Chapter 6 Blades and blood(Celia's POV)

Rain pattered against my lashes as I crouched behind a rusted dumpster, every ragged breath a reminder of the fight still raging inside me. My side throbbed with every heartbeat, but the wound barely registered beside the raw surge of bloodlust that pulsed through my veins. Tonight, I was no longer merely a hunter-I was the hunted, and the hunt had only just begun.

In the alley's muted glow, the two rune-etched wolves circled me, claws clicking against the slick cobblestones. Their fur-once tawny and russet-was streaked with silver light that writhed across each sinew like living magic. They advanced in perfect unison, fangs bared, eyes locked on my throat. The runes carved into their flanks glowed brighter as they closed the distance.

I tightened my grip on my blade, the leather-wrapped hilt slick with rain and sweat. Behind me, the ritual circle in the cobblestone still smoldered, runes humming with a power I barely understood. Ash Draven's trapdoor-his pathway into our world-had drawn me here. Now I had to survive it.

I lunged left as they struck, driving my shoulder into one wolf's flank and slashing outward. The blade bit into fur and flesh, drawing a spray of ichor that hissed on the wet stone. My stomach convulsed at the stench of wolf sweat and magic, but I spared no thought for revulsion. I backhanded the other wolf's jaw, teeth clattering as its head snapped sideways, and kicked backward, sending it careening against the dumpster.

But the moment's reprieve was fleeting. The first wolf roared and lunged again, fangs slicing across my forearm. Pain flared-hot, white-hot-and I tasted blood. My vision narrowed to the beast's glowing eyes as it barreled me into the metal wall, crushing breath from my lungs. The knife slipped free from my grasp; I sprawled on the ground, dazed, hand pressed to my side to staunch the bleeding.

A boot slammed onto the wolf's shoulder, fire in the darkness. Lucian's voice cut through the night like tempered steel: "Get up, Celia."

His amber eyes reflected torchlight as he tore the first wolf's jaw open with a savage twist. The creature collapsed in a spray of crimson foam. Lucian's coat whipped around him like a black banner, and in that instant he was pure alpha-unyielding, lethal, protective.

The second wolf snarled, hissing its defiance. I staggered upright, clutching the hilt of its fallen companion's claw-my improvised weapon. Lucian met my gaze for a heartbeat, concern flickering beneath that calm façade. Then he stepped back, widening his stance, as the wolf lunged again.

I braced, swinging the claw like a dagger. It sank into fur and a tendon snapped-bone grinding beneath my makeshift blade. The wolf howled agony and rage, staggering backward. Lucian seized the moment, driving his fist into the beast's belly. Fur flew, ribs cracked, and the wolf tumbled lifeless into my arms.

We stood among the carnage, rain washing away the worst of the blood. My chest heaved with exhaustion, vision swimming. Lucian's footsteps crunched behind me as he knelt, bracing me by the shoulders. His cloak settled around us both, a dark shield against the storm.

"Are you hurt?" he asked, voice low.

I swallowed past the taste of my own blood. "I'll live." My fingers flexed around the claw-slick and dripping-but I forced myself to drop it. "What now?"

He rose, dragging me with him. "We finish what Draven started."

Together, we turned toward the shattered runes blazing in the street. Each glowing line pulsed with a terrible promise: a doorway to another realm, tearing the fabric of our city. I felt its pull in the marrow of my bones-a breath of cold wind on the back of my neck, as if something on the other side of the gate exhaled in defiance.

Lightning split the sky, briefly illuminating the silhouette of a man standing at the far end of the alley-tall, slender, ornate coat tails dripping wet. Ash Draven. His pale face was a mask of satisfaction, emerald eyes alight with triumph.

"Impressive," he called, voice rich with mock admiration. "The alpha and his mate, united at last." He stepped forward, hands raised as if conducting the storm. "Do you feel it? The threshold trembles. In moments, the gate will open."

Lucian roared and lunged, but I caught his arm. His amber gaze locked on me, raw worry under his fury. "Stay back," I hissed, yanking him to safety behind a concrete pillar.

Ash's laughter echoed against the brick walls. "You think to stop me?" He raised a slender wand tipped with crystalline darkness. "This city will be mine to remake."

A fissure cracked the ground between us, glowing veins of violet energy spreading outward from the runic circle. I pressed my back against the pillar, muscles coiling. My side throbbed, trickles of warmth blossoming beneath my ribs. But adrenaline-and something else, something sparked by the talisman against my heart-lent me strength.

I watched Ash's spell arc toward us, twisting like living shadow. Lucian charged anyway, blade drawn. I met his gaze-yes, I would join him. Together, we could turn the darkness aside.

With a silent nod, I sprinted from cover. Claws tore at my coat as another wolf-summoned from the rift-emerged, eyes black holes of hunger. I slashed across its throat, rain mixing with ichor on my blade. Then I vaulted over its corpse, shouting as I plunged into Ash's spell.

The world went white.

I tumbled through a surge of light and shadow, limbs weightless, heart hammering like a drum. Voices-Lucian's roar, the wolf's snarls-echoed from every direction. The talisman burned against my chest, hot as molten silver. I flexed my fingers and felt the air crackle between them-raw power coursing through my veins.

Then I landed on cold stone, the rain of another world splattering my face. I rose on shaking legs and looked around: towering obsidian spires loomed above, lit by a sickly green sky. The howls of unseen beasts reverberated off jagged cliffs. Below me, the runic circle glimmered beneath my boots-now a portal bridging two realms.

Through the haze, I saw him-Ash Draven-crouched beside Lucian's wounded form. The alpha lay on cracked rock, breathing shallowly, amber eyes flickering with pain and anger. Ash leaned close, wand raised for the final strike.

"NO!" I screamed, and the talisman shattered like a starburst against my skin.

A wave of silver light rolled outward, obliterating Ash's shadow. He let out a strangled cry as the darkness peeled from his robes. Lucian's form blurred, healing magic pulsing through his wounds. I felt strength return to my legs.

Ash stumbled, dissolving into motes of shadow that scattered into the air. The alien sky flickered and went black, then gray, then... rain. My own world rushed back in a torrent of downpour.

I collapsed to my knees beside Lucian. He opened his eyes, finding mine. "Celia..." he rasped.

I pressed my hand to his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath my palm. "I got you," I whispered.

His fingers closed around mine, warm and real. "You did," he breathed. "But the breach-"

I lay my hand atop his wound, the talisman now a quiet ember against my skin. The magic settled like dust in the rain. "It's closed," I said softly. "For now."

He managed a tired nod. "For now," he echoed.

Lightning cracked overhead, illuminating our soaked forms. Side by side, hunter and alpha, we rose from the broken runes. In the echo of thunder, I realized the battle was far from over-but in that moment, the bond between us burned brighter than any storm.

And as we stepped forward together, blades drawn and hearts united, I knew we would face whatever darkness came next... as one.