The mine chamber felt colder now. Smaller.
Mara stood motionless, vial still extended between her fingers. The dark liquid inside caught the faint phone light—thick, almost syrupy. It didn't swirl like normal blood. It moved on its own. Slow coils.
Kael held it. Glass cool against his palm. He could feel the weight—not just physical. Something older. Hungrier.
Liora stayed close. Shoulder brushing his. She hadn't spoken since Mara appeared. Just watched. Eyes sharp.
Mara spoke first. Voice low, almost reverent.
"Two drops. One from each. Mix in the vial. Drink half. Let the other half fall on the ground. The earth remembers. The blood binds."
Kael looked at her. "And if it works?"
"The tether snaps. The silverblood curse loses its anchor. You become… ordinary wolf. Strong. But not apocalyptic. The pack lives. Finn lives. Elysia might even walk free."
Liora's breath hitched—barely audible.
Kael asked the question that mattered. "And if it doesn't?"
Mara's eyes never left his. "You die. Heart stops. Clean. No turning back."
Silence pressed in. Water dripped deeper in the shaft. Steady. Unforgiving.
Kael looked at Liora.
She gave the smallest nod. *Your call.*
He exhaled. Rough.
"Okay."
Mara stepped back. Gave them space.
Kael uncorked the vial. Smell hit him—iron, pine, something bitter underneath. Like regret made liquid.
He pressed the blade of Liora's knife to his thumb. Quick slice. Blood welled fast. Darker than normal. Almost black at the edges.
He let two drops fall into the vial.
The liquid inside hissed. Steamed. Then calmed. Absorbed them.
He passed the knife to Liora.
She didn't hesitate. Cut her own thumb. Two drops. Same reaction—hiss, steam, stillness.
The vial now held a deeper red. Swirling slow.
Kael capped it. Shook once.
He looked at Mara.
"Now?"
"Now you drink."
Kael uncapped again. Brought it to his lips.
Liora's hand found his wrist. Gentle. Steady.
He met her eyes.
She whispered, "If it hurts… I'm here."
He nodded.
Then tipped the vial.
Half the liquid slid onto his tongue—thick, burning. Not fire. Deeper. Like swallowing lightning wrapped in velvet.
He swallowed.
The world tilted.
He dropped to his knees.
Visions slammed into him.
First: a woman—not Elysia. Older. Silver hair unbound. Standing on a moonlit hill. Blood on her hands. She spoke words in a language Kael didn't know. The ground cracked. Something poured out—silver light, hungry. It entered her. She screamed. Became the first silverblood.
Second: the woman's children. Generations. Each one born with the curse. Each one hunted. Killed. Or used.
Then—Elysia. Young. Terrified. Holding a toddler. Kael. She ran through snow. Behind her—Darius. Younger. Eyes cold. He didn't chase. He *watched*. Let her go. Because he knew she'd carry the curse forward.
Then—Darius alone. In a dark room. Speaking to shadows. "The boy will break. The girl will bind him. When he loves her… the curse locks. I become untouchable."
Kael's chest seized.
The bond wasn't just power.
It was love.
Real love.
The curse fed on it. Turned it into chains.
He saw Finn—tied in a hunter van. Beaten. Still breathing. Still writing that note in his own blood.
He saw Elysia—chained in a stone cell. Silver collar burning her neck. Eyes open. Waiting.
Then—himself. Standing over a broken pack. Bodies everywhere. Darius smiling behind him. "Good boy."
Kael screamed.
The vision snapped.
He was back in the mine.
On his knees. Vial empty in his hand.
The other half of the liquid still inside—untouched.
Liora knelt in front of him. Hands on his face.
"Kael—talk to me."
He gasped. "I saw… everything."
Mara watched. Expression unreadable.
Kael looked up at her.
"It worked," he rasped. "I feel… lighter. The wolf's still there. But the weight—the curse anchor—it's gone."
Mara smiled. Small. Satisfied.
"Good."
She stepped forward. Held out her hand.
"Now the rest. On the ground. Seal it."
Kael looked at the vial.
Then at Liora.
Then back at Mara.
Something in her eyes shifted—too calm. Too eager.
He felt it then.
The wolf didn't growl.
It *laughed*.
Low. Inside him.
Kael stood slowly.
Held the vial up.
"You want this sealed?"
Mara nodded.
Kael tilted it.
But instead of pouring it on the dirt—
He threw it.
Straight at Mara.
The vial shattered against her chest. Liquid sprayed—dark, thick.
Mara staggered. Eyes wide.
The liquid smoked on her skin. Burned.
She snarled—shifted fast. Claws out. Teeth bared.
"You little—"
Kael moved faster.
He slammed into her—shoulder to chest. Drove her back against the wall.
Rock cracked.
Mara slashed. Caught his arm. Blood welled.
Kael didn't feel it.
He grabbed her throat. Lifted.
The wolf was calm now. Focused.
"You lied," he growled.
Mara laughed—choked. "Of course I lied."
She kicked. Broke free. Rolled away.
Stood.
Eyes glowing.
"The vial wasn't just blood," she said. "It was poison. Slow. For you. To weaken the heart before the bond could take. So when you love her—" she nodded at Liora "—the curse doesn't break. It *owns* you. And I take what's left."
Liora stood. Knife in hand.
"You're not pack elder," she said. "You're just another liar."
Mara smiled. Teeth sharp.
"I'm the one who survives."
She lunged.
Not at Kael.
At Liora.
Kael intercepted. Took the claws across the chest. Skin tore. Pain flared.
He roared.
Grabbed Mara's arm. Twisted. Bone snapped.
She screamed.
He slammed her down. Knee on her throat.
"Tell me how to get Finn back."
Mara gasped. "You can't. He's already—"
Kael pressed harder.
She choked. "Hunter camp. East ridge. Midnight trade. They want the silverblood. Alive."
Kael looked at Liora.
She nodded.
He leaned down. Face inches from Mara's.
"If you follow us," he said quietly, "I won't stop next time."
Mara smiled through blood.
"You won't have to."
She went limp.
Not dead. Just unconscious.
Kael stood. Breathing hard.
Liora touched his torn shirt. Blood soaked through.
"You're hurt."
"I'll heal."
She looked at him. Really looked.
"You saw something. In the vision."
Kael nodded. Slow.
"The curse feeds on love. Real love. That's why Darius pushed us together. He wanted me to feel it. So the bond would lock forever."
Liora's face went pale.
Kael stepped closer.
"But it's gone now," he said. "The anchor. I felt it break."
She searched his eyes.
"Then what happens if…"
She didn't finish.
Kael did.
"If I love you?"
She swallowed.
He reached out. Touched her cheek—gentle. Careful.
"I don't know," he whispered. "But I'm not afraid of it anymore."
Liora closed her eyes. Leaned into his hand.
Then opened them.
"We get Finn," she said. "Then your mom. Then we end Darius."
Kael nodded.
They turned to leave.
Behind them—Mara stirred. Just a little.
Eyes open.
Smiling.
And in the dark of the mine shaft, the dripping water sounded faster now.
Like a heartbeat.
Racing toward midnight.