The Blood Cells beneath the Fae High Court were a tomb of stone and iron, but the Northern Stronghold’s holding chambers were worse. They weren’t meant for prisoners. They were meant for traitors. The walls were carved from black rock, veins of cold silver pulsing faintly with dormant magic. The air tasted of rust and old fear. And in the center cell—
Elara.
She was on her knees again, wrists bound in silver cuffs that hissed against her skin, her silver hair matted with blood. But her eyes—sharp, defiant—locked onto mine the moment I stepped into the chamber.
“You came,” she said, voice weak but steady.
“Of course I came,” I said, rushing to the bars, my fingers gripping the cold iron. “I thought you were gone. I thought—”
“I’m not that easy to kill,” she said, coughing. “But they’re stronger this time. The cuffs—they’re laced with fae venom and wolfbane. It’s slowing my magic. Burning it.”
I turned to Kaelen, my voice breaking. “Get her out.”
He studied the lock—a complex ward woven with blood-oaths and ancestral sigils. It would take time. Time we didn’t have.
“Stand back,” he said.
I didn’t move. “I said—”
“Stand back,” he growled, shifting just enough to let the wolf rise—claws extending, eyes burning gold. He grabbed the bars and pulled.
Iron groaned. Stone cracked. The lock shattered.
I tore the door open.
Blair rushed in, dropping to her knees beside Elara. “I’ve got you,” she whispered, working at the cuffs. “I’ve got you.”
Elara winced as the silver burned her wrists. “They wanted to know about you. About the Contract. About your mother.”
“You didn’t tell them,” Blair said, voice fierce.
“I told them nothing,” Elara said. “But they’ll try again. And next time, they won’t be so gentle.”
Blair looked up at me. “We have to get her out.”
I nodded. “Riven.”
He stepped forward. “I’ll take her. My kind can move through the shadows. I can get her beyond the Court walls before dawn.”
Blair hesitated. “I don’t know you.”
“You know me,” I said, meeting her gaze. “And I trust him with my life.”
She searched my face. Then nodded. “Keep her safe.”
Riven knelt, lifting Elara with surprising gentleness. “I will.”
“Wait,” Elara said, reaching for Blair’s hand. “Before I go—there’s something you need to know.”
Blair leaned in. “What?”
“The Contract,” Elara whispered. “It’s not just a prison for your bloodline. It’s a lock. And the key isn’t just blood. It’s claiming. Full. Final. Unconditional.”
Blair’s breath caught. “You mean—”
“You have to claim Kaelen,” Elara said. “Not as a prisoner. Not as a symbol. As a mate. And he must claim you the same way. Only then can the Contract be broken.”
Blair looked at me—her eyes wide, dark, searching.
I didn’t look away.
Because I already knew.
I’d known since the first time she’d looked at me like I wasn’t a monster.
“Go,” Blair said to Riven, her voice steady. “Now.”
He nodded, vanishing into the shadows with Elara in his arms.
Then we were alone.
The silence was heavier than the chains on the wall.
“You heard that,” Blair said, standing.
“I did,” I said.
“And?”
“And nothing,” I said, stepping closer. “It doesn’t change anything.”
“It changes everything,” she said, her voice rising. “You heard her. To break the Contract, I have to claim you. I have to—”
“Be with me,” I finished. “Willingly. Fully. As my mate.”
She stared at me. “And you’re just… okay with that?”
“No,” I said. “I’m not okay with it. I’m not okay with the idea that the only way to free you is to bind you. I’m not okay with the fact that magic is forcing this. That the Contract is manipulating us.”
“Then why—”
“Because I want it anyway,” I said, stepping into her space. “Not because of the Contract. Not because of magic. Because of you. Because every time you look at me, I feel like I’m coming back to life. Because every time you fight me, I want to pin you down and never let go. Because when you kissed me back—”
My voice broke.
“—I felt like I’d finally found something worth dying for.”
She didn’t move. Didn’t speak.
Just stared at me, her chest rising and falling fast.
And then—
She reached up.
Her fingers brushed the mark on my neck—the one she’d left when she’d bitten me during the fight in the training yard. It was faint, already healing. But it was there.
“You still have it,” she whispered.
“I didn’t let it heal,” I said. “I kept it. As a reminder.”
“Of what?”
“Of the first time you didn’t fight me,” I said. “The first time you took what you wanted.”
Her breath hitched.
And then—
She kissed me.
Not like before. Not violent. Not desperate.
Soft.
Slow.
Aching.
Her lips moved against mine, gentle, searching. One hand cupped my jaw, her thumb brushing my cheek. The other gripped my wrist, the one bound by the chain.
And the chain—
It pulsed.
Not with magic.
With connection.
I pulled her closer, my arms wrapping around her waist, lifting her slightly. Her legs wrapped around my hips, her body pressing into mine. The kiss deepened, our tongues meeting, slow and sweet and real.
And then—
A sound.
Footsteps.
We broke apart just in time.
Cassian stepped into the chamber, flanked by four guards. His silver hair gleamed in the torchlight, his smile sharp as a knife.
“How… touching,” he said. “The Alpha and the challenger. Sharing a moment in the Blood Cells. How poetic.”
Blair stepped in front of me, her back straight, her chin high. “Let her go, Cassian. Elara’s gone. You’ve lost.”
“Oh, I haven’t lost,” he said. “I’ve merely adjusted my strategy. You see, I didn’t capture Elara to get to you.” He stepped closer, his gaze flicking to me. “I captured her to get to him.”
My spine went rigid.
“You’ve been weakening the Contract,” Cassian said. “Sabotaging my orders. Protecting hybrids. And now, you’ve allied yourself with the very woman sent to destroy it.” He smiled. “So I had to remind you where your loyalty lies.”
“My loyalty is to my pack,” I said, stepping forward, placing a hand on Blair’s shoulder. “And to the truth.”
“Then you’ve already betrayed me,” Cassian said. “And betrayal has a price.”
He raised his hand.
And the chain between Blair and me burned.
She gasped, clutching her wrist. I grabbed her arm, but the silver was searing hot, pulsing with dark magic.
“The Contract obeys me,” Cassian said. “And right now, it’s punishing you for disobedience.”
Blair dropped to her knees, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Her skin was pale, her veins dark beneath the surface. The bond-heat was tearing through her, amplified by Cassian’s magic.
“Stop it,” I snarled, dropping to my knees beside her. “She’s not the one who defied you. I am.”
“But the bond is shared,” Cassian said. “And she suffers for your sins.” He smiled. “How does it feel, Alpha? To watch the woman you’re starting to care for burn because of you?”
Blair looked up at me, her eyes filled with pain—but also defiance. “Don’t… give in,” she gasped. “Don’t let him… win.”
“I won’t,” I said, gripping her hand. “I promise.”
But Cassian wasn’t done.
He raised his other hand—and a second chain erupted from the floor, wrapping around my wrist.
Our blood dripped onto the stone.
And the Contract—
It rewrote itself.
A new clause formed in the air, glowing red and black:
“The challenger shall bear the mark of the signatory, or the bond shall be severed by fire.”
My breath stopped.
Blair looked at me, her eyes wide. “What does that mean?”
It meant only one thing.
I had to claim her.
Now.
Or the bond would be broken—and the Contract would destroy her in the process.
Cassian smiled. “Well, Alpha? Will you claim her? Or will you let her die?”
I looked down at Blair—her face pale, her body trembling, her eyes filled with pain and something else.
Trust.
She believed in me.
Even now.
And I wouldn’t fail her.
I pulled her into my arms, my voice low, rough. “Hold on to me.”
She nodded, her fingers clutching my shirt.
Then I shifted—just enough to let the wolf take over. My fangs extended. My eyes burned gold. And I pressed my mouth to the curve of her neck.
She gasped.
And then—
I bit her.
Not gently.
Not carefully.
With everything I had.
A deep, claiming bite—just above her pulse, where the world could see it. Blood welled, hot and rich. The chain between us shattered, dissolving into silver dust.
And the Contract—
It screamed.
A sound like tearing parchment, like breaking chains, like a century of lies collapsing in on themselves.
Blair cried out, her body arching into mine. Her magic flared—crimson and wild—and the walls of the Blood Cells trembled.
And then—silence.
I pulled back, my lips wet with her blood. Her eyes fluttered open, dazed, stunned.
And on her neck—
A mark.
My mark.
Deep. Permanent. Mine.
Cassian’s smile was gone. His face was pale. “You fool,” he hissed. “You’ve just bound her to you forever. She’ll never be free.”
“She was never free,” I said, standing, pulling Blair with me. “Not while the Contract lived. But now?”
I looked down at her.
And she smiled.
“Now,” I said, “she’s free to choose.”
And she chose me.
Her fingers brushed the mark on her neck. “It doesn’t hurt,” she whispered.
“It shouldn’t,” I said. “It’s not a prison. It’s a promise.”
She looked up at me—her eyes bright, fierce, alive.
“Then keep it,” she said. “Because I’m not letting you go.”
Cassian snarled, raising his hand—but I was faster.
I lunged, grabbing him by the throat, slamming him against the wall. “You’re done,” I growled. “No more games. No more lies. The Contract is broken. And if you come near her again—”
“You’ll what?” he choked. “Kill me? You can’t. I’m Council.”
“Then I’ll exile you,” I said. “And if you ever return, I’ll rip your heart out myself.”
I dropped him.
He stumbled back, his eyes filled with hate.
But he didn’t fight.
Because he knew.
The game was over.
I turned to Blair, pulling her into my arms. “We should go.”
She nodded, her head resting against my chest. “Where?”
“Home,” I said. “My pack. My den. My life.” I cupped her face, my thumb brushing her cheek. “If you want it.”
She smiled. “I want it.”
And as we walked out of the Blood Cells, the chain between us gone but the bond stronger than ever—
I knew.
The Contract was broken.
But our bond?
That was just beginning.
—
The stronghold was quiet when we returned, the morning mist clinging to the stone like a shroud. Wolves moved through the courtyards, their eyes down, their steps careful. They knew. They didn’t know what had happened in the Blood Cells, but they felt it—the shift in the air, the crack in the old order.
Kaelen led me through the halls, his hand warm on the small of my back, his presence a solid weight at my side. The bond pulsed between us, steady, deep, real. The mark on my neck throbbed faintly, a constant reminder. Mine. Claimed. Bound.
But the peace didn’t last.
We’d barely reached his chambers when Riven appeared, his dark eyes sharp, his voice low. “They’re coming.”
Kaelen stopped. “Who?”
“The Council,” Riven said. “A delegation. Led by Cassian. They’re demanding an audience. They say the bond is unstable. That the Contract’s rewrite threatens the balance.”
My stomach twisted. “They’re not here to negotiate. They’re here to break us.”
Kaelen turned to me, his golden eyes blazing. “Then they’ll have to go through me.”
“And me,” I said.
He didn’t smile. Just nodded. “Good.”
But Riven wasn’t done. “There’s more. Mira’s with them. She’s claiming you spent the night in her bed. That the mark on Blair’s neck is forged. That the bond is a farce.”
My breath stopped.
Not because I believed it.
Because I knew what it meant.
They weren’t just attacking our bond.
They were attacking our truth.
Kaelen’s jaw tightened. “Let them come. We’ll face them together.”
“And say what?” I asked. “That we’re mates? That we’ve claimed each other? That the Contract’s been rewritten by love?”
“Yes,” he said. “And if they don’t believe it—” He stepped closer, his hand gripping my wrist, the one that had borne the chain. “—we’ll show them.”
My pulse spiked.
Because I knew what he meant.
And I was terrified.
Not of the Council.
Not of Cassian.
Of how much I wanted it.
—
The audience chamber was a vast stone hall, lit by torches that flickered like dying stars. The Council delegation stood at the far end—Cassian in the center, Mira at his side, her crimson gown a slash of color against the gray stone. Behind them, a dozen fae nobles, their eyes cold, their expressions unreadable.
Kaelen and I stood together, hand in hand, the bond humming between us. The wolves of the pack lined the walls, silent, watchful, their loyalty a quiet promise in the air.
“Alpha Vire,” Cassian said, his voice smooth as poisoned honey. “You summoned us. Speak.”
Kaelen didn’t flinch. “The Contract is broken. Rewritten. The bond between Blair and me is legitimate. Recognize it, or leave.”
Gasps. Murmurs. The nobles exchanged glances.
“The Contract cannot be broken,” Cassian said. “It is eternal. Sacred. And you—” He turned to me. “—a half-breed witch, a rogue, a challenger—dare to claim the Alpha as your mate?”
“She doesn’t claim me,” Kaelen said, stepping forward. “I claim her. Willingly. Fully. As my equal.”
Mira stepped forward, her smile sweet. “And yet, Alpha, you were seen in my chambers just last night. You left at dawn. My scent is on your skin. My mark is on your neck.”
My breath caught.
Kaelen didn’t look at her. Didn’t react. Just stared at Cassian. “Lies. Glamour. You know it. They know it.”
“Do they?” Cassian said. “Or do they see a man weakened by passion? A leader distracted by desire? A bond that threatens the balance?”
The nobles murmured. Some nodded. Some scowled. But all watched. All waited.
And then—
Mira held up a tablet.
The image filled the chamber—Kaelen, shirtless, fangs bared, his mouth at the curve of a woman’s neck. Her head thrown back, her fingers tangled in his hair. The room was dark, but I recognized it instantly.
His chambers.
And the woman—
Was me.
But it wasn’t me.
The face was wrong. The body. The hair. Everything but the setting was forged. A perfect, cruel lie.
“This was taken last night,” Mira said, voice sweet, melodic. “After the ritual. Kaelen came to me, heartbroken over the failure of the bond. He said the challenger was weak. Unworthy. And he claimed me—fully, completely—as his true mate.”
Gasps. Murmurs. The wolves growled, low and dangerous.
Kaelen didn’t flinch. Didn’t speak. Just stood, a statue carved from ice and fury.
“You lying bitch,” I said, stepping forward.
“Blair,” Kaelen warned.
But I didn’t stop. “That’s not real. That’s glamour. You’ve been trying to steal him since the moment we arrived. You can’t have him, so you forge a bond that doesn’t exist?”
“Prove it’s fake,” Mira said, smiling. “Go ahead. Use your truth magic. But be careful—what if the Council sees something else? What if they see you in his bed? What if they see the bond isn’t just political, but personal?”
My blood turned to ice.
She wasn’t just attacking Kaelen.
She was attacking us.
And she was winning.
Cassian stepped forward. “Alpha Vire. The pack demands clarity. Was this image taken in your chambers? Did you bite Mira? Did you claim her as your mate?”
All eyes turned to Kaelen.
He didn’t look at them.
He looked at me.
And in that moment, I saw it—the truth.
He wasn’t going to deny it.
Because denial wouldn’t be enough.
He needed to erase the lie.
So he turned to me, his voice low, rough, final.
“You want proof?” he said. “You want truth?”
And before I could react—
He kissed me.
Not soft. Not gentle.
Violent.
His hand fisted in my hair, yanking my head back. His mouth crashed onto mine, hot, demanding, possessive. A growl rumbled in his chest, vibrating through my bones. My body arched into him, traitorous, hungry. The bond between us burned, a pulse of heat, of magic, of something deeper.
And then—
He bit me.
Not hard enough to mark. Not enough to claim.
But enough to hurt.
A sharp, stinging pain at the base of my throat, where my pulse hammered. I gasped, my fingers clutching his arms, my body pressing into his.
And the chamber—
It went silent.
When he pulled back, his lips were wet with my blood. His eyes glowed gold. His chest rose and falls fast.
“There,” he said, voice raw. “That’s what a real claim feels like. That’s what my bite does. And if you think for one second I’d ever give that to you—”
He turned to Mira, his gaze like a blade. “—you’re more deluded than I thought.”
She stared at him—her face pale, her hands trembling. Then, without a word, she turned and fled.
The chamber erupted.
Whispers. Gasps. The wolves roared—approval, triumph, loyalty.
Cassian’s smile was gone. His eyes were cold, calculating.
And I—
I stood there, my lips swollen, my throat stinging, my body trembling with something I couldn’t name.
Because that kiss—
It hadn’t been for show.
It hadn’t been just to silence the lie.
It had been real.
And I had kissed him back.
And I wasn’t sorry.