The quiet of the early morning was suffocating. Lyra stood in the training hall, going through the familiar motions of her blade work, each swing a desperate attempt to push down the rising tide of anxiety inside her. The truth of what Grayson had revealed haunted her—Vivian wanted to break their bond, to take everything from them and use it for her own dark purposes.
She couldn't let that happen.
Ethan leaned against the wall, watching her with a mix of admiration and concern. His arms were crossed over his chest, his dark eyes tracking every precise movement she made. "You won't win this fight by wearing yourself out."
Lyra paused, her chest rising and falling rapidly, sweat dripping down her temple. "I need to be ready."
Ethan pushed off the wall, stepping closer, his presence grounding but firm. "You already are."
Lyra met his gaze, searching for reassurance she wasn't sure she'd find. "Ethan… what if she succeeds?"
His jaw tightened, his hands coming to rest on her shoulders. "She won't."
Lyra swallowed hard, feeling the strength in his grip. "But if she does—"
Ethan cut her off, his voice low and fierce. "She won't, Lyra. I won't let her."
A beat of silence stretched between them before Lyra nodded, taking a shaky breath. "We're walking into a trap, you know that."
Ethan's lips curled into a humorless smile. "We'll set our own."
Midnight Crest Tower – Strategy Room
The air inside the war room was thick with tension as Lyra, Ethan, Logan, and Amelia stood around the table, reviewing the layout of the old cathedral. The faded blueprints lay before them, stained and creased from years of neglect.
Logan traced a path with his finger. "The cathedral has four entrances. Security will be heavy around the front and side wings, but the underground tunnels here—" he pointed to a hidden passage, "—are our best shot at getting in unnoticed."
Ethan nodded. "We go in quiet. Get in, get to Vivian, and shut this down before it starts."
Lyra's gaze remained fixed on the center of the cathedral, where a large chamber was marked in faded ink. "This is where she'll do it. The ritual."
Amelia tapped at her laptop, pulling up surveillance footage. "Grayson was right—Vivian's been gathering resources for weeks. Whatever this ritual is, it's happening soon."
Logan glanced at Lyra. "And she needs your blood to finish it."
Lyra clenched her fists. "Then we make sure she doesn't get it."
Ethan's voice was firm. "We move at sundown."
Amelia looked up. "And if Damien shows up?"
Lyra hesitated, memories of the last encounter flashing in her mind. "If he's there, I'll deal with him."
Ethan's eyes darkened. "No, we will."
Lyra held his gaze, understanding the unspoken promise in his words. No matter what happened, they were in this together.
Old Cathedral – Hours Later
The crumbling structure stood against the night sky like a relic from another time. Moonlight filtered through the shattered stained-glass windows, casting fractured colors across the cold stone. Lyra crouched beside Ethan in the shadows, listening to the faint murmurs of Blood Pact guards stationed near the entrance.
Logan's voice whispered through the comms. "Tunnel's clear. Moving in."
Ethan signaled for Lyra to follow, leading her through the overgrown underbrush until they reached the hidden passageway beneath the cathedral. The air inside was damp and stale, the scent of earth and decay filling Lyra's lungs.
As they moved through the darkness, Ethan's hand found hers, his grip steady and reassuring. "Stay close."
Lyra nodded, her heartbeat echoing in her ears.
Minutes stretched into an eternity as they navigated the winding tunnels, until finally, they reached the end of the passage. Lyra pressed herself against the cold stone wall, peering through the cracks to see the grand chamber beyond.
Her stomach twisted.
Vivian stood in the center, her hands raised in the air, chanting softly in a language Lyra didn't recognize. Runes glowed across the floor, pulsing with dark energy. And chained to an altar at the far end—her mother.
Lyra's breath hitched, rage and fear colliding inside her chest.
Ethan's voice was low. "We take her now."
Lyra shook her head. "Not yet. We have to wait until she's distracted."
A sudden movement from the shadows caught her eye. Damien.
He stood near the altar, his expression unreadable, his eyes scanning the room as if searching for something—or someone.
Lyra's grip tightened on her blade.
Ethan's voice was dark. "I'll take Vivian. You get your mother."
Lyra exhaled sharply, nodding. "Be careful."
Ethan smirked faintly. "I should be telling you that."
Without another word, they moved.
The Battle Begins
The first strike was silent. Ethan took down the nearest guard with brutal efficiency, his blade slicing through the air like a whisper of death.
Lyra sprinted toward the altar, her focus locked on her mother. "Mom!"
Her mother's eyes fluttered open, weak but alive. "Lyra…"
Before Lyra could reach her, Damien stepped in front of her path.
"Going somewhere?" His voice was casual, but his stance was tense.
Lyra's eyes burned with fury. "Get out of my way, Damien."
He shook his head, something flickering in his eyes. "I can't do that."
Lyra gritted her teeth. "Then you leave me no choice."
She lunged, their blades clashing in a violent blur. Damien was fast, faster than she remembered, but Lyra fought with desperation burning through her veins.
"I don't want to hurt you," Damien murmured, dodging her strikes.
Lyra's voice was cold. "Funny. I don't feel the same."
With a sudden surge of energy, she struck low, slicing across his thigh and sending him staggering back. She didn't wait—she sprinted past him, reaching the altar and cutting through her mother's chains.
"We're getting out of here," she whispered.
But before they could move, Vivian's voice rang through the chamber.
"Leaving so soon?"
Lyra spun to see Vivian standing atop the altar, dark magic swirling around her like a storm.
Ethan appeared at Lyra's side, blood dripping from his knuckles. "Time to end this."
Vivian smiled, eyes glowing with malicious glee. "Oh, my dear Alpha… it's only just beginning."