SHANE BLACKTHORN

My earlier discussion with Caelum left a bitter taste in my mouth. Even now, as I shred through my opponents and bathe in their blood, his words still echo in my mind.

What the hell did he mean by trying to stop me from going to her? He'd never interfered before. I thought he would continue his gloomy, given-up-on-life demeanor until his inevitable, tragic end.

More importantly, why was this bothering me so much? Were they something now? The idea gnawed at me.

"We've identified them-they're Rafael's men," Verran's voice cut through the battle, linking with mine through our telepathic bond.

"That old geezer is really testing my patience. I thought he'd lay low after taking over the Vale of Echoes," I replied, grinding my teeth. I could feel Kygara, stir, his rage only barely contained.

"Your orders, sir?" Verran asked, his sleek black fur stark against his pale green eyes.

"Are there any survivors?"

"You killed all of them, sir." His words drew my attention to the scene around me— bodies, shredded beyond recognition, blood splattered everywhere. I might have let Kygara have a little too much control.

"Hmm. Clean this mess up," I ordered, shifting back into my human form. "I want stricter border controls and for every container coming in to be searched." I met Verran's eyes. "No excuses."

"Understood." He shifted back into his human form, hurriedly handing me a coat to cover myself. I gestured for him to handle the cleanup.

"Have Councilman Krijack reach out to Easthers and demand an explanation for how Rafael's men made it into the containers," I added before he could leave.

Verran nodded and rushed off.

Returning to the palace, I headed straight for the bath, washing away the blood and grime. I slipped into fresh jeans and a white t-shirt, tying my hair back into a loose bun.

Grabbing a cigarette from the table beside me, I lit it, inhaling deeply in an attempt to calm the storm brewing inside me.

But I couldn't shake the tension. Something gnawed at me, an itch under my skin, a burning desire I couldn't place. Why couldn't I get her out of my head?

I'd hurt Leah today. Strangled her, even. And for what? Nothing seemed right. It was supposed to be Leah at my side, but the more I tried to convince myself, the more I thought of her.

That moment in her room-it replayed over and over in my mind. I had wanted to kiss her, trace every inch of her body, make her mine in every sense.

But she wasn't mine.

Caelum was right-she probably didn't want to see me. She likely blamed me for her mother's death. And she wasn't wrong; I was to blame. But Esme had left me no choice.

I hated that Caelum got to spend time with her, hated how protective he was. It unsettled me, made me anxious. What was his connection to her?

My eyes flicked to the keychain sitting on my desk-the one that had fallen from her bag the night l'd followed her. I'd meant to return it, but l'd kept it instead. A reminder, something tangible to hold on to.

I picked it up, watching the charm swing back and forth, its rhythm hypnotizing me. Her deep brown eyes flashed in my mind, her soft lips, the way she squinted when she concentrated. I groaned, feeling the growing tightness in my pants.

"Get it together, Shane," I muttered, trying to shake the thoughts away. But they stuck, embedding deeper into my mind.

And before I knew it, I was climbing into Caelum's house through the sun scape on the roof.

Great-breaking and entering. Add that to your list of offenses, Kygara quipped sarcastically, his voice laced with judgment.

Once inside, I could feel her presence. The air was thick with her essence, drawing me in like a magnet. Silently, I crept toward her room, pushing the door open just enough to peek in.

There she was, lying peacefully, her breathing soft and steady. I stepped closer, heart pounding in my chest. I missed this— the tranquility of watching her sleep.

Without thinking, my hand reached out, brushing her cheek lightly. She stirred, leaning into my touch.

I traced my fingers along her jawline, feeling the warmth of her skin. My hand hovered over her lips, and I imagined biting down on them, feeling their softness between my teeth. The thought sent a pulse of heat through my body.

Fuck, I cursed silently, adjusting my jeans as I felt my arousal grow unbearable.

"Caelum..." she whispered in her sleep, and my entire body froze.

Cold fury spread through me at the sound of his name on her lips. What the hell was she dreaming about? Why was she thinking about him?

I clenched my fists, fighting the urge to wake her, to demand answers. But I couldn't. Instead, I stood there, seething, consumed by jealousy and desire.

Her eyes slowly blink open, and I feel my heart catch in my throat. Panic settles in, but I quickly pull out the potion bottle I swiped from the batch Caelum had made for me. They'd stopped working a while ago, but it was worth a try. I hold my breath as she sits up, her gaze turning toward the window, the light causing her to squint in discomfort. Thankfully, it seems she doesn't notice me, or if she does, she isn't reacting.

She looks so cute, squinting against the morning light. I can't help but smile as she struggles to get out of bed, her movements slow and groggy. She walks straight to the curtain to close it, and my eyes drift down to her loose bathrobe, hanging delicately from her shoulders. The thought of Caelum seeing her like this ignites a violent surge of jealousy in me. I grit my teeth, trying to keep my emotions in check.

As she moves back toward the bed, she trips over my outstretched legs, and I catch her before she hits the floor. Her robe lifts, revealing her thighs, and I can't help but swallow hard. Why was she being so careless? Especially when she was living with Caelum.

It was starting to feel like the whole Jeremiah situation all over again. I laugh at the memory, remembering how much fun I had messing with that idiot. But then I recall how much she cried over him, and the laughter dies in my throat.

She pulls herself upright and, thankfully, tightens her robe around herself. She rubs her eyes as if trying to make sense of what just happened. Then, she walks back toward the bed, and that's when I notice a tray of food that I hadn't seen before. I watch from behind as she picks up a note and starts reading it.

Her face flushes as she reads whatever cheesy message Caelum had left for her, and I feel a sharp pang of annoyance. Seriously?Was this some kind of romantic gesture? And did she just kiss the note?

He couldn't even make her favorite thing to have, coffee: I spent weeks trying to make it taste the same.

What the hell was going on? Were they actually a thing now? The thought twisted my insides.

I notice her face scrunching up like she's in pain, and without thinking, I reach out and place a hand on her shoulder. My fingers trace down her back, hoping to offer some comfort.

"Caelum," she whispers again, and something inside me snaps. My magical essence flares out, filling the room, fueled by my frustration. She needs to stop saying his name in front of me.

"Who are you?" she asks, her voice panicked, and I roll my eyes. Of course, the moment she realizes it's not her precious Caelum, she freaks out.

I wonder how she'd react if she knew it was me standing right here.

As I reach out with my magic, I feel her core is damaged, but there's energy leaking from it. I try to tap into that energy, using my essence to draw it out when suddenly, a vision flashes into my mind.

Tristan Valkera? Why was he in her memory?

I try to dig deeper into the vision, but she quickly shuts me out. She stumbles, her breath quickening as she frantically scans the room, trying to locate the source of the disturbance. Then, without a second thought, she dashes into the bathroom, locking herself inside.

Uncle Valkera? He'd been missing ever since he rejected the throne and it had been passed on to my grandfather. He had disappeared from our world, leaving everything behind. So why the hell was he showing up in a memory of Millie's?

I need to investigate this further.

I make my way toward the window, preparing to leave, but I hesitate. My eyes drift back to the table where her note sits. Without thinking, I grab it and examine the spot where her lips would have touched. The urge to kiss it consumes me, and I feel Kygara's presence sneering at my pathetic behavior.

"Really? This is what the great Alpha Shane has been reduced to?" he mocks, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Shut up," I mutter, crumpling the note and shoving it into my pocket.

I was losing it. Wasn't I?

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Not to worry guys, Shane's POV will be coming regularly now. I will be announcing when we get a Caelum and Leah chronicle on my message board so pls follow me 😭😭. And pls vote and comment, your support means the world to me. Love y'all