Four

The force of the impact sending me to the ground.

The rogue collapsed with a final, pained growl, its massive body falling still. I lay there, gasping for breath, my vision swimming.

Magnus’ boots appeared in my line of sight, and I looked up to find him staring down at me.

“Impressive,” he said, though his tone was devoid of praise. “Perhaps you’re not as fragile as I thought.”

I didn’t have the strength to respond. My body ached, my hands shaking as I tried to push myself up.

“Remember this moment, little human,” Magnus said, his voice cold and unyielding. “This is what survival looks like. Pain. Blood. Death. Get used to it.”

He turned and walked away, leaving me alone in the darkness. As the door slammed shut behind him, I curled into myself, my body trembling with exhaustion and pain.

But I was alive.

And as long as I was alive, I still had a chance to save her.

ARIADNE’S POV

The silence in my chamber was a fragile thing, broken only by the sound of my ragged breathing. My hands wouldn’t stop shaking, even as I pressed them against my knees, forcing myself to stay upright. Blood, both mine and the rogue’s, was crusted on my skin, a macabre reminder of what I’d just done.

The rogue’s dying growl echoed in my mind, its wide, maddened eyes burned into my memory. I hadn’t just killed it, I had survived it. And that made me more dangerous than ever in the eyes of Magnus.

The thought of him sent a fresh wave of anger coursing through me. He had orchestrated the entire thing, throwing me into a pit with a monster to prove a point. I was nothing to him but a pawn in some twisted game, a piece to be tested, broken, and shaped into whatever tool he deemed useful.

I wanted to hate him. God, I wanted to hate him with every fiber of my being. But as much as I despised the Beast King, I couldn’t deny the truth: he’d forced me to unlock a part of myself I didn’t know existed.

“You’re stronger than you think,” my mother’s voice whispered in the back of my mind.

But was I strong enough to face him again? Strong enough to endure whatever new horrors he had planned for me?

A knock at the door shattered my thoughts.

I froze, my heart lurching painfully in my chest. It wasn’t the heavy pounding of a guard. No, this knock was softer, almost hesitant.

The door creaked open, revealing a man with sharp features and dark hair pulled into a loose knot. His eyes, brilliant green and unsettlingly sharp, narrowed as they swept over me.

“Magnus sends his regards,” the man said dryly, stepping into the room without waiting for an invitation.

“And who are you?” I asked, my voice hoarse from screaming.

“Luca Stavros,” he replied, closing the door behind him. “The king’s advisor. And before you ask, no, I’m not here to kill you.”

“Comforting,” I said, though my tone was anything but.

Luca leaned against the wall, crossing his arms over his chest. There was something about him, his easy confidence, the slight smirk playing on his lips, that set me on edge.

“He wanted me to check on you,” Luca continued, his voice laced with something dangerously close to amusement. “See if the ‘little human’ managed to survive her first test.”

I bristled at his words, my fists clenching. “Tell him I’m alive. Barely. But I’m sure he’ll find a way to fix that soon enough.”

Luca chuckled, shaking his head. “You’re a feisty one, aren’t you? No wonder Magnus is so interested in you.”

“He’s not interested in me,” I said bitterly. “I’m just another piece for him to toy with.”

“Maybe,” Luca said, pushing off the wall and walking toward me. “But you’re still here. Most humans wouldn’t have made it this far. Hell, most wolves wouldn’t have.”

I hated the way his words stirred something inside me, a faint flicker of pride I couldn’t quite extinguish.

“What do you want?” I asked, glaring up at him.

“To give you some advice,” he said, crouching down so we were eye level. “Survival here isn’t about strength or skill. It’s about knowing when to fight and when to play the part.”

“And what part am I supposed to play?” I demanded.

Luca’s smirk faded, replaced by something colder, harder. “The one that keeps you alive. Magnus is testing you, but he’s also watching you. Every move you make, every word you say, it all matters. If you want to protect your sister, you need to be smart. Use your head, not just your heart.”

I stared at him, his words settling over me like a heavy weight. He wasn’t wrong. My defiance had gotten me this far, but it wouldn’t keep me alive forever. Not here.

“I didn’t ask for your advice,” I said finally, my voice quiet but firm.

“No,” Luca said, standing and brushing off his pants. “But you’ll need it. Trust me.”

With that, he turned and left, the door clicking shut behind him.

The next morning, the summons came.

A guard appeared at my door, his expression blank but his tone leaving no room for argument. “The king requires your presence.”

My stomach churned as I followed him through the winding halls of the citadel. Each step felt heavier than the last, the memories of the rogue’s attack fresh in my mind.

When we reached the throne room, the doors swung open, revealing Magnus seated on his throne. He looked every bit the king of beasts, his broad shoulders draped in a cloak of black fur, his golden eyes glowing with a predatory light.

“Come closer,” he commanded, his voice filling the chamber.

I hesitated for the briefest moment before stepping forward, my heart pounding so loudly I was sure he could hear it.

Magnus watched me with an intensity that made my skin crawl, his lips curving into a faint, predatory smile. “You survived.”

“You sound disappointed,” I said, my voice steadier than I felt.

He chuckled, a low, rumbling sound that sent shivers racing down my spine. “On the contrary, I’m impressed. You have a stubbornness that borders on stupidity, but it’s served you well so far.”

I clenched my fists, forcing myself to meet his gaze. “Why am I here, Magnus? What do you want from me?”

He leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees as he studied me. “What I want is simple: obedience. Submission. Prove to me that you’re worth the effort. I'm depending on you.”

“And if I don’t?” I asked, though I already knew the answer.

His smile widened, exposing the sharp points of his teeth. “Then you’ll die. Painfully.”

A lump formed in my throat, but I swallowed it down, refusing to let him see my fear. “You can take my life, but you’ll never have my submission.”

The room fell deathly silent, the weight of my words hanging in the air like a blade poised to strike.

Magnus rose from his throne, his movements slow and deliberate as he closed the distance between us. He towered over me, his presence suffocating.