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Clutching her chest, Laila forced her tired, wounded legs to keep moving.

Atrail of blood marked her path, but she didnt stopnot even to heal herself.

Shed rather face a Lycan and die quickly than stay here in this cursed place.

The mist began to rise between the graves as if it had a life of its own, swirling around her legs like ghostly hands trying to grab hold of her.

Laila ran, terrifiedshe had never felt such fear in her life.

As she passed under the weeping willow, its branches suddenly thrashed in the strong wind.

"Ahhh! Let me go! Let me go!" she screamed frantically as the green vines coiled around her neck, arms, and legs, strangling and restraining her.

She fought like a madwoman, yanking at the branches and clawing at the ones choking her neck, trying desperately to break free.

Her feet stumbled backward, wet hair clinging to her eyes, and she swore she saw shadows and red eyes in her blurred vision.

She pulled back with all her strength, thinking she had escapedonly to realize she hadnt.

"AAAHHH!" A piercing scream shattered the thunder-filled night as rain poured from the sky like a deluge, washing away the battlefield's blood.

Lailas body fell backward, vertigo rushing through her head before she crashed against a hard surface.

---- Her half-lidded eyes, blurred by the rain soaking her battered body, stared in disbelief at the sky.

It seemed so far away, framed within a triangle everything else was darkness and dirt.

She had fallen into an open grave.

Lailas heart pounded like a war drum.

BOOM, BOOM, BOOM! "Thave to get out of here...

I have to get up and get out of this nightmare!" Her strong spirit urged her to fight, and she tried to stand.

She would climb the meters-high dirt wall even if she had to leave her nails behind in the process.

But her determination was short-lived.

The scream of terror lodged in her throat when, from beneath her, through the wet earth, filthy, mud-covered arms shot up, covering her mouth and grabbing her throat.

Unable to defend herself, Laila could only watch in silent horror as more hands emerged from the bottom of the grave, dragging her into the earths depths.

She choked on her screams, thrashing and kicking wildly, staring at the sky with wide, red eyeseyes that were soon covered by dirt, stones, roots, and dead leaves, vanishing into the cemetery's depths.

She wouldnt die just yet, but she would soon wish she had.

She had made the mistake of messing with his woman, and she would pay dearly for it.

sek Beof heard the witchs scream from inside the cemetery as he retreated.

Celine finally reached the fog guarding the door and stood before it fora few seconds.

---- He shook his head.

That girl would have been better off if he had snapped her neck quickly; now, she would suffer a far worse death.

"Sir, the explosives on the aqueduct grounds have been detonated," one of his men reported.

"Good.

The rain will smother the gunpowder.

Keep hunting down any vermin trying to escape His Majestys perimeter.

Not a single one can survive!" Beof commanded ruthlessly, charging forward toward the main battlefield.

They had split into several strategic groups to crush the rebellion.

His section was going well, but the main fight was at the castle, where Quinn and Gabrielle had headed.

sek Gabrielle, why do you have to go to such a dangerous place? I can go alone to protect Celine! A powerful Lycan raced across the castle grounds under the heavy rain, shielding a woman in his arms.

Quinn, Zarek needs me to transfer ownership of the protection contract.

It seems he wants to give it to that man who has your sister under his spellsomething like that, he said.

He doesnt explain much.

What?! Hes going to hand over control of his power to that bastard...? I mean, shit...

it's to protect my sister, right? Quinn bit back his complaints, confused and deeply worried, his eyes locked on the drawbridge lowering ahead with a rattling of chains and ---- trembling wood over the deep moat.

It was clear Zarek wanted them inside the castle.

No, Quinn, you dont understand.

That contract has clauses, fine print.

That idiot sorcerer is walking right into his own death.

And honestly, I want to break my damn bond with Zarek.

After all, Ive come to terms with the fact that my daughter will never be the next Selenia Queen.

The laws of this world will change soon, and I believe the Dark Realms monarch will be someone else.

They fell into silence, moving swiftly under the torrential rain, crossing the moat at full speed and entering the castle's open gates.

There was no need to mention namesQuinn knew very well Gabrielle was talking about Celine.

But it didnt bring him relief; it only made him more anxious.

He had always been there to protect his little sister, and now she had such a powerful mate.

Was that good or bad for Celine? If he mistreated her, humiliated her for being a hybrid and nota pureblood vampire, it wouldnt matter if he had to dieQuinn would defend his little sister, the one he had raised like a father.

No idiot would make her suffer.

sek While chaos and battle raged outside the castle grounds, inside, everything was eerily silent.

Nota single sound echoed, not even a breath; the air was thick with tension, where even the faintest whisper could be heard clearly.