Wait, Raven said slowly, breaking the stunned silence. Her voice was low, exhausted, but clear. Did Nyx actually tell you that Kaden and Xena are connected?
I looked at her.
No, I said. She didn’t have to.
Raven frowned. Then how-?
It was in the way she felt. My fingers curled around the edge of the table as I tried to steady my own breath. When I mentioned their names… it was like a wave. I could feel her pain. Bitterness. Anger. Hate. All of it was bleeding through her. And then she said something that confirmed everything for me-she said that Xena and Kaden took something from her. Something that seemed to have mattered to her a lot. And that she was going to make them pay for it.
Alec turned his head, watching me closely. Did Nyx tell you what they took?
I shook my head. No. She didn’t say. Right after she said that, she put her mental blocks up. I can’t reach her.
It was quiet for a beat before one of the elders-Elder Corra-sat forward, her brows drawn. I’m sorry, but what exactly is going on? Who is Xena?
I drew in a breath, meeting each of their gazes. Xena is Nyx’s twin sister. Her older twin, if I am right. She is as powerful as I am, or maybe even more powerful.
How does this even make sense? Elder Lillian asked. How does your wolf have a twin sister when you don’t?
I looked at her. Honestly, I don’t know. All I suspect is that Nyx is older than we think and that I wasn’t her first human.
Confusion clouded their faces, but they didn’t say anything more. I wouldn’t have any answers even if they were to ask. I can barely understand what is happening or how I ended up with Nyx as my wolf. So how then can I answer them?
Back to her twin sister. You said she might even be stronger than you?
Yes.
How? Corra asked,
Micah said grimly. I mean, she is making hybrids.
Hy-Hybrids? One of the elders stammered, his eyes wide as saucers.
Yes, hybrids, Alec confirmed.
There is a moment of silence before all hell breaks loose.
What! they yelled in unison, their shocked voices filling the room. Their looks portrayed an array of emotions. They first portrayed shock before it twisted into disbelief.
Their mouths parted in astonishment before one of them spoke. What the hell are you talking about? There are no hybrids.
Actually there are. this came from Raven, who said it as a matter of fact. You just didn’t know it.
The murmurs started to rise from around the table. Disbelief. Skepticism. Accusation.
Hybrids don’t exist, another barked fiercely. How can they? We have four species in this world and hybrids aren’t one of them. Where did you come up with such absurd information?
Are you really going to believe that a demigod exists but not a hybrid? I confronted them, my eyes piercing each one of them.
B-but, what you are suggesting is impossible. Elder Orion stammered, his mouth unable to form full sentences at the onslaught of his shock.
It’s not a suggestion, Jason interrupted. It’s real. And if you still don’t believe us, we have proof.
The room fell still again.
We have one in the dungeons. His name is Brian. He was caught a few days ago when he attacked Sadie. She was able to subdue him and bring him here, Jason said, before turning to face Alec. We can question him again. Maybe he’ll talk. Maybe he can tell us what Xena’s planning or where they’re hiding.
The elders exchanged wary glances, but eventually they agreed. Reluctant, but too curious now to walk away.
We moved together through the hallways. Quiet. Focused. The tension in the air grew thicker with every step.
The dungeon was cold, damp, and silent as the grave as we descended.
Brian hung from the ceiling, wrists bound in silver chains. His head lifted as we entered, those eerie red-ringed eyes locking on me. The wounds I’d left on him the last time had already healed-perks of being a hybrid. Fast healing. Heightened senses. All of it.
The elders froze in place behind me. Color drained from their faces. They looked like they had seen a ghost or something.
I smell a vampire, Corra muttered. But something else too…
Shift, I ordered him.
Brian grinned. No.
I tilted my head. Then I’ll pick up where we left off. You remember what that felt
like, right?
His smile faltered.
A beat later, his body trembled-and
then the cracking of bones echoed through the dungeon. His form shifted, muscles contorting, fur spilling over his skin until the wolf stood in his place. Not just any wolf.
Larger. Fiercer.
He held the form for barely a minute before collapsing back into his human shape, gasping.
The elders stepped back, their eyes wide with horror and disbelief.
Impossible, they whispered.
I just shook my head. Even after witnessing his shift, they still didn’t want to believe it. I could understand them, though. I found it hard to
believe there are hybrids in existence even after killing one.
Now that you have seen him, I said calmly, let’s get back to the point.
I looked at Brian. Do you know what Xena is planning?
Brian blinked slowly, then tilted his head. Who’s Xena?
My stomach turned.
She’s the one who made you, I told him. Her name is Xena.
He frowned. “Oh, he shrugged. She never told us much. Only her inner circle knew anything real. She said we didn’t need to know the plan. Just that we’d be part of something greater. That we’d rule.
Micah stepped forward. Do you know where the hideout is? Where they’re working from?
Brian opened his mouth… then froze. Confusion clouded his face. His brow furrowed deeply.
I… I don’t know, he said, voice suddenly panicked. I can’t remember. I swear-l
knew it before. I saw it. But it’s like-something’s gone.
Raven stepped in then, eyes narrowing. He’s not lying.
What? Alec asked.
She moved closer, her magic humming low beneath her skin. Give me a second.
She placed her fingers lightly to Brian’s temple. His eyes fluttered shut. A few seconds passed, then she gasped softly and pulled her hand away.
His memory was wiped, she said, horrified. The place it was erased. Perfectly. Cleanly. Like it was never there.
Xena did it, Jason said. Had to.
But why? I asked quietly, more to myself than anyone else. Why erase it so completely? Why the secrecy?
Alec crossed his arms, his jaw tight. Did she think he’d escape?
Or did she want him to? I added. Was this her plan all along?
No one answered. Not because they didn’t want to-but because none of us
knew.
I stepped forward, looking around at all of them. Whatever Xena is planning, whatever connection she has to Kaden-it isn’t random. It isn’t by chance. They turned to me as I said the words that had been forming since I talked to Nyx. We already established that she’s building an army,” I said. A hybrid army. And I
think it’s all meant for one purpose.
My gaze swept across the room.
This isn’t just about her experimenting. This is about preparing for war. A war that’s meant to free Kaden.
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