Chapter 249

Clay’s POV

It had been six days since the battle, six days since the blood-soaked fields bore witness to our desperate fight for survival. The cost had been step-byes lost on both sides-but in the end, victory was our

Yet it felt hollow. Scarlett’s move, the one that had turned the tide, was as miraculous as it was terrifying. Now, as she lay unconscious on the bed, her chest rising and falling faintly, I knew the price she’d paid was far greater than we had imagined.

Her body was locked in a battle of its own, trying to repel the darkness that clung to her after pulling Nikolay’s corrupted spirit from his body. It wasn’t just lingering-it was gripping her tightly, refusing to let go, tethering itself to her in a way we didn’t understand.

Alison had called Nikolay’s magic element “Spirit,” the same force Scarlett had avoided using until the final moments. She knew its corruptive potential and still had no choice but to wield it to end the war. Now, the price of that choice was painfully clear.

Alison and Elsa had consulted tirelessly, poring over every text and summoning every ounce of their knowledge. But their answers were bleak.

No one could say when, or even if, Scarlett would wake. Her wolf, Midnight, was silent. Her once vibrant aura was dimmed, flickering faintly like a candle in