Semua Bab Alpha’s thirst for Ember : Bab 81 - Bab 86

Raphael opened his eyes slowly, blinking up at the sky above. His vision was blurry at first, but when it cleared, all he could see were branches leaning over the edge of a pit. Cold air brushed against his skin, and his whole body felt like it had been hit by a truck.He tried to sit up and winced. His back ached, and his legs hurt even more. He glanced down and realized one ankle was swollen. Definitely twisted, maybe worse. The dirt beneath him was damp and cold, clinging to his clothes. He must’ve been lying there for a while.Right. The fall. He had been running. Everything came back in a slow, bitter wave.He had been running through the forest like a man with nowhere to go and everything to lose. Leaving Bloodveil, leaving Kaya, and Ember.Raphael let out a shaky breath and leaned his head back against the wall behind him. His heart didn’t ache like it had when he first saw Ragnar with Kaya, it burned. He hadn’t expected it. He’d always thought there was a chance, no matter how

Darius watched as Collin spat out a thick glob of blood, then he laughed… actually laughed, and slapped his thighs like it was all a joke.“I can’t believe she escaped before I ever got a taste,” Collin said like it was nothing. Stella had nearly died.Disgust crawled under Darius’s skin, but he kept his expression flat. He reminded himself for the hundredth time that he needed Collin. At least until Thorne was dead. After that, they’d never have to cross paths again.The air still smelled like blood, and the clearing was eerily silent now that the chaos had ended. Ragnar had fought like a possessed man, pummeling Collin to the edge of death before scooping his unconscious sister into his arms and walking away without a word. Back to Bloodveil, no doubt.Collin spat again then rolled his shoulders as his body continued the process of healing. Flesh stitched itself together where Ragnar’s claws had torn into his ribs.He’d taken damage, but he’d given it too. It had been a dirty fight

Ember watched from the far side of the room as Caden pressed his palm to Stella’s forehead. His expression was grim, and his shoulders dropped in sadness.“She’s not burning up,” he said, “she’s healing fine… just still out cold.”Probably from the trauma, Ember thought, but she didn’t say it out loud. Stella’s lashes twitched a little but her face was slack. Ragnar sat on one of the narrow beds with his legs spread and his hands clenched. The big room was starting to feel like a den, her mother’s corner armchair, Caden kneeling beside Stella sleeping, Ragnar barely holding it together, and her, watching it all. The builders hadn’t finished the left wing they started with so for now, the master bedroom was all they had.Ragnar’s voice broke the silence. “Where’s Kaya?”“She’s okay,” Ember said. “She’s healed completely. But she wasn’t here when we brought you two in. She probably went out for a run or something.”He didn’t say anything, he just gave her a stiff nod and stared down at