Chapter 293 Chaser CASSANDRA ; Unfortunately, our moment of bliss didn’tst long.


    The night before we were set to leave the Alpha of Red Stone’s home and head toward Wega, an


    ident happened.


    We were packing up some of our belongings when we heard a short screech. It was a haunting, terrible


    sound that stood out in this silent ce. It was the kind of noise that made the hairs on the back of my


    neck stand straight up, and a shiver traveled down my spine.


    I braced for something horrible, but when we rushed to the window and


    nced outside, there was nothing to be seen. I nced around, waiting for a second utterance, and


    when it didn’t — happen, I thought maybe it had been my imagination.


    Just as we turned around to get back to packing, a second screech was heard, short but clear.


    Asher and I rushed out of the room and met the others in the hallway.


    Everyone else had heard the sound as well. We did a headcount to make sure all were present, but to


    our surprise, two soldiers of Red Stone were missing.


    The Alpha ordered his remaining men to search the perimeter and find the missing soldiers. He joined


    them outside and they were gone for a good amount of time, but when they


    returned, they revealed they hadn’t found the missing soldiers.


    “It’s like they vanishedpletely,” the Alpha remarked with a shake of his head. “It’s like they were


    taken by ghosts.” It was a metaphor, but we all knew it couldn’t be a ghost.


    There was a logical answer, but all seemed unwilling to say it. Finally, the Alpha spoke again.


    “It was likely someone from Yurene,” he sighed. “They finally found this ce.” “If that’s the case, why


    would they take two soldiers?” Asher pointed o “Wouldn''t they go straight for Cassandra?” “That would


    mean that Cassandra i


    their target,” Helene chimed in, her caramel eyes regarding me seriously.


    I remained silent as they spoke, but Helene’s words ushered in a realization. If the target wasn’t me,


    who would be the one worth chasing? There was only one answer that made sense to me.


    Raven.


    I immediately turned on my heels and rushed wordlessly down the hall to the room we’d locked the


    sorceress in. I opened the door, and just as expected, someone was kneeling down in front of Raven


    trying to open her chain.


    Asher appeared behind me a secondter and we recognized the intruder at


    once.


    It was Roxy. = Raven''s fearsome twin sister reacted swiftly and jumped out through the window.


    Ravenughed like a maniac at the spectacle, meanwhile, the rest of us chased after Roxy. I raced as


    fast as I could, half expecting her to get away, but much to my surprise, Roxy hadn’t gotten away. She


    was waiting for us in the yard, her eyes fierce as they stared back at us.


    I''was surprised she hadn’t fled. I''d expected her to vanish into the night but she was clearly here to


    save her sister. Determination painted her expression and even from my vantage, I could see her nails


    extend into ws.


    The Alpha of Red Stone ordered his soldiers to attack, but as his men lept in her direction, it was clear


    that they were no match for the dark-haired warrior. Roxy was so swift that she was like a shadow. She


    maneuvered around the soldiers and attacked them so deftly that they didn’t even have a chance to


    shield themselves. They fell prey to her attacks and died immediately when she ripped apart their


    necks in one easy motion.


    It was simultaneously a terrifying and amazing sight. She was fluid and graceful while still being


    powerful.


    Watching her, I could understand why Raven had rmended that I ask her sister for guidance on


    fighting. Roxy was like a killing machine. She ran on pure instinct, seemingly guessing her opponent’s


    moves before they


    happened. It was a gift.


    Not for us, of course. / She was an enemy, not just someone to marvel at.


    “We can’t defeat her,” Helene uttered behind me. “Roxy is too powerful. We need to run.” The Alpha of


    Red Stone released an agitated growl. “No. We can’t run. I watched two of my soldiers die at her


    hands.” He rushed forward, ignoring Helene’s suggestion, andunched an attack on Roxy. Despite his


    age, he was a good fighter. The Alpha was swift on his feet and managed to hold his own.


    Roxy managed to avoid his attacks, but she was unable tond a single blow.


    She was forced to move backward into


    the shadow of the trees.


    The Alphaughed, the sound mocking and crueler than expected. eT “I''ll take your life yet, girl,” he


    called out to her. “My men will be avenged!” His words had been brave but he had underestimated


    Roxy''s abilities.


    Up until now, she hadn’t used magic, but that changed quickly. Sparks formed around her hands,


    setting her blue-green eyes aze.


    She flew forward. One moment she was in front of the Alpha of Red Stone, but in the sh of a second,


    she was behind him and her ws dug into his back. As a deep cry of pain escaped him, he sank to his


    knees on the ground.


    Seeing this, we all lept forward. I


    | hadn''t intended to fight, but I wasn’t going to let the Alpha who had done so much for us get hurt. Ne


    Just as Roxy raised her ws to deliver another blow, we rushed at her. Asher managed to knock her


    to the ground and a pair of soldiers quickly nked their Alpha.


    Helene was right. Roxy’s power was horrible.


    She dealt with the rest of the soldiers in no time. All became a flurry of movement, and Asher and I


    could barely keep her under control.


    Rayden tried to join in, but I heard Helene stop him.


    “You''ll die if you move forward,” she said firmly. “You''re already injured, Rayden, and besides, Wild


    Crawler


    This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    | needs their Alpha. Stand back.” Roxy stared me down as this exchange took ce. opr “If you keep


    getting in my way, I’11 kill you,” she threatened with a growl.


    “If you were capable of that, you''d have done it already,” I fired back angrily.


    She growled again and nced between Asher and me. She seemed to realize we were too difficult to


    deal with and suddenly changed her direction. She rushed toward Helene and Rayden, and just as she


    moved, I realized they weren’t alone.


    Erika and Finnick stood right beside Helene.


    Panic flooded through me. I couldn’t move as fast as Roxy. Desperation


    coursed through me, and suddenly a shout escaped my lips.


    “No!” pe Roxy suddenly froze in ce as everyone stared in disbelief. The sorceress then fell to the


    ground and stared at me in shock.


    I realized at once that I had somehow controlled Roxy’s movements with my magic.


    She red at me with hatred, and while she stared at me, the Alpha of Red Stone moved quickly and


    launched his attack against Roxy. Unlikest time, she didn’t expect it, and his ws were about to rip


    her chest open, but before they made contact, someone | rushed out and got between them and Roxy.


    It was Raven.


    The Alpha’s ws pierced her chest instead. SE Shocked silence hung in the air and blood soaked


    Raven’s clothes immediately. The Alpha retreated in surprise, removing his ws from the sorceress,


    and when he stepped back, Roxy broke out of her paralysis and took Raven into her arms.


    “Raven!” she sobbed as she held her sister close.


    “I’m sorry,” Raven apologized weakly as she coughed up blood. “I was always a disobedient sister. I


    hope you’ll forgive me this onest time-" Her sentence trailed off and then she grew limp.


    Just as her heart stopped beating, Roxy


    let out a wail of despair.


    Raven was dead.