The night hung heavy over Midnight Crest Tower, an uneasy stillness settling across the city. Lyra stood on the rooftop, the wind whipping through her hair as she stared out over the skyline. Lights flickered in the distance, but all she could see was the darkness closing in.
Her mother was resting in the infirmary, but Lyra couldn't sleep. Not when every time she closed her eyes, she saw Vivian's face, heard Damien's voice, felt the weight of the past pressing down on her chest.
Footsteps echoed behind her, and she didn't have to turn to know it was Ethan.
"You're thinking too much again," he said, his deep voice cutting through the silence.
Lyra smiled faintly, hugging her arms around herself. "It's kind of hard not to when everything feels like it's falling apart."
Ethan stepped closer, his presence solid and grounding. "We're still standing. That counts for something."
Lyra turned to face him, searching his face for reassurance. "For how long?"
Ethan's jaw tightened, and he reached out, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "As long as it takes."
She sighed, leaning into him slightly, letting his warmth chase away the cold creeping through her bones. "We have to meet with Grayson tomorrow."
Ethan's expression darkened. "I don't trust him."
Lyra gave him a wry smile. "You don't trust anyone."
"I trust you," he said softly, his fingers tracing the edge of her jaw. "That's enough."
Lyra swallowed the lump in her throat, wishing she could believe that trust alone would be enough to keep them safe. But deep down, she knew the Blood Pact was relentless, and they were running out of time.
"Let's go inside," Ethan murmured, sensing her exhaustion.
Lyra allowed him to guide her back inside, but even as they walked, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was coming. Something worse than they had ever faced before.
The Next Day – Underground Safehouse
The meeting with Grayson was set in one of their lesser-known safehouses, a dimly lit underground bunker that smelled of damp concrete and old secrets.
Lyra sat at the head of the table, flanked by Ethan and Logan, while Amelia sat across from her, fingers dancing across her laptop. The door creaked open, and Grayson entered—tall, lean, with the kind of calculating smile that set Lyra's nerves on edge.
"Long time," Grayson drawled, sliding into a chair across from her. "Didn't think I'd hear from you again."
Ethan's eyes narrowed. "Cut the crap, Grayson. You have information we need."
Grayson's smirk widened, but his eyes flickered with something sharper. "Straight to business, huh? I always liked that about you, Graves."
Lyra leaned forward, her voice firm. "Tell me what you know about The Ascension."
Grayson's smile faltered slightly. "So you've heard the name. Thought you would have been too busy running."
Ethan's growl rumbled through the room, but Lyra held up a hand to calm him. "We're done running. Talk."
Grayson sighed, leaning back in his chair. "Vivian's planning something big. Really big. She's not just after you anymore, Lyra. She's looking to rewrite the balance of power."
Lyra frowned. "How?"
Grayson's eyes darkened. "With your bond. You and Graves—together, you're stronger than you realize. Your connection, your power—it's ancient, older than you know."
Ethan stiffened beside her. "And what does she want with it?"
Grayson hesitated before speaking. "She wants to break it. Use the pieces to amplify her control, to make herself unstoppable."
Lyra's blood ran cold. "Break it?"
Grayson nodded grimly. "There's a ritual. One that can sever mate bonds—permanently."
Ethan's grip on the table tightened, his eyes flashing dangerously. "She won't get that chance."
Lyra felt a pit form in her stomach. "What do they need to perform it?"
Grayson's smirk returned, but there was no humor in it. "Blood. Lots of it. And not just any blood—yours."
Silence stretched across the room, heavy and suffocating.
Ethan's voice was low and lethal. "We stop this. Now."
Grayson raised an eyebrow. "Easier said than done, Alpha. Vivian's already in motion. She's gathering her forces at the old cathedral on the east side."
Lyra's hands clenched into fists. "Then that's where we go."
Ethan turned to Logan. "Get the team ready. We hit them hard."
Grayson stood, tipping an imaginary hat. "Good luck with that. You'll need it."
As he left, Lyra exhaled shakily, turning to Ethan. "This isn't just about us anymore."
Ethan nodded, his expression grim. "No. It's about stopping them before they destroy everything."
Later That Night – Ethan's Quarters
Lyra sat cross-legged on Ethan's bed, staring at the floor while he paced back and forth, his agitation palpable.
"This is bigger than I thought," Ethan muttered, running a hand through his hair. "I should've seen it coming."
Lyra sighed. "None of us did. We've been so focused on surviving, we didn't realize they were planning something like this."
Ethan stopped in front of her, kneeling so they were eye level. "We won't let them win."
Lyra reached out, resting her hands on his shoulders. "I know. But this fight… it's going to cost us."
Ethan's eyes softened, and he cupped her face gently. "Whatever it costs, I'm willing to pay it."
Lyra's heart clenched at his words, and she leaned into his touch, savoring the rare moment of vulnerability between them. "I just want us to have a chance. To be free of all of this."
Ethan brushed his lips against her forehead. "We will."
Lyra looked up at him, her voice quiet but determined. "Promise me."
Ethan's jaw tightened, and for a moment, the weight of their shared history hung between them. Then he nodded. "I promise."
Lyra kissed him softly, letting the warmth of him chase away the darkness, if only for a moment.
Because tomorrow, the war would begin in earnest.
And there would be no turning back.