After leaving Aysha hidden deep within the grove, Therion paused, the weight of the night's revelations heavy on his shoulders. Finding his mate—a hope he had abandoned over A century ago—felt like a cruel twist of fate. As the fire crackled, casting flickering shadows on the walls, his companions, Kyros and Icarus, shared his silence, their expressions mirroring the gravity of their situation.
The emergence of their mates during such perilous times was no mere coincidence. The three champions felt the tension in the air, a storm brewing on the horizon.
"We need to discuss the Twilights," Kyros finally broke the silence, his voice low and urgent. The rebel group's motives remained shrouded in mystery, making them even more dangerous. Their presence, now intertwined with the revelation of their mates, posed a threat greater they had anticipated.
Cassius's voice interrupted their thoughts. "Our scouts have found nothing, my Lord."
"Damn it! They haven't shown their faces in six days," Therion snapped, frustration gnawing at him. "They're out there, I know it."
Icarus chimed in, "My aerial team hasn't spotted anything unusual either."
A foreboding chill swept through the grove. "It's too convenient," Kyros added, concern lacing his voice. "Three champions find their mates at the same time, and those women may or may not be who the twilights spent five years hunting."
Therion's brow furrowed. "The Twilights are unfamiliar territory for us. They've toyed with the humans for five years, and yet their origins and abilities remain a mystery. If we don't act now, they may pose a threat to the beast folk as well."
As darkness enveloped them, they began their patrol, the eerie stillness amplifying their senses. Therion led the way deeper into the grove, checking in with the scouts they had dispatched to watch for any sign of the rebels. Just then, a scout emerged from the shadows, urgency radiating from him.
"Lord, I bring urgent news! Suspicious movements have been spotted near the east of the fallen city. They're expected to enter the grove in less than five minutes!"
Therion's eyes narrowed. Without a word, he raced toward the east entrance, instinct guiding him. With a powerful leap, he landed atop the tallest tree, crouching low, his breath steadying as he strained to hear what his eyes could not see. The wind carried unfamiliar footsteps, a whisper of impending danger.
In the open field near the fallen city stood a man clad in a tattered black cloak, moving with an unsettling aimlessness. Therion approached cautiously, but before he could reach the man, Kyros seized him from behind, his grip like iron around the rebel's neck.
The man contorted in pain, a smirk twisting on his lips. "He's alone," Therion grumbled, a chill creeping down his spine.
"Where are the rest of you?" Kyros demanded, tightening his hold.
"You can't stop us," the man spat, defiance flickering in his eyes.
"There's something I can stop," Therion said, a malicious smile creeping across his face. He slowly traced his nails down the man's chest, feeling the frantic pulse beneath. "Tell us your plans, and I'll make your death quick."
With a swift motion, Therion's nails pierced the man's flesh, a scream erupting from his lips. Blood dripped down, staining the ground. Despite the agony, the rebel remained silent until Icarus stepped forward, placing a hand on the man's head.
"We don't have time for games," Icarus stated, placing his hand on the man's head, his fingers phasing through his flesh. The man writhed in agony, his breath coming in ragged gasps.
"Tell us!" Icarus whispered into his ears.
"I was meant to be a distraction," the rebel gasped, his voice strained. "Ordered to lure you away from the ceremony."
Therion's rage grew, as the man's lifeless body fell to the ground. The still beating heart dropped to the ground as Therion turned towards the grove, rage and dread intertwining as he prepared for the worst.
Upon their return, a gruesome sight met them: lifeless bodies littered the ground, remnants of a desperate fight. Panic surged through Therion as he dashed toward the room where he had left Aysha, a broken door and empty bed was all that met them.
"Where are they?" Kyros roared, slapping an unconscious guard awake.
"They left," the man mumbled, dazed.
"What do you mean, they left?" Therion pressed, urgency rising in his voice.
"Before the rebels came, the girls knocked us out and disappeared," the guard stammered, shaking his head in disbelief.
"You expect us to believe that three human girls subdued all of you?" Icarus scoffed, his eyes narrowing in rage.
"They weren't the same. The women that left...their eyes shone like the moon, and they were far too powerful to be in their phasing period, they were stronger than Ascendants" another guard added, rubbing his sore neck, which bore the marks of their escape.
"We need to find them before the rebels do," Therion said, dread pooling in his stomach. If the rebels sought the girls, they were in greater danger than he could fathom. He moved to Aysha's bed, raising the blanket to his nose, inhaling her scent, imprinting it in his mind.
"Take care of this filth," he commanded, gesturing to the bodies around them. "Get rid of them before I return."
With that, Therion burst into the thick forest, determination fueling his every step. Time was running out, and the hunt had just begun.