Ava's breath came in short, shallow bursts as she pressed her back against the cold stone wall.
She could hear voices nearby, their words muffled but sharp with urgency. She didn't need to
see them to know who it was—Nathaniel's ominous threats still echoed in her mind from their
last encounter.
"Keep your head down, Ava," she muttered to herself, clutching the small silver charm Damon
had handed her before he disappeared into the night.
The voices faded, and she stepped out from her hiding place, only to nearly collide with Lucas.
"Trying to get yourself killed?" he asked, his tone half-amused, half-irritated.
"I could ask you the same," Ava shot back, crossing her arms.
Lucas tilted his head, his golden eyes gleaming in the faint torchlight. "You've got more fight in
you than I expected. But if you're smart, you'll stop poking the hornet's nest."
Ava narrowed her eyes. "And let people like Nathaniel win?"
Lucas chuckled, low and dangerous. "You're assuming anyone wins in this game. Let me tell
you something—there's no victory here, just survival."
---
Elsewhere, Damon paced the length of the library's restricted section, his movements restless.
He pulled another ancient tome from the dusty shelves, flipping through its brittle pages.
"Looking for something specific, or just admiring the décor?" Cassandra's voice broke through
the quiet.
Damon didn't look up. "What do you know about Ava's bloodline?"
Cassandra crossed her arms, leaning against the nearest shelf. "Why? Finally curious about the
girl you've been babysitting?"
"Answer the question." Damon's tone was sharp, leaving no room for deflection.
Cassandra sighed. "Her bloodline is... unique. Old magic runs through her veins, Damon. The
kind of magic that can destroy or unite entire packs."
Damon slammed the book shut, his expression dark. "And you didn't think to tell me this earlier?"
"It's not my secret to tell," Cassandra replied, her voice softer now. "But you're right to be
worried. If Nathaniel or Selene find out, they won't hesitate to use her for their own agendas."
---
The academy was unusually quiet that evening, the stillness thick with unspoken tension. Ava
and Lila sat in their dorm room, the faint light of the moon casting long shadows across the
walls.
"Something's happening, isn't it?" Lila asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Ava nodded, her fingers tracing the edges of the silver charm. "Damon said war is coming. But
he won't tell me anything more."
Lila hesitated before speaking. "Maybe he's trying to protect you."
"Or maybe he doesn't trust me enough," Ava said bitterly.
Before Lila could respond, a soft knock sounded at the door. Ava tensed, exchanging a wary
glance with her friend before moving to answer it.
Damon stood in the hallway, his expression grim. "We need to talk. Now."
---
Minutes later, they were outside, the crisp night air biting at their skin. Damon led Ava to a
secluded clearing, far from prying eyes.
"What's this about?" Ava asked, crossing her arms.
"There's something you need to know," Damon began, his voice low. "Nathaniel isn't just after
power—he's after you."
Ava's breath caught. "Me? Why?"
Damon hesitated, as if weighing how much to reveal. "Your bloodline is more than you realize.
It's connected to the old ways, the original packs. If he gets to you, he gains access to magic
that hasn't been seen in centuries."
Ava's mind raced, the pieces slowly falling into place. "And Selene? Is she part of this too?"
"Selene's always been about herself," Damon said with a scowl. "But she's smart enough to see an opportunity when it presents itself.
Ava took a shaky breath. "So what do we do?"
"We fight," Damon said simply, his gaze hard.
Before Ava could respond, a low growl echoed through the clearing. Both of them turned, their
senses on high alert.
The shadows shifted, revealing Nathaniel, flanked by two of his loyalists. His smirk was as cold
as the night air.
"Touching little meeting you've got here," Nathaniel drawled. "But I'm afraid it ends now."
Nathaniel's eyes gleamed with malice as he stepped closer, his voice dripping with menace.
"You have something I need, Ava. And I'm not leaving without it."
Damon moved in front of her, his body tense and ready to fight. "You'll have to go through me first."
Nathaniel smiled, his fangs glinting in the moonlight. "That can be arranged."