room. She said, "All this time," her voice cracking. "He was behind it all?"Though I knew better, I longed to draw her into my arms and protect her from the terrible reality. She needed room to digest this, and right now I wanted answers.I glanced at Callum, who was observing us with a mix of wariness and something else I couldn't quite identify. "For what length of time have you known?He drew his arms across his wide che
Ava’s POVThe continuous beeping of the monitor was a brutal reminder of reality. I sat alongside Ava’s bed, my hand laying over hers, careful not to disrupt the IV line slithering into her arm. She was pallid, her breaths shallow yet constant. The wound had been worse than I’d imagined, and every second she hovered between life and death felt like an eternity.I’d failed her. I’d pledged to protect her, and yet here we were.The door creaked open, and Callum walked inside, his presence a mix of authority and tiredness. “How is she?”“Stable, for now,” I answered, my voice empty. “But she lost a lot of blood.”He nodded, his eyes lingering on Ava’s lifeless form. “She’s strong. Stronger than any of us gave her credit for.”“She shouldn’t have had to be,” I screamed, rage surging to the top. “If you’d warned us sooner, if you’d done more—”“I did what I could,” Callum interrupted, his tone harsh. “We’re all playing a dangerous game, Eli. You know that.”I stood, the chair scratching ag
Eli’s POVThe world outside was steeped in darkness. Night had descended rapidly, devouring any remains of warmth. I stood on the edge of the debris, the cool wind piercing into me like a knife. The dust has begun to settle around what used to be a stronghold of terror and manipulation—a shattered monument to my father’s sick ambition. But as I saw the ruins, I realized this wasn’t the end. It was only the start of something darker. I felt Eli’s presence alongside me before he spoke, his warmth pouring through the chill. “He’s not gone,” he whispered quietly, his voice both a comfort and a threat. “You know that, don’t you?” I nodded, my throat constricting. “He always finds a way.” Eli’s hand found mine, squeezing gently. “We’ll be ready.” Would we? I wasn’t sure. My father had created an elaborate web, and we were only beginning to realize its reach. For so long, I had imagined myself to be a simple pawn, a discarded piece in his ceaseless search for power. Now, standing amidst t
Ava’s POVThe rain poured down in relentless sheets, drowning the land and concealing the sounds of our footsteps. The cover of darkness and the storm were our allies tonight, but they did nothing to dampen the sense of dread that gnawed at my insides. We strolled through the forest in silence, the only sound the rhythm of showers striking foliage.Eli was alongside me, his eyes probing every shade. I could feel the strain pouring off him, echoing my own. We were walking into a trap; we both knew it. But there was no other choice. This was the only lead we had—our last chance to finish this before it was too late.The trees thinned, revealing an old stone edifice partially concealed by overgrown vines. It had the impression of a place long forgotten, but I knew better. This was where my father’s web of deceit had brought us—an abandoned monastery turned stronghold.Eli gazed at me, rain streaming from his hair. “Are you sure about this?”“No,” I acknowledged, my voice low. “But we don
Eli’s POVThe wind howled outside the smashed windows, carrying with it the aroma of rain and ash. The traces of the conflict still lingered in the air, a mixture of blood, smoke, and perspiration. I stood in the dark light of the shattered chamber, my body battered and suffering, my thoughts racing with the weight of what we’d just undergone. But there was no time to rest. Not yet.Ava sat on a makeshift cot in the corner, her face pallid but resolute. I could see the tiredness in her eyes, the way she forced herself to stay upright despite the pain. I wanted to get to her, to tell her it was over, that we were safe. But I knew better. We weren’t safe. Not as long as the shadows of the past still haunted us.She met my eyes, a flash of warmth breaking through the tempest of emotions. “You’re hurt.”“It’s nothing,” I lied, the aching in my side a reminder of the blade that had come too close. “I’ve had worse.”She nodded, but I could see the worry carved into her features. “We can’t s
Turning to watch Jackson barreling into the clearing, his wolf form was magnificent and horrible. He wasted no time flinging himself at the closest renegade with a passion that astounded me.Though brief, relief washed over me. The shadows moved once again, as a fresh person entered the area.He was towering and intimidating, with nasty glistening eyes. "Well, isn't this touching?," he said in a sarcastic voice. The courageous Luna and her warriors.Marcus, I spat, venomous in my voice.He grinned and looked over the devastation. Ava, I cautioned you. One cannot run from the past. And you most definitely cannot run from me.He lifted his hand before I could reply, and a flash of black energy rushed at me. I tuned myself, but it never hit.Riley launched himself in front of me with full assault might."No!." As he sank to the ground, his wolf shape flickering before he turned back into his human nature, I shouted.Jackson hissed, blazingly angry eyes guiding him toward Marcus. Marcus w
I'm locked in. No one knows how to get out. I detect it. Panic claws at the margins of my thoughts, my pulse thuds in my ears. Here's how we got here. How rapidly did things spiral?My fingers shake at my sides, and my brain runs for any answer. But not at all. Only me, powerless here. Levi... God, Levi's blood is staining the concrete and I am unable to stop it."Please, Marcus," I say, my voice breaking with need. "Please, please do not do this. I will do anything, I promise to God. Anything your wish is for. Just try not to damage him. kindly.He tilts his head as if he is thinking about what I said, and he smiles sickeningly. His firm hold on the pistol narrows. "Everything? You believe you still have something worth offering me?Though I'm not sure what I anticipate, Marcus fires before I could respond.The gunshot had an unbearable sound.But it's not me.My heart rushing, blood hammering in my ears, I automatically lower to the ground. Turning, eyes wide, I see something that s
I cannot lose you once more, Evie. Not like this. Not once again.Levi's voice is a harsh whisper on my skin; his words pierce the shroud of uncertainty and anxiety clouding my head. His hands quiver as they draw me in, his warmth sustaining me in this whirl of anarchy.In my chest, my heart beats wild and chaologically. Though everything seems to be disintegrating, I find it difficult to distance myself from him. His words and his touch really felt so authentic and honest. The pain I went through upon believing I lost him may easily overwhelm me once more. But the danger—that of Marcus—that is all too real. Too perilous.My voice quivering, I say, "I'm not going anywhere." "But we have to—”I swivel around, heart jumping into my throat, the sharp sound of cracking glass cutting me short. Under the low light of the alley, the figure's shadow blocks the passage. Breath freezes in my throat.He's it. Marcus?"You thought you could escape me, didn't you?," said Given the circumstances, h
Though I can't concentrate on anything except the heat of Levi's fingers clutching mine, the planet is disintegrating all around me. Knowing we have limited time, my heart is racing not only from anxiety but also from the intense feeling that this may be the final time I spend with him."Levi, we have to go—now, my voice quakes with panic."With his clenched jaw, he draws me in and I can see the weight of what we have gone through in his eyes. Though he is staring at something I cannot yet see, his dark and strong eyes convey everything I need to know: danger is near. overly near."I am not leaving you," he adds, his voice a hoarse growl of will. "Not again.."I wonder whether he is speaking to himself or to me. Still, I feel it. The truth was found in his comments. Everything we have endured weighs less now than this. Marcus, the falling stone walls—the improbable chances—we have come so far; now, everything depends on this one instant.Hearing the sound of feet behind us—faint at fi
The man slanted his head slightly, as though entertained by my query. "I am the one dragging the threads straight from the darkness. The one waiting for this turning point. And about what I wish for... The person fixed cold, objective eyes on me. "You have to decide something. a decision meant to either rescue or ruin everything.With fast, shallow breaths, Evie's hand tightened in mine. "Levi," she said, her voice breaking with terror. "please. You really have to trust me. Choose not to pay attention to him."The person advanced still another step, their gaze narrowing. " Trust her?" They laughed dimly. "How can you believe someone who hardly knows her? Someone who from the beginning has been lying to you?Turning to Evie, the weight of her words etched in my chest. "Is that true? Evie... I asked, hardly sure I could keep my voice steady. "What then is happening? Not what are you not telling me?"The voice of the stranger came out once again, louder now before she could respond. Levi
Varian's smile grew wider, his eyes shining with a terrible, nasty pleasure. "To release a power outside your comprehension. She belongs to a lineage of entities designed to transform our planet. And her blood? It is the essence of everything.My heart came to a standstill. Blood, please. What was he referring to?"Don't listen to him, Levi," Evie urged, her voice cracking and desperation leaking through the gaps. "He's lying. He is controlling you. He usually has.But Varian turned her aside, staring just at me. His tone caustic, he spat, "You don't get it, do you, Levi?" She is not any ordinary person. She is the one who may bring either the birth of a new world or the end of this one. And you, he added, his eyes narrowing, "you're standing in my way."I knew nothing about what to do. What Varian was saying eluded me in terms of logic. All I knew, all I believed was real, was disintegrating.Once more I looked at Evie, but she was shaking her head and tears were running down her che
"Levi, please, just trust me!" Now she was trembling, her voice a combination of terror and something more—a plea, a warning. " This thing... it's after me."My ears could hear my pulse pound. Her comments have weight like those of a goods train. "Once you?" I asked, voice just a whisper. "Evie, you are hunting this thing?"The beast howled before she could reply, the sound splintering the air. I halted momentarily, not sure what was happening; it was like the roar of a beast and the wail of a dying man.I turned back to Evie, but her gaze had altered. Now, there was something icy about it—a resolution that froze me right down. "Levi, you have to go." At now. Before it becomes too late.I shook my head, shoved her behind me. "Not a probability. I am not bidding you farewell here.She grasped my arm, her hold overly strong. You must have. Should we not, it will wipe us both. Ask kindly.She kept me steady as I attempted to back off. Her eyes softened, only a little, as though she were
A terrible, all-consuming terror seized my chest as the world darkened. My senses went wild and I could feel everything falling down right away. My sole anchor was the firm hold on my shoulder; my breath came in short spurts. Desperate for anything, anything to grip, I reached out.Levi... Evie's voice sounded far-off, a faint whisper that accentuated the terror chewing at me. "Levi, what's happening?"I had no retort for her. The gloom seemed overly weighty, too oppressive. Something cold pushed, metallic, and sharp pressed on my flesh; I automatically withdrew attempting to get away.Riley, the woman, leaned forward grinning wickedly from her lips. "You really thought you had control, didn't you?" Her voice sent chills up my spine like ice."Let him run!" Stronger now, Evie yelled, her voice tinged with an underlying horror I couldn't ignore.Riley's hold tightened, dragging me even nearer. Though it was pointless, I battled her grasp. Her strength felt surreal, as though she drew f
The planet appeared to spin at that instant. A huge crack sounded far away, then a deep, rumbling sound shook the earth underneath. The very ground seemed to be complaining, straying under the weight of something far more potent than I could understand.The shadows moved suddenly, then the unmistakable sound of shackles rattling. From the distance, a weak glow flickering revealed a shadowy figure rising from the gloom.Her face was hidden yet her shape was silhouetted against the low light. Her motions frenetic as she twisted and tugged, I could see her trying against the chains but she was nowhere."Evie!," My heart was hammering in my chest, I yelled. "Don't—,"The man's grasp tightened on my arm, pressing till it seemed as though the bones in my wrist were about to break before I could finish. "Don't waste your breath," he remarked frigantly. She had already left.Fury blazing in my chest, I turned to confront him. "You are lying!"But another crack louder this time rang in the dis