" You are not the same."
Lucian's voice was low, harsh, full of something I couldn describe.
My hands shaking at my sides, I stood in the magnificent hall of Silverwood Manor under wavering light. The power still burned within of me. It twisted in my veins ravenous, erratic like a serpent.
My voice hardly a whisper, I said, "I don't know what's happening to me."
Lucian moved slowly forward. < Your blood woke something in that cavern. His dark silver eyes grew darker. "Something I find difficult. Something... I lack confidence in."
I choked. "You consider me to have choices?"
His teeth tightened. "That's not exactly what I'm saying."
"then then are you saying?" My voice broke.
He drew a hand through his raven-black hair and exhaled hard. "I'm asking whether I could still be shielding you, Calla."
A piercing agony twisted across my chest.
"Help me!" I laughed bitterly. "Or regulate me?"
His eyes blazed. "You think I want to control you?"
"I'm not sure what you now want." I withdrew. "All I know is something inside me is changing, and you're looking at me like I'm the enemy."
Suddenly Lucian stood in front of me.
His aroma, smoke and pine, enveloped me and was sedative, overpowering.
You are not my adversary," he snipped. "But I need you to tell me the truth. What do you think?"
I inhaled strongly.
I thought I could be blazing.
My skin too tight, my soul dragging in two opposite directions, like my blood had converted to embers.
And looking at Lucian, something inside me hurt.
"I feel like... I'm losing myself."
Right where the blade had cut me in the tunnel, Lucian's fingertips brushed against my wrist. Under my skin pulsed a weak glow.
His hold grew more firm.
With an agitated voice, he said, "Calla, listen to me." "If Isolde did something to you, we need to undo it—before it's too late."
My heart thrashed.
Too late for what?"
Lucian looked back. "Before you start to like her."
A cold ran down my back.
I moved away from him jerking.
"You think I'm becoming a monster?"
"I have no idea what to think!" He came forward, his gaze fixed on me. "But I do know that magic like this isn't free."
I pushed back the lump in my throat.
And then what if the price is me?
His jaw clinched.
"I refuse to let that happen."
I shivered at his words. Not since I didn't believe him.
But I doubted whether he could stop it.
And then a crash.
Glass broke somewhere up above.
The head of Lucian turned toward the sound. His body stiffened, his wolf barely under surface level.
I turned just as Eli burst into the room, his green eyes wild.
"She's behind."
The room fell into a stony silence.
Lucian stood stiff. "where?"
"The eastern wing." She—" < Eli started to hesitate. She is not alone, though.
Lucian was on his way already.
I complied without thinking.
My heart hammering against my ribs, we rushed down the corridor. My fingertips tingled with the unusual energy coursed through me. They burnt.
We arrived at the wing east-facing.
And my breath froze.
Standing in the middle of the broken glass, Isolde fixed me with her cool blue gaze.
She was not the only one though.
Darius accompanied her.
And behind them, Rowan.
His face was not readable; his golden eyes were blank.
"rowan?" My voice collapsed.
He stood still.
Lucian came in front of me, his shoulders stiff with anger.
Snarled, "What did you do to him?"
The lips of Isolde drew into a smile. "I let him make a decision."
Lucian's hands grew tight. "And what decision did that involve?"
"To betrayed you."
The words weighty in the air.
The whole body of Lucian turned stiff.
I cast a glance toward Rowan. Extremely hungry. begging.
Tell me it is not true.
Amber eyes of Rowan fluttered. "Calla... His voice lacked strength. shredded.
He was not negating it, though.
Lucian burst.
He sprang, but Darius grabbed him and slammed him into the wall.
I changed.
More quickly than I could have imagined.
One second I was still; the next I was in front of Isolde, my shining hands up.
Between us, a shockwave sprang forth.
Magic intersected.
The ground shook as well as the air.
Power shot through me, battling against hers and I gasped.
The smile that Isolde wore disappeared.
She said, "Interesting," softly.
I was not able to move.
Between us, the energy crackled relentlessly.
Then suffering tore across my chest.
I yelled.
My legs trembled.
The air burst with Lucian's scream.
Everything went black then as well.