The atmosphere in the room shifted as Seraphine materialized before them. Her presence was like an ice storm—cold, unforgiving, and deadly. The very air seemed to freeze in her wake, her power radiating with an intensity that made Kael’s heart pound in his chest. He instinctively moved closer to Bella, his protectiveness growing as Seraphine’s eyes scanned the room, as though she were examining each of them with equal parts disdain and amusement.
Her appearance was striking, her long silver hair cascading down her back like a waterfall of frost. Her eyes, sharp and golden, glinted with ancient knowledge and power. She wore a dark, flowing robe that seemed to absorb the light around her, making her seem even more ominous. There was something terrifying about her, something that made Kael’s pulse race. Despite the desperation clawing at him, he couldn’t help but feel the weight of her presence, as though she were something beyond even his comprehension.
Seraphine’s gaze landed first on Eryon, then shifted to Misery, her lips curling into a wicked smile. She took a step forward, her voice dripping with venom as she addressed them.
“Ah, the fallen daughter and the traitor son,” she purred, her words slicing through the tension in the room. “How delightful to see you grovel. How the mighty have fallen.”
Eryon flinched at her words, but his posture remained firm. Misery, too, stiffened, though she gave no outward sign of fear. Seraphine’s mocking tone hit them both hard, but neither of them backed down. Still, Kael could see the subtle shift in their expressions. This was no mere wolf they had summoned—it was something far older, far more dangerous.
Seraphine turned her attention to Kael next, her eyes narrowing as she took in his frantic stance, his desperation for Bella’s life.
“You,” she said, her voice a silky whisper, “You are the one who dared summon me, Kael, the mighty Alpha of the Crimson Fang. You must be desperate, indeed.”
Kael gritted his teeth, pushing back the fear that threatened to rise in his chest. He couldn’t let her intimidate him—not now, not when Bella’s life hung in the balance.
“I don’t care about your games, Seraphine,” Kael snapped, his voice sharp. “I need you to help her. She’s dying, and you are the only one who can save her. If you want your price, name it, but please—just save her.”
Seraphine tilted her head, her golden eyes gleaming with amusement at his outburst. She flicked her hand through the air dismissively, silencing him instantly. The power she held was thick, and Kael immediately knew there was no point in trying to demand anything from her.
With a casual wave of her hand, she gestured for Kael to be silent. He felt the words die on his tongue as if some invisible force had squeezed his throat. He couldn’t speak, couldn’t argue. His desperation was drowning in the overwhelming presence of the ancient wolf before him.
She moved toward Bella, her eyes narrowing as she assessed the state of the girl she had been summoned to save. Seraphine circled Bella slowly, inspecting her as if she were a mere specimen to be studied. Kael, still unable to speak, watched helplessly as Seraphine’s eyes flicked over Bella’s pale, fragile form.
For a moment, Kael dared to hope. She was here, she had arrived. But Seraphine’s gaze was unyielding, her lips twitching into something between a smirk and a frown.
“You’re lucky,” Seraphine murmured, her voice softer now, but still cold. “Her wounds are not beyond my reach.” She knelt beside Bella, her long, clawed fingers brushing Bella’s cheek. Kael held his breath, watching in tense silence as Seraphine examined Bella with an intensity that bordered on obsession.
Then, just as quickly, Seraphine’s expression shifted. The smile that had been there moments before faded, replaced by a look of intrigue, even curiosity.
She looked at Eryon with sharp, calculating eyes. “There is something… strange about her,” Seraphine said, her voice now laced with a darker tone. “Something I cannot quite place.”
Kael’s heart skipped a beat, his mind racing. What was she talking about? Was this something more? Bella had always been strong, but was there something in her bloodline that even Seraphine couldn’t understand?
Seraphine stood up abruptly, her hands clasped behind her back as she gazed down at Bella with a calculating look. Her eyes flicked over to Eryon once again, a wicked glint in them.
“She’s not what she seems,” Seraphine murmured, her voice low and dangerous. “Tell me, Eryon, what blood flows in her veins?”
Kael’s world came crashing down. He felt the words like a punch to the gut, the meaning of them slowly dawning on him. What did Seraphine mean? What blood? What did she know that they didn’t?
Eryon’s face paled, and Kael saw his jaw clench tightly. Misery, too, looked shaken by Seraphine’s words. Neither of them had anticipated this, and Kael could feel his confusion and fear building.
“Tell me, Eryon,” Seraphine repeated, her voice a menacing whisper. “What is it that you’ve been hiding?”