Resisting the Darkness
Isla sat by the narrow window of her chamber, her silver hair glowing faintly in the dim moonlight. Her hands rested on her stomach as she focused inward, searching for the flicker of her bond with Draven. It was faint, a thread stretched impossibly thin, but it was there. She closed her eyes, whispering softly to her unborn twins. “I’ll find a way back to you. To all of us. Just hold on.”
The oppressive energy of the room buzzed around her, the mind-control device humming faintly from its perch near the door. Its runes glimmered with a sickly light, designed to suppress her wolf and sever her from her divine connection. But Isla had always been resilient. If she couldn’t use brute strength, she would find another way.
When Malrik entered, his sharp gray eyes fixed on her with unsettling intensity, Isla didn’t flinch. “You look… serene,” he remarked, his voice carrying its usual mix of charm and condescension. “Acceptance suits you.”
Isla tilted her head, her silver eyes steady. “I was just thinking,” she said, her tone calm but pointed, “if you’re as powerful as you claim, why do you need me? Surely the great Malrik doesn’t require anyone else to fulfill his vision.”
For a fraction of a second, his expression cracked—just enough for Isla to catch the flicker of uncertainty. “Your power is unique,” he said after a brief pause, recovering with a smooth smile. “I don’t need you, Isla. I want you. You complete the balance I’ve always sought.”
Her lips curved into a faint smile, but there was steel behind it. “How flattering,” she murmured, the sarcasm subtle but deliberate.
As Malrik stepped closer, his presence cast a shadow over the room. “You may resist me now,” he said, his tone soft but insidious. “But you’ll come to understand. In time, you’ll see the truth.”
When he finally left, Isla released a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. Alone once more, she turned her attention inward, summoning the faint flicker of warmth she’d felt earlier. It was small but unmistakable—a pulse of energy from the Moon Goddess.
“You’re with me,” she whispered, her voice resolute. “And as long as you are, he won’t win.”
Her hands tightened over her stomach as determination burned in her chest. “He thinks he’s in control,” she murmured. “But he’s wrong. I’ll fight my way out of this, no matter what it takes.”
