Chapter 189-1
Kiana
The outer ring of rocks on the hill were etched with symbols and held offerings to the elements.
Water from the largest river on the mountain. A feather willingly given from a bird.
Earth enriched and blessed. And fire sparked from the kindling of the land.
Words from the spell rose up in my head as I was marched through the circle. Below me, an enormous audience had gathered. Most of the wolves were grotesque and foaming at the mouth. It seemed to take all of their energy to be still. Those who weren’t mutated seemed so small, but there was nothing innocent in their gaze as they watched.
In the silence, I heard someone roar Lunessa’s name and then mine. Turning my head, I watched in horror as Troy and London were hauled to the front of the audience and forced to their knees. My gaze locked on to his, but there was nothing either of us could do.
My chains were attached to one of the inner rocks, and on the other side, Lunessa, also dressed in white, was chained to the same. She looked surprisingly in great shape for someone who had screamed less than two hours ago. The third rock of our circle contained an urn, and my heart
ached.
Lucy.
Strange music rose up from behind us, drums and deep humming as Claudine walked to the center. Behind her, his still body dragged through the dirt in chains, Finn lay motionless.
Was he dead? Why was he even here? He wasn’t needed for the spell.
Roars of triumph sounded below, and I watched as Claudine glided toward us. She was also dressed in white, her hair down and flowing free in the wind. Her skin practically glowed under the
moonlight.
“Indigo Peak!” she shouted. “Our time is finally here! You have been patient while you suffered. Patient while I made promises that were years out. I have put you before my mate. Before my children. And now, you will reap your rewards as I soon will stand before you as your queen!”
The crowd below thundered with joy, and I felt Troy’s panic turn to blind fear. I did what I could to try to soothe him. None of this was his fault. He’d fought with every breath, and now he would
watch me die.
“My son was to stand by my side, ready to be your alpha, but he has betrayed me,” Claudine snarled. The cries quickly turned to boos. “With his last breath, he will see what he has lost, and
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Chapter 189-1
another will take his place.”
A second man entered the circle, with the cheers of others, and he sneered down at Finn.
The music stopped, and a loud drum sounded as witches poured out from the audience and stood behind the stones. They clasped hands, looked to the sky and began to chant.
“Magic of the mountain!” Claudine shouted. “Hear my cry! The blood of my daughter, sacrificed for
you!”
Picking up the urn, she dumped it over and let the blood spill into the earth. Horrified, I turned my
head and looked away.
Sitting the urn down, she walked over to Lunessa. The man handed her a knife, and she held it high over Lunessa’s body. Below, I could hear London roaring, but it was a vague muted sounded under the chants of the witches.
“The blood of the kin, sacrificed for you.”
I screamed as the knife came down, driving into Lunessa’s neck. She slumped over the rock, and Claudine turned to me. Her eyes glinted wildly.
Ignoring her, I watched in horror as Lunessa reached up weakly and removed the knife. There was nothing I could do to stop her blood from pouring into the earth, but I wasn’t going to stand here and let her die. There were no pack bonds to connect us, but we were blood. We were kin. That was a connection just as grounded as wolf magic, and I sought it out and reached for her. Her eyes opened in surprise as she felt my magic, and I did my best to close her wounds.
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