Chapter 8 Blood for Blood

The assassins didn't hesitate.

The moment their boots hit the floor, they lunged - one toward Mira, the other toward Kade, both wielding blades that shimmered with poison-tipped runes.

Kade pushed Mira behind him and shifted mid-stride - his form blurring into something monstrous. Not a full wolf. Not entirely human. Something in-between.

His claws tore through the first assassin's chest with a wet, ripping sound, blood splattering the walls.

But the second assassin was faster.

He slipped past Kade and grabbed Mira by the throat.

She gasped, kicking wildly, her body thrashing against the assassin's iron grip.

"You should have never been born," the rogue hissed. "You're an abomination. A prophecy mistake."

Mira's hands clawed at his wrist - until suddenly, her eyes turned black.

Not violet.

Not silver.

Black - pure void.

The air grew thick with pressure.

The lights exploded.

And the assassin screamed.

His hand sizzled against her skin as smoke rose from his flesh. He stumbled back, clutching his burning arm - but it was too late.

Mira stepped forward, face unreadable.

Her voice was cold. Deadly.

"You want to see what a cursed mate really is?"

She raised her hand.

The assassin's blood vessels burst.

His scream echoed through the halls as his body twisted unnaturally, jerking, seizing - and then collapsed, unmoving.

Dead.

Kade turned from the other corpse, eyes wide.

"Mira..."

She blinked, and the darkness vanished. Her legs buckled.

He caught her before she hit the ground.

⸻

Later that night, in the Headmistress's chambers, the school council stood in chaos.

"You let them into the academy?" one elder barked.

"They bypassed our wards," Varya snapped. "Someone helped them from inside."

Lucien stood at the window, silent.

Then Varya turned to Kade.

"She killed one of them using forbidden power. That energy hasn't been seen since the last Flame War."

"She did what she had to," Kade growled.

"She killed without shifting. Without claws. Just... blood magic."

"She saved my life," he said darkly. "You want to punish her for that?"

"She's unstable."

"She's powerful."

The room went still.

Then Varya spoke softly.

"If the council finds out... they'll execute her."

Kade's jaw clenched. "They'll have to kill me first."

⸻

Mira woke up in the infirmary, her body sore, her soul buzzing. Her memories came in flashes - blood, screams, black eyes.

And the look on Kade's face when she dropped that assassin without touching him.

He was afraid.

Or maybe... awestruck.

The door creaked open.

Kade entered, shirtless again, his body still splattered with blood. His eyes locked onto hers.

"You okay?" he asked softly.

"I killed him."

"You had no choice."

"I lost control," she whispered. "It felt... right."

Kade moved closer and sat beside her bed.

"You're stronger than all of us," he said. "And that scares them."

"Does it scare you?"

He leaned in, brushing her hair behind her ear.

"It turns me on."

She gasped, face flushing. "Kade..."

"You're mine," he growled, "and if anyone touches you again - anyone - I'll rip out their spine."

Her wolf purred.

So did his.

Their bond pulsed - electric. Dangerous. Unbreakable.

And neither of them would be safe ever again.