Chapter 42
42
Amir
A nora blends in so effortlessly with the women of the House of Zorah, it’s as if she’s always belonged here. She laughs with them, smiles with them, and the way they light up around her is both beautiful and unsettling. It gnaws at me, a quiet ache I can’t ignore.
Maybe it’s because I know we can’t stay. Wintermoon isn’t the kind of place meant for forever, and I’ve already put my people through more than enough.
I barely have time to linger on the thought before I groan, sensing Kade teleport into the store. By the time I look up, her piercing blue eyes are locked on mine, full of fury.
Andrew.
She storms straight at me, her glare sharp enough to slice clean through me.
“You just left him. How could you?” She snarls, and I hold her gaze, refusing to flinch.
“Kade,” I say calmly. “You told me you gave your son the choice—whether or not to come to Wintermoon. I asked him to join us. He said no.”
My words don’t calm her. In fact, they crack her. Tears well up in her eyes, and damn it, I hate this. Seeing a woman cry—it gets under my skin every time.
“I can’t find him,” she sobs. “The radical humans—they shut down Thirst Trap. I’ve tried tracing his scent, but he masked it.”
I pull her into my arms, and she fights me at first, struggling against my grip. But I start to rub her back, and slowly, she gives in.
“He’s safe,” I say, quietly but firmly. “I swear it, daughter.”
She pulls back just enough to meet my eyes. There’s doubt in hers, but also trust.
“He’s... built a friendship with a human,” I add. “The mayor of Detroit.”
She wipes her face with the back of her hand, scoffing in disbelief. “Tiffany? Are you serious?”
I chuckle at her reaction, but then Anora notices us. She starts walking over, concern already settling on her face. I don’t want her moment in the store—her relaxing moment—ruined because she sees me tangled up in conflict. Anora might hate it when I call her a queen, but she doesn’t even realize how much she thinks and acts like one.
Grabbing Kade’s wrist, I lead her out of the store.
The moment we step outside, it hits me—something’s wrong. The air is too still. Too off. My eyes flicker toward the Witching Glen, and my stomach drops.
“Goddamn it,” I mutter under my breath.
I told Kade not to trust them, not to let them into Wintermoon. But my daughter has a heart of gold. The witches keep to their little cottage, in their own secluded realm. That’s probably why she believed they were harmless. But I warned her.
And Aya. I wouldn’t put it past her to whisper into their ears, just to stir the pot.
I take a step forward, my body tense, my focus narrowing on the air shimmering over the Glen. I know what’s coming.
“Father,” Kade starts, her voice low.
I raise a hand to stop her. “Get the women and children out of here. Now.”
My command is clear, but it’s already too late.
A burst of dark magic explodes out of the cottage, tearing through the air like a tidal wave. I react instantly, casting a shield around us, pushing my power outward to dampen the impact as much as I can. It’s strong, but not enough to protect everything. Windows around the market shatter, the frames splintering under the force. The ground shakes as part of the market crumbles, leaving holes in the buildings.
I grit my teeth, already furious. This is why Angie didn’t pitch a fit about killing Aya—it would rid the world of this dark magic once and for all.
Angie bursts out of the store with magic glowing in her palms, ready to throw herself into the fight, but I snap my fingers before she can take a step. She’s teleported out of harm’s way in an instant. She just had a baby, for god’s sake.
Does she think she’s invincible? I’ve got this.
The witches and warlocks emerge from the wreckage, their hands glowing with volatile magic. Their faces are set with defiance, their stances firm. Do they really think they can take me on?
I raise an eyebrow, unimpressed but also a little amused. Credit where it’s due—they have guts .
One lashes out, his magic surging toward me like a whip, but I swat it away with a flick of my wrist. Another tries to attack from the side, but I’m already moving, casting a strike that leaves him crumpled on the ground.
This is second nature to me. Like walking.
Out of the corner of my eye, Kade is handling herself. She moves fast, using agility to stay ahead of each curse hurled her way. For every witch that casts at her, she takes them down one by one. A well-timed kick sends one sprawling, and she follows with a burst of her own magic, knocking another back.
But my focus sharpens when I hear a scream.
“Amir!”
Anora’s voice.
My head snaps to the store as Kane steps outside, carrying her slung over his back. She’s breathing but limp, her voice trembling as she calls for me again.
That’s all I need to see. Fury ignites in my chest, burning hotter with every second. I glance at the battlefield around me—more witches and warlocks rushing to confront me. They don’t realize what they’ve just done.
I tear through them, my movements faster, more precise. My strikes are harsher, my power heavier, and within minutes, the witches are retreating. I feel Kade at my side, panting, her knuckles bloodied as she finishes off the last two.
But I’m already moving toward Kane, my body taut with energy as I reach for Anora. They’ll pay for this. Every single one of them.
“Alright, I’ve had enough,” I growl. I snap my fingers, and just like that, they freeze—every last one of them. For a moment, there’s silence, then one by one, they start crumbling into dust. No screams, no drama, just... gone .
Kade stares at me, her expression sharp. “You could’ve done that shit to start,” she grumbles.
I shrug, not offering her any excuses. Truth is, I wanted to see how far they’d go. My patience only stretches so far.
Turning away, I walk toward the Witching Glen, ready to end this once and for all. But, of course, Angie doesn’t stay gone. She teleports right in front of the Glen, her stance firm, her expression serious. Blocking me.
“Step aside, Angie,” I warn, my tone flat. “It’s time I deal with something I should’ve handled a long time ago.”
She stands her ground, holding a hand up to stop me. “No,” she says, shaking her head. “You’ll give your sister favor, but not them?”
I glare at her, and my patience thins even more. Of course, she’d bring that up. She always knows how to provoke me. I glance over at Kade, who’s just standing there with this smug look on her face, watching the whole thing like it’s entertainment.
“I’m betting on Angie,” she says, smirking.
“Traitor,” I mutter under my breath, rolling my eyes.
Kade’s grin grows wider, but then Angie speaks again. “Damon is back,” she says, her voice measured. “He’s at the House of Zorah, waiting for us. And he has the book.”
I pause, her words sinking in. “That explains this display,” I say, gesturing toward the decimated building of the Glen. “This was just a distraction.”
“I agree.” Angie waves her hand and a shimmering shield forms over the Glen. Her magic hums in the air around us, locking down the space completely. “This will hold them for a day. I’ve also put wards around their other entry points in Wintermoon.” She turns back to me, crossing her arms. “Now can we please go home?”
I step closer to her, lowering my head until we’re eye to eye. “I may have lost Mother Fate’s favor, but I haven’t forgotten my mission, Angie. Next time, don’t get in my way.”
She doesn’t even blink. “The same goes for you when it comes to Aya,” she counters, her voice steady.
I groan, turning away from her. Of course she has to get the last word in. She always does. She might be the better version of me and my bloodline after all.
Without another glance at either of them, I teleport to Kane’s truck.
Kane’s struggling to get Anora into the passenger seat. She’s alert, but she’s fuming and clearly giving him a hard time. Relief flashes in his eyes when he sees me, and he sets her down on her feet.
The moment her eyes land on me, she runs into my arms, throwing her arms around my neck. “I tried to help,” she says, glaring at Kane over her shoulder. “But he wouldn’t let me.”
Kane glares right back at her but keeps his mouth shut. I meet his gaze and dip my head to him.
“Thank you, Kane,” I say.
He shrugs like it’s no big deal. “I may not be able to stand the sight of you, My Lord, but you’re still my king. And you’re still my family.”
The honesty of his words takes me off guard. He doesn’t give me time to respond before hopping into the driver’s seat. I hear Olivia and Tami yelling at him as he starts the truck and drives off. A small grin twitches at my lips despite everything.
“Are you okay?” Anora asks, pulling back to scan me over, her eyes full of concern.
I smile down at her, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “I’m fine, angel,” I say gently .
She stares up at me, waiting for the rest.
“I have good news,” I add. “Damon’s returned. And he has the book.”
Her shoulders sag in relief as she lets out a breath, leaning into me. I pull her close, kissing her temple, but the truth settles into my own chest, heavy as stone. We’re so close. So close to ending this.
But I can’t ignore what comes after.
No more dark magic.
And if this book doesn’t save Aya... if it doesn’t work...
I’m going to have to kill my sister.