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Chapter 459
~Vera’s POV~
The journey back to Shadow Clave was long, not in distance, but in what it took from .
I kept my hood up the entire ti, letting the thick black fabric shield my face from the early morning light. My boots dragged with each step, soaked in mud and forest gri.
I hadn’t fed properly in days, but the rage that burned in my chest was fuel enough to want to go ho.
All through my journey, I had one simple plan: to tell my mother that things went AWOL because of Zara Gold and look for a way to get her.
I couldn’t afford to make my mother suspicious of the reasons I failed this mission, even though she had no idea I had changed the plan in hopes of killing Zara. I just knew I needed a backup plan in case things went haywire again.
So instead of heading ho, I decided to visit Kent Wayne.
But as soon as that thought crossed my mind, I had a rethink.
"Visiting Thorned Crescent in this state would be bad. I need a phone, new clothes, a bath, and a makeover appearance just in case, and I need to et Kent privately before going ho."
I detoured from the main path to an old ruins chamber hidden on the outskirts of the Shadow Clave territory—a place I used often when I needed to disappear.
No prying eyes. No questions. Just a hidden cache of old weapons, clothes, and most importantly, a burner phone I’d left in case of ergencies like this.
After a long charge, the screen flickered to life. I tapped into the only number that mattered right now.
Kent Wayne.
He was my betrothed and right now, my possible ally and asset. The line rang twice before I heard the low click on the other end.
"Vera?" His voice was clipped, almost cautious. Then a beat passed when I did not respond. "You’re alive."
A slow, wicked smirk touched my lips. "Miss already?" I purred smokily. "Careful, Kent. You sound relieved."
"I thought you were dead," he replied. "Everyone did. Your mother sent scouts. I had to calm your damn faction down and my father before they stord the witch circles."
"Well, aren’t you my knight in bloodstained armour?" I murmured, dragging my finger lazily along the cracked table in front of . "But don’t worry, sweetheart. I’m not dead. Not even close. I’ve been... rejuvenating."
"Where are you?" he demanded in a less harsh tone but still with that tight command in his tone.
"You’ll know soon enough," I replied sweetly. "But first, I need sothing from you."
Silence stretched across the line for a heartbeat before Kent finally answered . "What is it?"
"A favour," I cooed, leaning back into the chair, my body aching, but my mind was sharp. "I need a clean location. Sowhere off-grid. Private. No ties to your father or my mother. I’ll need clothes. Phones. A healer, maybe. And..." I licked my lips, "a nice warm bed wouldn’t hurt either."
"Why? You can easily get those for yourself. You’re a witch, rember."
"Yes, but Mum would be able to track my power signatures all around. I need to not show up without Zara. I want a plan."
"Well, I can’t help with your thoughts, love. That’s on you."
I rolled my eyes. "Oh well. So, I’m planning a new strategy to take down Zara Gold, and this ti, I’m not letting your pack politics or my mother’s rituals interfere. But before I make my grand reappearance, I need to look the part of a strong, irresistible, dangerous lady. So, lover—help prep my stage."
Kent exhaled on the other end. "You’re insane."
"You like that about ," I said with a chuckle.
He didn’t argue. "I’ll send soone to pick you up. Stay put."
"I knew I could count on you," I said, voice dripping like honey and poison all at once. "Kent?"
"What?"
"When I win this war, I’m not just coming for her throne—I’m coming for that crown beside you. I plan to rule... by your side. Just like we were ant to."
Kent was silent for a while, and I knew that his silence didn’t an refusal. It ant contemplation. And that, for now, was enough.
I did not wait for his response and ended the call, then tossed the phone onto the table.
Ti to beco the monster they feared... in full glamour and power.
"Enjoy your peace while it lasts, Zara Gold, because I’m coming back. And next ti, I’ll rip you apart from the inside out."
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I waited for Kent for an hour, and after that, I decided to visit Shadow Clave briefly. When I crossed the boundary, the air shifted. It felt familiar and stale.
Like the scent of old incense and ashes clung to forgotten altars, Shadow Clave’s walls stood tall, carved from obsidian and etched with dark runes that pulsed faintly in my presence.
The wards let in—barely.
Two guards at the gates straightened the second they laid eyes on , eyes widening at the sight of . One of them opened his mouth, likely to question , but I didn’t wait.
"Let through," I rasped, trying to keep my voice hoarse to show my situation better.
The guard obeyed imdiately, stepping aside like he’d just seen a ghost. Maybe he had.
I made my way into the inner sanctum of the compound, toward the high tower—the ritual chamber where I knew she’d be.
Luna Slaton. My mother.
I pushed the door open without knocking. The scent of sage, dried blood, and candle wax assaulted .
Mother was there, in the center of the room, draped in violet robes with her back to .
"Who dares—" she began, before freezing mid-chant. Her head whipped around and then, silence.
Her eyes widened for a mont, like she had seen a ghost and not expected .
And then, the very next second, she was running toward .
"Vera," she breathed. "By the gods—Vera!" Her hands cupped my face before her arms wrapped tightly around , her voice trembling. "I thought you were dead. I felt your magic vanish. I felt your heartbeat stop."
"I almost died," I murmured, leaning into her warmth despite myself. "But not for long. I borrowed soone else’s life force," I explained.
My mother pulled back slightly to examine my face. "What happened? You were supposed to take her powers."
"Yes, but Snow was not to interfere either."
"Then how did he? We had it planned, we had it—"
"I failed," I said in a low voice. "He got in the way. Zara knew I ca for her and one thing led to the other; we engaged in a fight. Zara was going to kill. I h-had to defend myself, mother."
As I explained, tears rolled down my cheeks. "Mum, I had to fight back, and in the process, Snow dove in. He took the hit ant for her. And then... she killed ."
My mother’s breath hitched, her hands tightening around my arms.
"But I survived. The protection spell—one of the old ones—it worked, just enough. Then I used dark magic. I drained a guard. Took his life force. It was the only way."
She stared at , her expression unreadable now. For a second, the softness in her eyes was replaced quickly by a cold, calculating look. "And what of Snow?"
"He died," I said bitterly. I tried to hold it in, hold the fact that Snow had left and my mate died because of .
My mother exhaled sharply, the flicker of rage lighting behind her eyes.
"I will not let this go unanswered," she said quietly. "They think they’ve won. But they’ve rely delayed the inevitable."
I straightened, my strength slowly returning.
"I want to be the one who ends her," I said with venom in my voice.
As much as I wanted to tell my mother that Zara took everything from . I couldn’t. She didn’t have to know.
"Let return the favour," I said finally.
My mother’s eyes narrowed. "What favour?"
"Zara tried to kill . I want to do the sa. Only that this ti my ai is to kill her. I will hand over her heart to you," I added, hoping to sway my moter’s thoughts.
My mother’s lips curved into a small, dangerous smile. "Then rise, daughter of shadows. The war has just begun. You are free to do that. You can kill her, but only until I have her tied to my altar, extracted her powers. After that, Zia Gold is all yours."
I clenched my jaw, keeping the anger inside as I balled my fingers into fists by my side.
She could easily ignore Zara because she had no connection to her nor had Zara stolen from her but for , that woman’s re existence made lose what I wanted—my mate.
I gave a nod and turned to leave.
"Vera." I halted and half turned.
"Yes, Queen Mother?"
"I want you to prepare. Soon we shall hold a ritual that will give us Zara Gold in our hands.
"As you wish mother."
Updat𝒆d fr𝒐m freew𝒆bnov𝒆l.c(o)m
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