Chapter 213: Tumbling down

Amaia's POV

My gaze landed on the rogue on his knees first—blood pouring from his throat and soaking him and dripping the surroundings red. I could see the life slipping from his eyes, and a wave of conflicting emotions washed over me.

Fear and anger battled within me as I processed the scene before me. I had never imagined that it would escalate to this point, leaving a life hanging by a thread in front of me.

"Serena," I gasped in horror. "What have you done?" She stood behind the fallen rogue with a dagger in her hand, now holding it against one of the witch's throats. Her composure was stiff and dangerous, her eyes black and hollow, and a cold sinister smirk played on her lips. She must have taken the dagger from the rogue while my focus was on Alpha Ezra.

"Don't move, or she dies," Serena said, her voice steady despite the chaos around us. I could see the flicker of uncertainty in her eyes, a brief crack in her icy facade, and I knew I had to act quickly before the situation spiraled beyond our control. "I'm not going to let you destroy my life," she spat, pointing the dagger at me. "You'll stay where you are. All of you. Give me back my magic before I slit her throat!"

The guard already flanked my sides, ready to follow my orders.

I could feel the tension thickening in the air, each heartbeat echoing like a drum. With a steady voice, I addressed the guards, "Stand down, but be ready to intervene if necessary," and the guard moved away from me.

My eyes remained locked on Serena, searching for any hint of hesitation that might give me an opening to negotiate.

I gestured to Roland and Barrett to stop, and they immediately slowed their pace.

"What are you doing?" Roland mindlinked, his voice full of annoyance mixed with frustration. "We can take her!"

"No!" I replied, leaving no room for argument. "This is my doing. I can't have anyone else get hurt. Trust me!"

"No!" Roland growled over the mindlink. "She will kill you!"

"She can't hurt me!" I replied, keeping my voice clear and final.

I have died a thousand times before—this can't be any different... I would return… right?

Rieka cleared her voice and swallowed hard. A flicker of hesitation crossed her eyes. "This time you might not…" she whispered.

Her words send a spike to my heart, leaving me anxious as I look at Roland. I love him so much. I couldn't bear to be apart from him.

A small whimper escaped Rieka. She felt the same. But I had to do this. I needed to end this madness once and for all.

I shook the feelings aside—there was no time to ponder about things in the future.

If I survive—good. If I die... I shook the depressing thought to the side—it was a chance that I needed to take to keep everyone safe.

"Serena," I said. "Please put down the dagger and let the girl go."

"No!" She yelled, her eyes wild and dark.

"What are you going to do, Serena?" Harrison taunted, watching her. "Kill everyone here…?"

Her grip tightened around the dagger, and I could see the conflict raging within her. "If I have to!" she shouted, her voice trembling with a mix of fury and fear, as if the weight of her choices threatened to collapse around her. "I will not live my life in slavery!"

"Fine!" I said, holding up my hands in a defensive manner. "You are free to leave."

Gasps surrounded us.

"I'm not leaving without my magic," she sneered with fierce determination in her eyes. "You can’t just take it from me and expect me to walk away quietly."

"You think you can just have it back without consequences?" Harrison snarled. "After everything you've done!"

"After everything I've done?" she echoed, her voice rising with indignation. "You took everything from me; he took everything from me," she said, pointing to Barrett. "I deserve to reclaim what is rightfully mine!"

"I can't do that!" I said, keeping my composure calm while everything inside me wanted to make an end of her.

Her eyes narrowed, a mix of desperation and fury swirling within them. "You don't understand the stakes here," she continued, her voice barely above a whisper, yet laced with intensity. "If I don't get it back, there will be repercussions far beyond what you can imagine."

I shook my head and pulled my lips into a fine line. "It's not my decision to make," I said.

"What are you talking about?" She snarled, pushing the dagger closer to the witch's throat until a line of blood appeared.

"You see," I said. "The first day you took an innocent life, your magic started to dissolve..."

"Is that why she started harvesting our magic?" Aradia asked, shock evident in her voice. "She was losing her magic abilities!"

"Yes, part of it," I replied. "She must have noticed it when she killed me. That's why she took Rieka from me in hopes that it would restore her magic..."

"Then what did we just remove?" An elderly witch asked.

"Her ability to use magic," I said.

"I don't care," Serena barked. "I want it back!"

If that is what she wants, she can have it.

"Very well," I said, gesturing to Aradia to hand me the box.

"What are you doing, Luna?" Anthony asked, stepping between Aradia and me, blocking her off. "This is dangerous. She is dangerous. You can't...."

I didn't answer; I just raised an eyebrow, finding his gaze.

Something in my eyes must have told him to back off, and he immediately stepped aside.

Aradia handed me the box, and I winked at her. She flinched. My behavior took her by surprise before she understood. She slowly nodded.

"Here," I said, as I turned around. "Take it, Serena. You can have it."

"Throw it to me," she ordered.

"Not until you release the witch," I said.

Serena hesitated. She seemed to measure the distance and weigh her options before an unknown emotion crossed her eyes.

"Fine," she growled, and pushed the witch forward until she was a few steps from me.

Before I could even register what she was up to, the witch stumbled forward, tripped, and came tumbling down, knocking me to the side.

Serena leaped toward me, dagger in her hand.

In those bare seconds, everything seemed to stop. I saw her shifting the dagger in her hand, ready to stab me with it.

I covered my head, waiting for the impact to come, but instead a giant wolf leaped over me, bringing Serena down.

A horrific scream filled the air and ended in a cry. Everyone stood frozen watching the events unfold.

I pushed myself back up, seeing a pool of blood spilling from Serena—she was still alive, coughing up blood. The wolf had ripped her throat open.

My gaze shifted, seeing Roland's panicked form as he ran closer.

"Where's Barrett?" I whispered. "He was next to Roland just a moment ago."

Movement caught my eyes, and I saw Barrett's wolf stumble forward and collapse to the floor...