Chaos erupted in the mountain halls.
Wolves sprinted through corridors. Alarms rang—deep, mournful horns echoing off stone. Kael barked orders in a language Ysolde didn't know, half-shifted, fury radiating from him in waves.
He grabbed Ysolde's arm. "Stay behind me."
"No—tell me what's happening!"
"The Crimson Pack breached the outer gates."
His voice was pure ice.
"They came for you."
Ysolde's heart slammed against her ribs. "Why me?"
Kael didn't answer.
He shoved her behind him as three Court guards raced in, weapons drawn, faces grim.
"Your Majesty," one said, "we must move her to the inner sanctum—"
"No," Kael snapped. "They'll expect that."
A growl rippled through the floorboards—close.
Too close.
Kael inhaled sharply, scenting the air.
Then—
"DOWN!"
He slammed Ysolde to the ground just as an explosion ripped through the wall behind them. Stone shattered. Fire burst through the corridor. A shadow leaped from the flames—
A wolf.
But not any wolf.
Its fur was crimson.
Its eyes pitch black.
Its jaws dripping with venom.
It lunged for Ysolde.
Kael roared—an inhuman sound—and collided with the beast mid-air. Their bodies smashed into a pillar, claws tearing, teeth snapping.
Ysolde scrambled back, heart punching her ribs.
Another wolf burst through the smoke—this one smaller, faster.
It went straight for her.
Ysolde stumbled, reaching for anything—her hand brushed the runic torch-sconce. She ripped it free, swinging blindly—
The wolf ducked.
Snarled.
Leaped—
A black blur slammed into it, throwing it across the hall.
The world spun—Ysolde realized too late:
She was being seized from behind.
A hand clamped over her mouth.
Arms locked around her waist.
A whisper curled against her ear like poison:
"Got you, little human."
Her scream was muffled.
She kicked, clawed, fought—but the stranger dragged her backwards through the shattered wall, into the blizzard waiting outside.
Kael's roar shook the mountain.
"YSOLDE!"
She reached for him—but the storm swallowed her, tearing her from the only being who could keep her alive.
The last thing she heard was a hissed promise:
"The King will burn for what he swore to you."
Then darkness took her.