Chapter 36 A Plan Written in Blood
The moment Cassian vanished, the night felt heavier.
Not silent.
Not still.
Watched.
Lina could feel it pressing around them — a cold awareness coiled in the dark.
Cassian was close. Listening. Waiting.
Kael didn’t let go of her for a long time.
Not even when the others moved.
Not when Aric began pacing the perimeter.
Not when Riven muttered curses under his breath.
Kael kept his arms locked around her, his forehead pressed to the top of her head, his breath unsteady.
“Kael,” she whispered softly, “let’s sit.”
He didn’t move.
“Kael…”
Finally, he inhaled a ragged breath and nodded.
They sat near the firepit, though no one dared relight a flame. Shadows danced around them, tall and restless.
Lina sat beside him, hands in her lap, waiting for him to speak.
Kael’s voice came out low.
“That wasn’t him.”
Lina reached for his hand. “No. It wasn’t.”
He stared at the ground as if afraid of what he’d see if he looked up.
“He said… he said he killed me.”
Kael swallowed.
“He said he remembered killing me.”
“That was the creature,” she whispered. “Not Cassian. It wants to break you.”
His jaw clenched. “It succeeded.”
Lina moved closer, resting her head on his shoulder.
“At first,” he continued, voice cracking, “I thought I imagined it. The way his face twisted. The way he smiled.”
“You didn’t imagine it.”
“It was wearing him,” Kael whispered.
“Like a suit.”
Lina wrapped her fingers around his.
He shook his head, barely holding himself together.
“I buried him,” he said again, quieter this time.
“I buried him. I mourned him. I said goodbye.”
Her heart broke for him.
“And now? Now he’s being used against you,” she whispered. “But we’re not letting that continue.”
Kael’s breath trembled.
He looked at her then — eyes glowing gold from grief and fury.
“I can’t kill him,” he whispered, voice trembling with pain.
“He’s my brother.”
“But you can free him,” she said, touching his cheek gently.
He swallowed hard, eyes glistening.
“How?”
It wasn’t anger.
It was a plea.
She turned to Aric.
“We need a way. There must be something.”
Aric stepped closer but kept his distance from Kael’s raw emotions.
“There is only one way to free someone fully claimed by shadow,” he said.
Kael stiffened.
Aric hesitated. “The creature’s hold is absolute. It takes the soul, twists the body, rewrites the instincts. The only path to freeing Cassian is—”
“No,” Kael said instantly, voice sharp.
“No. Don’t say it.”
Aric’s voice turned somber.
“Death, Kael. True death.”
Kael’s eyes burned with fury.
Lina tightened her grip on his arm. “Aric, don’t—”
Aric shook his head. “I wish it wasn’t true. But I’ve seen shadow-bound wolves before. Some from my own land. The creature never lets them go.”
Kael stood abruptly.
Lina rose with him, catching his wrist before he could pull away.
“Kael,” she whispered, “listen—”
“No.”
His voice broke.
“I won’t kill him.”
“Kael—”
“I WON’T!” he roared.
The sound echoed between the ruined stones.
Riven and Yara flinched.
Even the wind stilled.
Lina reached up, placing her hand over his heart again, right where the bond pulsed between them.
“You won’t kill him,” she whispered.
“We’ll save him.”
Kael exhaled shakily, shoulders sagging.
“Lina… I don’t know if that’s possible.”
She stepped closer, lifting his chin gently.
“Then we make it possible.”
His golden eyes softened, trembling with hope he didn’t dare trust.
Aric cleared his throat. “Then you need to hear the rest.”
Kael tensed again, but Lina squeezed his hand.
Aric looked between them.
“The creature doesn’t like losing what it owns,” Aric said.
“And it lost you, Lina.”
She nodded, feeling the old fear crawl up her spine.
“It will retaliate,” Aric continued. “And Cassian is only the first wave.”
Kael growled. “What comes next?”
“The creature itself will try to breach again.”
Lina felt the air drain from her lungs.
Kael stepped forward, his posture straightening, Alpha rising.
“How much time do we have?”
Aric hesitated.
Yara stepped closer, voice tense. “Aric… how long?”
Aric exhaled heavily.
“Hours.”
Riven cursed loudly. “Hours? HOURS?!”
“Maybe less,” Aric admitted.
“The ritual’s light will attract the creature like blood in water. It’s enraged. It wants Lina back.”
Kael shoved his hair back, pacing.
“What do we need to do?”
Aric motioned to the ruins. “We need to reinforce the old wards. Rebuild the barrier your family made. Their magic is gone, but Lina’s is not.”
Lina inhaled sharply. “You mean—”
“You must finish the pact they began,” Aric said.
Kael immediately grabbed her hand.
“How dangerous?”
Aric didn’t answer.
Lina touched Kael’s arm.
“I can handle it.”
Kael glared at Aric. “Answer her.”
Aric finally said it quietly.
“If Lina falters… the creature will take her through the breach.”
Kael’s wolf exploded beneath his skin.
He stormed toward Aric—
Lina grabbed him, pulling him back.
“Kael—stop—please—”
He forced himself still, entire body trembling.
Lina turned to Aric.
“What do I need to do?”
Aric looked at her with grim respect.
“You will stand where the original Valerius pact was formed,” he said, pointing toward the heart of the ruins.
“The center of your ancestors’ circle.”
Lina swallowed. “And?”
“You will call your magic forward,” Aric said.
“ALL of it.”
Lina stiffened.
Kael stepped closer.
“No. No—she won’t.”
Aric met Kael’s gaze.
“She must let her full magic surface. Unrestrained. That is the only way to rebuild the barrier strong enough to withstand the creature’s rage.”
Kael’s voice shook with fury.
“That could tear her apart.”
Aric didn’t look away.
“It could.”
Lina’s breath hitched.
Kael turned to her instantly, hands cupping her face.
“Lina.” His voice shook. “Don’t do this.”
She leaned into his palms.
“Kael… we don’t have a choice.”
His eyes glowed, gold trembling with terror.
“I can’t lose you.”
“You won’t,” she whispered, voice unwavering.
“You’re with me. The bond is stronger than it’s ever been.”
He closed his eyes as if savoring her touch, memorizing her warmth, gathering strength from her heartbeat.
Then he whispered, devastated—
“I should never have put my magic into you. It tied us too deep. If anything happens to you—”
“Kael.”
She pressed her forehead to his.
“We are stronger together.”
He exhaled, broken.
“I know.”
Aric approached. “We need to begin now.”
Kael turned, fierce again, controlled again.
“Tell us what to do.”
Aric nodded.
“Lina stands at the center. Kael stands with her. The rest of us protect the perimeter. When she calls her magic, the creature will feel it. Cassian will come first.”
Kael growled deep in his chest.
“Good.”
Lina squeezed Kael’s hand.
He held her tighter.
Aric stepped back.
Riven drew his blades.
Yara prepared her arrows.
The wind howled through the trees again.
A warning.
A promise.
The storm was coming.
Kael turned to Lina, eyes soft for only her.
“Ready?” he whispered.
She nodded.
“With you? Always.”
Kael kissed her forehead—
slow, fierce, claiming—
Then they walked toward the center of the ruins.
Together.