Bloodlines of the Forgotten Kingdom

 

Undone
By Unknown

She holds his hand, she plays the part,
A perfect love—a borrowed heart.
Yet when she turns, she fights to hide
The way she aches to stand beside…

The one who knows her, soul and skin,
Who reads the thoughts she keeps within.
A glance, a touch, a breath, a spark,
A love that lingers in the dark.

She tells herself it isn't true,
But love won’t bend to what we choose.
And in the end, when all is done,
She’ll find her heart was hers all along

"Hope."

A voice called out to me, distant yet persistent, threading through the darkness like a whisper carried on the wind.

"Hope."

It came again, soft but insistent, just beyond my grasp—like reaching for something in a dream, only for it to slip through my fingers.

And then—

I jolted upright, gasping for air.

My fingers tangled in my hair, gripping tightly as I tried to slow my breathing, to shake off the heavy weight pressing against my chest. My skin was damp with sweat, my heartbeat wild and uneven. The room around me was still, but the echoes of the dream lingered, wrapping around me like a phantom.

Three years.

Three years, and I still couldn’t move on.

Another dream.

Another reminder of what I had lost.

Another vision of her.

Of Mom.

I let out a ragged breath and collapsed back against the mattress, staring up at the ceiling, my mind spinning with everything that had happened today. Leaving home, stepping into this unfamiliar world, being thrust into this so-called supernatural army, the endless new faces, the whispered conversations behind my back. It was exhausting.

Then there was Robby… or was it Kaleb? My brain was too foggy to care. Someone had been assigned to show us around, and I had barely been paying attention. It was just one thing after another, piling onto the weight I was already carrying.

My gaze flickered to the small wooden table beside my bed, where my sketchbook rested.

For months, I had been sketching my nightmares, trying to make sense of them. Looking for patterns, searching for something I might have missed. But no matter how hard I tried, I could never quite finish the drawings. The images would blur, the lines would falter, and I’d be left staring at another incomplete piece, feeling more lost than before.

I pushed the covers aside and swung my legs over the edge of the bed, running a hand over my face.

Water.

If I didn’t get something to drink, I was going to go insane.

I grabbed my sketchbook anyway, tucking it under my arm as I stepped into the dimly lit hallway. The castle was still and quiet at this hour, save for the occasional flickering of torches along the walls. It was massive—larger than even my parents’ home—and navigating it was an absolute nightmare.

At least in my parents' castle, I had known every hidden passage, every shortcut. Here? I felt like I was walking in circles half the time.

Still, I was pretty sure the kitchen was just down this hallway.

Right?

I turned the corner—

Not there.

I sighed, glancing around at the endless stone walls and grand archways. I had taken a wrong turn. Again.

This place was a maze.

So much for water. Now I just needed to find something—anything—that looked even remotely familiar.

Luckily, I spotted one of the handmaidens passing through a nearby corridor. After asking for directions, I finally found a hidden passage that cut through the back of the castle. After what felt like forever, I managed to reach the kitchen.

It had taken nearly thirty minutes of wandering, but at least I had made it.

I pulled open the nearest fridge—or at least one of them. There were so many. Did a castle really need this much storage? My parents had been royalty, and even they hadn’t gone this overboard.

I grabbed a bottle of water, twisted off the cap, and took a long drink, letting the cold liquid soothe my dry throat.

Water always helped.

I wasn’t exactly sure why. Maybe it was a scientific thing—hydration calming the body, grounding the mind. Water always helps.

Maybe it’s a psychological thing. Maybe it’s science. Or maybe it’s just her.

One of the last things my mother ever told me: If you’re lost, drink some water. Clear your head. Then keep going.

I sighed, gripping the bottle a little tighter.

God, I really need sleep.

I reached for another bottle, planning to take it with me back to my room, but just as I turned, I heard voices.

I stilled.

Then, quickly, I ducked into the passageway, pressing myself against the cold stone.

"I’m telling you, Penelope, the last thing you want is to start a fight."

The first voice was MG—the brown-haired vampire from earlier.

"I’ll take that into consideration, MG," the second voice answered smoothly, "but I think it’s exactly what I want."

Penelope.

I hadn’t officially met her yet, but her name had been floating around all day. I had already gathered that she wasn’t the type to back down easily.

"I don’t know what you’re doing, but I do know why," MG continued, his voice low and urgent. "And believe me, this isn’t a coping mechanism—it’s self-destruction."

There was genuine concern in his tone. Whatever they were talking about, it sounded serious.

I definitely shouldn’t be listening in.

I turned to leave—only to freeze.

My stomach dropped.

I had left my sketchbook in the kitchen.

Damn it.

I had set it down while looking for water, and when they came in, I completely forgot about it.

I debated waiting for them to leave so I could sneak back in and grab it, but then of course, they moved something in front of the passage.

Perfect.

Now I was really starting to dislike this Penelope.

For an entire hour, I wandered the castle, trying to find another way in.

"This has to be the right way," I muttered under my breath, though I wasn’t particularly confident.

As I walked, the hallways grew quieter. The distant murmurs of voices faded. The torches flickered, casting long shadows along the stone walls.

Then—movement.

Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted someone staggering down the corridor.

Their steps were slow, unsteady. Their entire body swayed, as if they were fighting to stay upright.

I frowned, concern flickering in my chest.

"Hey, wait!" I called out, quickening my pace.

No response.

They didn’t even seem to hear me.

As I got closer, I could see them more clearly—hands trembling, breaths uneven, their body visibly straining. They looked pale.

Then, before I could reach them—

They collapsed.

My body reacted before my mind could catch up, and I lunged forward, sliding down just in time to catch them before they hit the cold stone floor.

Their weight nearly knocked me off balance, but I held on, lowering them carefully to the ground.

 “Hey?” I asked, trying to wake them. I turned them around looking at their face recognizing them.

Josie

I remember her from earlier, probably the only person I remember—one of the twins.

I gently pick her up, draping her arm around my neck and holding onto her waist to make sure she doesn’t fall. The height difference makes it a little awkward, but that’s the last thing on my mind. She feels too warm against me, her body slack with exhaustion.

I carry her through the halls, my footsteps echoing as I make my way to the medical office. A nurse takes her from me without much reaction, like this is just another normal day.

I sit. And wait.

An hour passes at least, I think it does. The room is quiet except for the occasional shuffle of footsteps and the faint scratching of a quill against parchment.

Finally, someone speaks.

“Ah… I should thank you for bringing the princess,” the nurse says, flipping through a book as if this is all just another routine moment. “By the look of it, she’s dehydrated. Nothing unusual for her, but when she wakes up, I’d give her water.”

I blink. “That’s it?”

She shrugs, already gathering her things. “That’s it.”

“Wait!” I call out as she turns toward the door. “Where are you going?”

She chuckles softly, adjusting the strap of her satchel. “I’m sure you’ll be able to help her out. Just give her water when she wakes up.”

And then, just like that, she’s gone, disappearing into the dim corridors without another word.

“Wait! That doesn’t answer my question?!” I yell after her, but there’s no response, just the fading sound of her footsteps.

Great. Everyone here is weird. That only makes everything ten times better.

I lean back in my chair, rubbing a hand over my face, debating whether I should leave. But just as I shift forward, there’s a rustle—soft, barely noticeable, but enough to make me pause.

At first, she just stares at the ceiling, blinking a few times like she’s trying to piece together where she is. Then, slowly, her head turns toward me.

I clear my throat, shifting in my seat. “Uh… hey.”

Her eyes are heavy with exhaustion, but she still manages a small smile. “Where…” She trails off, her voice rough.

“Medical wing,” I say, reaching for the pitcher on the table. I pour her a glass and hand it over. “I should be the first to welcome you back to the land of the living.”

Her smile turns a little more genuine as she takes the cup, sipping carefully. Silence settles between us, not uncomfortable but there.

Then, she speaks. “What happened?” She hesitates before adding, “If you don’t mind me asking, of course.” The correction feels unnecessary, but I don’t think too much about it.

“Well…” I think back, retracing what led us here. “I went to get water and… I may have gotten a little lost for an hour or so?”

Josie lets out a dry laugh, but it fades fast. She watches me now, something sharper in her gaze.

“…Who are you?”

I smirk slightly. “No one.”

Josie twirls the cup of water in her hands, watching the ripples shift as if they hold some kind of answer. She hasn’t said much since waking up, just little nods and quiet thanks. Now, though, her eyes drift back to me, studying my face with an intensity that I have seen before.

She hums softly, almost amused. “You don’t seem like the type to sit and wait.”

I raise a brow. “What type do I seem like?”

She thinks about it for a second, then shrugs. “Not this one.”

I huff a quiet laugh, shaking my head. “Not sure if that’s a compliment or not.”

Josie tilts her head slightly, lips twitching like she might smile but doesn’t. “Just an observation.”

For a moment, she just looks at me, like she’s trying to piece something together. Then—

“This is going to sound weird, but… have we met before?”

I go still, but my face doesn’t change. “No.”

Josie frowns, tapping a finger against the cup. “Huh. Feels like we have.”

I don’t answer. I could tell her she’s wrong, tell her it’s just a trick of the mind, that exhaustion and dehydration make people see connections where there aren’t any.

But I don’t. Because I think it too.

And that? That’s the problem.

Josie watches me closely, like she’s waiting for something—an explanation, maybe, or just a slip-up she can catch. I keep my face neutral, but I can tell she doesn’t buy my answer.

“Well,” she finally says, shifting slightly against the pillows, “that’s definitely… something.”

“Glad you approve,” I deadpan.

She lets out a quiet laugh, but it’s brief. Her fingers drum lightly against the edge of the bed, like she’s still working through something in her head. I know she wants to ask more. I can practically see the questions forming, but for some reason, she doesn’t say them.

Good.

Because I don’t have answers.

Or at least, not the ones she’d want to hear.

I lean back in my chair, running a hand through my hair. The room is quiet now, but my mind isn’t. It’s one thing if I had felt that strange pull toward her, but for her to feel it too? That’s worse. That’s a problem.

I don’t believe in coincidences.

Josie yawns suddenly, blinking heavier than before. Finally.

She doesn’t fight it, just lets her head rest back against the pillow. “You’re weird,” she mutters, half-asleep now.

I huff out a breath. “You don’t even know me.”

“Exactly,” she mumbles, eyes fluttering shut. “Weird…”

Her breathing evens out, and just like that, she’s asleep.

I should go.

Instead, I sit there a little longer, staring at the ceiling, wondering why the hell I haven’t left yet.

It’s been a day since my encounter with the princess, though that’s not what’s been on my mind… okay, not always, at least.

Rumors about Penelope being a bitch? Very true. I witnessed it firsthand.

“Penelope, seriously, you’ll get into so much trouble if he tells!”

“You worry too much. What’s wrong? Scared he’ll mention you to MiLtiOn?” she mocked, clearly not taking his words seriously.

“I’m just saying, you might want to consider—” MG started, but Penelope cut him off.

“No need. You’re right, MG. I should change my ways.” She smiled, but there was nothing genuine about it.

MG blinked, caught off guard. “I’m right?”

“Yes. In fact, let me start today—new me and all.”

The following hour, she handed out notebooks or diaries to the newcomers. It didn’t take long to figure out she spelled them. A little kid’s trick.

I wasn’t going to say anything. It wasn’t my business. I’d just give it back to her… and say a few things.

I found her out near the woods, surrounded by a few people. Looks like I wasn’t the only one with this idea.

“Notebooks?! Last year it was ink, now notebooks—what are you planning?” the blonde squawked.

“Wait, wait, maybe she’s just being nice,” MG tried to reassure.

“Yeah, right. As if handing out notebooks to only some people isn’t suspicious enough,” Kaleb—or Jacob, whatever—was just stirring the pot, sitting back and enjoying the show.

“Don’t tell me you’re on her side, Milton,” Lizzie snapped, redirecting her anger at MG, who immediately started pleading his innocence.

Penelope, who had been leaning lazily against a tree, finally sighed and turned toward me. “And what’s your problem?”

“I’m returning this. It’s a stupid trick only a stupid person would fall for.” I tossed the book back at her. She caught it, looking slightly annoyed. “Created by a stupid person, so…”

“What’s wrong? Can’t have fun?” She tilted her head, smirking. “No need to be a wench about it.”

She was cocky, rude, and insufferable. No wonder she had a whole hate club.

“Just promise not to include me in your schemes. It’s not like I’ll fall for them.”

“Well, then you’re out of luck. I don’t make promises, kid.”

“You don’t keep them either,” a voice rang out. “So I guess that’s the only true thing you’ve said all night.”

Everything went still.

Josie.

Penelope went completely rigid, like a shield snapping into place.

Lizzie went quiet, though her expression stayed furious. MG suddenly found the sky very interesting. Kaleb/Jacob stopped chewing, which honestly said a lot.

Okay. Definitely some history here.

“Josie—” Penelope started, but she wasn’t interrupted. She just… lost the words.

“I was looking for Lizzie when I saw people walking around with matching notebooks.” Josie’s voice was steady, but she wouldn’t—couldn’t—look Penelope in the eyes. “It didn’t take long to connect the dots. And I figured Lizzie was out here too.”

Penelope’s face smoothed over into her usual cocky mask, like any trace of hesitation had never been there. “I’m surprised. The first sign of trouble, and you suspect me?” She clicked her tongue. “That’s not very princess-like, Josie. I thought we were all supposed to be treated fairly. Hm. I wonder what your father would say.”

That struck a nerve.

Josie’s head snapped up, something sharp flashing across her face—hurt, maybe, but it was gone before I could be sure. She looked like she wanted to say something.

Lizzie didn’t hesitate.

“You don’t get to talk to her like that,” she spat. “You’ll regret it, you wench.”

A few people gasped at Lizzie’s choice of words, but she didn’t care.

Penelope exhaled sharply, shaking her head. “Whatever. I’ll leave.”

“Yeah, no one wants you here! Or at home. Or anywhere near me!” Lizzie yelled after her.

Penelope stopped mid-step.

She turned back, but this time, her smirk was gone.

“Need your sister to protect you, huh, Josie?” Her voice was softer now, but somehow it cut deeper. “You never could say anything when Lizzie was around. Always counting on her to step in—”

Josie’s expression didn’t change, but something about her stilled.

“—just like you’ll count on her to throw you away the second you’re not convenient anymore.”

The words landed heavy.

And then, without waiting for a reaction, Penelope turned and walked away.

Nobody moved.

Lizzie was seething, MG was shifting uncomfortably, and Josie—

Josie was silent.

I should probably leave, too. This was way beyond anything I cared to get involved in.

But before I could turn, Lizzie’s sharp gaze landed on me.

And then—

Before I could turn, Lizzie’s sharp gaze landed on me.

And then—

“Who the hell are you?”

Great.

I turned back to her. “No one. Just leaving, actually.”

“Thats not an answer.” Her arms crossed, and she took a step forward. “What’s your name?”

Seriously, why is everyone obsessed with that today?

“I’ll just go,” I said, shifting my weight. “I don’t—shouldn’t be here anyway.”

“Answer my question.” Another step. “It’s not that hard unless you’re hiding something.”

“Aren’t you gonna step in this time?” MG whispered to Kalek, like they were watching a fight about to break out.

Kalake shrugged. “Why would I?”

MG gestured vaguely at the situation. “You’re a knight. In a way.”

“Nah, I’m off today,” Jalake said, smirking. “So you’re the knight here.” He leaned in, voice low. “And if I’m being truthful? My bets are on Lizzie and the hottie over you.”

MG looked deeply offended.

The worst part about all this? Other than the fact that Lizzie was kind of in the right?

Josie still hadn’t moved.

She just leaned against the tree, her eyes unreadable, like she was somewhere else entirely.

Lizzie, on the other hand—

“Hello? Random person? HEY!” She clapped her hands in front of my face.

I barely blinked, just shifted my gaze to her.

“What the hell— you know what? I can’t deal with anyone else’s stupidity today.” She shoved past me like she was officially done with the conversation. “Josie, come on. Let’s go pick out an outfit for tonight.”

Josie finally looked up. “Yeah, I’m coming, just—”

Thud.

An apple fell straight onto her head.

She blinked, rubbing the spot. “Did you see that?”

“You just got attacked by an apple,” Lizzie snorted. “The chances of that are low… I think?”

Then another one fell.

“Oh, wow. Your luck this past hour has been horrible, huh?”

Josie sighed. “Thank you for that assessment, Elizabeth.”

Lizzie rolled her eyes at the full name.

And then—

THUMP.

A loud, deep crack sounded from the woods, shaking the ground slightly.

Everyone froze.

“…Maybe it was just a tree falling?” MG suggested.

A bloodcurdling scream cut through the air.

Yeah. Not a tree.

Seconds later, someone bolted out of the woods. They barely made it a few steps before they collapsed, landing just a foot away from me—right next to Josie.

MG vamp-sped over. “Dude!” He bent down, tries to pick him up, and somehow fails?

“I’m off today,” Kale muttered.

“Well, you’re back on,” MG snapped. “You can’t turn a blind eye to this.”

Kalake groaned but crouched down, helping him lift the guy. But it wasn’t much use—he was knocked out cold.

“We have to get him to the medical wing,” Josie said.

“NOW!” Lizzie barked. “What’s the point of having super speed if you’re slow as hell?”

The boys took off with him, Lizzie right behind them.

I didn’t follow.

Whatever was out there? I wanted to know.

I took a step toward the tree line, but a hand caught my shoulder.

I turned—

Of course, it was Josie.

I was just going to investigate—

She cut me off. If she wasn’t her, I’d say that was very rude.

“You can’t go in there. It’s not safe. I’ll send people to check it out later.” Her voice was steady. She didn’t want anyone out there.

Damn it. If she sends anyone, they’ll just get killed.

“It’ll take too long, and whoever you send will get hurt. Whatever’s out there, I have to confront it now.” My voice came out sharper than I intended. “Besides, you only really teach defensive skills. If it’s humans, you won’t want too many vamps involved, and werewolves are just assholes. They’ll either run or refuse to do anything.”

She knew I was right. I could see it on her face.

“I can’t allow a newcomer or anyone to throw themselves into danger without a plan or at least someone else.” She held her ground, voice unwavering.

Another thump. Big. Farther away this time. It was either leaving, retreating, or calling for backup.

I can’t let it go.

I was already thinking about just leaving and dealing with the consequences later. In fact, that’s exactly what I was going to do.

“Wait. No, don’t leave.”

I swear I heard her voice soften, but maybe I imagined it.

She grabbed my wrist, anchoring me in place, then seemed to catch herself and let go. “You’re not going in there alone. I would hate myself if you got hurt.”

She wasn’t asking. She was coming.

I heard something—maybe a voice. That was the last straw.

I turned and ran into the forest.

Josie followed.

____

Running.

One of the few things that makes me feel free.

You’d think I’d have more freedom, but quite the opposite. I’ve been trapped, confined, controlled. Running—the wind in my hair, the fresh scent of spring, the feeling of rich soil beneath me—is the only time I really breathe.

Unfortunately, this isn’t one of those times.

I can’t shift with Josie right behind me. She’s not the fastest runner—or maybe I’m just too fast—but it doesn’t matter. She knows I’m a witch, but if she saw me turn into a werewolf right now? Not a great idea.

“Wait,” she panted, breath heavy. “Do you even know where you’re going?”

Right. I don’t.

I slowed down, letting her rest and catch up.

“You have no idea, do you?” she asked. It wasn’t even a real question.

She saw right through me and let out a long sigh.

“Seriously? You made this big, stubborn speech just to charge into the woods without a plan?”

She was calm. No, more like controlled.

“Okay, so maybe I could’ve thought this through a little more,” I admitted. “But believe me, we’re close. That thing couldn’t have gone far.”

“If it did?”

“Then that’s not necessarily a bad thing.”

A gut-wrenching, bone-shaking sound filled the air. A series of deep, resonating cries.

Josie stiffened.

“It sounds like a call,” I said.

She nodded slowly, her expression grim.

Great.

We were bonding.

And we were so screwed.

It didn’t take long to pinpoint the sound—more because of my wolf side, but Josie, of course, doesn’t know that.

The noise led us deeper into the forest. The trees grew taller and thicker, the air felt heavier, and more animals rustled in the underbrush. It was nothing like the little patch of forest near the school.

“Okay, so when we confront it, how exactly are we dealing with it?” Josie asked in a hushed voice.

“When I confront it,” I corrected. “Which means me and only me.”

Her mouth opened slightly. “What do you mean only you?”

“I mean I will fight this mystery monster, and you will stay right here.” I might’ve been a bit sassier than I intended. “You know... as backup.”

“How do you even know you’ll beat whatever’s out there?”

“I’m more experienced than you think. And what’s the worst that can happen?” I kept walking, shoving shrubs out of the way.

“If you’re so experienced, maybe you should be a knight then.”

I let out a short laugh.

“I’m serious. No need to laugh at me,” she huffed.

“You’re serious?”

“Yeah. Why? You’ve never thought about it?”

Me, a knight? I smirked a little at the idea. A badass one, at least.

“Unless you don’t like the idea,” she continued. “In fact, you can forget I even asked.”

“No, it’s not that, it’s just... not a—”

I had nothing. Luckily, something distracted her.

A statue.

A tall, weathered one, standing alone in the middle of the forest.

“A random statue in the woods?” Josie sounded almost amazed. “Okay, maybe coming along wasn’t a bad idea.”

“What, you doubted me?” I grinned, stepping closer to inspect it. The stone was rough and cracked, probably ancient. I reached out—

“Don’t touch that!”

Josie grabbed my wrist, eyes wide.

I raised an eyebrow. “It’s just rock.”

She let go, sighing. “Perhaps. Or perhaps it’s enchanted and comes alive to kill us.”

I rolled my eyes. “The chances of that are very low. And besides, if you’re not ready for risks, you shouldn’t be here.”

She was quiet for a second, thinking.

“Touch the statue, Josie.”

“I’m good, thanks.”

“Seriously, what’s the worst that could happen? Touch the stone.”

“Excuse me, madam, but no thanks.”

I crossed my arms. “You’re the one so worried about it—so you touch it.”

She glared at me, then, with an exasperated sigh, placed her palm flat against the statue.

“See? Nothing’s gonna happen. Don’t worry about it, princess.”

I turned away, scanning the area. Maybe the monster was already gone. For a second, I  thought I heard something—

Josie’s scream.

I spun around without hesitation, sprinting back, heart pounding. Damn it. Please don’t be hurt. I shouldn’t have left her alone.

And then I saw it.

Ah, shit.

The statue was alive.

“It’s alive!”

Josie stumbled back, pointing. The statue moved, stone grinding against stone. Then—

It launched into the air.

A massive, fifteen-foot-tall gargoyle, wings spread wide, circling above the trees. The same roar from before tore through the air.

“Are you okay? Stay down,” I ordered, stepping in front of her. She was panting—yeah, definitely not a runner.

The gargoyle dove, claws out.

I stepped into its line of sight, conjuring a spell. “Incendia!”

A burst of flames shot forward—

Nothing. Not even a scratch.

It screeched and struck, claws grazing my cheek. Blood dripped onto my shirt.

Another spell. Same results. The magic reflected off like it was nothing.

Fantastic. It’s immune to magic. This just got ten times worse.

I had to switch to defense. Find its weak point. There had to be something keeping it going.

The gargoyle twisted in the air, erratic, then suddenly dove—

Straight for Josie.

I couldn’t tell if it hit her, but I could hear her heartbeat. Fast. She was still standing, but her survival skills? Questionable.

She threw a rock at it.

A rock.

I groaned. “Seriously? Never doing this again.”

“It’s hard to see with all these trees! Did you see where—”

The gargoyle dove again.

I prepared another spell—

“Wait! Don’t shoot it!”

“What!?”

I ducked just in time, dodging the gargoyle’s attack, then rolled behind a fallen tree next to Josie.

“When I say go, set it on fire,” she said.

I gave her a look. “If you didn’t notice, I already tried that.”

“Just trust me. Not much else to do.”

Trust her. Right. Which meant watching her do something reckless that would probably get me killed.

“…Fine. If you have a plan, it’s better than running around playing footsies.”

I peeked over the log, looking for the monster. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Josie smiling.

“Thank you,” she said.

“Let’s see if your plan works first, princess.”

I jumped over the log, drawing the gargoyle’s attention.

It swooped.

Oh god, please work. This is gonna hurt. This is gonna hurt so bad.

“Motus!”

Josie’s face scrunched with concentration. The fallen tree shot forward, slamming into the gargoyle and sending it crashing into another tree.

“NOW!”

“INCENDIA!”

“INCENDIA!”

Our fire spells hit at the same time.

This time, the flames stuck.

The gargoyle shrieked, the sound sharp and piercing. It flailed, body engulfed in flames.

“It worked!” I grinned. “Not bad—”

“Josie?”

She didn’t respond.

Blood dripped between her fingers as she covered her ears.

Ah, shit.

I ran to her side, heart hammering. Her pulse was racing.

“Gosh,” I muttered, pressing my hand to hers. “You really need to stop getting hurt.”

I picked her up, carrying her out of the forest. On the horizon, I saw her group of friends, arguing—Penelope at the center of it, as always. Josie stirred just as Lizzie spotted us.

“Josie! There you are! Where have you been? You were lost for almost two hours!” Lizzie exclaimed, rushing forward and taking Josie from my arms without hesitation.

I barely had a moment to react before Penelope and Lizzie shot me matching dirty looks. Definitely heard a few muttered curses, too.

Whatever. I turned on my heel and walked the other way.

I left them alone for about two hours, but something gnawed at me, an unshakable instinct telling me to check on her.

So, of course, I found myself heading downstairs toward the med center.

I stopped long enough to ask a doctor what room Josie was in, but the moment I reached it, I hesitated.

Through the glass window, I saw Penelope sitting next to Josie, talking with her, arguing with Lizzie.

Maybe I should come back later.

I started to turn away, but then Josie looked up and met my gaze through the glass.

A small smile tugged at her lips.

I didn’t even notice myself walking in until I was already standing there.

Lizzie’s head snapped toward me immediately. “You’re lucky my sister’s hurt,” she said, like that was the only reason I was still standing.

Penelope scoffed, looking up at me. “As if you’d do anything.” Then her eyes narrowed. “Why the hell are you here?”

“You already almost got my sister killed,” Lizzie snapped. “What other pain are you trying to bring?”

Do they not know? Did she not tell them?

Lizzie and Penelope kept throwing jabs, and as much as I didn’t care, it didn’t mean I wasn’t annoyed.

I took that as my out and walked out before I even spoke to Josie.

I could hear her yelling at them as I left.

“Wait.”

Josie.

She caught up to me in the hallway, slightly out of breath—whether from the argument, her injury, or something else, I wasn’t sure.

“Your sister is right, you know,” I said before she could speak.

Her brows furrowed slightly.

“We’ve met twice,” I continued, “and both times ended with you in the nurse’s office.”

Silence. We seemed to have a lot of those.

“That’s unfair, and you know it—” she started, but I turned around and walked away.

I knew it was rude, but what else was I supposed to say? How was it that the only two times we’d met, she ended up hurt? It was strange—annoying, even.

“Wait!”

There was a pause—not a hesitant one, but the opposite. Certain.

Then she said it.

“Hope.”

That stopped me completely.

I turned, staring at her. “How’d you—?”

She smirked slightly, tilting her head. “When you sign up for the program, you have to put your name, and it comes with a description of the person who brought you in.”

I raised a brow. “And what exactly did it say?”

She folded her arms. “‘Short. Mouthy. Auburnette.’”

I blinked. “I don’t know if I should feel threatened or embarrassed by that.”

Josie smiled, the kind that reached her eyes. “So, can we officially meet now?”

I hesitated for only a second before stepping forward and offering my hand.

“Hope Marshall,” I said. “Knightly witch at your service.”

She took it, shaking firmly—warmly. It was steady, deliberate, like she meant it.

For a split second, everything sharpened. My werewolf senses dialed up without warning, and I caught everything—the warmth of her skin, the soft but certain pressure of her grip, the steady rhythm of her heartbeat. And her scent... vanilla, something faintly floral, and old parchment. It was grounding and completely distracting at the same time. It felt like everything else faded away for a second, leaving only her.

Josie didn’t seem to notice my brief pause, her lips curving into a small but sure smile.

"Josie Saltzman. Friend… and princess."

I glanced at our still-clasped hands before releasing mine, flexing my fingers trying to shake off the lingering feeling of something.

"Well, I guess that makes me your knight."

Her smile widened just a little, eyes glinting with something unreadable. "Then I hope you're ready for duty, knightly witch."

I smirked. "Depends on the quest."