KADE’S POV
The amber liquid swirled in my glass as I leaned back in the leather chair, my other hand running along the coarse, black fur of my beast. The creature growled low in its throat, but I knew better than to make it for aggression. It was loyalty—twisted, primal, and absolute. A hybrid of a wolf and a panther, bred through dark magic, it was as feral and monstrous as the soul that fed it. It lay at my feet, its glowing red eyes watching the flames dance in the fireplace.
The castle was eerily silent, save for the occasional crackle of firewood. I preferred the solitude, though this evening, it felt heavier, as if the shadows themselves had decided to whisper in my ear. My grip on the glass tightened as my thoughts turned to her.
Lila.
My darling Lila. I’d sent her to retrieve
