#Chapter 29: Fire & Ash

Raven Before I could even say a word, Neil had already vanished into the flames. A plume of black smoke billowed out through the hut’s small windows, swallowing him. For a second, the world felt distant—just the roar of the fire, the crackle of burning wood, and the sound of my own blood rushing through my ears. “We have to go after him!” my wolf howled, terrified of losing our mate to those flames. “We can’t let him—” “You!” Eric’s voice cut through the sound of my wolf’s voice. “Get back to the castle! NOW!” I spun around just in time to see the three guards fighting their way toward me, blades and skin covered in soot and blood. But despite Eric’s command, and despite the frenzy around me, my feet were rooted to the spot. “Mate,” my wolf whimpered. “We have to go after him…” I was frozen, my head spinning back and forth between the path to the castle and the blazing inferno that Neil had just stormed into. I knew I should listen to the guards—I wa