Chapter 12: Shadow and Steel
599 Words
Abigail’s POV
The air crackled with tension.
Gideon Stormcall stood before us, his silver eyes gleaming with amusement. He was not afraid. Not surprised.
He was expecting us.
Lucian tensed beside me, his golden gaze locked onto Gideon. A low, dangerous growl rumbled from his chest, but Gideon merely smirked.
“Whitefang’s lost heir,” Gideon mused, tilting his head. “And the Blackwood Alpha.” His gaze flicked to Lucian. “I was wondering how long it would take for you to join her.”
I tightened my grip on my dagger. “You talk too much.”
Gideon chuckled. “And you’re impatient.” He took a slow step forward, his dark armor gleaming in the firelight. “But let’s not pretend, Abigail. We both knew this moment was inevitable.”
A flicker of unease slithered down my spine.
He was too calm. Too composed.
He was waiting for something.
The Battle Begins
The sound of rushing footsteps broke the silence.
More of Gideon’s warriors poured into the courtyard, surrounding us. Shadows twisted at their feet, unnatural and writhing. His magic.
I clenched my jaw. “We don’t have time for this.”
Lucian glanced at me. “Then we make time.”
The moment the words left his lips, chaos erupted.
I spun, slicing through the first attacker before he could reach me. His blood sprayed across the stone as I moved to the next. My blades danced, striking with precision, each movement calculated, lethal.
Lucian shifted into his wolf, golden fur flashing through the melee. His claws tore through enemy ranks like they were nothing.
Ivy loosed an arrow, taking down a soldier at my back. Zane and Orion fought as a seamless unit, cutting down anyone in their path.
But Gideon?
He just watched.
Waiting.
A Deadly Dance
I surged toward him.
He dodged my first strike with inhuman speed, his body blurring into the shadows.
Damn it.
I spun, blocking his counterattack just in time. His blade clashed against mine, the impact sending a shockwave through my arm. He was stronger than I remembered.
His lips curled into a smirk. “You’ve improved.”
I snarled and struck again. Faster. Harder. But he moved like a phantom, always one step ahead.
His magic pulsed around us, distorting the air.
Then
Pain.
A sharp, burning agony lanced through my side.
I gasped, staggering back. His blade dripped with my blood.
Gideon exhaled, tilting his head. “Still not enough.”
Rage flared inside me.
I would not let him win.
Lucian’s Fury
A golden blur slammed into Gideon, knocking him off his feet.
Lucian.
His wolf form towered over Gideon, fangs bared, snarling. He lunged, aiming for Gideon’s throat—but Gideon was already gone, dissolving into the shadows.
Lucian landed where Gideon had been, snapping his jaws in frustration.
I pressed a hand to my bleeding side. “He’s playing with us.”
Lucian shifted back to his human form, his breathing heavy. “Then we stop playing.”
I nodded, wiping the blood from my blade.
This wasn’t over. Not yet.
The Escape
A horn blared in the distance. Reinforcements.
Zane swore. “We’re out of time.”
Lucian grabbed my wrist. “We need to go.”
I hated retreating. But staying meant death.
I gave one last look at the fortress, at the shadows curling around Gideon like living things. He stood there, watching us go.
Smiling.
That smile sent a promise down my spine.
This wasn’t over.
It was just beginning.
- Writer
