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 wings beat fiercely, creating gusts of air that swept away the illusions and deceptions.

My feet lifted a few inches off the ground, and the moonlight started piercing the darkness. But there was too much dark energy, and I was just a novice at controlling my power.

I opened my eyes just as something flew toward me, landing at my feet with a dull thud.

"Quinn!" I cried, utterly exhausted, on the verge of collapsing. I felt like the dark energy coursing through my veins would explode at any moment