LUCIAN POV
We'd escaped Kaelen's trap in the Silverfen.
Barely.
Lior had created distraction—shadow-walking through the vampire hunters while I'd torn through them with Lycan fury. We'd fought back-to-back, blood-soaked and desperate, until the opening appeared.
And then we'd run.
"This way!" Lior pulled me through the swamps, vampire speed guiding us through treacherous ground. "The pass—if we reach Thorn Pass, we can—"
"Can what?" I gasped, keeping pace. "My mother's forces are at Thornhaven's main gates. We're miles from—"
"From the siege, yes." He cut through mist-shrouded trees. "But Ronan—your father—he's leading strike force. Offensive assault on Thorn Pass to split vampire forces. If we reach them—"
Understanding crashed through me. "We join the fight. Use the chaos to—"
"To not die alone in a swamp." His smile was grim. "Yes."
Behind us, Kaelen's howl split the night. Still hunting. Still determined to capture both hybrids for whatever twisted plan he had.
