Chapter 7 The Blood Oath

Lyra had never seen so much blood.

It soaked the cathedral floor, pooled beneath fallen bodies, and slicked her hands as she fought. The scent of iron hung thick in the air, masking the earthier smell of wolves. Moonlight filtered through the broken dome above, casting a pale glow over the chaos below. The war had found them, and now it would not let go.

Cassian's wolves pressed in from every side, forcing Lyra's people to scatter and regroup again and again. The rogues fought viciously, matching strength with desperation, but their numbers were thinning. Cassian didn't fight like a man reclaiming power-he fought like a god reaping vengeance.

A snarl to her left. Lyra spun, blocking a claw aimed for her ribs. She slashed back, the silver dagger Damon had given her slicing deep. The enemy dropped, but there was no time to breathe. Damon appeared beside her again, blood streaking his jaw, his eyes burning gold. "We need to fall back. We can't hold this line." Lyra shook her head. "Not yet. Cassian hasn't shown his full hand. He's baiting us." "He's winning, Lyra."

The name, spoken so quietly in the middle of war, jolted something inside her. No titles. No rank. Just her. And him. Before she could respond, the ground shook. A low rumble spread through the floorboards, followed by a deafening crack. A section of the cathedral collapsed, dust and stone swallowing a group of rogues near the west wall. Through the smoke, Cassian emerged again. He didn't look winded. His armor was barely scratched. As if the entire battle was just another dance. He walked forward, parting the chaos like a tide. "Enough of this," he said, his voice calm and terrible. "You're wasting lives."

Lyra stepped forward, chest heaving. "You wanted a queen. Here I am. Face me." He tilted his head. "Brave. But foolish." Behind her, Damon took a step forward, but Lyra held out her hand. "I've got this." Cassian smirked. "You think one duel will change anything?"

"No," she said. "But it'll stop the killing. For now." A beat of silence passed. Cassian raised his hand. His wolves stilled, snarls fading to silence. Dust settled. The night paused. "Then let's see if your blood burns as brightly as hers did," he said. The circle formed quickly. Rogues and enemies alike backed away, forming a ring around the two of them. Lyra's heart pounded-not with fear, but fury. She wasn't just fighting for survival. She was fighting for every soul who had followed her. For the woman her mother once was. For the legacy they tried to bury.

Cassian struck first. His speed was monstrous. His claws slashed through the air, nearly catching her side, but Lyra ducked and rolled, landing behind him with a slice across his back. He turned, not in pain-but with a grin. "You're not bad," he said, circling her. "But you're not a killer yet." She didn't answer. Her hands glowed faintly, the ancient runes on her palms pulsing as her power awakened again. Cassian lunged. This time, she met him head-on. Claw against dagger. Blood against blood. The force of their collision cracked the stone beneath them.

Suddenly, a scream tore through the air. Lyra's gaze darted to the edge of the circle. A rogue had fallen-stabbed through the back not by a wolf, but by one of their own. A traitor. Lyra's stomach dropped. "No..." It was Marcus. One of Seraphina's lieutenants. Someone Lyra had trusted. He stood there, blade still dripping, his expression blank. Cassian chuckled. "You thought your little rebellion didn't have cracks? Everyone has a price." Rage surged through her, blinding and white-hot. She struck.

This time, she didn't hold back. Her wolf broke through her skin-not a full shift, but enough. Her eyes turned molten gold. Her voice dropped an octave, resonating with ancient power. "I am not my mother," she said, "but I carry her fury." She attacked in a blur, her dagger carving deep across Cassian's chest, her claws raking through his arm. The Alpha stumbled-just for a breath-but it was enough. Enough to see that he wasn't invincible. Lyra stood over him, panting, blood dripping from her fingers. "This ends with me," she said. "Not another life." Cassian's smirk faded. Behind her, the rogues howled in unison-loud, wild, and raw. A queen had risen; And the war was far from over.