Chapter 287

~Samantha~

My hand was literally burning and Dominic wasn’t letting go.

“Keep pressing!” Silas yelled over the sound of the entire basement shaking. “The circle’s almost open p>

“Almost open?” I could barely see through the blinding light shooting out of the parchment. “What does that even mean p>

“It means don’t move or we are back to square one!” Dominic’s hand covered mine, his blood mixing with my blood on the ancient markings, and the whole thing just kept getting brighter and hotter.

The floor cracked beneath us. The huge kind that made you wonder if you were about to fall through into whatever nightmare existed below ancient wolf tombs.

Killian had backed up against the far wall, shielding his eyes. “You’re going to bring the whole place down p>

“Then you better hope we finish before that happens!” I shouted back.

The light reached a peak that felt like staring directly into the sun, and then everything stopped.

The shaking. The noise. The light.

I blinked away the spots in my vision and looked down at the parchment.

The magic circle was gone.

In its place was writing. Glowing gold writing that definitely hadn’t existed two minutes ago.

“What is that?” Dominic leaned closer, squinting at the words.

“The prophecy.” Silas’s voice had gone quiet. Reverent almost. “The one the Wolf Tomb was built to protect p>

“What prophecy?” I tried to read the writing but it kept shifting, changing languages every few seconds like it couldn’t decide what it wanted to be.

“The prophecy about the twin keys.” Silas moved beside us, his eyes scanning the text. “About the Primordial Luna who would bear children strong enough to purify the shadow corruption once and for all p>

My stomach dropped. “The twins. It’s talking about Devon and Diana p>

“Yes.” Silas pointed to specific words that had stopped shifting long enough for me to read them. “Look. ’When the twin keys are awakened, the shadow will be purified.’ That’s them. Your children are the keys to ending Black Moon’s power permanently p>

“Okay, so that’s good news, right?” Killian had moved closer now that things weren’t exploding anymore. “We have the keys. We can end this p>

“Keep reading.” Silas’s finger moved down the page. “There’s more p>

I read the next line and my blood turned to ice.

But the price is a sacrifice of true love.

“No, that can’t be right p>

“What does it mean?” Dominic was reading over my shoulder now. “A sacrifice of true love? Whose love? What kind of sacrifice p>

“It’s not specific.” Silas looked troubled. “Prophecies rarely are. They’re designed to be interpreted, not followed like instructions p>

“That’s convenient.” I couldn’t stop staring at those words. Sacrifice of true love. “So we’re supposed to just guess what it means and hope we get it right p>

“Usually prophecies become clear when the moment arrives.” Silas didn’t sound particularly confident about that. “The important thing is you know it’s coming. You can prepare p>

“Prepare for what?” My voice was rising. “Prepare to lose someone I love? Prepare to watch my children pay some mysterious price for saving the world? That’s not preparing, that’s just waiting for the other shoe to drop p>

“Sam, calm down.” Dominic tried to put his hand on my shoulder but I shook him off.

“Don’t tell me it’ll be okay or we’ll figure it out or any of that.” I was pacing now, couldn’t stand still. “This prophecy is talking about my kids. About sacrificing true love. How am I supposed to be calm about that p>

“You’re not.” Killian’s voice was surprisingly gentle. “You’re supposed to be terrified. Because that’s what any parent would feel. But you’re also supposed to keep going anyway p>

I stopped pacing and looked at him. “When did you get wise p>

“I’m always wise, you just don’t appreciate me enough p>

Dominic moved in front of me, blocking my view of the prophecy. “Listen to me. Whatever this sacrifice means, whatever price needs to be paid, we’ll face it together. All of us. I’m not letting you or the twins go through this alone p>

“My throat was tight. “What if the prophecy says p>

“I don’t care what the prophecy says.” His hands cupped my face, forcing me to meet his eyes. “I will protect you and the children. No matter what. Even if it means I’m the one who pays the price p>

“Don’t say that.” Tears were burning my eyes now. “Don’t you dare say that like you’re willing to just throw yourself away for us p>

“I’d throw myself into hell and many worse places if it meant keeping you alive.” His voice was fierce.

His confession made me blush it hard as I was short of words.

A throat cleared behind us. Silas, looking uncomfortable. “Not to interrupt your love story, but there’s more to the prophecy. You should read the rest p>

I pulled back from Dominic, wiping my eyes quickly. “More? What else could there possibly be p>

Silas pointed to lines below the sacrifice warning. More glowing text that I’d missed in my panic.

The shadow king will rise on blood moon night. The twin keys must stand where light meets dark. Only through their mother’s blood and their father’s strength can the corruption be undone. But beware, the betrayer walks among you, wearing a trusted face.

Killian pointed out. “It’s talking about someone in our inner circle p>

“Someone we trust.” Dominic’s arms had gone rigid around me. “Someone close enough to sabotage everything p>

“Could be anyone.” I looked at the three of them. “Could be one of us, for all we know p>

“It’s not me.” Silas held up his hands. “I’ve been down here for fifteen years. Pretty hard to betray anyone when you never leave the basement p>

“It’s not me either.” Killian’s expression was defensive. “I know I accused you guys of betraying me earlier, but I’m not working for Black Moon. I swear p>

“And it’s definitely not me or Dominic.” I looked at the prophecy again. “So who? Reynold? Liam? One of the pack members we’ve known for years p>

“Or someone we haven’t suspected yet.” Dominic’s voice was grim. “Someone who’s been playing us this whole time p>

My phone buzzed. Text from Diana.

Mom the Silver Claw kids are really cool! They’re teaching us fighting moves! Can we keep them?

Despite everything, I almost smiled. “The twins are asking if we can keep the Silver Claw children p>

“Like they’re puppies?” Killian shook his head. “Your kids are something else p>

“You have no idea.” I texted back: We’ll discuss it later. Are you all staying inside the manor?

Yes! Reynold is making us. He’s being super strict.

Good. Listen to him. I’ll be home soon.

Okay. Love you!

Love you too.