MaliaMy body felt heavy.I could feel something thick and warm against my skin, soaking into my clothes, clinging to my arms, my hands.It smelled metallic.Blood.My eyes shot open.The room swayed for a moment as my vision adjusted, my head pounding like someone had taken a hammer to my skull. I was lying on the cold stone floor, my breath coming in shallow gasps. I tried to push myself up, but my limbs felt weak—like they weren’t entirely mine anymore.Something was wrong.I blinked, looking down at myself.Blood.It was everywhere.Splattered across my arms, my chest, my hands—seeping into the fabric of my clothes. The sight of it made my stomach lurch. I had no idea how long I had been out, but the blood was still warm. Fresh.Panic clawed at my throat as I tried to move, forcing my body to sit up. My hands trembled as I looked around. The dim light in the cell cast eerie shadows, but there was no mistaking the scene before me.Jude was still standing.Not dead. Not even injured
MaliaMy father groaned as he struggled to get to his feet, and my mother and I immediately rushed to help him. His weight was heavy against us, but we refused to let him fall.His face was pale, his breathing uneven, but he was alive. That was all that mattered.As we steadied him, I caught the look in both my parents’ eyes—the quiet, aching sadness that mirrored my own.We were all thinking the same thing.I didn’t ask for this life. None of us did. And yet, no matter how much we fought against it, no matter how much we tried to escape… we kept getting pulled back in.My father’s hand reached for mine, and I was startled by the warmth of it, the way his calloused fingers curled over mine with an unfamiliar gentleness."Malia," he said, his voice softer than I had ever heard it.I turned to him, and for the first time in my life, he wasn’t looking at me with reserved distance or quiet observation—he was looking at me with sorrow. With regret."I know," he began, hesitating for a seco
Malia“Malia, have you eaten?” My mom asked, giving me a concerned look. I was about to scoff and say yes out of habit—but then I paused.Have I eaten?I frowned, trying to recall the last time I put something in my mouth.And then it hit me.I hadn’t eaten anything since I first left Jude’s prison.Everything had been such a whirlwind—escaping, being hunted, waiting for Jamie’s decision, preparing for my own death, being thrown back into Jude’s hands—that I never even noticed the hunger gnawing at my stomach.No wonder I felt lightheaded. My mother sighed as if she already knew my answer."Malia," she said, shaking her head. "You have to take care of yourself."She turned to my father. "Take her to her room. I’ll make something for her to eat."My father nodded, then gently guided me toward the exit of the cell.I didn’t resist.Even if I had wanted to, my body was exhausted. The adrenaline had worn off, leaving me drained in ways I had never felt before.I expected him to take me th
JamieI wasn’t sure why I was heading to Malia’s room.I told myself it was just to check on her—to see if she was settling in, if she needed anything, if she was okay after everything—but deep down, I knew that wasn’t the only reason.After everything that had happened, after she nearly died, after I nearly had to kill her myself, I couldn’t stop thinking about how I'd apologize to her for what I'd done.It was annoying.I didn’t know how to apologise. I suck at it — yet I owed her an apology.But here I was, standing outside her door, debating whether to knock or just walk in.I sighed, running a hand through my hair.This was dumb. I should just ask Amara for help or—And then I heard it.A sound.A moan.I froze.My brain short-circuited for a second, trying to process what I had just heard.Another moan followed… A breathy, pleased moan.I blinked.Was Malia… satisfying herself?My face immediately heated.Shit.Shit.This was not what I expected to walk into.I took a step back,
JamieI took Amara’s hands in mine, my fingers curling around hers as if I could physically keep her from slipping away once I said what needed to be said.“I’ve been meaning to tell you for a while,” I started, voice low, uncertain. “But I never gave you a real reason for our breakup. Other than… the council, my dad—” I hesitated before correcting myself. “My late father—and the others refusing to accept our relationship.”Amara’s eyes searched mine, waiting, listening. “Yeah,” she said softly. “And it never made sense to me.”I nodded, heart hammering in my chest.She squeezed my hands reassuringly. “But I want to know. I’m glad you’re finally telling me.”I swallowed hard and took a deep breath, willing my voice to work—to just say it.But the words wouldn’t come.The truth was a boulder sitting on my tongue, impossible to move.Amara tilted her head. “Jamie, you can speak freely. We’re back together now, so whatever it is, we’ll get through it.”My body betrayed me before my voice
JamieI stood there, staring at the empty space where Amara had just been, my mind still reeling.That wasn’t how I wanted things to go.I didn’t want to hurt her. I didn’t want to push her away.I just wanted her to understand.But instead, I’d finally destroyed everything.I ran a hand through my hair, letting out a frustrated sigh—only for my mood to plummet even further when I heard a door open behind me.Malia’s door.I turned just in time to see him stepping out, his arm slung around Malia’s waist, his hand resting low on her back. Malia leaned into him, laughing at something he’d said, her fingers brushing against his chest.My jaw tightened.Are you kidding me?Corey had just come back to life—literally—and the first thing he did was latch onto Malia? The same woman who was the reason he died in the first place? And he had the nerve to do this now, right after I’d just had the worst conversation of my life?I felt something snap inside me.“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I mut
JamieThe room had already been tense, but after Aieran’s words, it turned downright suffocating. A heavy, thick silence settled, punctuated only by the shallow breaths of the council members. I crossed my arms, the leather of my jacket creaking softly, and took a deliberate step forward, exhaling through my nose. “Then do it,” I said flatly, the words sharp and clipped. “Proceed with finding the woman.”Corey’s head snapped toward me, a predator’s swift, violent movement. His entire body stiffened, a taut wire of contained fury, his golden eyes narrowing in disbelief, the irises flickering with a dangerous light. “We will do no such thing,” he growled, the words low and guttural, a warning rumble.The other council members shifted uncomfortably, exchanging glances that spoke of unease and unspoken fears. The air crackled with unspoken tension, the weight of their unspoken opinions pressing down on us like a physical burden. But it was Aieran who spoke first, his voice cutting through
JamieMy stomach twisted, the knot of dread tightening. “Left?” I echoed, my voice sharper than I intended, the word laced with a growing sense of panic. “What are you talking about?”Aieran’s expression shifted from surprise to confusion, his eyes narrowing slightly. “You came to see me earlier,” he said slowly, his voice laced with a hint of bewilderment. “Dressed in a suit and glasses. You told me you needed the special Storm combat crew to accompany you to Lycone in case the meeting with Ronin was a trap.”The air in my lungs turned to ice, a sudden, chilling realization washing over me.It wasn’t me.It was Corey.He impersonated me and took the special combat crew with him!I clenched my fists, the knuckles turning white, as realization hit me like a freight train. Corey had betrayed me. The implications of his actions were staggering, a devastating blow.And if he was taking warriors to Lycone without me…Then this wasn’t just about proving a point. This wasn’t some childish ac
MaliaRonin’s voice was sharp, cutting through the tension like a blade.“What the hell is this?”I didn’t answer right away.Because I didn’t know what to say.There were five unconscious men laying around me. There was blood on my hands. And Ronin and Corey were staring at me like I had just walked out of a massacre.There was no way I could explain this away.I tried to think of something—anything—but my mind was blank.A long, agonizing silence stretched between us.Then—I felt a spark. Not in my mind. Not in my chest. But on my tooth.I felt it—a tiny shock against the gem Jude had put there.And suddenly, the words came out.I lied.“I—I saw someone coming down here,” I said, my voice steady in a way that startled even me. “I was curious. I wanted to see what they were doing.”Ronin's eyes narrowed. “And that led to five guards unconscious at your feet?”I nodded. “I went down, but before I could even figure out what was happening, the guards stopped me. They accused me of lett
MaliaI didn’t wait for Nina to say anything else.She had already played enough games, and I wasn’t in the mood for another round of her mind tricks.I turned on my heel and walked away, fuming.Behind me, Nina hesitated for half a second before I heard her footsteps fade.She was smart enough to know that I didn't want to be followed.But just as I stepped into the dimly lit corridor leading out of the basement, I heard a sharp, authoritative voice.“Hey! Stop right there!”I cursed under my breath and spun around.Five men stood between me and freedom, their bodies tense, their hands already moving toward their weapons.Guards.Shit!One of them stepped forward, narrowing his eyes at me.“What are you doing down here?”I forced my expression into one of confusion, schooling my features into something innocent.“I—uh—I got lost?”His eyes darkened. “Lost?”“Yes,” I said quickly, nodding. “I was looking for the storeroom, and I must have taken a wrong turn. I didn’t mean to—”“Bullsh
MaliaI froze.Asher was awake. And he was looking right at me.His dull, golden eyes locked onto mine, flickering with something raw—hope, desperation, disbelief. For a moment, he simply stared, his chest rising and falling with uneven breaths. Then, as if afraid I would disappear if he didn’t move fast enough, he crawled toward me.His frail hands dragged against the cold, filthy floor, scraping against the stone. His once-mighty frame, now nothing but skin and bones, trembled with the effort. He barely spared a glance at the rotting food beside him as he reached for me.His fingers, dirty and trembling, brushed against my hand.I flinched.It was instinctual, but it was enough.Asher stilled, his expression crumbling. His hands dropped to his sides, and his shoulders sagged like the weight of the world had just crashed down on him.“I know,” he whispered, his voice raspy and broken. “I know I’m a monster.”I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.He swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple
MaliaI had been so lost in thought that I didn't realise that Nina was still talking to me. I listened to her last words and figured out something to say in response, so I exhaled, trying to steady myself before speaking. "Nina… I heard that the woman who accused Corey of assault wasn’t even real. She was a witch. She used Malia's image to frame him."Nina's breath hitched, and her expression hardened. She nodded slowly. "I know." Her voice was quiet but firm.I hesitated. "I also heard that while that was happening, the real Malia was captured."She sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Yeah, I know that too."The silence stretched between us for a moment, filled only by Asher’s slow, shallow breathing from the other side of the bars.Then, Nina exhaled sharply, pressing her fingers against her temples. "Asher was wrong to have killed Corey," she admitted, shaking her head. "So wrong. I mean, I get it—he thought Malia was attacked, and he reacted. But…" She looked away, as if st
MaliaI shook my head. "I don’t think it’s safe."Nina’s brow furrowed, a delicate crease forming between her eyes. "You don’t think what’s safe?" Her voice held a hint of impatience, a flicker of the urgency that had driven us here."Me going in there," I clarified, the words rasping out. I crossed my arms, a defensive posture that mirrored the turmoil churning within me. "I’m not exactly great at sneaking in and out of places, and if I get caught, it could ruin everything. You should go alone." My gaze flickered towards the heavy, iron-bound door at the end of the corridor, a dark maw leading into the depths of the school's underbelly.For a moment, Nina looked like she wanted to argue, her lips tightening into a thin line. I could see the protest forming on her tongue, the logical counterpoints she was about to unleash. But then, she sighed, a long, drawn-out exhale that spoke of reluctant acceptance. She nodded, the motion sharp and decisive. "Fine. I’ll do it myself."That shoul
MaliaAs I stepped out of Ronin’s office, the air outside felt lighter, but my mind was anything but. My thoughts churned, replaying the conversation over and over.Why hadn’t I corrected Jude when he got my age wrong? It should’ve been an easy fix, something I could have said in the moment without any real consequence. And yet, I hadn’t. I guess I was just so overwhelmed and charged up after that kiss with Ronin that I also momentarily forgot that Lia isn't really seventeen. But in my case it's understandable that I would forget, after all, I'm not the mastermind behind the plan. What was Jude's excuse?But then, I came to the realization that Jude wasn’t the type to make mistakes. Not with something as important as that.He sat me down and drilled every possible detail about Lia into my head, making sure I was ready to live as her without suspicion. But despite all of that, he had conveniently made an error about my age?I scoffed under my breath.No. That wasn’t a mistake.Jude mu
MaliaI leaned back in my chair, watching Ronin through narrowed eyes. His hands were still pressed together on the desk, fingers interlocked, but I could see the tension in them—the slight twitch of his thumb, the way his knuckles had turned just a shade paler.He was angry.Fine. So was I.“Why are you acting so reckless?” he asked suddenly, his voice low but sharp.I raised an eyebrow. “Reckless?”“Yes.” He leaned forward slightly, his silver eyes locking onto mine. “I thought you were a gentle girl. That was what I liked most about you.”For a second, I just stared at him. Liked? Past tense?A small, bitter laugh escaped me. “I am gentle, Ronin.” I tilted my head. “But if that was all there was to me, I’d be a boring, one-dimensional person.” I let my lips curl into a smirk. “Which I’m not.”Ronin’s jaw tightened. He exhaled through his nose, as if trying to calm himself, but his fingers flexed against the desk like he was fighting the urge to snap it in half.“The real issue,” I
MaliaI took a deep breath, forcing myself to shake off the unease from my conversation with the so-called spy. There were more important things to focus on—like pretending to be Lia and surviving another school day without slipping up.Pushing the classroom door open, I barely took two steps inside before freezing.Ronin was standing at the front of the room.The entire class turned to look at me, eyes filled with barely concealed amusement. A few students snickered, others whispered behind their hands, and instantly, I knew something was wrong.Swallowing my irritation, I forced my expression into indifference. “Good morning, Alpha Ronin,” I said stiffly, before turning to the teacher. “Good morning, Miss Harper.”Miss Harper gave me a tight-lipped nod, her discomfort clear. But Ronin? He didn’t even glance my way. He stood there, focused on the rest of the class, like I didn’t exist.I bit the inside of my cheek, forcing myself to keep walking. My footsteps felt too loud as I went
MaliaThe boy leaned back against the desk, a smirk playing on his lips. “Alright, let’s see how well you really know Asher and his friends.”I could hear it in his thoughts—he expected me to stumble. He thought I was bluffing, that I was another opportunist trying to use Asher’s downfall for my own gain.I smiled, crossing my arms. “I won’t just answer questions about Asher—I’ll answer anything you want about his friends, too. Amara, Nina, Corey, Jamie… take your pick.”His smirk widened. He thought he had me right where he wanted me. “Alright then,” he said, eyes gleaming. “What’s the relationship status of each of Asher’s friends?”I knew exactly what he was trying to do—trip me up with details only a true insider would know. But if he thought I’d hesitate, he was dead wrong.“Nina,” I started, “was Asher’s childhood friend. They grew up together, always close, though not in a romantic way.” I tilted my head. “She cared for him deeply, but Asher never saw her that way. Eventually,