Fiona’s POVThe first clue had led us to the deep swamp behind the old site. It was said that a rare plant, Dark Light Algae, grew here—an essential material for activating the magic array. But as I stood at the swamp’s edge, inhaling the thick, musty air, I couldn’t help but wonder if the legends had conveniently left out the part where we’d have to risk our lives to retrieve it.A dense, eerie fog coiled around twisted trees, their gnarled roots jutting out of the soggy ground like skeletal fingers grasping at the air. Every few steps, the murky water gurgled as if something unseen was shifting beneath the surface. The air was thick, humid, and heavy with the scent of rot and stagnant water.“Ugh, this place reeks,” I muttered, wrinkling my nose as my boots sank into the soft, treacherous earth. Each step was a gamble—too much pressure, and the ground threatened to swallow me whole.“Watch your footing,” Kai warned, his voice strained with concentration as he tested the ground ahe
Fiona’s POVThe cavern shimmered with an eerie blue light, the jagged ice crystals reflecting a cold glow that pulsed like a living thing. But we weren’t alone.A sharp gust of wind howled through the chamber, carrying with it a flurry of frost. Then I saw them—ice elemental elves, their lithe bodies shimmering like frost-covered glass. Their piercing, glowing eyes locked onto us, and in an instant, they attacked.“Move!” I shouted, diving behind a frozen stalagmite as razor-sharp ice thorns shot toward us in a deadly barrage.The Alphas scattered, their movements swift and precise. Jin, ever the protector, positioned himself in front of me, sword raised. A shard of ice whizzed past my ear, slicing a few strands of my hair before embedding itself into the ground. I clenched my fists, summoning my energy, but the elves weren’t giving us a moment to breathe.“Go for the leader!” Lyn growled, rolling under a streak of frost magic that turned the stone floor to ice.The elves moved in un
Fiona’s POVMy heart hammered against my ribs, a frantic drumbeat against the encroaching darkness. No sooner had we begun unloading than I felt them – the pursuers. Their presence was a tangible thing, a cold dread that prickled my skin."The crystals go there," I pointed to a patch of worn earth, where the markings I had made were still visible under my flashlight. "Soren, connect that line to the north node.""Got it, Fiona," growled Soren, his massive form already hefting a heavy stone."Every one get into the circle and do not leave no matter what until I say so." I announced. I focused, pushing aside the fear that threatened to overwhelm me. The magic circle was intricate, a delicate web of power that needed precise placement and intention. My fingers flew across the surfaces of the stones, tracing the ancient symbols and items we had gathered then began chanting the forgotten words. The air shimmered, a faint blue glow beginning to emanate from the circle’s center."They're a
Fiona’s POVPanic clawed at me. This was all too much pressure. I watched as Jin rose slowly to his feet, eyeing the writhing shadow monsters skeptically."Okay. Think. There must be something you've missed, Fiona. Think!" I muttered to myself, pressing my eyes closed in concentration. The ancient texts in that old grimoire, the whispered instructions and chants were failing us. My mind raced, a whirlwind of fragmented knowledge, desperate for a solution. Kai was down, Soren and Jin was hurt, and the shadow beasts were relentless. We were running out of time."Think, Fiona, think!" I screamed internally. I scanned my memory, flipping through the pages of countless arcane tomes. Then, a flicker. A forgotten passage. A detail I’d dismissed as insignificant. It was a footnote, almost an afterthought, about alternative activation methods. It was vague, cryptic, but… it resonated. A spark of hope ignited in the darkness of my despair.Immediately, I snapped urgent eyes to the central
Fiona’s POV“Hey, Rowan.”“Fiona? Where are you? I’ve been trying to contact you for three days now! How are you? Are you okay? Please tell me you are?” Rowan’s panicking voice blasted the confines of the car.I grinned at her terrified voice then affected a sober voice, “What if I tell you I’m not okay, and that I’m on my way to the ER to treat my broken bones.”“What!?” Rowan screeched. “Fuck, what hospital is it? Fiona speak the fuck up—” I cackled at her fear. “I’m fine, Rowan. Honest.”“I’m glad my concern is amusing to you.” Rowan hissed. I immediately sobered up. “You know I didn’t mean that. I was joking, darling. I promise I’ll tell you everything when I get back, okay?”“Fine. God knows you owe me one.” Rowan said smartly. “Are you on your way home?”.I glanced at the familiar surroundings zooming past mea before replying, “Uh, no. I’ve got drop by Jin’s house first but I’ll see you later.”“Okay. Are you sure you’re alright?” Rowan probed once more.“Yes, Rowan. I am.” I
Fiona’s POVI could feel the weight of the moment pressing down on me as my words hung in the air. The once lively crowd had gone eerily silent, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife.My gaze swept across everyone present, taking in the reactions of the Kai family elders. They exchanged glances, their expressions a mixture of surprise and confusion, as if they couldn’t quite believe what they had just heard.And then, there was Kai. The disappointment in his eyes deepened with every passing second, the flicker of hope he had clung to now dimming into something heavier—something dangerously close to resentment. I felt him grow cold beside me. His jaw tightened, his lips pressed into a thin line, but he said nothing. He didn’t have to. The disappointment radiated off him like a slow-burning fire, scorching in its quiet intensity.Eugene cleared his throat quietly, searching for what words to use. “A-are you certain we can’t change your mind?” he asked weakly. Jin nearly snappe
Fiona’s POVJin’s confession filled my brain all day, distracting me through lectures, while having lunch with Rowan. I still hadn’t given him an answer. And then there was, Kai. His persistence was something to be admired, if not entirely irritating. I can’t mention how many instances I have gone out of my comfort zone to avoid him. “Fiona, he’s here again,” Rowan teased spearing a forkful of salad onto her mouth, wagging her brows impishly.“Don’t even start,” I muttered, rubbing my temples.“I’m being serious.” she said, watching something behind me with keen, perpetually mischievous eyes. “And he’s heading this way.”“Oh my fucking goodness.” I sighed, the throbbing in my eyes intensified. “I’m going to the bathroom.”Rowan looked thoughtful. “You could. Or you could sit there and listen to what he wants to say.” “I already what he wants to say.” I muttered. “He’s like a fucking bulldozer at this point.” Rowan chuckled. “I think you’re the only thing on his wants to bulldoze.”
Fiona’s POVThe news about the four Alphas fierce competition for me intensified, spreading like wild fire around the entire school. And with the popularity and rumors came new enemies I knew nothing about. I haven’t seen Helena much ever since I resumed school, and rumors of she and Jin’s untimely break up was gossiped about until went stale. I heard she transferred departments so that was why I rarely saw her. Unfortunately, her suddenly transferring majors left her old clique without a leader. Which was a relief considering the fact that I didn’t have to any other encounters with her. That didn’t mean the trouble stopped. I've been feeling uneasy all morning and had somehow gotten used to stares and whispers. But the moment I stepped into the corridor leading to the library, I felt it—the shift in the air, the weight of unwelcome stares pressing down on me. I wasn’t alone.I barely had time to register the approaching footsteps before a group of girls blocked my path. At the cen
Fiona’s POVThe moment Lyn arrived, the air seemed to shift, turning sharp and heavy with his presence. His footsteps echoed against the tiled floor, each step firm and deliberate. My heart pounded in my chest as I looked up at him. His usually charming,, playful face was now a mask of cold fury. His pale complexion had drained further, but his eyes—those dark, piercing eyes—burned with something terrifying.He took in the mess around us—the broken chair, the scattered books, my tearful, broken expression and his face darkened further. His lips curled downward, and his voice, low and sharp like a blade slicing through ice, sent a shiver down my spine.“Who,” he bit out, his words slow and deliberate, “gave you the courage to cause trouble right under my nose?”The room fell into a suffocating silence. The group of girls, who just moments ago had been so full of confidence, now shrank back. Even their ringleader, the one who had mouthed off tome first, looked pale. But she still stra
Fiona’s POVThe news about the four Alphas fierce competition for me intensified, spreading like wild fire around the entire school. And with the popularity and rumors came new enemies I knew nothing about. I haven’t seen Helena much ever since I resumed school, and rumors of she and Jin’s untimely break up was gossiped about until went stale. I heard she transferred departments so that was why I rarely saw her. Unfortunately, her suddenly transferring majors left her old clique without a leader. Which was a relief considering the fact that I didn’t have to any other encounters with her. That didn’t mean the trouble stopped. I've been feeling uneasy all morning and had somehow gotten used to stares and whispers. But the moment I stepped into the corridor leading to the library, I felt it—the shift in the air, the weight of unwelcome stares pressing down on me. I wasn’t alone.I barely had time to register the approaching footsteps before a group of girls blocked my path. At the cen
Fiona’s POVJin’s confession filled my brain all day, distracting me through lectures, while having lunch with Rowan. I still hadn’t given him an answer. And then there was, Kai. His persistence was something to be admired, if not entirely irritating. I can’t mention how many instances I have gone out of my comfort zone to avoid him. “Fiona, he’s here again,” Rowan teased spearing a forkful of salad onto her mouth, wagging her brows impishly.“Don’t even start,” I muttered, rubbing my temples.“I’m being serious.” she said, watching something behind me with keen, perpetually mischievous eyes. “And he’s heading this way.”“Oh my fucking goodness.” I sighed, the throbbing in my eyes intensified. “I’m going to the bathroom.”Rowan looked thoughtful. “You could. Or you could sit there and listen to what he wants to say.” “I already what he wants to say.” I muttered. “He’s like a fucking bulldozer at this point.” Rowan chuckled. “I think you’re the only thing on his wants to bulldoze.”
Fiona’s POVI could feel the weight of the moment pressing down on me as my words hung in the air. The once lively crowd had gone eerily silent, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife.My gaze swept across everyone present, taking in the reactions of the Kai family elders. They exchanged glances, their expressions a mixture of surprise and confusion, as if they couldn’t quite believe what they had just heard.And then, there was Kai. The disappointment in his eyes deepened with every passing second, the flicker of hope he had clung to now dimming into something heavier—something dangerously close to resentment. I felt him grow cold beside me. His jaw tightened, his lips pressed into a thin line, but he said nothing. He didn’t have to. The disappointment radiated off him like a slow-burning fire, scorching in its quiet intensity.Eugene cleared his throat quietly, searching for what words to use. “A-are you certain we can’t change your mind?” he asked weakly. Jin nearly snappe
Fiona’s POV“Hey, Rowan.”“Fiona? Where are you? I’ve been trying to contact you for three days now! How are you? Are you okay? Please tell me you are?” Rowan’s panicking voice blasted the confines of the car.I grinned at her terrified voice then affected a sober voice, “What if I tell you I’m not okay, and that I’m on my way to the ER to treat my broken bones.”“What!?” Rowan screeched. “Fuck, what hospital is it? Fiona speak the fuck up—” I cackled at her fear. “I’m fine, Rowan. Honest.”“I’m glad my concern is amusing to you.” Rowan hissed. I immediately sobered up. “You know I didn’t mean that. I was joking, darling. I promise I’ll tell you everything when I get back, okay?”“Fine. God knows you owe me one.” Rowan said smartly. “Are you on your way home?”.I glanced at the familiar surroundings zooming past mea before replying, “Uh, no. I’ve got drop by Jin’s house first but I’ll see you later.”“Okay. Are you sure you’re alright?” Rowan probed once more.“Yes, Rowan. I am.” I
Fiona’s POVPanic clawed at me. This was all too much pressure. I watched as Jin rose slowly to his feet, eyeing the writhing shadow monsters skeptically."Okay. Think. There must be something you've missed, Fiona. Think!" I muttered to myself, pressing my eyes closed in concentration. The ancient texts in that old grimoire, the whispered instructions and chants were failing us. My mind raced, a whirlwind of fragmented knowledge, desperate for a solution. Kai was down, Soren and Jin was hurt, and the shadow beasts were relentless. We were running out of time."Think, Fiona, think!" I screamed internally. I scanned my memory, flipping through the pages of countless arcane tomes. Then, a flicker. A forgotten passage. A detail I’d dismissed as insignificant. It was a footnote, almost an afterthought, about alternative activation methods. It was vague, cryptic, but… it resonated. A spark of hope ignited in the darkness of my despair.Immediately, I snapped urgent eyes to the central
Fiona’s POVMy heart hammered against my ribs, a frantic drumbeat against the encroaching darkness. No sooner had we begun unloading than I felt them – the pursuers. Their presence was a tangible thing, a cold dread that prickled my skin."The crystals go there," I pointed to a patch of worn earth, where the markings I had made were still visible under my flashlight. "Soren, connect that line to the north node.""Got it, Fiona," growled Soren, his massive form already hefting a heavy stone."Every one get into the circle and do not leave no matter what until I say so." I announced. I focused, pushing aside the fear that threatened to overwhelm me. The magic circle was intricate, a delicate web of power that needed precise placement and intention. My fingers flew across the surfaces of the stones, tracing the ancient symbols and items we had gathered then began chanting the forgotten words. The air shimmered, a faint blue glow beginning to emanate from the circle’s center."They're a
Fiona’s POVThe cavern shimmered with an eerie blue light, the jagged ice crystals reflecting a cold glow that pulsed like a living thing. But we weren’t alone.A sharp gust of wind howled through the chamber, carrying with it a flurry of frost. Then I saw them—ice elemental elves, their lithe bodies shimmering like frost-covered glass. Their piercing, glowing eyes locked onto us, and in an instant, they attacked.“Move!” I shouted, diving behind a frozen stalagmite as razor-sharp ice thorns shot toward us in a deadly barrage.The Alphas scattered, their movements swift and precise. Jin, ever the protector, positioned himself in front of me, sword raised. A shard of ice whizzed past my ear, slicing a few strands of my hair before embedding itself into the ground. I clenched my fists, summoning my energy, but the elves weren’t giving us a moment to breathe.“Go for the leader!” Lyn growled, rolling under a streak of frost magic that turned the stone floor to ice.The elves moved in un
Fiona’s POVThe first clue had led us to the deep swamp behind the old site. It was said that a rare plant, Dark Light Algae, grew here—an essential material for activating the magic array. But as I stood at the swamp’s edge, inhaling the thick, musty air, I couldn’t help but wonder if the legends had conveniently left out the part where we’d have to risk our lives to retrieve it.A dense, eerie fog coiled around twisted trees, their gnarled roots jutting out of the soggy ground like skeletal fingers grasping at the air. Every few steps, the murky water gurgled as if something unseen was shifting beneath the surface. The air was thick, humid, and heavy with the scent of rot and stagnant water.“Ugh, this place reeks,” I muttered, wrinkling my nose as my boots sank into the soft, treacherous earth. Each step was a gamble—too much pressure, and the ground threatened to swallow me whole.“Watch your footing,” Kai warned, his voice strained with concentration as he tested the ground ahe