A Mother’s Resolve
The chamber was bathed in a surreal glow, the air vibrating with the aftermath of Eira’s power. Isla lowered her arm from her face, her vision clearing as she locked eyes with Eira once again. The twins’ cries echoed softly through the room, their faint voices a beacon pulling Isla forward.
“You have no right to keep them,” Isla said, her voice cutting through the charged air. She took a step closer, her silver eyes blazing. “They’re mine, not yours!”
Eira stood tall, her serene expression unbroken. “Your emotions blind you, Isla,” she said evenly. “These children represent more than you can comprehend. They are safer here, away from the chaos you’ve created.”
“Chaos?” Isla snapped, her voice rising. “You’re the one who created chaos! You stole them—ripped them from their family—and you have the audacity to claim you’re protecting them?”
Eira tilted her head slightly, her lips curving into a faint, condescending smile. “I’ve protected them from a mother who can’t control her power, from a father consumed by vengeance. They are destined for something greater than the small life you offer.”
Draven stepped forward, his claws glinting in the dim light. His amber eyes burned with rage as he growled, “That’s enough. Step aside, or I’ll tear you apart.”
Eira’s silver eyes shifted to him, her expression still calm but her voice gaining an edge. “Do you really believe brute force will solve this, Alpha? You know nothing of the power I wield.”
Isla moved to stand beside Draven, her silver light beginning to flare around her. “I don’t care how powerful you think you are,” she said, her voice trembling with fury. “Those are my children, and I’m taking them back.”
Eira raised a glowing hand, the crescent mark on her forehead flaring with renewed intensity. The runes lining the walls brightened, filling the room with a pulse of magic that sent a shockwave through the chamber. The force threw the group back, separating Isla and Draven from Jamie, Alaric, and the others.
“You want them?” Eira said, her voice echoing ominously. “Then prove you deserve them.”
