Page 245 of The Chosen One Universe: Volume One

“Sawyer has been found, Cousin.”

There was only the slightest glimmer of panic in her eyes before it faded. “I’m sorry for your loss, Cousin.”

“I lost nothing. My mate is alive.”

And there was the panic again. She looked frantically around, suddenly realizing the precarious position she was in.

Eduard remained calm and focused, staring at her intently. “You know the penalty for harming a clan member’s mate, Magdalen, but I will show mercy if you tell me what brought you to take such drastic measures to hurt me.”

She gasped then, eyes wide and surprised. “No, Eduard. I didn’t hurt you. I tried to help. He’s not really the chosen one. You must see it. You’ve been poisoned, cursed… I don’t know but he isn’t really your mate. The spell must be broken and the only way to do that was through Sawyer’s death. Uncle, please, believe me. Your son is not himself. He’s been lied to and misled.”

Augustus stepped forward and took the hand Magdalen held out pleadingly to him. “You’re the one who has been lied to and misled,” Augustus said softly. “We need to know who fed you such lies.”

“No,” Magdalen cried. “It’s not a lie, Uncle. He said it. He showed me the truth. Sawyer is a charlatan and the real chosen one is somewhere else, someone else. Someone who can fulfill the prophecy. A human could never do that. Don’t you see? He can’t be the chosen one. You’ve all been fooled, tricked by this human into thinking he’s something he could never be.”

Augustus sat on the edge of the bed, perfecting the role of comforting uncle. Eduard could never have been so kind. His entire body tensed, ready to strike should she make one move against his father.

“Who told you this, Magdalen? Who is he? Maybe if he could explain it to me himself I could see the truth.”

She blinked, her eyes growing hazy and distant.

Andvari reacted, pulling Augustus away as Magdalen let out an ungodly shriek.

“Who is he?” Eduard demanded, even as Calliope leapt forward and held Magdalen down. Between Andvari and Calliope, they were managing, but only barely.

“I… I can’t…you’re wrong.” She screamed again, thrashing against their hold.

“Who, Magdalen? Tell me!”

Suddenly, she stilled and locked eyes on Eduard. Her mouth curled into a smirk even as her eyes flickered to a fathomless black. For a moment, Eduard thought she’d shifted her eyes into her griffin form, the eagle taking focus. It was only a moment, though, before he realized the truth.

Magdalen was no longer in control. Something else was inside her, a darkness that seemed fathomless and frightening

“Fuck,” Calliope cried as Magdalen began to successfully push her away. The other guards stepped in, but Magdalen had grown strong, stronger than she could possibly have been on her own.

“You will not succeed,” Magdalen said, although the voice was no longer hers, and the deep echoing threat created a ball of fear in Eduard’s stomach. Her eyes began to flicker, movement within the black depths that Eduard had never seen before. “The prophecy will not come to pass.”

“Reveal yourself,” Eduard demanded.

Magdalen smirked in reply. “Tell the Mother I’m coming for her.”

She began to fight harder.

And she was winning.

No matter how many of their guards attempted to restrain her, she managed to push free. She lunged forward, reaching for Eduard, but he was ready. He’d shifted his hands, his talons sharp and deadly on the end of his fingers.

With one swipe, he struck, slicing her neck through to the bone. Blood splattered, drenching everyone within reach even as the life faded quickly from her eyes.

“Fuck,” Calliope said again. “What the hell was that?”

“Hell, indeed,” Augustus said. He was the only one of them who wasn’t covered in blood. He stared at Eduard, fear deep in his eyes.