The cabin seemed to tremble under the weight of silence that followed Dante's revelation. Every shadow felt alive, every breath a dagger in the chest. Sera's mind swirled in disbelief. Dante—one of their closest allies—had been their enemy all along.
Aidan was the first to break the silence, his voice like a growl from the depths of a storm. "Why, Dante? After everything we've been through?"
Dante's smirk faltered for a moment, a flicker of something unreadable passing over his face before he hardened. "You think you know me, Aidan? You think all those years of loyalty meant anything? I was tired of being your shadow. Tired of watching you take what was never yours to begin with. Power, love, freedom—it was always about you!"
Sera stepped forward, her voice trembling but sharp. "And this is your answer? Betrayal? Handing us over to the council like we're nothing more than pawns?"
Dante's eyes flicked to her, his expression softening for the briefest second. "You don't understand, Sera. This isn't just about me. It's about survival. The council made me an offer I couldn't refuse. They promised me freedom—a life away from all of this." He gestured around him, his voice tinged with bitterness. "You two, with your forbidden bond, you're a threat to everything. I had no choice."
"You had a choice!" Aidan's voice roared through the room, raw and unrestrained. He took a menacing step toward Dante, his fangs fully visible now, his power radiating off him in waves. "You chose to turn your back on us, to sell us out. And for what? Freedom? You think they'll let you live once they have us?"
Dante hesitated, his confidence wavering, but Elara stepped between them, her presence commanding. "Enough," she said, her voice icy. "This isn't a debate. The council is already on their way. Your time is up."
Sera felt a surge of panic. They were cornered, outnumbered. Aidan could fight, but against both Elara and Dante—and the council's imminent arrival—the odds were impossible.
But Aidan was undeterred. His crimson eyes burned with fury as he squared off against the two traitors. "If you think I'll go down without a fight, you've underestimated me."
Elara laughed, a cold, hollow sound. "Oh, Aidan. Always the hero. But this time, there's no one left to save you."
As she spoke, a deafening rumble shook the ground beneath them. The cabin's windows shattered, and an oppressive energy filled the air. Sera's chest tightened as a suffocating presence descended upon them.
"They're here," Dante said, his voice trembling with a mixture of anticipation and fear.
Through the broken windows, Sera saw them—figures cloaked in black, their silhouettes barely visible against the moonlit forest. The council had arrived, their power suffocating, their intent clear.
Aidan grabbed Sera's arm, his voice urgent. "We have to go. Now."
Sera hesitated, her gaze darting between Aidan and Dante. "We can't just leave him. He was—"
"—he was our friend," Aidan finished, his voice pained but resolute. "But not anymore. He made his choice."
Dante flinched at the words, his expression twisting into something unrecognizable. "I didn't want it to end like this," he muttered, almost to himself.
Elara, unfazed, raised her hand, summoning a dark energy that crackled like lightning. "There's nowhere to run. You're out of time."
But Aidan wasn't ready to give up. With a burst of speed, he lunged at Elara, his movements a blur. The two collided in a clash of power that shook the cabin to its foundation. Sera barely had time to react before Dante was in front of her, his expression torn.
"Leave, Sera," he said, his voice low. "Before it's too late."
She shook her head, her heart breaking. "I trusted you, Dante. We trusted you. How could you do this?"
Dante's jaw tightened, his eyes glistening with something that looked like regret. "I did what I had to. You'll understand someday."
But before he could say more, Aidan's voice rang out, sharp and commanding. "Sera, go!"
Sera's instincts kicked in. She turned and ran, her heart pounding as she raced through the forest, the sounds of the battle fading behind her. But even as she ran, she couldn't shake the feeling that this was far from over.
Dante's betrayal was only the beginning. The council was here, and they wouldn't stop until they had what they wanted.
And as the first rays of dawn broke through the trees, Sera made a silent vow. She wouldn't let this be the end. Not for her, not for Aidan.
And not for the love that had defied fate itself.