"You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face."
-Eleanor Roosevelt

White flowed from every corner of the gardens. The large white gazebo, draped in delicate lace, concealed Nikki's unmistakable form on a pure ivory marble pillar. Thousands of opaline flowers spilled over her, around her, and through the sheer screen, extending toward the entire manor.

Everyone was dressed in white, too. The lights bounced off our clothes, creating a bright, pure glow that filled the space. The faces surrounding us were carved with grief, but the closer I looked, the more I sensed a more profound feeling beneath the surface: peace.

A short man approached a podium and raised his hand into the air. As silence enveloped the crowd, he raised his hand to a fist against his heart and bowed his head. Everyone mimicked his gesture, though I was a beat too late.

Despite his small stature, his voice boomed across the gardens. "For everything, there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace."

A strong hand intertwined with my fingers halfway through the speech. I knew it was Jaxon; only he could send tiny pricks of anticipation crawling from my palm through my arm. Instead of pulling my hand away, I let it rest there, enveloped in comfort.

"Nichole Laura Juniper departed from us but did not leave our hearts or thoughts. Her life will be celebrated. One hundred candles, one hundred memories will be spoken, and as the candles burn, the smoke will mingle with the air. The memories will become a part of us."

People filed around the gazebo individually to share memories and light a candle. I knew I should have spoken and added a sweet memory of Nikki's strength and amazingness. But all that flashed in my mind was the image of her body falling limp onto the snow-covered ground, crimson pouring around her as her heart was obliterated by a silver sword, the light fading from her eyes.

Jaxon squeezed my hand in an attempt to steady my suddenly erratic heartbeat. It worked. I kept my head in the present as laughter and tears bubbled around me, the air growing thick with sweet smoke. I inhaled deeply, grounding myself in the moment.

The small man called for attention again. "With fresh memories, we send our sister to freedom. We will untie the last anchor she has to this existence."

With a wave of his hand, men from the guard lit arrows with hot flames. I gasped, but my sound was lost in the silence. With a fisted salute and bowed heads, the men shot their arrows into the sky.

Even after the fire burned out, leaving only ashes, I remained fixated on the gazebo. Regret prodded at the edges of my mind, trying to make itself known. Jaxon's hand squeezed mine one last time before it disappeared. I never had the chance to look at him, which was probably for the best. Trying to remain clear-headed and focused felt like a foolish goal. I wasn't sure who I was trying to convince—most likely myself.

I refused to move an inch as people began to leave. The gardens fell into an unsettling quiet. I continued to stare at the ashes. Hours seemed to pass, but I had no motivation to rise. Just then, a harsh beep sounded in my ear.

"She's been accepted." That was my motivation.

"On my way." I sped to the Guards' garage and mounted my bike, grateful I had thought to wear shorts under my dress. I grabbed my weapon bag from my bike satchel and secured it to my leg in record time.

One thing I discovered about myself was that I enjoyed speed—reviled in it, really. Pushing the bike to its limits, knowing that a single mistake could turn me into a smear on the concrete, was enough to send adrenaline coursing through my veins. It crystallized everything around me in icy clarity. Even at such breathtaking speeds, I could see every tree and obstacle in my path. I knew reaching Cathcart Manor would still take time, even with the bike's full throttle. Halfway there, static crackled through my earpiece.

"I should start carrying a spatula to scrape you off the road. Your speeding is insane, Mads," Draven chuckled.

"How funny. Such an appropriate time to joke," I replied, letting the sarcasm drip from my lips.

The vibrations on the road told me the other bikes were catching up to flank me. We lapsed into determined silence, the unease rolling off the twins palpable as this was their first mission as genuine Guard members. Their pride mixed with the fear of what we were about to do.

I was grateful for the Academy's training, which taught me to ignore and hide my fear under a hatch during a mission. Without it, I would have been a trembling mess of nerves.

Harley broke the silence. "The territory is getting closer. We should be careful not to be spotted by the patrol. Let's park the bikes."

Standing on steady ground after flying through the air left us all with wobbling legs, though I was sure fear played its part as well. As we approached the territory line, the magic clung to us like a second skin, trying to claim and mark us as its newest victims. The Wickeds at his disposal were exceptionally powerful.

Draven stopped, his arm outstretched to prevent us from passing him. "The next step will open the barrier. Guards will be closing in on us in seconds. Maddie, you must hide yourself as best you can until I give you the all-clear."

I recalled how Becca had taught me to climb trees in the orchard, and I quickly made my way up the thickest tree while the others cautiously circled the edge of the territory. They darted through the barrier one by one, each wincing as a slight shock rippled through their bodies. Within a fraction of a second, they ghosted along the barrier, searching for a second entry point, repeating the process.

Once the group was far enough away for me to no longer see or hear them, I settled into the quiet. I dared not move an inch and silently cursed the wind for blowing my scent without permission. If it crossed the border, the mission would be over before it started.

Seconds passed, then more. I was worried that I hadn't heard the patrol coming to investigate. My fingers twitched with anxiety. A loud howl made me whip my neck to peer into the territory as far as I could. Vampires didn't howl like that. The hairs on my arms stood on end. We hadn't taken wolves into account when we planned this. Panic gripped me.

Would they be able to smell me while I was hidden in a tree? A wolf's sense of smell was significantly greater than a vampire's.

In moments, they crashed into view, a blur of entangled fur, nipping at each other to reach their prey first. The animal instinct had completely overtaken their hosts. I held my breath, but my rapid heartbeat drowned out any sound. I watched as they sniffed the air; two of them bounded off immediately in the direction the group had gone, weaving in and out of the territory without a second thought. They were ordered to hunt and find, not to question what their prey was doing.

The third wolf remained still, its powerful legs anchored to the ground, snout raised high in the air. My blood ran cold. I knew it was trying to pick up a fifth scent, but not as strong. My fragrance lingered with the group, though I was no longer with them. The wolf took a step closer to my hiding place.

Whether or not I could take on the wolf wasn't my concern. The terror churning in my belly was for Lena. If we were caught, she would become a prisoner there, tortured and killed slowly for what she had done to their Lord if we didn't complete our mission.

Heartbeats stretched into what felt like endless hours. Just as the wolf neared the spot where I had climbed the tree, a long, piercing howl rang through the air. The wolf's fur bristled, and without a second thought for the trail it was hunting, it sprinted off to find its pack.

I waited, absent-mindedly scratching under my nails to distract myself from the disaster that had almost unfolded. The static in my earpiece made me scrape my nails against my teeth, drawing a small amount of blood. I cursed softly as I listened to the static. Two long beeps followed by a short beep sounded. After a brief pause, three more long beeps echoed in my ear—the signal to go. They must have had the entire guard sniffing around the border on the other side of the territory from me.

I ran, pushing my legs as fast as they would go. My speed was one of the most significant improvements in my new defect body, built for outpacing and outsmarting my enemies. I passed only a few startled commoners busy on the grounds, who likely thought nothing of my rush. Most were humans, their limited sense of sight unable to distinguish me from the supernaturals they served.

We knew the layout well, thanks to a few insiders at the manor. We all knew where Denallsh liked to feed: in his office. Just the thought of it disgusted me. With one shaky breath marking the point of no return, I slammed open the door to his office.

The instant I stepped through the door to his study, I knew my plan had failed. The smell of fresh blood, already beginning to rot into the carpet, assaulted my nostrils. My stride faltered as I took in the scene, forever branding itself into my mind—another nightmare added to the list.

"You are indeed witty; I will grant you that much. This childish plan might have worked if your puppet waited just half a second more." The man's voice enveloped me, whispers clinging to every pore of my body. A shiver ran up my spine, one I couldn't suppress. The door slammed shut behind me, cutting off any chance of escape.

I had only two options: to turn around and confront the lifeless eyes of Lena, whose corpse lay beyond decimated or to face the man whose mind raced as quickly as my own, too close for comfort.

"Such a waste. Her aroma was tantalizing. I'm saddened that I only had a few pulls before she tainted it." I whipped around to face him, intent on displaying my disgust, but the expression faltered on my lips. He was beautiful.

Even drenched in blood, the Lord's eyes matched the ichor staining the room, yet an allure to him was undeniable. More than just the typical vampire pheromones, his face was among the most stunning I had ever seen. Heavy stubble shadowed chiseled features that framed a mouth I could only describe as irresistible. Despite being splattered with human lifeblood, his hair was a stunning white blond cascading down to his shoulders. I imagined what it would be like to touch and pull it. My heart stuttered with a sensation more dangerous than fear.

"It is fascinating how our pheromones intertwine with the neurons firing in a defect's brain," he said, his voice dripping with temptation. "I can see the lust so clearly in your eyes, even though your face is frozen in a mask of revulsion. Tell me, baby defect, would you like me to show you how to embrace your desires?"

My body swayed toward him against my will as his arm reached toward mine. His godlike face transformed into a sinister smile, revealing his elongated canines. That was enough to break the spell.

He dropped his arm when he realized I had shaken off his hold. I snarled, my defiance erupting as I spat at his feet.

"My, my, my, you're a rude one. A simple 'no' would have sufficed." The Lord circled around me slowly, closing the distance with each calculated turn, like a predator sizing up its prey. "Here, I thought you servants had been taught better manners. I may have to mention that during my next visit."

My heart hammered in my chest, a frantic rhythm drowning out the myriad of scenarios racing through my mind—from leaping out of the window to confronting him head-on. I tried to silence the chaos as I watched him halt his predatory dance.

"Why don't you have a seat?" he suggested, his voice smooth and insidious. "We should be properly acquainted. I dare say it's about time we met face-to-face. You possess an unrestrained beauty, my dear. You've blossomed into a magnificent creature." His eyes raked over my body, leaving me breathless with the violation of his gaze. "Regretfully, though, you resemble your mother too closely to be truly arousing."

His scoff ignited a firestorm of rage within me, clouding my vision. I knew he was trying to bait me; I had to stay composed. I didn't move an inch, barely allowing myself to inhale. He shook his head, disappointment etched on his features.

"You're making me out to be a bad host, darling." His face morphed again in an instant, revealing the monster lurking beneath. "I said, SIT."

Unwillingly, I sank into a chair across from him. His smirk could have belonged to the devil if such a being existed. He poured himself a thick amber liquid. "Good girl. My name is Lord Denallsh Soren Cathcart, and I own this territory. I know you know this, but we should at least try to start civil."

"You, of course, are Madelyn Marie Vagen, the newest defect. Daughter of Marie and Warren Vagen—the greatest defect and her warrior." He spat the word warrior like it left a bitter taste in his mouth.

I stiffened in shock. I knew nothing of my father; I had always assumed he was merely a handler who impregnated my mother before they discovered her fertility. If he was indeed her warrior, why had no one ever spoken of him?

"Oh yes, your father was a piece of work. You have your mother's looks, but from what I've seen thus far, you've inherited his manners." His glare sent icy shivers down my spine, and the whispers in my mind grew louder.

"Here's the deal, Madelyn. You've attempted to attack me on my own territory, shattering the customs of crossing boundaries that do not belong to you. Not to mention, I despise you and your human-loving kind. You've initiated an act of war, my dear." He rose from his chair, sauntering toward me, and my internal voices erupted from whispers to full-blown screams.

"And be very aware, I will end it." He gripped my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. The beast within him clawed to break free, and his dilated pupils were stained with vivid red, washing away the remnants of his humanity.

He tightened his grip around my throat before I could comprehend what was happening. With brutal force, he squeezed, silencing the voices in my head. As my vision faded, the last thing I saw was those eyes filled with the intent to kill.

I jolted awake to a world drenched in red. Sticky crimson dripped from the trees and flowed along the stone paths, soaking me in the blood of lives taken too soon. As I sat up, I realized I was in the gardens of my territory, a surge of adrenaline spiking to levels I had never known.

Bodies lay strewn everywhere, contorted in grotesque angles, some beyond recognition. The sight of such carnage made my stomach churn. Without a second thought, I raced to the Queen's office, again barging in without hesitation.

Helen was slumped on the floor, weeping into the chest of her King. At the sound of the door slamming against the wall, she froze. She instantly had me in her grip, her eyes burning with fury. My voice offered no comfort; I was alone and utterly terrified.

"Madelyn?" Helen's pupils shrank, horror washing over her face before she crashed into me with a tight embrace. "I'm so sorry. I thought someone was attacking again."

"What happened?" I wanted my voice to be strong, but it came out broken against her shoulder.

"He had wolves. One of the larger packs supports his stance on humans and politics. They've been unhappy with our rule. He convinced them to join his cause." Helen sighed, releasing me from her grip. I noticed Gustav glaring at me but remained rooted in his spot. "I've heard he's been talking to other groups, too, trying to build an army against us. What happened to you?"

For the first time, she seemed to register my appearance—smothered in the blood of her guards. "I woke up in the gardens, in a pile of bodies."

I couldn't hold it in any longer. My stomach heaved, emptying its contents onto the floor. Helen immediately rubbed my back, cooing soothing words in my ear as I tried to regain my composure.

"He killed Lena. He was too aware; she bit the pill too soon. He waited for me in the office and tried to mess with my head. He made my body react without my consent." I was utterly useless, like a puppet with strings pulled by evil.

"He said I started a war and that he was going to end it." Guilt overwhelmed me, and I slid to the floor, my head cradled in my hands.

Helen stood ramrod straight, her eyes reflecting a blankness that I knew would be forever etched in my memory. "A blood feud. We must go to the council. Madelyn, you're coming with me."

War was inevitable, but they didn't expect it to come so soon. Will they be able to prepare enough to come out on top? Who is the council they're going to see? Find out next time! 

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