My heart leaped into my throat and for a mont, my mind panicked. He could and would kill . Then he’d go after Poni pack and rip them apart one by one, just because he could. Even if I laid my life on the line, it wouldn’t be the end.
He’d try to kill anyone that I was close to, anyone that I helped.
And my baby... Soren’s baby. I couldn’t make reckless decisions anymore because it wasn’t just my life I was dealing with.
The only problem was, I really didn’t know how to do the soul exchange!
If I failed, it would bring the sa outco.
Luckily, the mont I reached for the artifact in Sebastian’s hand, it started to glow and hum, like it recognized my essence or who I was—the artifact was calling out to !
Thinking quickly, I picked up the knife. I could try to make it look like I had an idea of what should happen, but the mont the knife touched my hand, I suddenly just knew what to do. Without hesitation, I sliced open my palm, letting the blood pool into my hand.
I spilled a few drops of my blood on each part of the artifact. They all started to glow even brighter, humming louder.
The stone and the sheath rose into the air and the dagger trembled in my hand. I released it and it floated up with the other pieces. They swirled around each other and then rged together into one.
The dagger had a gorgeous blood-red gem in the hilt, the Moonlit Crystal, or according to Soren, moonstone. The sheath no longer looked dingy and drab. It was embroidered with glittering, shimring red designs. Even the dagger looked different. The blade had the sa design as the sheath etched into it.
The dagger slid into the sheath and it floated back down.
“Well done, well done!” Sebastian gushed excitedly. His hands trembled a little and I was able to step back from his grip.
He didn’t try to grab again, so I walked over to where Dylan was strapped to the altar.
“You’re really going to listen to him!?” Dylan yelled at .
I pulled the dagger from the sheath and hesitated.
Sebastian was cunning, manipulative, and dangerous. He’d proven that more than once. I knew the horrible things he’d done now and I didn’t doubt that they were true.
He’d hurt everyone I cared about, my friends and my pack. Doing what he wanted to wasn’t the most pleasant thing. However, Dylan and I were not in terms either.
If I could save everyone that was important to at the cost of Dylan’s life, it wasn’t a bad deal.
I gripped the knife tightly in my hand, the blade trembling slightly.
Sebastian stepped up behind and grabbed my neck again, his thumb pressing against my pressure point. With one hard squeeze, I’d be dead.
“Do it, now!” he commanded. “I’m losing my patience. I’ll count to three and if you still haven’t done it, you and your baby will be dead! Along with everyone else you care about. At this point, I’m leaning towards killing you all!”
I gritted my teeth and raised the dagger higher.
“Three!” Sebastian cried.
‘Mila!’ Soren’s voice rang in my head loud and clear through the mindlink.
‘Soren!’ My heart caught in my throat and I almost broke into tears!
“Two!” Sebastian shouted again.
‘Mila, listen. I’m here. Try to get away from Sebastian,’ he told .
My heart fluttered. Knowing he was close was enough to give strength and courage.
“One!” Sebastian’s clutch tightened. I swallowed back my tears and gasped a few tis, pretending I was out of breath from Sebastian’s tight grip.
“I... I’ll do it but... l-let go... I can’t b-breathe,” I gasped. “I... I can’t r-run a-away...”
Sebastian growled. He flung forward, but his hand was still around my neck.
I slamd against the altar. It jiggled and Dylan groaned. I bit my lip and glanced around, trying to find the best way to get away.
“Okay.” I nodded and raised the dagger again.
I aid it right for Dylan’s heart. He closed his eyes and tensed.
Taking a deep breath, I slamd the knife down.
Clang!
The blade vibrated violently in my hand but I held it firmly.
The entire dungeon fell silent as the sound of the blade echoed off the stone walls.
Sebastian patted himself down. His lips twisted into a wolfish grin. “Ha. Ha... Hahahaha!” He threw his head back, laughing. “I’ve been waiting for this day for years!”
The sound echoed around the room even louder than the knife.
anwhile, I glanced at Dylan who was muttering sothing softly under his breath.
“Wha—”
The blade was stuck into the wood of the altar right between Dylan’s chest and arm. It had struck so tal underneath, causing a loud sound.
Dylan opened his eyes, panting. He looked around wildly and then his eyes fell on .
“I’m still...”
Sebastian then finally realized that I didn’t stab Dylan as he expected. His laugh halted abruptly and his eyes glared at with all the hatred I could imagine.
“You fucking bitch! You’re a cunt just like your mother and aunt. Why do you always have to challenge ? And you wonder why I lose control when you witch bitches ss with over and over again!”
He flailed his arms around and struck a deadly blow as he roared, “Well, you had your chance. Get ready to die!”
“Grrrr!”
His blow did not land on .
A beautiful, sleek, black wolf launched over the crowd of Sebastian’s puppets and landed between and Sebastian, snarling and standing before protectively.
I watched as Soren’s wolf struck Sebastian to the ground. He groaned and tried to get up but Soren pinned him down with a massive paw.
My heart raced and I smiled as Soren’s wolf head turned toward , giving a nod.
Shadows approached from behind and my smile faded instantly.
The shadows were Sebastian’s puppet warriors. They sward around Soren.
“Soren, look out!” I cried, pointing.
Snarling and growling, Soren fought them off, ripping their empty, shell bodies to shreds. He destroyed several of them with wide swipes of his paws while still keeping control of Sebastian.
I sighed in relief.
“Mila, release . Help so I can help Soren,” Dylan called to .
I glanced down at him, still strapped to the altar. “Why? I don’t trust you any more than I trust Sebastian. Just because I didn’t do what Sebastian asked to do doesn’t an I want to help you.”
Dylan snorted. “You don’t have to trust . But the enemy of my enemy is my friend. You don’t have any other choices. Soren will lose against that army!”
“No, not a chance!” I snapped, backing away from him.
However, from the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of Soren. No matter how many he killed, more and more ca after him. His back paw slipped, and I saw he was losing the upper hand.
A puppet warrior ran past Soren while he was distracted, coming right at ! I lifted my hands and muttered a spell.
Roots sprang up from the ground, long, sharp thorns impaling so of the warriors and lifting them off the ground. They flailed in the air, stuck on the thorns. They weren’t dead but at least they couldn’t get free.
“What if I give you my word, Mila, to leave Poni pack and those Norwind survivors alone?” Dylan offered.
“How do I know I can trust your word?”
“In the na of the Goddess, I swear on my identity and my own life.”
Dylan clenched his fists so hard that his nail sliced his palm. I saw blood drip out onto the altar of the Goddess.
A blood oath to the Goddess could not be betrayed. The higher ranking soone was, the heavier the punishnt from the Goddess would be. As Alpha King, he was completely bound by his vow.
I turned my eyes to Soren, who was still fighting but definitely struggling. Then I looked back at Dylan.
Killing the king was never sothing in my plan, regardless who he really was. The country needed a ruler and I wasn’t going to cause more chaos. If we could get out of here alive, I had to think about the future... and that ant the future and safety of Poni pack. It wasn’t a secret anymore.
And if the Alpha King swore not to harm the pack, then that was solid protection we would need while rebuilding.
“Co on, Mila, I can provide resources to help Poni rebuild and grow,” Dylan added.
I wavered again. It was almost too good of an offer and that was what concerned .
“I can offer protection when needed, too.”
How could I say no to that? The Alpha King would be the most powerful threat against our pack and he was offering protection instead? It was a good deal!
I watched Soren a mont longer.
He was fighting ferociously but I knew he couldn’t keep it up much longer. I knew that the only reason he hadn’t been torn apart was because he still had Sebastian pinned.
The way the warriors moved around Sebastian, they didn’t seem willing to put their puppet master in harm’s way, and that made it more difficult for them to attack Soren.
It was only a temporary solution. One of them could knock Soren off balance at any mont and then they’d be able to take him down while Sebastian recovered.
What was worse, we were still trapped in this underground chamber. Even if Thomas and Payne had been nearby, I had no idea how long it would take them to find their way here.
“What are you waiting for? Cut loose so I can at least get us to the exit!” Dylan implored.
“Fine. We’ve got a deal. Just rember what you have promised, because I won’t forget it!”
I moved another root through the ground and wrapped it around Dylan’s neck, thorns placed against his jugular. It was harmless where it sat but one wrong move and it would stab him, or I’d tighten the noose.
Dylan scoffed but didn’t argue as I cut him free.
Oddly enough, it had been Sebastian that gave the idea when he’d threatened to choke . Magic was my greatest defense and I wasn’t about to let Dylan forget that I had advantages of my own.
“Get us to the exit,” I demanded. “But if you try anything, we’ll find out whether or not the Alpha King is really blessed by the Moon Goddess when my root closes around your throat.”
Dylan didn’t say anything this ti. He jumped up the mont he was free and ran to one of the corners of the room, fighting off the warriors as needed but doing his best to avoid being tangled down in the battle. Knowing he was trying to get us out, I helped where I could as well.
It was dark, so I couldn’t see exactly what he was doing at the corner. But after he went to the last corner, the wall Dylan had tried to close on Sebastian’s army started to open again. The last ti, Sebastian had thwarted the attempt.
This ti, he couldn’t.
“What are you doing you fool! Don’t let him escape!” Sebastian cried, struggling under Soren’s paw. “He’s not what you think.”
“He’s getting us out, which is more than I can say about you,” I hissed.
Soren was panting heavily. He still fought hard, but I could see his fur was matted with blood and there were scratches all over his face.
The wall lifted all the way and my heart soared.
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