<h4>Chapter 459: A Different Ally</h4>


    <strong>******************</strong>


    <strong>Chapter 459</strong>


    <strong>~Vera’s POV~</strong>


    The journey back to Shadow ve was long, not in distance, but in what it took from me.


    I kept my hood up the entire time, letting the thick ck fabric shield my face from the early morning light. My boots dragged with each step, soaked in mud and forest grime.


    I hadn’t fed properly in days, but the rage that burned in my chest was fuel enough to want to go home.


    All through my journey, I had one simple n: to tell my mother that things went AWOL because of Zara Gold and look for a way to get her.


    I couldn’t afford to make my mother suspicious of the reasons I failed this mission, even though she had no idea I had changed the n in hopes of killing Zara. I just knew I needed a backup n in case things went haywire again.


    So instead of heading home, I decided to visit Kent Wayne.


    But as soon as that thought crossed my mind, I had a rethink.<i></i>


    <i>"Visiting Thorned Crescent in this state would be bad. I need a phone, new clothes, a bath, and a makeover appearance just in case, and I need to meet Kent privately before going home."</i>


    I detoured from the main path to an old ruins chamber hidden on the outskirts of the Shadow ve territory—a ce I used often when I needed to disappear.


    No prying eyes. No questions. Just a hidden cache of old weapons, clothes, and most importantly, a burner phone I’d left in case of emergencies like this.


    After a long charge, the screen flickered to life. I tapped into the only number that mattered right now.


    <strong>Kent Wayne.</strong>


    He was my betrothed and right now, my possible ally and asset. The line rang twice before I heard the low click on the other end.


    "Vera?" His voice was clipped, almost cautious. Then a beat passed when I did not respond. "You’re alive."


    A slow, wicked smirk touched my lips. "Miss me already?" I purred smokily. "Careful, Kent. You sound relieved."


    "I thought you were dead," he replied. "Everyone did. Your mother sent scouts. I had to calm your damn faction down and my father before they stormed the witch circles."


    "Well, aren’t you my knight in bloodstained armour?" I murmured, dragging my fingerzily along the cracked table in front of me. "But don’t worry, sweetheart. I’m not dead. Not even close. I’ve been... rejuvenating."


    "Where are you?" he demanded in a less harsh tone but still with that tightmand in his tone.


    "You’ll know soon enough," I replied sweetly. "But first, I need something from you."


    Silence stretched across the line for a heartbeat before Kent finally answered me. "What is it?"


    "A favour," I cooed, leaning back into the chair, my body aching, but my mind was sharp. "I need a clean location. Somewhere off-grid. Private. No ties to your father or my mother. I’ll need clothes. Phones. A healer, maybe. And..." I licked my lips, "a nice warm bed wouldn’t hurt either."


    "Why? You can easily get those for yourself. You’re a witch, remember."


    "Yes, but Mum would be able to track my power signatures all around. I need to not show up without Zara. I want a n."


    "Well, I can’t help with your thoughts, love. That’s on you."


    I rolled my eyes. "Oh well. So, I’m nning a new strategy to take down Zara Gold, and this time, I’m not letting your pack politics or my mother’s rituals interfere. But before I make my grand reappearance, I need to look the part of a strong, irresistible, dangerousdy. So, lover—help me prep my stage."


    Kent exhaled on the other end. "You’re insane."


    "You like that about me," I said with a chuckle.


    He didn’t argue. "I’ll send someone to pick you up. Stay put."


    "I knew I could count on you," I said, voice dripping like honey and poison all at once. "Kent?"


    "What?"


    "When I win this war, I’m not justing for her throne—I’ming for that crown beside you. I n to rule... by your side. Just like we were meant to."


    Kent was silent for a while, and I knew that his silence didn’t mean refusal. It meant contemtion. And that, for now, was enough.


    I did not wait for his response and ended the call, then tossed the phone onto the table.


    Time to be the monster they feared... in full mour and power.


    "Enjoy your peace while itsts, Zara Gold, because I’ming back. And next time, I’ll rip you apart from the inside out."


    ******************


    I waited for Kent for an hour, and after that, I decided to visit Shadow ve briefly. When I crossed the boundary, the air shifted. It felt familiar and stale.


    Like the scent of old incense and ashes clung to forgotten altars, Shadow ve’s walls stood tall, carved from obsidian and etched with dark runes that pulsed faintly in my presence.


    The wards let me in—barely.


    Two guards at the gates straightened the second theyid eyes on me, eyes widening at the sight of me. One of them opened his mouth, likely to question me, but I didn’t wait.


    "Let me through," I rasped, trying to keep my voice hoarse to show my situation better.


    The guard obeyed immediately, stepping aside like he’d just seen a ghost. Maybe he had.


    I made my way into the inner sanctum of thepound, toward the high tower—the ritual chamber where I knew she’d be.


    <strong>Luna ton. My mother.</strong>


    I pushed the door open without knocking. The scent of sage, dried blood, and candle wax assaulted me.


    Mother was there, in the center of the room, draped in violet robes with her back to me.


    "Who dares—" she began, before freezing mid-chant. Her head whipped around and then, silence.


    Her eyes widened for a moment, like she had seen a ghost and not expected me.


    And then, the very next second, she was running toward me.


    "Vera," she breathed. "By the gods—Vera!" Her hands cupped my face before her arms wrapped tightly around me, her voice trembling. "I thought you were dead. I felt your magic vanish. I felt your heartbeat stop."


    "I almost died," I murmured, leaning into her warmth despite myself. "But not for long. I borrowed someone else’s life force," I exined.


    My mother pulled back slightly to examine my face. "What happened? You were supposed to take her powers."


    "Yes, but Snow was not to interfere either."


    "Then how did he? We had it nned, we had it—"


    "I failed," I said in a low voice. "He got in the way. Zara knew I came for her and one thing led to the other; we engaged in a fight. Zara was going to kill. I h-had to defend myself, mother."


    As I exined, tears rolled down my cheeks. "Mum, I had to fight back, and in the process, Snow dove in. He took the hit meant for her. And then... she killed me."


    My mother’s breath hitched, her hands tightening around my arms.


    "But I survived. The protection spell—one of the old ones—it worked, just enough. Then I used dark magic. I drained a guard. Took his life force. It was the only way."


    She stared at me, her expression unreadable now. For a second, the softness in her eyes was reced quickly by a cold, calcting look. "And what of Snow?"


    "He died," I said bitterly. I tried to hold it in, hold the fact that Snow had left me and my mate died because of me.


    My mother exhaled sharply, the flicker of rage lighting behind her eyes.


    "I will not let this go unanswered," she said quietly. "They think they’ve won. But they’ve merely dyed the inevitable."


    I straightened, my strength slowly returning.


    "I want to be the one who ends her," I said with venom in my voice.


    As much as I wanted to tell my mother that Zara took everything from me. I couldn’t. She didn’t have to know.


    "Let me return the favour," I said finally.


    My mother’s eyes narrowed. "What favour?"


    "Zara tried to kill me. I want to do the same. Only that this time my ai is to kill her. I will hand over her heart to you," I added, hoping to sway my moter’s thoughts.


    My mother’s lips curved into a small, dangerous smile. "Then rise, daughter of shadows. The war has just begun. You are free to do that. You can kill her, but only until I have her tied to my altar, extracted her powers. After that, Zia Gold is all yours."


    I clenched my jaw, keeping the anger inside me as I balled my fingers into fists by my side.


    She could easily ignore Zara because she had no connection to her nor had Zara stolen from her but for me, that woman’s mere existence made me lose what I wanted—my mate.


    I gave a nod and turned to leave.


    "Vera." I halted and half turned.


    "Yes, Queen Mother?"


    "I want you to prepare. Soon we shall hold a ritual that will give us Zara Gold in our hands.


    "As you wish mother."


    Updat??d fr??m freew??bnov??l.c(o)m