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Ellie POV
The air changed although the rms never sounded.
It thickened-heavy and electric, like the moment just before lightning split the sky. My skin prickled, every nerve humming as if the world itself were drawing a sharp, anticipatory breath.
The goddess was close.
Not distant and observing the way she sometimes was, not a whisper threaded through dreams or visions, but present. Near enough that the warmth in my chest burned steady and bright, coiling around my ribs like a too- tight embrace.
The storm wasn''t justing.
It was here.
August whimpered softly against my shoulder, his small body pressing closer to mine.n fussed in my other arm, his unease feeding off my own despite my efforts to stay calm.
"It''s okay," I murmured, rocking them gently as the packhouse shifted around us. I could hear it now-the controlled urgency in the halls, boots moving fast but not running, voices low and clipped. The silent alert Nn had ordered was doing its job.
No screaming. No panic.
Just motion.
Rae appeared in the doorway with two warriors at her back, her expression tight but resolute.
She took in the scene in a single nce-me, the boys, the tension vibrating in the air.
"It''s time," she said softly.
My throat tightened. I nodded, adjusting my grip on August andn as I followed her down the hall. The route to the panic room was deliberately indirect, winding through inner corridorsyered with the strongest wards Silver Fang possessed.
The panic room itself didn''t look like what the name suggested.
It was warm. Spacious. Reinforced stone hidden beneath wood paneling and soft rugs. There were toys alreadyid out, water, nkets, a low bed built into the wall. A ce meant to feel safe.
Rae guided me inside, then gently but firmly took the boys from my arms.
"I''ve got them," she said, her voice steady. "I promise."
August reached for me immediately, small fingers curling in my shirt. Ian followed suit, both of them fussing now, sensing the separation.
My heart lurched.
"I''ll be right outside," I whispered, pressing kisses to their cheeks. "Mama''s right here."
Rae met my eyes over their heads. "Ellie-"
"I know," I said quickly. "I know. Just-let me say it."
She nodded.
I crouched in front of them, forcing a smile that felt brittle but real. "You stay with Rae, okay? Be brave boys."
They didn''t understand the words, but they knew the tone. August quieted slightly. Jan pressed his forehead to Rae''s shoulder, clutching her sleeve.
The door sealed with a low, final hum.
The sound echoed in my chest.
For a heartbeat, I just stood there in the corridor, staring at the smooth stone as if sheer will could carry me through it.
Then the pull hit me.
A sharp, undeniable tug toward the outer courtyard. Toward the open air. Toward Nn.
The goddess''s presence red in response, not urging me forward-but bracing me, the familiar pressure of protection snapping into ce around my body like invisible
armor.
No.
I turned and ran..
My bare feet pped against the stone as I pushed toward the direction of the gathering warriors, toward the rising mor I could now hear faintly through the walls. My heart thundered, fear and determination tangling together until I couldn''t tell where one ended and the other began.
I wouldn''t hide.
I wouldn''t sit and wait while everyone I loved went to face the storm without me.
I rounded the corner
And mmed straight into a wall of solid muscle.
Hands closed around my arms, firm but not rough, halting me instantly.
"Enough."
ric''s voice cut through the chaos like steel.
I looked up at him, breath heaving, fury and desperation burning through me. "Let
go of me."
"No," he said tly,
"You can''t keep me inside," I snapped. "I can help. I can
He pulled me closer, his grip unyielding, eyes zing with a ferocity that shocked me into silence.
"You will not," he said. "Not like this."
"My ce is out there!" I shouted, the words tearing free. "With Nn. With the others."
"No," ric repeated, softer now but no less firm. "Your role is not to fight the storm.
It is to defend your home."
I shook my head, tears stinging my eyes. "You don''t understand. I can feel it. The goddess is with me-I''m strong enough."
"I know exactly how strong you are,” he said. “That is why you stay."
The power in my chest surged, reacting to my fear, my anger, my need to move.
The air around us shuddered faintly, wards responding instinctively.
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Cede is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a ir for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cede''s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.