"Get down!" Kael roared.
Everyone dropped to the cave floor as a blast of dark magic hit the opening. Rocks crumbled. Dust filled the air.
"Asha!" the man's voice called again.
"Don't make this harder than it needs to be."
"Stay back," Asha whispered. Her hands glowed with orange fire.
"All of you, stay back." "Who is he?" Serenity demanded.
"My twin brother. Marcus Linvale." Asha's voice cracked.
"The one who betrayed our family to the Syndicate." Another blast shook the cave. This time, part of the roof collapsed.
"We need to run," Veyric said.
"There's nowhere to run," Asha replied.
"He's blocked every exit."
"Then we fight," Kael growled.
"You can't fight him. He's too powerful."
"More powerful than you?" Asha's laugh was bitter.
"He taught me everything I know. Then he learned everything I didn't." A figure appeared at the cave entrance. Tall and thin with silver hair and burning red eyes. He wore a black coat that seemed to absorb light.
"Hello, sister," Marcus smiled. "Miss me?" "Not even a little," Asha shot back.
"Such harsh words. And after I came all this way to see my favorite niece." His red eyes fixed on Serenity.
"You look just like Lyralei. Beautiful and doomed."
"You killed my parents," Serenity stepped forward. "Did I? Or did they kill themselves with their foolish dreams?"
"You murdered them!"
"I gave them a choice. Join the Syndicate or die. They chose poorly." Serenity's hands burst with silver light.
Marcus waved his finger and the light disappeared.
"Temper, temper. Just like your mother." "Don't you dare—"
"Talk about her? But we were so close. She begged me to spare you girls before she died." Rage built in Serenity's chest. Her power wanted to burst free, but something held it back.
"Riven," she whispered.
"Help me." But Riven wasn't listening. He stood frozen, staring at Marcus with wide eyes.
"Riven?" Serenity touched his arm.
"What's wrong?" The assassin stumbled backward. His golden eyes were unfocused, like he was seeing ghosts.
"I know you," Riven said to Marcus.
"I remember you." Marcus tilted his head. "Do you now? How interesting. The memory blocks should have held for another decade."
"Memory blocks?" Serenity looked between them. "Oh yes," Marcus grinned.
"Young Riven here has quite the history with our family. Don't you, boy?" Images flashed through Riven's mind like lightning.
A small boy with dark skin and scared eyes. A group of older kids throwing rocks. A silver-eyed girl stepping between them.
"Get away from him!" the girl shouted.
"Make us," the biggest bully laughed. "I will." The girl's eyes began to glow. The bullies ran away screaming. The little girl turned to the boy. "Are you okay?"
"Why did you help me?"
"Because bullies are mean. And you looked sad."
"What's your name?"
"Serenity. What's yours?" "Riven."
"Want to be friends?" The memory shifted. Now they were older. Maybe ten years old. Playing by a stream in the forest.
"I'll always protect you," Riven promised. "No matter what." "And I'll always trust you," Serenity smiled.
"We're best friends forever."
"Forever," Riven agreed. Then darkness. Men in black robes grabbing him. Serenity screaming his name. A needle piercing his neck. Everything going blank.
"You stole my memories," Riven whispered.
"I borrowed them," Marcus corrected.
"The Syndicate needed an assassin without emotional attachments. Your friendship with Serenity made you... unreliable."
"You turned me into a weapon."
"I turned you into a tool. There's a difference." Riven's hands shook with anger.
"You took away everything that mattered to me."
"And gave you skills to survive. You should thank me."
"Thank you?" Riven's voice rose. "You destroyed my childhood!"
"Your childhood was over the moment you met her." Marcus pointed at Serenity.
"She's poison to everyone who cares about her. Just ask her parents."
"Shut up," Serenity snarled.
"Or her brother. Oh wait, you can't. He's dead."
"I said shut up!"
"Even her twin sister hates her. Face it, child. Everyone you love dies or betrays you. It's your gift." Something inside Serenity snapped. Power erupted from her like a silver volcano. The cave walls cracked.
The fire went out. But Marcus just laughed.
"There's the real you. The angry, destructive girl who breaks everything she touches."
"Stop it," Riven stepped between them. His golden eyes blazed with fury.
"Don't talk to her like that."
"Protecting her again? How predictable."
"She saved me. When we were kids, she stood up to bullies for me. She was kind when no one else was."
"And look where that kindness got her family."
"Her family died because of you. Not her." "Did they? Or did they die because she existed? Think about it, boy.
Every person who gets close to her suffers." Riven looked at Serenity. Her silver eyes were full of tears and doubt.
"Don't listen to him," Riven said gently.
"He's lying."
"Is he? Look around. Kael is cursed because of me. You lost your memories because of me. Even Asha had to hide because of me."
"That's not your fault—"
"Isn't it?" Marcus clapped slowly. "Excellent. Self-doubt is so much more effective than force."
"Enough games," Asha stepped forward. "What do you want, Marcus?" "Simple. I want the girl to come with me. Join the Syndicate willingly, and everyone else lives."
"Never," Serenity said.
"Think carefully. Your aunt. Your would-be mates. The vampire prince. All dead unless you cooperate."
"I won't let you use me to hurt innocent people."
"Innocent?" Marcus laughed.
"None of them are innocent. The Alpha hunts his own kind. The assassin kills for money. The vampire feeds on human blood. The witch meddles with forces beyond her control."
"They're still people. They deserve to live." "People disappoint you. People betray you. People die and leave you alone." Marcus's voice became hypnotic.
"But power? Power never leaves. Power never lies. Power makes you untouchable."
"Power without love is nothing," Serenity replied.
"Love is weakness. Your parents loved each other. Where are they now?"
"Gone. But they died together. They died protecting what mattered."
"They died for nothing. Their research is lost. Their son is dead. Their daughters are enemies. All that love, wasted." "No." Serenity's voice grew stronger.
"They died so I could choose my own path. Not yours. Not anyone's." Marcus's smile faded.
"You're making a mistake." "Maybe. But it's my mistake to make." "Fine. If you won't come willingly..." Marcus raised his hands. Dark energy crackled between his fingers.
"I'll take you by force." The attack came like black lightning. It should have killed Serenity instantly. Instead, Riven threw himself in front of her.
The dark magic hit him square in the chest. He screamed and collapsed.
"Riven!" Serenity caught him as he fell. Blood poured from his mouth. His golden eyes were fading.
"Why?" she whispered.
"Why did you save me?"
"Because..." he coughed up more blood.
"Because I remember now. I remember everything."
"What do you remember?"
"I remember loving you. Before the magic. Before the lies. Before they made me forget." His hand touched her cheek.
"I loved you first, Serenity Vale. And I never stopped." His eyes closed.
"No, no, no," Serenity shook him.
"Don't you dare die on me." But Riven didn't respond. Rage filled Serenity like liquid fire. When she looked up, her eyes blazed with silver light.
"You killed him," she said to Marcus.
"He killed himself. Stupid boy, jumping in front of—"
"YOU KILLED HIM!" Power exploded from Serenity. Not just wolf power or fae magic. Something deeper. Something that made reality bend around her. Marcus stumbled backward. For the first time, he looked afraid.
"Impossible. You can't access that level of—" "Shut up and die." Serenity raised her hand. Marcus screamed as silver fire wrapped around him.
"Serenity, stop!" Asha grabbed her arm.
"If you kill him like this, you'll become just like him."
"I don't care." "Yes, you do. Riven died to protect your goodness. Don't waste his sacrifice." Serenity looked down at Riven's still face. At the blood on his lips. At the peaceful expression he wore. The silver fire flickered and died.
Marcus fell to his knees, gasping. "You... you could have killed me." "I chose not to. That's the difference between us."
"This isn't over."
"Yes, it is." Serenity's voice was calm now. Deadly calm. "Leave. Now. And if I ever see you again, I won't be so merciful." Marcus staggered to his feet.
"The Syndicate will never stop hunting you."
"Let them come. I'm done running." The dark wizard limped out of the cave. His footsteps faded into the night. Serenity knelt beside Riven again. She pressed her ear to his chest. Nothing.
"There might be a way," Asha said quietly.
"What way?"
"Fae magic can heal mortal wounds. But the price..."
"What price?" "You'd be bonded to him forever.
True mates in every sense. No take-backs. No changing your mind." Serenity looked at Riven's peaceful face. At the boy who jumped in front of death for her. At her first friend who never really forgot her.
"Do it," she said. "Are you sure? Once the bond forms" "I'm sure. He loved me when I was nobody special. He remembered me when magic made him forget. He died for me." Serenity's voice broke.
"I love him too." Asha nodded. "Then place your hands on his heart and let your power flow."
Serenity did as instructed. Silver light poured from her palms into Riven's chest. For a moment, nothing happened. Then his eyes opened.
"Serenity?" his voice was weak but alive.
"I'm here."
"Did we win?"
"We survived. That's enough for now." Riven sat up slowly. He looked around the cave. At Kael, Veyric, and Thalia watching with wide eyes. At Asha smiling through tears.
"What happened? I feel... different."
"We're bonded now," Serenity explained. "True mates."
"Is that okay?" She kissed his forehead.
"It's perfect."
"Good. Because I have something important to tell you."
"What?"
"While I was unconscious, I remembered everything. Not just our childhood. Everything the Syndicate made me do. Every mission. Every target."
"What does that mean?" Riven's golden eyes hardened.
"It means I know where they're hiding. And I know their next target."
"Who?"
"Your twin sister. They're going to try to turn Sable into you. Complete the transformation they started years ago."
"Transform her how?"
"By killing everyone she's ever cared about. Just like they tried to do with us." Serenity's blood ran cold.
"Where is she?" "Three days north. In the Syndicate's main fortress."
"Then we go north."
"Serenity," Asha warned.
"It's a trap. They want you to come."
"I know. But I can't let them destroy my sister like they destroyed our family."
"Even after everything she's done?" Serenity looked around the cave. At the people who'd risked everything to help her.
At Riven, alive because of magic and love. At the future spreading out before them like an unwritten book.
"Especially after everything she's done.
She's still my sister. And sisters don't abandon each other."
"Even when they should?" Kael asked quietly.
"Especially then." Outside the cave, snow began to fall. But inside, surrounded by friends and powered by love, Serenity felt warm.
The real fight was just beginning.