<h4>Chapter 654: Elder Penn’s hical Method</h4>


    <strong>Evaline:</strong>


    The cold bit into my skin, sharp and relentless. But I barely noticed.


    My boots crunched softly against the thickyer of snow as I paced beside River’s ck car, my arms wrapped tightly around myself... not for warmth, but to hold myself together.


    It was a little past midnight, and the night sky had no sign of the moon or the stars. Instead, it’s covered in thick, ck clouds. It was as if the weather was trying to match the vibe of my current mental state.


    The academy stood ahead of me, looming in silence. The high towers were covered in snow, standing out in the darkness that surrounded the ce. The air itself was peaceful... too peaceful for what was unfolding inside.


    It had been an hour.


    An entire hour since they all walked through those gates - River, Kieran, Oscar, Elder Morwen, Elder Penn, the council elder, two Alphas, the witches, and the warriors.


    All of them were now inside the academy walls.


    And me?


    I was out here - waiting, and feeling restless.


    My steps quickened without me realizing it, my thoughts spiraling faster with every passing second.


    What if something went wrong?


    What if the seal failed?


    What if-


    A warm hand suddenly wrapped around mine, stopping me mid-step.


    I blinked, startled, and my gaze snapped up to find Rowan. Only then did I realize my fingers were clenched so tightly they were starting to hurt.


    He gently pried them open, brushing his thumb over my knuckles. "You are going to hurt yourself," he said calmly.


    I let out a breath I didn’t realize I had been holding.


    "I didn’t even notice..."


    "I know." His tone softened slightly, but his grip remained firm... grounding. "Stop pacing," he added. "You are wearing a path into the snow."


    Despite everything, a faint huff of breath escaped me. "Not funny."


    "Wasn’t trying to be." He returned with a little shrug.


    I shook my head, dragging a hand down my face before ncing back toward the academy gates.


    They were still closed. Still silent.


    "How am I supposed to not worry?" I muttered. "They have been in there for an hour, Rowan."


    "And they are not alone," he reminded me, knowing I was mostly talking about my mates and not everyone. "They have got eight witches with them. Two powerful Alphas. Warriors. And most importantly, the brothers aren’t the ones who needs to be protected. They are the protectors."


    That didn’t help. Not really. Because the problem wasn’t theck of strength.


    It was the unknown.


    My mind drifted back to the conversation from two nights ago, to Elder Penn’s n River finally told me about... and the n had settled like a weight in my chest the moment I heard it.


    Because Elder Penn’s n was to use a sacrifice, a corrupted one. And just like she said, it was indeed hical.


    She also suggested that they would potion the sacrifice so when the Great Evil fed on it, it would get poisoned and its strength would weaken. This would allow the witches to seal it and make sure it wouldn’t be able to break free anytime soon.


    If this n seeded, they would get more time... probably enough to find the cure to heal the patients.


    And during the emergency council meeting, when Elder Penn presented this n to the council, River stepped in with a solution. He suggested they use a criminal, one already sentenced to death. And somehow, the council gave the n a green g.


    I swallowed hard.


    Even now, the idea didn’t sit right with me.


    Did it make sense?


    Yes.


    Was it necessary?


    Probably.


    Did it still feel... wrong?


    Absolutely.


    "They are feeding it a person..." I whispered, my voice barely audible.


    Rowan’s expression didn’t change, but his eyes flickered slightly.


    "A criminal," he corrected. "Someone already sentenced."


    "That doesn’t make it better," I said.


    "It makes it less worse." He corrected.


    I let out a shaky breath.


    Less worse.


    What kind of world were we living in where that was the best justification we had?


    Still...


    River’s words echoed in my mind.


    <i>It’s the best solution we have right now.</i>


    And he wasn’t wrong.


    If this worked, if the poison weakened the Great Evil, then there would be no more victims.


    No more souls taken.


    No more people ending up like...


    My chest tightened painfully.


    Draven.


    I pressed my lips together, forcing that thought down before it could consume me.


    This was for him too.


    For all of them.


    "I just..." I exhaled slowly. "I hate waiting."


    Rowan’s grip on my hand loosened slightly, but he didn’t let go. "I know."


    Silence fell between us again. It wasn’tfortable, nor peaceful... but heavy.


    Time stretched painfully, each second dragging longer than thest.


    The four warriors stationed nearby remained alert, their eyes constantly scanning the surroundings, but even they seemed tense.


    Everyone was waiting. For something. Anything - a sound, a signal, a sign that it was over.


    I nced at the academy again, my heart thudding harder against my ribs.


    What was happening inside right now?


    Had they found it?


    Had they started the ritual?


    Was the Great Evil fighting back?


    Was-


    A sudden gust of wind swept across the grounds, making me shiver. But I barely felt it. My entire focus remained locked on those gates.


    Come on...


    Please...


    Just-


    A faint sound broke through the silence, making my breath hitch. "Did you hear that?" I whispered.


    Rowan stilled beside me and nodded.


    "...Yeah."


    The warriors straightened instantly, their attention snapping toward the gates.


    My heart began to pound. Louder. Faster.


    The sound came again. This time clearer. It was metal... moving.


    My fingers tightened instinctively around Rowan’s hand.


    "The gates..." I breathed.


    And then... with a low, heavy creak... the academy’s main gates began to open. Slowly. Deliberately.


    My entire body went rigid as I stared ahead, my breath caught somewhere between my lungs and my throat.


    Someone wasing out.


    And I knew exactly who.


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