I woke to the crackle of firewood and the faint scent of herbs drifting through the air.
A soft, warm blanket was draped over me, and the throbbing in my head had dulled to a steady hum.
Lucien sat across from me, sharpening a curved blade with slow, deliberate strokes. The firelight danced over his silver hair, making him look ethereal—almost unreal. For a heartbeat, I wondered if I was still dreaming.
"You're awake," he said, not looking up.
I nodded, pushing myself upright. "Where are we?"
"My sanctuary," he replied evenly. "Deep in the outskirts of the Elderglen Forest. No one can find us here… unless I wish it."
Something about his tone sent a chill down my spine—comforting, yet full of warning.
"Why are you helping me?" I asked, watching him carefully.
Lucien paused mid-motion, the blade glinting in the firelight. When he finally looked up, his storm-grey eyes seemed to look right through me.
"Because…" he said slowly, a faint smile tugging at his lips, "you'll understand when the time comes."
I frowned. "That's not an answer."
He smirked softly. "It's the only one I can give right now."
Silence settled between us, filled only by the crackle of the fire and the whispering wind beyond the cave walls.
Finally, I asked, "What now?"
Lucien stood and walked toward a hidden alcove in the stone wall. From it, he retrieved a thick, black leather-bound book, etched with faintly glowing runes. The air seemed to hum around it as he carried it closer.
"Now," he said, placing it gently in front of me, "we find out what you truly are—and how to control the storm inside you."
The moment he opened the book, a surge of energy rippled through the air, powerful and ancient. It crawled across my skin, seeping into my veins like living light.
My wolf stirred.
Diaris hissed.
And deep inside, my witch whispered words in a language I couldn't understand.
Lucien's voice broke through the haze. "You are more than a rejected mate, Felice. You are a force the kingdoms fear—and they will come for you."
A spark ignited in my chest, burning hotter than the fire beside us.
"Let them try," I whispered, my voice steady and low. "I'm done hiding."