She was never supposed to know who I am. Not until the moment she freed me from this prison. I’d planned it so carefully, every step laid out like pieces on a board, all leading her to unlock the final seal that keeps me bound here. I would’ve played the role of the helpless, desperate soul in need of saving.
But then, once free, I would have turned on her. I would have drowned her in my shadows, suffocated her with the darkness that has been festering inside me for centuries. She wouldn’t have had time to scream, let alone resist. And her magic—it would’ve been mine, absorbed into me, fueling my power, binding us in a way that would have made her nothing more than a mindless puppet.
She was always supposed to be a tool, a means to an end. But now? Now, she’s something more dangerous. She’s aware. And worse—she’s mated. That bond has made her stronger, more resilient, more difficult to break. But not impossible.
I will have her. One way or another.
This setback won’t stop me. After all, I now have the perfect bait.
Chapter ten
Everly
Valric leaves, the door clicking shut behind him, and I immediately sag into one of the chairs, rubbing my hands over my face.
“Where is Zaria?” I need to see my friend more than anything.
The back of my throat burns as memories of Rayna being shot with the arrow flash through my mind. My soul cries in anguish, wishing I could have been here to offer my support. Zaria has been suffering alone while I was stuck in the Winter Court.
Every line in Raiden’s body goes taut. “She is in the forest.”
I frown, attempting to push my hair behind my ears only to hit the pointed tips. My eyes roll at the number of times I’ve forgotten that they’re like that now. “Why?”
“It’s a long story.”
My spine stiffens. “Tell me.”
Raiden hesitates. “I think there are more–”
Standing abruptly, I feel my chest constrict with each breath. “Don’t,” I warn. “Don’t you dare say there are more important things.”
I must have a wild look in my eyes, because Raiden narrows his gaze at me. The air between us crackles with tension, and I can feel my pulse quicken.
“Fine,” Raiden finally concedes, his voice tight. “After the attack on the city, I went to collect Rayna from the street. I wanted to bring her back to the castle and tell Zaria myself, but when I got to where Rayna was,” a muscle in his jaw ticks as he clenches it, tipping his head back as if trying to hold back a torrent of emotions, “Zaria was already there, and when I tried to get near them, she shifted and attacked me. I couldn’t get her to calm down. She was completely out of control, and when she realized what she had done, she ran off.” Raiden scratches his head where his horns protrude from his head. “I tried to follow, but she . . . she’s fast.”
“And?” I snap, the frustration building, clawing at my insides.
“Everly, she isn’t herself at the moment. We’re giving her space to grieve,” he explains, his silver eyes meeting mine with a steady gaze.
“What about her parents?”
“They’ve long since passed.”
His words hit me like a punch to the gut, hollowing out my stomach. I feel a surge of anger, my vision tinting red. “Are you telling me that you’ve left the woman you love out in the forest for days, mourning the death of her sister alone?”
Raiden’s silver eyes swirl like liquid metal, a storm barely restrained beneath a surface of calm. The flicker of annoyance in them is subtle—almost imperceptible—but to anyone who trulyknows him, it is loud as thunder. His expression is neutral, carved with the same stoic mask he always wears, but there is a tightness to his jaw, a slight narrowing of his gaze that betrays the storm brewing within.
“It’s not like I haven’t tried!” he snaps, his wings seem to tremble. “She won’t let anyone near her—not even me.”
I’m too angry to acknowledge the hurt in his tone.
“Not good enough, Batman!” The nickname slips from my lips, my fists clenching at my sides. That familiar, beautiful tingling sensation rises in my chest, spreading outward, magic coursing through my veins like wildfire. My heart pounds, fueling the adrenaline that’s already surging through me. “I’m going to get her.”
Before he can object, I turn on my heel and storm from the room. I can feel my cloak billowing behind me as I walk, my movements driven by rage. Every step down the hall is a release, my skin humming with power, and magic igniting my senses. The rush of energy pulses through me, and I can sense eyes on me—maids and guards alike gaping at my return. Their expressions are a mix of disbelief and awe, whispers buzzing in the air like static. Some manage to bow, but most are too stunned to move, their eyes wide as they watch me pass.
Ahead of me, Anika and Nymeria lead the way, their presence a silent but unwavering support. They seem to understand my intent without a word exchanged between us, and it’s clear they have no intention of leaving my side anytime soon.
“Everly, wait!” Raiden’s voice calls out from behind me.
