It's been six months since everything fell apart. My new obsession has been deciphering the words in the journal Caelum claimed would bring me clarity. According to Verran, by the time Valkera the First wrote the journal, he had already lost his mind.

I'm inclined to agree—nothing in the journal makes sense. Valkera was clearly paranoid, fixating on the flesh-eating demons he believed were coming for him.

And then there's the White Lotus. He wrote that he needed to create it, some kind of defense against the demons he feared so deeply. But why was I the one destined to find it? And why is Caelidhar searching for me?

"Are you ready, Millie?" A voice pulls me from my thoughts. I snap the journal shut and slide it under my pillow.

"As ready as I'll ever be," I say with a sigh.

So much has changed in these six months. I haven't seen Shane since he pushed me off that cliff to save my life.My hands instinctively reach behind my back where the crescent moon that signified our bond was now imprinted.

Now, Caelidhar had taken full control of Halcyon, with Leah by his side.

And the fae refuse to get involved. They still blame me for Caelum's death, and apparently, it's against fae custom to engage in "unnecessary violence."

Fighting back seemed impossible, they had the numbers and we had nothing except hope that I would figure out how to defeat Leah and Caelidhar before they destroyed us all.

"You know you don't have to come with me, Reiner," I tell him. He's been my rock these past few months, even when I didn't deserve it.

"I know, but I want to," he says, giving me a small smile.

"Thank you," I murmur, and he nods.

"Ready?" he asks, his expression turning playful, a smirk tugging at his lips.

"Race you." I grin and leap into the air, shifting mid-jump and landing gracefully on my paws.

My wolf, Lyra, has become my closest ally in these past few months. I trust her now, enough to let her take the lead.

We take off in a blur, running as fast as we can. I hear Reiner shift behind us, his paws pounding the earth as he gains on us.

This isn't just a game, though.

It's a rescue and recovery mission.

The objective: retrieve Shane Blackthorn.

The problem: he's now sired to Leah Von Schmitz.

Yeah, it's been a crazy six months, and something tells me it's about to get even crazier.

Watch out for part  II.  Coming in march .