Althea’s throat went dry. The cries outside grew louder, the sound of chaos closing in, and she knew sothing far worse was about to unfold. She bit her lower lip and prepared herself for the worst.
The sound of claws scraping against the walls made Althea’s blood run cold. A guttural growl followed, deep and feral. The corridor trembled as if sothing monstrous was moving closer.
With a violent crash, a massive white-furred lycan, its coat stained with blood, burst out of the shadows, destroying the walls of Althea’s bedchamber. Her golden eyes burned with fury, her features twisted in rage.
Riela’s lycan form might have been magnificent, even beautiful, if not for the wild anger blazing in her gaze.
She moved with unnatural speed. The guards rushed to restrain her, but she ripped through them effortlessly, tossing their bodies aside as if they weighed nothing.
“Hold her down!” Rudy roared as he and Ben lunged at her. Trudis, wounded but determined, joined in. But with a single furious swing, Riela sent all three of them crashing into the walls. Blood splattered, and their groans echoed through the hall.
Inside the chamber, Mila shrieked as Riela’s gaze snapped toward them. The door splintered with a kick, and the princess stord in. In an instant, she struck—Mila went flying across the wall, coughing blood. Amy tried to shift to run, only to be slashed across her arm, screaming in pain.
“No!” Althea’s heart raced. She stretched out her hand, summoning a protective spell. Light flared, forming a shimring barrier around lva’s trembling figure. “Stay inside this shield! Don’t move!” she commanded lva firmly.
She turned sharply to the others. “Amy! Nila! Get inside with her, now!”
But fear froze them in place. They hesitated and that pause was enough. Riela lunged, her claws raking across Nila’s shoulder, sending her crumpling to the ground. Amy scread as the princess whirled on her next, her claws raised high to deliver a killing blow.
“Run!” Althea’s body moved before her mind caught up. She threw herself between them, arms flaring with power. The claws slashed across her side, pain searing through her, but she stood her ground. Gritting her teeth, she shoved Amy back.
“Get inside the barrier! All of you!” Althea cried out, her voice breaking from both pain and desperation. “Go!”
Amy, shaking and sobbing, stumbled toward lva’s shield, dragging Nila with her. Behind them, the walls echoed with Riela’s savage roars as Althea struggled to keep the princess from tearing them all apart.
She stood her ground, chest heaving as the protective barrier shimred behind her where lva, Amy, and Nila huddled together. Blood trickled down her side from Riela’s earlier strike, but she ignored the pain.
Rudy and Trudis rushed in, trying to restrain Riela, but their interference only made her snap. She went wild, striking at them with deadly intent.
The two fought to defend themselves, yet Riela’s strength was overwhelming. She slamd them against the walls, leaving them coughing up blood. Their wounds would heal in ti, but one more devastating blow could end their breathing for good.
Althea quickly began chanting, summoning her white mist. The mist wrapped around Rudy and Trudis, pulling them into the safety of a protective barrier.
“Stay there and don’t co out,” she ordered, her voice firm even as her breath ca in quick, uneven pants. The sudden strain of channeling her power was already wearing her down.
Yes, her mories had returned, and with them, her long-buried abilities had finally awakened. But her body was not yet fully ready. Ten years of silence had left her weakened, unused to the weight of her own strength.
Every spell tugged at the edges of her stamina, threatening to consu what little energy she had built back. She knew if she pushed too far, she could burn herself out completely.
That was why she had to be careful now. Careful with every movent, every flicker of light she summoned. Careful not to lose herself just as she had finally begun to rember how powerful she was.
“Lady Althea!” lva cried out as Althea dropped to one knee, clutching her arm. Blood stread from the wound, too much for her to bear.
Rudy grunted and made a move to step out of the barrier, but Althea’s voice stopped him.
“You’ll die the mont you leave my protection,” she warned sharply. “It’s the full moon—no ordinary werewolf can restrain the Princess. I will handle this!”
Her words rang with urgency as she raised her hands, chanting again. A soft glow of power pulsed from her, and she cast a spell to slow the bleeding in her arm, at least for now.
Riela lood before her, golden eyes blazing with madness, claws dripping red. The princess snarled, ready to pounce but sothing in her hesitated.
Althea locked her gaze with her eyes, searching deeper. Her gift stirred, reaching for the storm raging inside the lycan. And then she heard it.
‘I will kill everyone! Every wolf who dared hurt us! Everyone must die! No one can be trusted!’
The voice was feral and broken, filled with hate and pain. Althea’s breath caught. ‘She stop attacking ...’
Slowly, she raised her palm, summoning her power. A soft white mist flowed from her hand, gentle as moonlight, spreading through the room and curling toward Riela.
“Calm...” Althea whispered, her voice trembling but steady with resolve. “You are not alone, Princess.”
For the first ti, Riela’s snarl faltered. Her chest heaved, her eyes flickering as if sothing inside her was fighting back against the madness.
Then—
A sharp voice cut through the tension. “Stop!”
Ava appeared at the doorway, her eyes wide with alarm and fury. “You traitor’s daughter!” she shouted, pointing an accusing finger. “She’s hurting the princess!”
Before Althea could react, Ava surged forward, her aura brimming with hostile energy. “Get away from her!” she cried, raising her hand as if ready to strike Althea down.
Riela’s golden eyes flared again, caught between the soothing mist from Althea and the chaos Ava brought into the room.
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