The castle walls fell around them as Magnus roared orders nobody could hear over the chaos.
Vampires screamed outside the windows. Rogues howled war cries. The Wraith's laughter echoed through every stone hallway.
But all Aria could see was Elena's terrified face and the chains binding her arms.
"Mom?" Aria whispered.
"Not your real mom," Dorian snarled. "Just the woman who raised you because Seraphina was too ashamed to keep you."
"That's enough!" Magnus roared, his Alpha voice shaking dust from the ceiling. "Release Elena immediately!"
"Oh, I don't think so." Dorian motioned, and more Shadow Mountain wolves poured into the room. "See, we're here to make a trade."
"What kind of trade?" Caleb snarled.
"Simple. Aria comes with us freely, and we let everyone else live." Dorian's golden eyes glittered with evil. "Refuse, and we burn this castle to the ground with everyone inside."
"Never," Caden growled, stepping protectively beside Aria.
