Chapter 65: The Hollow Victory
Lily POV
The Shadow Beast’s claws raked across my shoulder as I dove behind a fallen tree. Blood ran down my arm, but I barely felt the pain. Nothing hurt worse than the nothingness inside my chest.
"Lily!" Caleb yelled, fighting the monster with his brothers. "Stay down!"
I watched him throw himself between me and danger, just like he always used to. But now when I looked at him, I felt nothing. I remembered loving him - remembered the warmth, the joy, the feeling like my heart might burst with happiness. But the feelings themselves were gone, leaving only cold facts in my mind.
We used to be mates. We used to love each other. We used to be happy.
All true. All useless now.
The Shadow Beast roared and swiped at Aiden, sending him flying into a tree. Brock charged from the left while Caleb struck from the right. They moved like they’d practiced this dance a thousand times, but the thing was too fast, too strong.
"We can’t beat it!" Aiden yelled, blood dripping from his mouth. "It’s feeding off magical energy!"
That’s when I realized something terrible. The beast wasn’t just hunting randomly. Every time it moved, it got a little closer to me. Its red eyes never left my face, even when the brothers were striking.
"It wants me," I said, standing up despite Caleb’s shouts to stay hidden.
"Lily, no!" Elder Iris grabbed my arm. "The Shadow Beast devours magic. If it touches you—"