Chapter 11
Chapter 11
They didn’t move.
The five figures stood in the snow, cloaked in shadow. The one in the center was taller than the rest, his presence heavier, as if the very ground leaned into him.
“Come with us,” he said. “You can avoid countless bloodshed if you just do as we say.”
Back inside, Kael stirred in his sleep.
gripped the dagger tighter.
‘I don’t know who you are,” I called, stepping forward, “but I don’t take orders from ghosts ir cloaks.”
The tall man smiled slowly. “No, you’ don’t. You take them from your blood. And your blood is ours.”
‘Then come and take it,” I snapped, standing straighter.
‘We’ve not come here to forcefully take you today. You have two days to think this through. Don’ say you weren’t warned.”
He turned to leave, the others moving with him like shadows retreating into fog.
stood there long after they vanished between the trees, trying to feel brave.
What happened?” Kael’s voice came from behind me, raspy with pain.
turned to him. “They want me to come to them willingly.”
By midmorning, we were already moving.
Kael could barely walk, but he pushed through, his stubbornness as fierce as my fear. We left the lealer’s cabin behind-fire doused, all traces of our presence buried beneath snowfall and
ootprints.
I don’t get it,” he muttered. “Why not strike when they had the chance?”
They gave me two days to come to them on my own.” I said.
(ael grunted. “Damien will also be in search of you. We need to be careful in this woods.”
didn’t respond. The memory of Damien’s face-the way he looked at me the night I said I was eaving-still haunted me more than the Shadowborn ever could.
The path twisted between trees, growing thinner. By dusk, we found shelter in an abandoned hut. (ael collapsed into a corner, exhausted.
set a small fire and stared into it, chewing on the inside of my cheek.
I don’t want to go back there,” I said aloud.
Kael raised a brow. “To Silverclaw?”
nodded. “Not ever. Not for any deal. Not even if Red Fang begs me.” He was quiet for a long time.”
Then he said, “What if you had to? Not for Damien. Not for the title. But for something bigger?”
I turned to him. “Like what?”
Kael’s eyes flicked to the fire. “Like stopping a war.”
I woke to the sound of footsteps from outside.
Kael wasn’t beside me.
Panic surged. I grabbed the dagger and crept to the window.
He was outside-talking to someone.
Two men. No, three. Dressed in black, their faces blurred in the dark.
One of them handed Kael something. A satchel.
Another reached for his arm.
Kael pulled away.
I bolted from the cabin.
“Kael!”
All heads turned. His face twisted in pain and guilt.
‘They found us,” he said.
The third man stepped forward, and the moonlight caught his face.
I staggered back.
Silverclaw.
Emeric. Damien’s most loyal hound.
‘Alice Rivers,” he said coldly. “You’ve been summoned.”
I reached for the dagger.
Kael stepped in front of me. “Don’t. You’re still too weak.”
‘And they think they can just come here-”
‘They were tracking me,” he cut in. “I led them off your trail, but one got too close. I’m sorry.”
‘You’re sorry?” I snapped at him.
‘I saw you taking something from them. It didn’t look like you tried to take them off your trail.”
‘No one wants you around. You are like a thorn in the flesh everyone wants to get rid of,” Emeric
spat.
I turned toward Kael, my expression turning sober.
“You made a deal?” I asked.
He stepped closer, trying to touch me, and I yanked his hand away.
I stared at him, fury and heartbreak crashing together inside me. “Why did you do this?”
“I didn’t know,” he said quickly. “I doubled back to throw them off. I didn’t realize one got past until it was too late.”
Chapter 11
212 35.6%
“Stop lying.” I yelled, feeling anger course through my veins as tears trailed down my cheeks. I
should have known-after the experience with Damien, I should have known that all men were the same. I shouldn’t have trusted him.
Emeric stepped forward. “Alpha Damien demands your presence. You have until sunrise to comply. Or we’ll take you by force.”
I looked at Kael, who looked like he’d rather be shot than see me go.
I walked toward him slowly.
Then slapped him across the face.
He didn’t flinch.
‘You said you wouldn’t let them take me,” I whispered.
‘I didn’t plan to,” he said. “But I’d rather see you alive and angry than dead.”
stepped away and turned to Emeric.
‘Take me.”
They bound my hands with rough rope laced with silver, to reduce my strength.
Kael tried to follow, but Emeric shoved him back.
‘You’ve done enough,” he said, and marched me into the woods.
3y dawn, we were already at Silverclaw.
heard their whispers, just like before. With those dirty and disgusting looks.
She’s alive.
thought she was dead.
Why bring her back?
They stared at me like I was a ghost they never wanted to see again.
Damien was waiting outside, his arms crossed.
He stepped forward with a smug smile on his lips.
‘Welcome home,” he said.
met his gaze.
‘This isn’t my home.”
And then I spit at his feet.
