Chapter 223: The Battle of Blood and Ash

Lilia moved first.

Faster than Bella remembered.

Faster than she should have been.

One second, she was standing in front of them—the next, she was on Bella, claws slashing, teeth bared, rage bleeding from every movement.

Bella blocked the first attack.

Dodged the second.

But the third—it hit.

Sharp claws ripped across her shoulder, hot blood spilling onto the dirt.

Bella snarled.

"You've gotten slow."

Lilia's voice was a taunt, cruel and sharp and filled with something far worse than hate.

"You should've killed me properly."

Bella's pulse roared.

Because she had killed her.

Had felt Lilia's body collapse beneath her hands, had watched the light leave her eyes, had burned her to ash.

But now—

Now she was here.

And she was stronger.

Dante's snarl shook the air.

He lunged, his wolf half-shifted, his hands curled into claws, ready to tear Lilia apart.

But before he could reach her—

She vanished.

Then—

She was behind him.

Bella's chest seized.

"Dante!"

But Lilia was already moving, already striking.

And Bella?

Bella was too far away to stop it.