CHAPTER 46
THE SOUND OF CRACKLING FROST STOPPED. Ryker drew to a halt, standing just beyond striking distance. Edmund stood in front of Lenore protectively, the tension in his body ready to burst into action at any given second.
The quiet returned, unsettled between their unwavering stares.
“Kind of an ironic place to be in, eh?” Ryker broke the silence as he glanced around, a lopsided grin forming on his face. “It surprised us all when Astra Fia said you were heading here. And no matter how much we tried to pry, we couldn’t understand her when we asked why.”
A pit of fear formed in Lenore’s stomach at the mention of Fia. Arisa must’ve woken her up, temporarily or not. Edmund’s lips curled back from his fangs. O Great One Above, please keep Fia safe, Lenore silently prayed. Please.
Ryker’s fingers traced the red crescent across his forehead, the glow catching on his gloves. He whistled with mild interest. “Looks like you did something though.” His arm dropped dismissively to his side. “Not that it makes any difference at this point.”
A warning growl rumbled deep in Edmund’s throat. “Don’t waste your final breaths on useless talk, Ryker.”
“Final? I always respected your bravado, Vesren.” Ryker laughed, a low and rough sound. “Before you go runnin’ after me with your claws out, I’m offering you two a chance.” His eyes flickered toward Lenore. “Another chance. I still care for my pack members after all.”
Edmund’s ear twitched, eyes narrowing slightly. “Are you really trying to convince us to join the rot that was once purged centuries ago?”
Ryker chuckled. “And yet, here we are.” He raised his arms, palms outstretched. “One last chance to think about it. Arisa could scrounge up some mercy for ya. You’d be more than a great asset. Knowing you, I’d say you could be a commander in her pack, no doubt about it.”
“And I say, it would be more fun honing my skills, killing all of you.” Edmund let out a low growl. His head lowered, claws digging into the ground below.
“Think about your woman, Vesren. A Lucyn turned her. Can’t ya see there’s benefits to having us around?” Ryker’s eyes flitted over to Lenore once again. “Who do you think gave that piece of your dress to Arisa?”
Lenore’s eyes widened. Her voice trembled. “So you knew… you knew since the night of the ravens—the night they all went mad?”
“So you see how much mercy I had on ya now. I thought you might’ve just been spooked from getting lost in the chaos, but that was my mistake for not seeing how much of a snake you really are.
” He tutted playfully. “I know you’ve been getting those whispers in your head.
Just give in and accept them. Arisa can silence it all away for you. ”
“No...” Lenore whispered. Shock ran through her—stunned that he knew the struggle she kept buried. Her foot took one hesitant step in front of the other. Edmund stopped her from moving any closer. “I refuse.”
“Why do you think you struggled so much with your werewolf nature? You’re different. And that’s what’s calling you to be so much more.”
Whispers prickled at the edges of her mind, encouraging her to listen to Ryker—to offer him the same kindness he was giving her. She gritted her teeth, a twitch in her eye as the whispers grew stronger.
You’re different.
Lucyn-blood. Lucyn-borne.
Give in.
Beside Ryker, a black wolf flickered in and out of reality. His yellow eyes never left her, acting like lanterns luring her to follow.
Give in.
Instead, she grabbed a fistful of Edmund’s fur, steadying herself before she crumpled to the ground. The whispers fused with her inner voice, speaking as if they were her. It pressed in from every corner, growing heavier—until she couldn’t tell what she thought any longer.
The white raven flashed in her mind, a sudden burst of light flooding her vision. Then something warm surged through her chest—steady and unyielding. It anchored her back to Edmund, grounding her in his presence—and the reminder of their bond.
The bond that told her she was loved—held in the grace of the One Above.
Lenore faced Ryker with newfound resolve. “I’m—I’m nothing like you! Even if I have to live like this for the rest of my life, I’ll never accept it!”
“You aren’t,” Edmund said. Those simple words meant more to her than anything. His tail brushed against her, encouraging her to hold on. “Everything I’ve seen you’ve done says otherwise.”
Lenore’s breath hitched. She rose to her full height again, standing defiant against Ryker and the shadowy wolf in the distance. The whispers still clawed at her mind, and her right arm burned relentlessly, but she didn’t falter.
She was a werewolf, but she was not a monster.
The smile died on Ryker’s lips. He was alone once more—the black wolf fading into nothing. “That’s that then,” he said quietly. “Shame.”
“Ryker, please don’t do this.” There was still something in her that refused to let him go down the path he chose. “Why? What has you following Arisa so willingly? Did she mess with your feelings too?”
“Ya think so little of the Lucyn, lass. I took control of myself.” His eyes darkened.
“One day you’ll realize you’re nothin’ but a carcass bleeding out for a feast you’ll never taste.
That’s where the hunger starts—for somethin’ better.
A life unburdened by traditions choking you dry.
To finally be the one holding the knife. ”
“All you’re doing is aiming the knife at yourself, Ryker!” Edmund barked fiercely. “You won’t be satisfied—you’ll hollow yourself out!”
“That’s where you’re wrong, Eddy. I’ve never felt more… free.”
An eerie chill crawled up Lenore’s spine. Even if Ryker chose this, how deep is Arisa’s influence? Could she… be the one to summon Lunantha? She shook her head as her hands clutched tightly at her chest. “We can still stop this!”
Amusement crossed Ryker’s gaze—the pale-green of his eyes flashing bright.
“Oh Lenore… if only ya knew—it’s already too late for you all.
” Elongating claws tore through his own chest, blood dripping through the gaps in his claws as he raised his arm.
Droplets of blood spattered onto the ground below while he slowly looked over his bloodied palm.
Edmund pushed Lenore back as he shifted into his werewolf form, every muscle taut.
The deep red turned black, wisping away like smoke as Ryker uttered with quiet reverence, “For Lunantha.”
Lenore screamed as both werewolves exploded into action—vicious snarls ripped through the air as they exchanged blows.
The ground crackled underneath the weight of their clashing bodies, a flurry of movement that Lenore could barely track as they lunged with snapping jaws and savage slashes—twisting and turning away from the other with tight precision that if lost, would mean death.
The weight of Ryker’s swipe hit Edmund’s chest, and blood spattered as the swipe threw him back into the ruins.
Wood and stone crushed into splinters and shards beneath his titan-like form.
Lenore’s hands flew up to her mouth, panic flooding her body as she watched him rise out of the rubble.
Heavy breaths clouded the air around him.
Ryker laughed, spittle flying as he leapt forward and swung his arm downward. Edmund sprang clear just as Ryker’s claws made impact with the ground. Frost fractured like glass. The ground exploded into fragmented pieces of rock and soil. His laugh turned maddening.
“Look at what power ya turned away from, Eddy!” He turned and charged at him, slashing repeatedly at him, each missing by a hair’s length as Edmund dodged back until a spray of blood soaked Ryker’s claws.
Edmund’s shoulder tore open, his dark-blue fur slick with crimson.
An icy chill wisped away from the wound, but Edmund didn’t let the pain affect his steely-eyed gaze.
Ryker grinned, gleefully yelling, “What’re ya now, compared to me?”
Edmund ducked low, turning as he swept an arm against Ryker’s legs, claws digging in as he yanked him off-balance. As soon as Ryker lost balance, Edmund lunged forward, jaws sinking in between his neck and shoulder.
A guttural roar escaped Ryker, the inhuman sound resonating deep within Lenore’s chest. Her legs felt weak as she trembled under its lingering effects.
Ryker tore from Edmund’s grasp, strings of flesh and blood tangled in Edmund’s jaw.
Ryker rolled onto all fours, lunging forward with explosive speed as he slashed at Edmund’s side.
But at the last second, Edmund grabbed him, throwing him hard against a crumbled stone wall.
The stone shattered into pieces, clouds of dust flying up.
Ryker’s silhouette rose in the dusty fog. A growl rolled from his lips, incomprehensible words spoken under his breath.
Edmund crouched low and tense. Lenore stepped back, a flash of instinctual dread warning her senses.
A wave of black flooded the sky, cawing madly as it descended.
Dozens of screeching ravens aimed their talons toward Edmund and Lenore’s heads.
Their eyes were glazed over, a soulless white haze.
Black bodies obscured Lenore’s view. She cried out, talons nicking her head before she quickly turned into a wolf, fleeing to the village ruins.
“LENORE!” Edmund roared, his body turning toward her. Ryker’s body slammed into him with the force of a boulder.
Both wolves crashed against the stone fountain, snarling amid thrashing claws and fangs. A circle of ravens wheeled overhead, cawing as they dove at Edmund—a sickening crunch of breaking bodies as they were torn apart in the chaos.
Ragged breaths escaped Lenore as she skirted through broken pillars of wood and stone, ducking beneath rotting fabrics that wove feebly in the air. A mass of ravens followed her, swarming together like a single merged creature, ready to devour her.
Talons swiped at her head and back. Lenore dove through collapsed structures, hearing dying squawks behind as some birds crashed hard into the debris. Darkness fell over her as she went deeper into a tent-like space.