Lycidas' POV As Martha and I carried Mia's unconscious form past the grove of trees and into the base, a sense of urgency hung heavy in the air. Every step felt like a battle against time itself, each passing moment fraught with uncertainty and fear. But amidst the chaos, a glimmer of hope remained, a flickering flame of determination that burned bright within us both.As we entered the base, the familiar sights and sounds of our makeshift home greeted us, offering a fleeting sense of solace amidst the turmoil. But there was no time for rest or respite, not when Mia's life hung in the balance.The first person we encountered was Michael, his brow furrowed with concern as he rushed towards us. "What happened?" he asked, his voice tinged with worry as he surveyed Mia's unconscious form.Martha's expression turned serious as she assessed the situation. "Mia was injured," she explained, her voice steady despite the urgency of the moment. "We need to get her to her room and tend to her wo

Hazel's POV"You do not scare me. I answer to Alpha Phelan only and you would not dare cross him," he said."Oh, is the fool now eager to establish his relationship with the Silver Hands?""I answer to Alpha Phelan," he repeated."No, fool. You answer to me."I stood before the iron bars of the cell, and the prisoner's gaze locked onto mine with a mixture of defiance and disdain. I turned to the warden, a silent command passing between us as he stepped forward, a gleam of anticipation in his eyes. With a nod of approval, I motioned for him to enter the cell, knowing that it was time to get to the bottom of things.The warden wasted no time, his movements swift and efficient as he approached the prisoner with a set of gleaming tools in hand. With a menacing grin, he selected a particularly cruel-looking implement—a metal rod with a sharpened tip—and brandished it before the prisoner's eyes with a flourish. Generally speaking, you do not want to draw blood first thing when beginning tor

Hazel's POVI chuckled, leaning back in my chair as I adopted an air of nonchalance. "No game, just looking for a capable person to do some thing," I replied with a shrug. The old man's lips quirked in a semblance of a smile, though his eyes remained guarded. "You think I would buy that? Who sent you? The Sulfur Hands? Well, whoever it is, tell them that they can shove whatever they want to tell me in a place where light does not reach.""No one sent me," I grinned, taking a sip of my drink as I considered my next move. "Well, truth be told, I've heard some rather interesting things about you, Zion," I began, my voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "They say you're a man of considerable talent, with a knack for the unnatural arts. And I must admit, I find myself rather intrigued."Zion's eyes narrowed, a flicker of suspicion crossing his weathered features. "And what exactly do you want from me, boy?" he asked, his tone sharp.I leaned in closer, lowering my voice to a hushed

Hazel's POV "Well, that was disappointing," I remarked with a chuckle, my voice light and mocking as I twirled another knife between my fingers. "I suppose I'll have to work on my aim..."The woman flinched at the sound of my laughter, her eyes widening with fear as she huddled closer to her children. And as I watched her retreat into herself, a sense of satisfaction washed over me My gaze lingered on the woman and her children huddled together in fear, my mind drifted back to the Blood Moon prophecy – a foreboding omen that had haunted my thoughts for months.I remembered the day I had visited the royal astrologer, seeking answers to the enigmatic prophecy that had cast a shadow over our kingdom. The old man had peered at me with clouded eyes, his voice barely above a whisper as he spoke of astral portents and star wrought warnings."There is more to the prophecy than meets the eye," he had said, his voice trembling with age.I had stormed into the dimly lit chamber, my rage simmer

Mia's POV As the golden rays of the setting sun filtered through the dense canopy overhead, casting dappled patterns of light and shadow on the forest floor, I found myself lost in conversation with Lycidas. The air was heavy with the scent of pine and earth, the gentle rustle of leaves providing a soothing backdrop to our weary footsteps as we wandered through the ancient groves."So, what do you make of Martha's sudden change in demeanor?" Lycidas asked, his voice breaking the tranquil silence of the forest as he glanced over at me with a curious expression.I shrugged, a bemused smile playing at the corners of my lips as I mulled over the question. "Beats me," I replied, my tone laced with a mixture of amusement and confusion. "But I'm not complaining. Though it is nice to see her actually smiling for once, instead of glaring daggers at me every chance she gets."Lycidas chuckled, the sound echoing through the stillness of the evening like a melody of laughter. "True," he agreed,