Chapter 100
Prisca’s POV
Twatched as Elara and the other’s disappeared into the distance, their figures slowly swallowed by the darkness. Everyone who had gathered to send them off turned and made the way back toward the Cragfen Fortress, the atmosphere thick with silence.
Except for me.
I lingered, the wind biting at my skin as I stood there, lost in thought.
Sin thought. Elara’s wonds echoed in my mind, the last thing the had said before leaving About
Was too quick to trust her?
couldn’t help but ask myself was I just fooling mysell, thinking that Miela–who had once ordered her maids to cut off my hands without a second thought–could change so drastically in such a short time? Could someone that brutal really change overnight?
I drew in a shaky breath, the weight of the thought pressing down on me.
If Miela had been playing me this whole time… if she had something to do with Serena’s death…
I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself for letting her off so easily
Iclenched my fists, the thoughts swirling in my head like a storm. But just as I was about to turn and head back, I heard it–something from behind me, a noise that didn’t belong. My heart skipped a beat.
“Who’s there?” “called, my voice sharp, strained, “Step out!”
was well past midnight. No one should be out here.
Afigure stepped from the shadows, emerging into the moonlight, and my heart dropped when I saw who it was.
Miela
“What are you doing here?” I gasped, my voice full of shock.
Miela just chuckled, her smile almost mocking. “Sending my dear sister off, just like you did. Shame I didn’t gat a chance to wish her good luck.”
The tension in my chest doubled, my body instinctively stiffening. “How did you know about this?” I demanded, my voice low and threatening.
Her grin widened, like she was savoring every second of my confusion. “Oh, I know a lot of things,” she said, each word dripping with malice. “I know where Elara and Thorne are headed. The Great Canyon. Suicide mission, really. And I know this… I know you won’t be able to boss me around anymore.”
narrowed my eyes, trying to keep my composure. But her words were like knives in my side.
“You“My throat went dry, the horror of what she was implying setting in. “You’re lying”
Miela’s grin twisted, something almost playful in the way she moved closer, reveling in the fury on my face.
“I’m not lying, darling,” the purred. “And you’re about to find out just how much I know.”
And with that, a sharp, burning pain slammed into my side, knocking me to the ground. My breath hitched as i curled into the dirt, the cold air rushing into my lungs, Mruggling to keep my vision steady.
It was Zara–standing above me, baseball bat in hand.
“You.“I gasped, my body fighting the crashing pain. “It was you… A–And-
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Chapter 100
-And me,” a deep voice added from behind me, sending a shiver down my spine.
Lance stepped into view, his shadowy figure moving like a predator. A twisted smile tugged at his lips as he watched me struggle.
“I bet you didn’t see this comite, did you?” he teased, his voice mocking
My heart raced in panic, but my body was born, the pain from Zara’s hit overwhelming me. I tried to move, tried to fight back, but everything in my body screamed in protest.
Lance’s foot came down, pressing into my shoulder, and I cried out, unable to stop him.
“You’re all too gullible,” he mocked, his voice cold and plumphant. “You believe people can change. You believe too easily. That’s your fatal flaw
“You… You killed Serenal” I gasped, the truth finally slipping from my Tips
Lance shrugged, unfazed. “Caught me Alittle late, though!
He shifted his foot, pressing harder into my neck, and I choked, my face turning purple with the effort to breathe.
“You really think Elara and Thome are going to save you?” Lance snickered. “They’ll never make it. Alpha Thome’s strong, sure, but strength isn’t everything. You’re all too simple. Too predictable.”
My chest tightened, desperation clawing at me. “They’re strong… They’ll come… They won’t let you win…”
Lancelot out a cruel laugh. “You really have faith in them, huh? Well, I’ll give you this–Alpha Thorne’s the strongest werewolf I’ve met. But I don’t need to fight him. I’m smarter. I’ve already won.
I coughed, struggling to speak, but my breath was short, the pressure on my throat unbearable.
*Remember that box of snacks you gave Elara? Lance asked, his voice dripping with amusement
I felt a cold sweat break out across my skin, my heart pounding in horror. “What did you do?” I croaked.
Lance smirked, taking a slow step closer, his gaze never leaving mine. “I had Miela add a little something extra,” he said with a grin. “You didn’t think they’d stay as strong as they are, did you?”
Anger surged in my chest, but it was buried beneath layers of suffocation and pain. “You sick bastard,” I gasped.
Lance chuckled, unbothered. “You’re mad, huh? Maybe you should be mad at yourself Serena’s death? Your fault. And now Elara and Thome! They’re
His boot came down harder, and I felt the darkness creep in. My vision blurred, and the world around me spun.
Zara’s voice was distant, muffled. “Should we hide her body?”
“Leave her,” Lance answered dismissively: “We’re headed to the Great Canyon. No need to hide our tracks anymore.”
Helt the ground tilt beneath me, and before I could process anything more, everything wont black.
Micla stepped forward, her gare fixed on Lance, a curious gleam in her eyes. “That thing you had me put in their snacks. What was it?” she asked softly. “hit poison? Are they going to die before they even got to the Great Canyon?”
Lance’s grin widened. “No poison can kill a werewolf,” he replied nonchalantly. “It’s something much more effective. Zara’s blood.”
Miela froze, her face scrunching in confusion. Her blood?” she asked, incredulous. “What good is that if it doesn’t kill them, then-”
She stopped mid–sentence as she caught the dangerous glint in Lance’s eyes. His smile altered, turning into a dark, threatening expression “Careful, Miela,” he warned, his voice cold. “I don’t like being questioned. I’m the king here. You’re just my subject. Remember that.”
Chapter 100
Miela nodded quickly, her voice barely above a whisper. “Yes, my king ”
Lance’s eyes softened, but only for a moment, as he patted her on the head like she was a child. “You’ll see soon enough what Zan’s blood will do. Wet find out when we get back to the Great Canyon.” He turned toward the road, his eyes glinting with excitement. “Wpha Thorne is waiting for un
As the group prepared to move, the tension in the air was palpable. The journey to the Great Canyon would take a full day, but Lance seemed more bran eager to make the trip, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.
In the shadowy depths of the canyon, an entire black market was hidden–trading in illicit goods and dangerous secrets. Elara had warned me about it. But I hadn’t expected to see what lay ahead.
The stench of danger lingered in the air, the market a web of chaos and uncertainty.
We’d barely begun our search when Bex’s voice cut through the noise. “Nobody knows anything about the Rogue King!”
“We’ve been asking for hours,” Jory murmured. “They all have different stories. It’s all lies.”
But Thorne’s voice, low and certain, broke through the chaos. “It’s simple. We need to become true rogues. We need to take the test.”
And with that, everything changed.
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