Chapter 377 Ava: A Terrible Loss

The smell is everywhere. Blood. So much blood it pierces through the crisp winter air, making my stomach turn. The pristine white landscape ahead is no longer—violent arcs and puddles of blood mix with churned patches of snow, depicting the aftermath of battle.

The sled slows as we approach. There are a few unmoving wolf bodies on the ground. They aren't ours.

Except one, further off, surrounded by Lisa and the others.

"Lisa!" My voice cracks as I jump off the sled and rush toward my best friend. She sits motionless, the head of our fallen wolf in her lap. "Are you okay?"

It must be Mira she's holding.

My guards fan out around us, creating a protective circle. Vanessa rushes to the nearest injured wolf, her medical supplies already in hand. Not sure what she can do for what's clearly a broken leg, but this is her field of expertise.

Mine is… well, I don't know.

First, checking on Lisa. Then, figuring out what the hell we're going to do.

"I'm fine." Lisa's surprisingly calm, but it doesn't seem right. More like she's detached from reality. There's no emotion, no sense of self in her words. Lifting her arm, where her brace glints in the light, she says simply, "She didn't stand a chance."

Who? Mira?

Another betrayal?

No. Selene's voice is clipped and tight. These ashes were a body once.

Oh.

So Lisa…

Killed them.

Good riddance.

Yes.

be something wrong,

sure yet, but

into some clothes he pulls from the sled, watching

squeeze, I slip by her to kneel beside the ash pile. Strange magic tingles across my skin. The residual energy almost makes my teeth

Marcus stands near Kellan.

says, his deep voice carrying easily. "We aren't in shape to chase them

of me wants to declare that we're uninjured and we can do it. But that would be stupid. We need a

"What does Lucas say?"

on the

what's bothering me the most.

who's just stroking Mira's head, oblivious to what's happening around us. "She says it's a woman

Lisa's return, buried under an avalanche of—well, so many things. He

for her this entire

Damn it.

found you since you learned to shield your powers. But I don't think this was a vampire. Probably a

"A thrall?"

smell vampire, Selene confirms. Just blood magic and

in his child form, crouching to examine the ashes. "Blood magic lingers past death.

be her. Unless

many thralls does he have? Do you know,

collects them like toys, but they don't survive long. I was lucky, because he

know, but

her in months. I don't even know if she's

heart as she continues stroking Mira's fur, lost in her own world. My knees sink into the

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