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Chapter 416
~Zara’s POV~
Luna Star had a lot to say about love, about Snow, about the bond we had shared. And by the ti she was done, I realised sothing—my anger at him had dulled. Just a little.
But it was still there, still lingering beneath my skin like an old wound that hadn’t quite healed.
I pulled into my apartnt’s parking space and turned off the engine. I sat there for a mont, gripping the steering wheel and taking a deep breath.
I was exhausted.
Not just physically but emotionally. The conversation with Luna Star had dragged up feelings I thought I had buried. Feelings I had convinced myself didn’t matter anymore.
But they did.
I exhaled and grabbed my purse. My phone was still off—I hadn’t wanted to turn it back on until I was ready to deal with Snow. He had called multiple tis, but I wasn’t ready to hear his voice just yet.
Not when my emotions were all over the place.
I stepped out of the car and walked up the stairs to my apartnt. My mind was already on a hot shower and maybe a glass of wine before I dealt with whatever ss Snow wanted to talk about.
But then I felt it—a presence. Soone was inside my apartnt.
Was it Snow?
I stilled, my senses sharpening instantly. My heartbeat slowed, and my muscles tensed. The air felt wrong—thick. The scent of magic lingered, dark and cloying.
It was definitely not Snow but a witch. Why and how did they find ?
I reached for the doorknob and pushed the door open slowly and there she was. Vani.
No—Vera.
She stood in the middle of my living room, her arms crossed over her chest, her lips curled into a smug smile. The shattered remains of a picture fra lay at her feet, and the sight of it made my blood turn cold.
She knew.
She knew she had been exposed.
"Zara," Vera purred, tilting her head mockingly. "Finally thought you’d grace us with your presence."
I shut the door behind , keeping my face blank as I took a slow step forward.
"Vani," I said calmly.
Her eyes flickered with amusent. "Oh, we’re still playing that ga?" She chuckled and took a step toward . "I think we’re past that, don’t you?"
My fingers twitched at my sides. My instincts scread at to attack, to defend myself, but I needed to understand what she was planning.
"Why are you here?" I asked.
Her smile widened. "Oh, Zara. Haven’t you figured it out yet?" She took another step closer, her aura pulsing with dark energy. "I’m here to finish what I started."
My stomach dropped.
Shit.
I had walked straight into a trap but that did not matter. I wasn’t going to back down either because I hated her with passion right now for all she had done.
"You just couldn’t stay away, could you?" she twisted her lips. "Because of you, my mate wants gone."
My ears perked up. What? Did Snow already discover who she was and see the witch that she truly is?
"Well, it doesn’t matter. Once I can erase you, he will have no fog bugging his mind and finally see I am the one best for him. So do yourself a favour and stay rooted in place while I give you a quick and painful death. Hmm?"
"Vani, whatever it is you are planning..."
"Vani?" she chuckled darkly. "aning my prince charming hasn’t told you nor has your dum friend rembered. Look again. I am not Vani. My na’s Vera Slaton, the dark witch’s heir."
My mind raced to my conversation with Ella. She was right. She had found Vani—Vera out and gotten attacked for it.
And yet she was right under my nose. I was a fool for letting her co close to my house and best friend.
I kept my stance firm, my fists clenched at my sides, as Vera took another slow, asured step toward .
She was enjoying this—relishing the mont.
"You’re quiet," she mused, tilting her head, studying like a predator cornering its prey. "Not even a little surprise? No ’Oh my goddess, Vera, how could you?’"
I scoffed. "Please. I figured you were a snake the mont my instincts started screaming at whenever you were around."
Her lips curled into a smirk. "Ah, instincts. Such a funny thing, aren’t they? Yet, you still let stay in your ho. Let get close. How foolish."
My jaw tightened. "You played the victim well. But I see you now. And trust , I’m not foolish anymore."
Vera chuckled. "Not foolish? Then why did you walk in here so easily? Did you really think I’d just sit around waiting for you to co ho so we could have a chat?"
She lifted her hand, and a faint, dark glow flickered over her fingertips. The mont it did, the air around grew heavier, colder.
A spell.
I moved instantly. I wasn’t about to wait for her to strike first.
I lunged forward, aiming straight for her throat. But just before I reached her, she flicked her wrist, and an invisible force slamd into my chest.
I flew backwards, crashing into my dining table and knocking over a chair in the process.
Pain shot through my spine, but I gritted my teeth and pushed myself up. "That all you got?"
Vera let out a laugh, shaking her head. "Oh, Zara. I forgot how fun you were."
I wiped the blood off my lip and narrowed my eyes. "Yeah? You’ll rember even better when I’m the last thing you see before I kill you."
Her expression darkened. "Bold words, little wolf. But tell , how does it feel?"
I frowned. "How does what feel?"
Vera took another step forward, her eyes glowing with power. "To know that you were never ant to have him. To know that no matter what, fate chose soone else for Snow. And it wasn’t you."
My blood ran cold, but I forced myself to keep my face blank. "Fate can kiss my ass. Snow made his choice."
"Yes," Vera sneered, "he did. And he chose wrong. Because now, he will die trying to fix a mistake he never should have made."
Sothing inside snapped, and I charged. This ti, I was faster.
Before she could cast another spell, I grabbed her by the wrist and twisted, yanking her arm behind her back.
She shrieked, but I didn’t let go. Instead, I spun her around and slamd my knee into her stomach. She gasped, her body folding forward.
"You talk too much," I growled.
Vera snarled, and suddenly, dark energy exploded from her body, knocking off my feet. I hit the ground hard, rolling to the side just as a black energy bolt shot past , burning a hole in the floor where I had been seconds ago.
I didn’t even get a second to breathe before she was on again.
Vera swung a ball of energy straight at my face, but I ducked, dodging just in ti. I retaliated with a hard kick to her ribs, sending her stumbling back.
She spat blood onto the floor, her chest rising and falling rapidly. Then she grinned. "You’re stronger than I expected. But that won’t save you."
I smirked. "I don’t need saving."
Her eyes flickered. "No, but you will be needing a coffin."
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