1. A Secret of Snow and Ruin

Chapter XVI

Alistair Wardwell

"Am I dreaming?" I ask Killian. Killian nods and looks at me with that same hatred I'm used to seeing from everyone else. At this point, this was my life. I too give Killian an infamous glare that I was sure would knock him dead. Killian was astral projecting and somehow interrupted my perfectly crafted dream of Elysia and I. I wonder if she had the same dream or a different scenario in mind. "You should've picked a different time now leave me alone. You've done enough damage already! I swear if you rat me out again I will—"

Killian cuts me off with fury dripping from his tongue, "Isla let you escape. Isla let you live. But I'm not allowing it. I'm not allowing a traitor to roam off and spend time with the enemy! The same enemies that killed Youngblood, the same ones who took away Aurora, Qadir, and many more from us!"

I shudder at the mention of Aurora and Qadir. Out of all the casualties I try to not think of them.

Aurora was Vanessa's little sister.

The sisters were separated after their father's death. When Vanessa joined us, she searched endlessly for Aurora. The two reunited with Isla's help. But; Isla only recognized Aurora for her rare magic and shaped the young 14 year old into a killer. See, Vanessa and Aurora were powerful.

With Vanessa's ability to control all the elements and to shapeshift and Aurora's ability to consume others powers with one touch; my sister desperately needed them in our minor level coven. Aurora then grew into a woman with abilities that many envied as her magic was powerful and rich as she discovered more capabilities that she possessed. She could handle reality warping, lethal magic attacks, probability manipulation and more. Aurora was also trusted servant and of course was imprisoned in the Isle with Killian, Vanessa, Isla and many others.

But she never made it out; she never came back home. I never asked Vanessa exactly what happened because when she came back, there was a sadness in her that I couldn't quite explain. I assume the Isle had taken Aurora from her.

Qadir was born into the coven and was a distant cousin of ours. He was killed in the raid for fighting back. Shot in front of Killian and silenced at just the mere age of 21. He was young and gone so soon.

The thoughts of them bring me to the conclusion that I should've been there.

I should've saved them.

"I had no choice. When I ran I did a teleportation spell and it brought me here! What more do you want from me Killian?" I beg.

Killian bellows, "I want my friend back. I want the old, ruthless, competitive, genuine Alistair who'd kill a Lycan on command—who would do anything for his people. If you don't cut your loses and break the border down—I will make your life more of a living hell than it already is."

I did a double take at the words that so effortlessly slipped past his lips. "What do you mean take the border down?"

"Lycans from the Northern Reach wouldn't think twice about providing an enchantment on their borders so they had to build one. But like every wall, it can be taken down by a little bit of magic." He retorts.

I debated it but nothing could stand in the way of what trouble I was already faced and tested with. Elysia hated me, Blythe hated me, I hated me. What more damage could Killian possibly project onto me? I was done being a pawn and a scapegoat. Yes, I have made many mistakes out of the sake of being selfish and ruthless but would I want to be known as selfish and ruthless to my mate if she were to discover the truth?