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A macabre voice echoed through the night, magnified and distorted into something chillingly inhuman. “YOU THOUGHT I’D LET YOU GO SO EASILY?” it thundered, reverberating off the trembling walls. “I’ve waited centuries to witness your bloodline’s fall, stone-cursed fool!”
I threw my arms around Rhys just as a jagged fissure shattered the windows overhead. Deadly shards rained down, but he sheltered me beneath the bulwark of his injured wings. Through the chaos, our eyes met in silent promise. Whatever fiend hunted us, we would confront them together. And gods help them when we did.
CHAPTER31
Rhys
Amidst the quakingearth and crumbling stone, a lone feminine figure materialized, seemingly unperturbed by the chaos erupting around her. Long golden hair cascaded in rippling waves down her shoulders, framing delicate features set in an oddly placid expression.
She stood unnaturally still, an eye of tranquility while the world shattered to pieces. For a heartbeat, I thought I glimpsed a glimmer of regret shadow those familiar cornflower eyes.
“Lily?” Jasper uttered her name like a prayer soaked in disbelief. Heedless of falling debris, he stumbled towards the blonde girl, reaching out a desperate hand as if to grasp a mirage. “Lily, you must run! There’s a vicious witch nearby!”
But Lily did not flee. As I struggled upright with Seraphina’s aid, a sinister glint entered the girl’s gaze. With dawning horror, I glimpsed the ornate black serpent ring adorning her finger, carved obsidian eye seeming to mock my dismay.
Recognition pierced through me with chilling certainty. “That isnotLily,” I pronounced grimly, clutching Sera protectively close as I stared down at this unexpected threat. “It’s Zahara Ravencrest. The sorceress who cursed me.”
At my damning revelation, the delicate features before us melted away, replaced swiftly by sharply elegant ones framed by hair, the vivid red of arterial blood. Zahara smiled coldly, pale blue eyes alight with malevolence as she stalked towards me with lethal grace.
“Clever boy,” the vile sorceress purred, casting a disparaging glance around at our shocked group. “You did eventually piece it together... though too late.”
Zahara halted just out of reach, vicious intent pulsing from her petite frame in waves. “I discovered an ancient text foretelling a girl who could break your wretched curse. So naturally, I had to intervene.” Her blood-red lips curled in a cruel approximation of a smile.
“When I learned this‘Seraphina’had enrolled at Blackthorn, I knew the appointed time had come at last.” Zahara examined her immaculate nails idly as she recounted her vile deceptions.
“Taking over that weakling Lily’s form was child’s play, barely worth the trivial effort. I’ve waited so very patiently all year amongst you unsuspecting sheep to thwart your salvation."
At her callous words, fury ignited my blood, raging through my veins like liquid flame. This demon had infiltrated our ranks, deceived and betrayed us all with her guise as a dear friend. And worst of all, she’d leached Seraphina’s generous spirit ruthlessly to further her bitter agenda.
I longed to rend Zahara’s smirking face in my claws for her heinous crimes. But violence would only play further into her ruthless hands.
Beside me, Seraphina appeared stricken, staring at Zahara with growing horror. “Lily, please...” she choked out, clasping her hands beseechingly. “I know you’re still in there somewhere!”
But Zahara merely laughed, the sound grating and hollow as a raven’s cackle. “Your friend was always pure fiction, my dear. Though I did grow rather fond of you, in my own way.”
Her icy eyes flashed with sardonic irony. “I suppose I should thank you for being such pleasant company and keeping my Rhys here entertained all this while.”
At her sly insinuations, I could restrain my fury no longer. An enraged snarl tore from my throat as I mantled my wings threateningly. How dare this viper suggest Seraphina had played the unwitting pawn in her twisted game! She was light and virtue incarnate, dragged unwillingly into Zahara’s web of deceit.
But the witch seemed unmoved by my rage. She merely toyed idly with her carved serpent ring, regarding us with clinical curiosity.
“Do compose yourself, Rhys,” Zahara admonished. “I act from necessity, not malice. You wounded me deeply once long ago. Clearly, a beast like you could never satisfy or protect a woman.”
Zahara’s vile words ignited my blood anew. I trembled with the urge to rip the stillness, but some small voice warned me not to lose all reason yet. That was surely her aim—to goad me into reckless folly.
At my side, Seraphina moved to shield me bodily from Zahara’s threats, fragile but fearless before this brewing storm. “I won’t let you hurt him,” she swore vehemently, voice ringing with absolute conviction. “Rhys is my true love and chosen mate. Our bond is sacred! You must break this curse and let him go free.”
Zahara tilted her head, regarding my brave love with bemusement, as though Sera were some bewildering aberration beyond her ken.
“Is that so?” the witch mused after a loaded moment. Her smile turned pitying, sending a chill down my spine. “Poor thing. He has well and truly ensnared your tender heart, hasn’t he?”
Seraphina drew herself up proudly, undaunted by Zahara’s condescension. “My mind and heart are my own, thanks,” she answered evenly. “And both know Rhys is my destiny.”
The corner of Zahara’s mouth quirked in faint amusement. “Your faith does you credit, Seraphina, however tragically misplaced. But realities must be faced in the end.”
Her amusement fled swiftly, jagged ice piercing her words once more. “Thus, you leave me no choice, girl. His cursed fate is sealed, as is your own.”
Zahara’s hand lifted, lethal magic already crackling ominously at her fingertips. But Seraphina did not flinch or cower before the brewing tempest. She stood tall and fierce beside me, her eyes gleaming defiant silver. Though darkness pressed close, I steadied myself with her indomitable light. Together, we turned to face our bitter fate without fear. This witch did not yet comprehend the power of our united souls. But she would learn that grave error soon to her ruin.
