Chapter 180 Princess in Peril
POV: Luna
We reached the courtyard just as the rogues attacked.
Six of them. Enhanced with dark magic. Moving with military precision.
And they were all converging on Selene.
She was fighting. Her aura blazing. But she was alone. Outnumbered.
"Defensive formation!" I shouted.
My pack appeared from different directions. All responding to the alert.
We formed a protective circle around Selene.
The rogues didn't hesitate. They attacked immediately.
I partially shifted. Something I'd been practicing. Maintaining enough human form to use Eclipse power while having wolf strength and speed.
It was exhausting. Difficult. But effective.
I channeled Eclipse magic through my partially shifted claws. Every strike purified dark magic on contact.
Beside me, Liam fought in full wolf form. Protecting both me and Selene. His instincts were incredible. Always positioning himself between threats and vulnerable pack members.
"Two more incoming!" Aria warned.
"I've got them!" Aiden said, intercepting.
We fought with perfect coordination. Years of training. Months of surviving impossible odds.
But these rogues were different. Better trained. More dangerous.
"They're not random!" Sienna shouted. "They're specialists! Assassins!"
"Someone sent professionals?" Nova asked.
"Cole. Has to be."
One rogue broke through our defenses. Went straight for Selene.
She blocked with her aura. But the rogue had a weapon. Glowing with anti-magic properties.
It cut through her barrier like paper.
"Selene!" I screamed.
Liam was already moving. He intercepted the rogue mid-strike. Took the hit meant for her.
The anti-magic blade cut into his shoulder. He yelped but didn't back down.
"Liam!" I ran to him.
"I'm fine! Protect Selene!"
But he wasn't fine. The wound was bad. Deep. And it was interfering with his ability to shift properly.
Through the mate bond, I felt his pain. His determination to keep fighting despite being injured.
"Nova! Take over for Liam!" I ordered.
"On it!"
I grabbed Liam. Pulled him back from the front line.
"You're hurt!"
"It's not that bad!"
"You can barely move your arm!"
"I can fight!"
"You can barely stand! Let me heal you!"
I channeled Eclipse power into his wound. Purifying the anti-magic contamination. Accelerating healing.
It wasn't perfect. The wound would need proper treatment. But it was enough to stop the immediate danger.
"Better?" I asked.
"Much. Thanks."
"Don't ever do that again."
"Do what? Save the princess? That's literally our job."
"Don't take hits meant for other people! You're not invincible!"
"Neither are you. But that doesn't stop you from throwing yourself into danger constantly."
He had a point.
My friends had managed to eliminate most of the rogues. Only two remained.
Then magical shields appeared. Shimmering barriers surrounding Selene.
"Who's casting that?" I asked.
"Me!" Sienna said, hands glowing. "Combined defensive magic! Everyone channel through me!"
We did. Pack bonds allowing us to share power. Coordinate spells.
The shields strengthened. Became impenetrable.
The last two rogues realized they couldn't breach the defense. They retreated.
"Let them go?" Nova asked.
"Let them go. We've got wounded. And we need to report this."
We helped Liam to the medical wing. The nurse examined his shoulder and frowned.
"Anti-magic weapons. Those are illegal. Where did the rogues get them?"
"Cole probably," I said. "He has access to architects' resources."
"This is escalating. Dangerous. The Headmaster needs to know."
"He will. But first, patch up my mate."
She did. Efficiently. Professionally.
"You'll be sore for a few days," she told Liam. "But no permanent damage."
"See?" Liam said to me. "I told you I was fine."
"You were stabbed!"
"Barely. More like a scratch."
"It was a three-inch gash!"
"Details."
Despite everything, I laughed. He was impossible.
The Headmaster appeared. "Status report."
"Six rogue assassins. Armed with anti-magic weapons. Targeting Selene specifically."
"Casualties?"
"None. But Liam was injured protecting the princess."
"Bravely done, Mr. Castellan."
"Just doing my job, sir."
"Your job is to survive. Not to use yourself as a shield."
"Respectfully, sir, if the princess dies, we all lose. Better one injured protector than one dead princess."
The Headmaster nodded. "True. But try not to die in the process."
"I'll do my best."
He left to organize enhanced security. My pack gathered in Liam's hospital room.
"That was intense," Aria said.
"That was Tuesday," Nova replied.
"We need to figure out where Cole's getting these resources," Lyric said. "Anti-magic weapons. Professional assassins. That's expensive. High-level."
"The architects are funding him," Sienna suggested.
"Maybe. But even they have limits. This level of resources suggests serious backing."
"Like Council-level backing," I realized.
"Alpha Reed," Aria said. "He's funding Cole. Has to be."
"Then we need to expose him. Get evidence. Bring it to the full Council."
"How? He's careful. Covered his tracks."
"Then we uncover them. Follow the money. The resources. The connections."
It was a plan. Vague. Incomplete. But a plan.
Better than just reacting constantly.
"Tomorrow," I said. "Tomorrow we visit that archivist. Learn about Cole's family history. Maybe that'll give us leverage."
"And tonight?" Nova asked.
"Tonight we rest. Recover. Prepare."
Everyone agreed. We were all exhausted. Running on fumes.
They left. Heading to their own rooms. Their own recovery.
I stayed with Liam. Keeping him company.
"You should rest too," he said.
"I will. Soon."
"Luna."
"I'm fine."
"You're not fine. You're worried. Guilty. Exhausted."
"All of the above."
"Then sleep. Here. With me. Let yourself rest."
I wanted to argue. Wanted to stay vigilant. Ready for the next attack.
But I was so tired. So drained.
"Okay," I said. "Just for a little while."
I curled up beside him on the hospital bed. Careful of his injured shoulder.
Through the mate bond, we shared warmth. Comfort. Love.
I was almost asleep when I felt it.
A presence. Powerful. Watching.
I opened my eyes. Looked toward the window.
Cole was there. Standing outside. Staring directly at me.
Our eyes met.
He raised his hand. Dark magic swirled.
Then he directed it straight at me.
Through the window. Through the wards. Through every defense.
Pure magical attack. Weaponized energy.
I barely got a barrier up in time.
The impact threw me across the room. I hit the wall hard.
"Luna!" Liam was up. Injured shoulder forgotten.
Cole was gone. Disappeared.
But the damage was done.
My barrier had absorbed most of the attack. But some got through.
Dark magic was seeping into my mark. Corrupting it. Poisoning it.
"Get the nurse!" I gasped. "Now!"
Alarms started blaring. Faculty running. Students panicking.
The last thing I saw before passing out was Liam's terrified face.
And through my mark, I felt Cole's presence. His voice.
This isn't over, Luna. Not by a long shot.