CAMILLE'S POVSurely, such an old and barbaric-sounding law would have no legal standing. But the sight unfolding before me seemed to be turning out very differently. Neal, who had been holding a gun to Milana's father's head, seemed so shocked by the challenge that the weapon dropped from his hand. His gaze shifted to Dimitri and then the others. He seemed just as surprised as I was that nobody seemed to be resisting the duel that had been thrown at Dimitri.From the safety of my window, I looked at Dimitri, and the look on his face was perhaps that was the biggest shock I had gotten in my life.I knew resignation when I saw it. Dimitri intended to give in. If this were happening any differently, perhaps I would not have any issues about it. But Dimitri has just survived a violent attack from the curse. His body couldn't have fully recovered. Not to mention, his opponent was a Lycan that could somehow shift without the full moon.Lycans were not usually in control when the beast
EVA'S POV"A woman should never look towards just one future." Adele's words echoed in my mind, a reminder of her cunning and resilience. She wielded her plans like weapons, manipulating outcomes with an almost otherworldly finesse.I had learned from her, crafting my own strategies to navigate the complexities of our world. Plan A, Plan B - I always had contingencies in place, ensuring my survival in a cutthroat society where betrayal was commonplace.But standing here, accused and vulnerable, I realized the flaw in my designs. Camille's finger pointed at me, her accusations slicing through my defenses like a dagger. Had my own schemes backfired, leading me to this precipice?It was absurd. Camille, the one who had cornered me with threats, now dared to cast blame upon me. The audacity was staggering. I never intended harm to Dimitri, I only sought to secure my own position.Tears welled in my eyes, a facade of innocence masking the turmoil within. What evidence did she possess? Merel
EVA'S POVTick tock. I had maybe a minute top before someone realized. Plenty of the sentinels had gathered outside for the duel, so the chances of there being guards inside the castle was slim to none. I did trust that there would be a batch of guards set aside to protect the children of the King. But definitely not enough.I stalked to a corner and peered over at Camille's quarters, where I could already detect the presence of her vile creatures. Two guards were stationed nearby, chatting casually, seemingly unaware of the chaos unfolding downstairs.I retrieved the small bottle of silvermist I had stashed away and cracked it open just a bit, preparing for any potential need. Then, I approached the guards, keeping my posture firm as they turned to face me."Where are my sister's kids?" I inquired. "The situation outside has escalated, and I fear for their safety.""They're inside," they replied, but when I attempted to pass them, one blocked my path with his hand."I apologize, Lu
CAMILLE'S POVEveryone stood still, burdened with shock and reeking from what had just happened. One second ago, Eva had been here with us and was finally going to pay for all her crimes, and in the blink of an eye, she was gone.I stared at the scorched earth where she once stood, and a gnawing feeling threatened to consume me."Where is she?" I finally broke the silence."The bitch teleported." Milana's father replied. "It looks like she always had a contingency plan."No... This wasn't good. I didn't like this. The unsettling feeling in my gut did not leave. In fact, it only got worse.She could be anywhere. She could even still be in castle grounds. Eva was a bitter person who didn't like to lose. She believed this was some kind of twisted game, a competition where she needed to best me."Dimitri—" I tried to speak, but I didn't even get to finish.Dimitri had the same thought process himself. He turned to an older-looking guard and spoke. "All sentinel stations need to know that
SPECIAL CHAPTER FOUR: OPHELIA COTTONWOODAUTHOR'S NOTE: Special chapters serve to shed light on the perspectives of minor characters, providing insight into their roles in the unfolding narrative. I sat in my living room for the hours that passed, mindlessly staring at the television before me while I clutched onto my phone.I had intentionally let Camille eavesdrop on the conversation between me and Abigail, hoping she would call back, asking questions. The guilt that had been gnawing at me for years had gotten significantly worse. I blamed myself for the suffering that Bo's daughter had to go through because of my greed. So I figured the least I could do was tell her that Abigail was alive and watching her. I knew she would feel so betrayed knowing the relationship that we had was nothing more than fabricated, but it would give me enough peace, and I could just lie to Abigail that Camille had somehow figured something was amiss, so I had to give her something.When the call did
DIMITRI'S POVCamille immediately went for her phone to call someone for help, and I turned to the sentinels inside the room."I want you to gather any experienced witch versed in locator spells, delicates, and even Druids."The mention of Druids caused the sentinels to exchange puzzled glances, their brows furrowing in confusion. One of them, a young sentinel with sharp eyes, finally voiced the question on everyone's mind."Your Majesty, did you mean Druids?" he asked, skepticism coloring his tone. "You do realize they are sworn enemies of the Lycans?"I met his gaze squarely, and my jaw clenched with determination. "I don't care if the numinous I mentioned are sworn enemies, allies, or something in between," I declared firmly. "If there's even a chance they can help me find my son, then I'll do whatever it takes."The room fell silent, the weight of my words settling over us all. I could see the uncertainty in their eyes, the unspoken questions lingering in the air. But no one voice
SPECIAL CHAPTER FIVE: OPHELIA COTTONWOODAUTHOR'S NOTE: Special chapters serve to shed light on the perspectives of minor characters, providing insight into their roles in the unfolding narrative.I had heard a car pull up to the front of my house. The familiar weak mana signature was no longer an ember. It was now a flickering fire. Whatever Abigail was intent on doing with Camille, it was working.I stared at my phone—so many missed calls: a voicemail and a text message. It was cruel what I was doing. But did I have a choice? Following some righteous compass was going to cost me something great. I loved Camille. But did I love her that much? At the end of the day, I was just a simple witch—a simple witch who just wanted a simple life with her companion. I deserved that. Goddess knows. Tears blinded my vision, hearing the shuffle of footsteps approach my door. It would only be time before the bitter truth was forced down Camille's throat. My betrayal would shatter her. I looked
EVA'S POVThe essence of plan C was to escape the jaws of death. Taking Camille's son was, however, a passing thought. But goddess, was I proud of my quick thinking. Taking him had completely destroyed her, which was my pound of flesh for what Camille had done to me. "Your sister's man has put a bounty on your head. Lycans and Werewolves are ordered to kill you on the spot, and Witches, Delicates, and even Druids are being reached out to for help." The witch for hire that helped with the whole thing had told me as she set a star of salt and herbs on the polished wooden flooring. "It is smart to set up a ward, but I don't think you really need to worry. Word from high places has warned witches not to interfere. Delicates are pathetic if they aren't hybrid scums, and Druids would never help a species they cursed into creation."I paced around, looking at the scared child who was in a fetal position in the corner. He hadn't eaten or drank since I brought him here. Not that I offered. B