bChapter /bb128 /b

    ra’s POV

    b“/bIf we can’t get Lance out of the city, I’ll take the first option.” Thorne’s voice was colder than ice.

    I blinked at him, surprised by the sudden shift. His words hit hard, like a p to the face. That was a hell of a thing to say, and most people wouldn’t even entertain it. But Thorne? He’d never been afraid of the tough calls.

    “You’re insane,” Andre growled, stepping forward, fists clenched. “Do you even know how many people are in Grace Ruin? You’re talking about killing everyone.”

    “If it’s the only way to end Lance’s reign, then yes.” Thorne’s words cut through the tension like a de.

    I watched the fire in Andre’s eyes re. “Including me? Your friend? The women, the children?”

    Thorne’s gaze turned frigid, his words deadly calm. “We agreed to part ways after this. We’re not friends, Andre. If you’re that scared of dying, maybe it’s time you reconsidered where your loyalties lie.”

    Andre’s hands balled into fists, his face flushed with anger. He looked like he wanted to swing at Thorne, but I stepped between them before anything could escte.

    “Enough,” I said, my voice steady. “We don’t make decisions like this right now. André, tell us about your father. Was he killed outside the rogue territory?”

    “Yeah,” Andre muttered, his voice low. His expression darkened, eyes distant. “He didn’t understand the rules of this power when he was King. He thought the charm protecting him would keep him safe, but it only worked within ournd. One day, he went hunting too far out and was ambushed by

    enemies.”

    “Why didn’t the person who killed him be King?” I asked, curiosity tinged with a hint of disbelief.

    Andre shrugged, bitterness in his voice. “The Rogues don’t have a clear line of session. After my father died, chaos broke out. It was only when Lance came in that everything started to calm down… though his methods were… less than clean.”

    “Dirty tricks and sowing discord,” Thorne muttered, a sneer curling his lips.

    Andre spat, disgust clear in his tone. “He tortured me until I gave him the rules of the power. And now… I’m handing you the key.” He looked bat /bus both, his face pleading. “I know we’re on opposite sides, but… just rememberb, /bnot all rogues are bad. My father never invaded yournd. Lance is the real enemy. Please, don’t let the others pay for his isins/i. Don’t make me regret this.”

    Thorne’s eyes were cold, unreadable. “We’ll do what we must,” he said, his tone clipped.

    He didn’t say more, just turned and walked out of the tent. I followed, a knot of unease tightening in my chest. Outside, chaos reigned. Guards ran around, desperately trying to put out the fire while panicked women and children fled into the woods. A distant glow in the sky lit up the night, a towering fire that was slowly consuming everything in its path.

    I paused ifor /ia moment, staring at the ze, a strange sense of triumph swelling inside me. It was done. We’d burned the

    “Let’s go,” Thorne whispered to me, his voice soft against the roar of the fire.

    e bto /bthe ground.

    I nodded, slipping my hand into his. Together, we ran into the woods, the flickering light of the fire casting long shadows bacross /bour path.

    As we neared Lance’s pce, the fire’s glow still lingered in the sky, a reminder of what we had just set in motion. Panic had spread bamong /bbthe /bpce guards as they saw the smoke. They scrambled to get a better view from the ramparts, unaware that we had slipped back bundetected/b.

    Once inside the suite, I quickly undressed and tossed my clothes into the firece, burning any evidence of our involvement. bThorne /bbpoured /bbus each /bba /bss of wine, his gaze thoughtful.

    b“/bbTo /bba /bjob well done,” he said, raising his ss.

    I clinked mine against his, the sound sharp in the quiet room. “So, what now?” I asked softly, sipping my wine.

    Thorne sighed, setting his ss down. His fingers lightly tapped the edge of the table as he leaned in close. “Do we really have to talk about that A 1– His voice was rough, like he was avoiding the answer.

    “Yes,” I pressed, searching his face. “I need to know where you stand.”

    “You won’t like what I have to say,” he murmured.

    I paused, biting my lip. I knew him too well. He was always the one to make the hard choices, the ruthless Alpha who saw the world in ck and white.

    “I think destroying Grace Ruin is easier than luring Lance out of the city,” he continued, his voice low. “We could summon our forces, attack, and bwipe /bbout /bany rogues who side with Lance. Most of them are no match for us in battle.”

    “But…” I hesitated, my heart twisting. “I can’t stop thinking about the people here–Kimberly, Andre, even Dora. They didn’t choose to be rogues. bThey /b

    didn’t deserve to die with Lance.”

    Thorne’s jaw tightened, his fingers curling into fists. “I understand, rab, /bbut this is war. We do what we have to do.”

    I took a deep breath, forcing the words out. “Remember when I was kidnapped by the rogues, left alone in the woods?” Tasked quietly.

    Thorne’s expression darkened, his eyes shing with the memory of my pain. “Yeah, I remember.”

    “If my brother hadn’te for me…” I trailed off, my voice barely a whisper. “If I’d be a rogue, would you kill bme /bbtoo/b? Would I be one of the bpeople /byou’d have to destroy?”

    He froze, his grip tightening around my hand, his voice rough. “No! I would never let that happen!” His growl was primal, filled with fury.

    I met his gaze, my heart pounding. “But if it did happen… would you?”

    “Don’t even think about it.” He pulled me into his arms, pressing my head to his chest, his voice a low growl. “Don’t ever make me imagine that. It hurts too much.”

    I could feel his heartbeat, steady and strong beneath my ear, and I breathed in deeply, grounding myself in the rhythm of him. “I’m not asking you to answer, Thorne. Just think about it.”

    He cupped my face gently, his eyes softening, filled with a mix of frustration and love. “You are my priority, ra. No matter what happens. I won’t choose anyone else over you.”

    I melted into his touch, the tension in my body easing. I had no idea what the future held, but in that moment, I felt safe in his arms, even with the storm raging outside.

    Wey there, listening to the distant cries and shouts echoing through the halls of the pce, the sounds of chaos and panic fading as we clung to each.

    other.

    But the peace was short–lived. A knock at the door broke the silence.

    Thorne growled, his eyes shing. “They never give us a moment’s peace.”

    I chuckled, tired and worn. “Go answer it.”

    With a reluctant sigh, Thorne pushed himself out of bed and pulled on his clothesi. /iI wrapped a robe around myself and followed bhim /bbout/b.

    When the door opened, a group of soldiers stood outside, their faces grim.

    “Alpha Thorne,” one of them said, his voice urgent. “The King requests your presence in the Counseling Hall. General bDanton /bbis /bbdead/bb. /b