VALERIA

It was another massive brown Lycan—Quinn—dripping blood from multiple wounds, who began battling Aldric, assailing him alongside Celine in her vampire form.

I knew they were defending me, rebelling against the King for my sake. I appreciated their loyalty, but this was not how I wanted things to end. Everything was the result of my fears and indecision.

The forest was filled with roars and the stench of thick blood. I began absorbing all the fog brimming with dark energy around me. My w