Divided

Tribrid's Heart

A/N: Thank you so much for 1,000 reads!!!

Third POV

The soft crunch of snow behind Tzan and Caterina breaks the silence. In a blur of motion, Xander and Athan emerge from the trees, their vampire speed making them appear almost like phantoms in the winter fog.

Xander drops to his knees beside Caterina. His hand instinctively finds her shoulder, steadying her as he lowers his gaze to Ajia. His expression flickers with disbelief.

Athan, more composed but no less affected, stands a few feet away. His face is unreadable—at first.

"Ajia?" he says, voice barely above a whisper.

He approaches slowly, each step hesitant, as if afraid of what he'll see. Then he kneels beside her, eyes scanning her face, her still form. His lips part, trembling, as he listens for something—anything.

But there is no heartbeat.

His throat tightens, eyes glossing with tears that threaten to fall. A moment of silence stretches between them, heavy and thick, before—

Footsteps echo through the forest. Someone is running.

Imperia bursts through the trees, snow kicking up behind her. Her brow is furrowed with confusion. "Why did you two leave so suddenly from the castle?" she calls out.

Her words trail off as she catches sight of the scene before her. Her feet halt mid-step. Her eyes widen.

And then—the ground shudders beneath them. Just a tremor, but enough to pull their attention upward.

They all look toward the distant arena.

A pillar of swirling red and black magic spirals violently into the sky, crackling and pulsing.

"What's happening?" Caterina breathes, her voice barely steady. Fear creeps into her eyes.

Xander stiffens. "Celeste... I will be back." His voice is hard now, resolute. He rises quickly, the snow barely disturbed beneath his shoes.

"Where are you going?" Athan's voice is low as he lifts his gaze to meet his younger brother's.

"The arena. Stay here," Xander replies firmly.

And without another word, he vanishes into the forest, a blur of black and silver.

"Xander!" Athan calls out, but his brother is already gone, swallowed by the trees and whatever lies beyond.

Xander finally reaches the arena, his shoes skidding slightly on the snowy stone as he charges through the entrance. The air inside is heavy with residual magic—crackling faintly, like the lingering charge after a storm.

His eyes dart around the vast space, scanning for her.

Where is she?

Then he sees them.

Alistair stands near the center of the arena, arms wrapped tightly around Celeste. Their figures are framed by the glow of fading magical embers that still flicker in the air around them.

Xander freezes.

A knot forms in his chest—overwhelming relief. She's alive.

"You... you're okay," he breathes, stumbling forward, his voice cracking despite the usual calm in his tone. He quickens his pace, crossing the space between them with long, urgent strides.

Celeste gently pulls away from Alistair and turns to face him. Her eyes meet Xander's—wide, searching, still rattled from whatever just happened.

Before she can speak, Xander continues.