Lahat ng Kabanata ng Annalisa : Kabanata 71 - Kabanata 80

71SPENCERThe alley was dark and cold, a perfect hiding spot for shady dealings. I leaned against the damp brick wall, the shadows swallowing me whole. I had just left another frustrating meeting, my mind racing with all the ways I had to regain control. This was not how things were supposed to go.Suddenly, I heard footsteps echoing off the cobblestone. A guard stumbled into view, bloodied and panting. His face was pale, and I could see he had been in a fight. I pushed myself off the wall, curiosity piqued.“What happened?” I asked, my voice steady, though anger simmered just below the surface. “You look like you’ve been through hell.”The guard leaned against the wall for support, wincing as he tried to catch his breath. “It’s Annalise,” he gasped, struggling to speak. “She’s back. And she’s regained her powers.”A chill ran down my spine. I felt my blood boil at the mention of her name. “What do you mean, ‘regained her powers’?”“Something happened in the sacred cave,” the guard e

73MARCUSThe alley was dim, lit only by the flickering streetlight above. I leaned against the wall, arms crossed, waiting for Spencer to show up. He was always anxious, always worrying about something. I could feel it in the air. He rushed into view, his face pale and his breath quickened.“Marcus,” he said, glancing around as if the shadows might swallow him whole. “We need to talk. Annalise is up to something. She’s gathering support in the other realm.”I raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. “And? What of it? Does she think she can actually threaten us?”Spencer stepped closer, his eyes wide with concern. “You don’t understand. She’s more powerful than she looks. If she gets enough support, it could mean serious trouble for us.”“Trouble?” I scoffed. “What kind of trouble? She doesn’t have what it takes to challenge me. She’s all bark and no bite. You’ve seen it.”“She’s not alone anymore. She’s got allies,” Spencer insisted, urgency bleeding into his tone. “This isn’t just about her.

75I stood at the edge of the sacred cave, the air thick with anticipation and the distant rumble of thunder echoing in my ears. Adrian was beside me, his eyes filled with worry, searching my face as if trying to read my thoughts. The weight of what was coming hung heavy between us, a looming shadow that threatened to engulf everything we cared about.“Are you ready for what’s ahead?” he asked, his voice low and steady, but I could hear the tremor underneath. I knew he was trying to mask his fear, but it was there, lurking just beneath the surface.I took a deep breath, looking out into the darkness of the cave, the shadows dancing as the light flickered from the torches. “I am,” I assured him, though uncertainty lingered in my heart. I had to be strong, for both of us. I had come too far to back down now. “We have to face Marcus and his pack. It’s time to end this.”Adrian’s brow furrowed as he stepped closer, his expression turning serious. “Annalise, I—” He hesitated, searching for

77ANNALISEI crossed my arms, studying Spencer as he paced in front of me, his mind racing. It was hard to believe I was even considering his request. This traitor wanted a chance to prove himself, but I had my doubts. After everything he had done, trusting him felt like a gamble I wasn’t ready to take.“Lure Marcus into the realm,” I finally suggested, my voice firm. It was a risky plan, but if it worked, we could have the upper hand.Spencer stopped dead in his tracks, a look of disbelief washing over his face. “Marcus would never come into the realm. He’s too afraid. I’ve tried to convince him before, but he fears that his mortal wound will weaken him. He knows it’ll make him less powerful against you.”Frustration bubbled inside me. “Then what’s your plan? Either bring Marcus to me, or go back to him and wait for your destruction.”Spencer’s face darkened, and I could see the anger boiling beneath the surface. He turned away from me, his fists clenching at his sides. “You don’t g

79ANNALISEI stood outside the banished quarters, the cool night air biting at my skin. I felt a knot tightening in my stomach, a mixture of determination and dread. I had just agreed to let Spencer play a role in bringing Marcus into our realm, and I couldn’t shake the unease that came with it. It was hard to trust someone who had betrayed me before, but I was desperate.Adrian met me at the door, his expression serious. “Annalise, we need to talk.”I nodded, knowing what was coming. “I know. About Spencer.”“About Spencer and about you trusting him,” he replied, frustration creeping into his voice. “Why would you put yourself in that position again?”“I don’t have a choice, Adrian. We need Marcus to come here. Spencer is our only option.”“Only option? Really? You think he’s changed?” Adrian crossed his arms, pacing slightly. “After everything he did to you?”I felt heat rise in my cheeks. “I’m not saying he’s perfect, but he can help us.”“He’s a snake, Annalise. You know that. Ho