MIA'S POV
I tracked his scent through the dense forest, following the trail of deception he thought he could hide. The moon cast an eerie glow over the terrain as I approached the cave, the stench of blood and magic thick in the air.
He was waiting for me.
Keith lounged against the jagged rock, his expression lazy, indifferent-as if this wasn't a confrontation that could end with one of us dead.
"I was wondering when you'd show up," he mused, tossing a small dagger between his fingers. "Took you long enough."
I stepped forward, watching him carefully. "You need to stop this. Whatever you're planning-it ends now."
Keith laughed, the sound low and sharp, his eyes gleaming with something dangerous. "You always did think you had the authority to tell me what to do," he muttered, shaking his head. "But you don't, Lucas. Not then, and certainly not now."
My jaw tightened. "I let a lot of things slide because of family. Because of the promise I made to your parents to protect you." I took another step forward, my voice lowering. "But this? Going after my sister? That crosses a line."
Keith scoffed, pushing off the cave wall, his smirk twisting into something dark. "Your sister?" His eyes flashed with contempt. "Where was this family loyalty when Mia was suffering? When she was being broken by the very people you're so desperate to protect?"
Guilt curled deep in my gut, but I forced myself to remain steady. "I didn't know about her. Not until recently."
Keith sneered. "And yet, the second you found out, you ran straight to her. Protecting her. Defending her." He took a step closer, his voice mocking. "Does it ease your guilt, Lucas? Pretending to be the noble brother? Acting like you actually care?"
I gritted my teeth, my patience snapping. "She is my blood. And whether you like it or not, I will protect her from anyone who tries to harm her-including you."
Keith's eyes narrowed, his smirk fading. "You think you're protecting her?" His voice was soft, but there was an edge to it. "You're not. You're just another piece in the game. And by the time you realize it-it'll be too late."
A chill ran down my spine, but I didn't let it show.
I wouldn't give him the satisfaction.
"You're playing with fire, Keith." I took another step forward, my power crackling beneath my skin. "Walk away while you still can."
He tilted his head, watching me closely before letting out a slow exhale. "You don't get it, do you?" His lips curled into something almost sympathetic. "I'm not the villain of this story, Lucas."
I stiffened, every instinct screaming at me that something wasn't right.
Keith's smirk returned, sharper this time. "And I'm not the one Mia should be afraid of."
Before I could react, he moved. I never wanted to hurt Keith.
He was family, a promise I made to his parents-a promise I thought I could keep.
But Keith had crossed a line.
He had become something dangerous, something uncontrollable.
And now, I had no choice.
"You brought this on yourself," I muttered, my grip tightening around the dagger at my side. "I warned you."
Keith laughed, a sharp, grating sound that sent a chill down my spine. "You really think you can kill me, cousin?" He twirled his own blade between his fingers, his eyes glinting with something unnerving. "Come on, Lucas. We both know you don't have the guts."
I moved. Fast. Precise.
Keith barely had time to react before my blade slashed toward his throat.
But he was quicker.
He ducked, twisting his body to the side, and before I could register the shift-pain ripped through my side.
A deep, searing burn.
I staggered, looking down just as blood seeped through my shirt.
Keith grinned, watching me with a sick sort of amusement. "You're so predictable, Lucas." He twisted the dagger deeper, the poison sinking into my veins. "Always trying to play the hero."
My legs wobbled, the world tilting as a cold sweat broke over my skin.
He had poisoned me.
I had walked straight into his trap.
"Don't feel bad," Keith murmured, stepping back as I fell to my knees. "You were never going to win this fight. You're too soft. Too naive."
I tried to move, to fight-but my limbs felt heavy, my strength slipping away.
Damn it.
This wasn't how it was supposed to go.
Keith knelt beside me, grabbing my chin roughly. "You want to protect Mia so badly? You want to be the good brother?" His grip tightened, his nails digging into my skin. "Then watch. Watch as I take everything from her."
A snarl built in my throat, but my body refused to respond.
Keith smirked, his hot breath fanning against my face. "Such a shame, really. You could've ruled with me. Instead, you chose her." He sighed, shaking his head. "And now, you'll die for it."
My vision blurred, the shadows closing in, but then-
A loud snarl cut through the air.
Then another.
Keith's eyes widened, his body going rigid.
I barely had time to register what was happening before a figure rushed forward, slamming into him with bone-crushing force.
Keith grunted, staggering back as Tristan's fist connected with his jaw, sending him crashing into the cave wall.
"Get away from him," Tristan growled, his eyes burning with fury.
Keith wiped the blood from his mouth, chuckling breathlessly. "Ah, the knight in shining armor."
Daisy was beside me in an instant, her hands trembling as she grabbed my face. "Lucas? Can you hear me?"
I tried to speak, to say something, anything, but my body was shutting down fast.
"Shit," she whispered, her hands glowing faintly as she pressed them against my wound. "He's poisoned. We need to get him out of here."
Tristan turned his attention back to Keith, his muscles coiled tight, ready to tear him apart.
Keith simply smirked.
"I'll see you soon, cousin."
Then-he vanished into the shadows, leaving behind nothing but the scent of blood and deception.
I felt myself slipping, the world fading around me, but before the darkness could take me, I heard Daisy's frantic voice-
"Stay with me, Lucas."