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A DEADLY LURE
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Reckoning of the purple moon FORGING UNITY
POV: HardinMy eyes sharp, overlooking no detail, the clang of steel on steel boomed across the enormous training hall as I circled the sparring pair."Lorac, you're leaving your guard on the left!" I let out a yell. "You would be dead twice over by now if this were a real battle."Grunting, sweat beading on his brow, the young warrior battled to stop his opponent's relentless assault. He changed his position and tightened his defenses, to his credit.Fantastic. In the next few days, they would need every bit of discipline and ability.I let my eyes span the whole of the hall, counting the others as the simulated fight raged on. Some were improving their reflexes and stamina by running routines. Others crowded into tiny groups, grimly inspecting and reevaluating their weapons.Tension permeated the air, a tangible sense of expectation mixed with a tiny bit of fear. After all, we were getting ready to attack the very center of Callum's fortress, an action that would very well decide th
Reckoning of the purple moon SHATTERED LOYALTY
POV: MiaRunning my hands through my messy hair, I walked the length of my little flat. My head spun with opposing ideas and feelings, each fighting for supremacy.How had everything fallen so wildly out of hand?Not ideal, maybe, but at least reasonably steady just a few days ago was my life. I had my job, my schedule, and occasionally deviations with Callum to keep things interesting.But now? Now everything I knew had been turned on its head, thrown into the merciless glare of truth, and oh, how that light burned.I trembled, remembering the expression in Ivory's eyes when she had told me Callum's actual nature was that of a deep depravity. I had first rejected her statements, writing off them as the ranting of an envious ex.She spoke, though, and the more facts she exposed, the more difficult it got to ignore the awful reality. The man I had idolized, Callum, wanted, to serve without hesitation; he was simply a monster. A twisted monstrosity masquerading as authority and reputati
Reckoning of the purple moon THE CALM BEFORE
POV: Darrell WilliamsThe evening seemed to be thick and stifling, pressing in from all directions. Standing at the mouth of the cave, I peered out into the inky blackness past our small campground.Callum plotted and schemed somewhere out there, definitely preparing his forces for the unavoidable collision. At the idea, I shivered as my muscles tightened, coiled like a serpent ready to strike." Cannot sleep?"I started but turned not looking at the quiet voice behind me. A second later Ivory dropped into step next to me, her sharp eyes easily searching the darkness."You could say that," I said, allowing the age's understatement some voice. Relaxation? With so many lives underweight and so much at stake hanging on my shoulders? Simply thinking about it was ridiculous.Out of the corner of my eye, Ivory nodded, as though she knew the currents of uncertainty and fear churning inside me. After all, we had traveled a long, violent path together. Maybe she did.We slipped into silence, e
Reckoning of the purple moon THE CHOICE
POV: Jeremy WilliamsWith my thoughts racing, I paced back and forth in the tiny space. It was all such a disorienting chaos. I had regarded Darrel as a father figure for a very long time. I was reared in the pack by him, sheltered, and cared for. But now that I knew all of his lies and Ivory's real identity, I was at a loss for ideas.I jumped as I heard a faint knock at the door. "Jeremy? "It's me, may I enter?" Ivory spoke out in a soft voice.She came in with a worried look on her face as I opened the door. Ivory was the one person who seemed to genuinely care about me and was kind and nurturing, much like the mother I never had.She inquired, putting a reassuring hand on my shoulder, "Are you alright?" "I know this is all a lot to take in."I gently shook my head. "Ivory, I'm really confused. I've treated Darrel like a father figure, so how come I now know that he has been lying to me all along? that you truly are my mom?" The weight of the disclosures crushed me, causing tears t
Reckoning of the purple moon ASSAULT OF THE FORTRESS
POV: Darrell WilliamsThe darkness appeared to engulf them, oppressive and dense. Peering through the darkness, I saw Callum's fortress standing there, a massive structure made of stone and iron, encircled by tall walls and guards on patrol. We were going to attack the center of the viper's nest here.I faced the group of warriors who had surrounded me. I could see the terror beneath the determined expressions on the faces of Hardin, Tera, Lorac, and the others. Even though we were vastly outnumbered, we had no other option. Before Callum's evil influence poisoned us all, it had to be removed."You understand what lies ahead," I growled softly. "Callum's troops are well equipped and trained. He has warped intentions and will battle violently to defend his fortress."I looked directly into each of their eyes. "I won't lie: many of us won't make it through the impending struggle. However, our cause is righteous. In the face of his depravity, we struggle to preserve our kind, our culture
Reckoning of the purple moon BROKEN BOND
POV: Darrell WilliamsThe shroud of smoke and anarchy whirling all around me seemed to distort the world into flashes. Jenna's scared face as Callum's sword caressed her throat. The amazed stillness of the infiltration crew. Hardin still silently approaching a vague target.It required every bit of will not to just run ahead, consequences be damned. To attempt to find Jenna, my friend, my universe whole. But Callum's icy pledge of merciless death for any reckless move held me like a chain of frozen iron.Rather, my voice came out in a ferocious snarl. Calum! You turned monster, let her go. In all this she is innocent.The dark figure on the parapet laughed, a sound completely lacking of laughter that caused the back of my neck to have hair raised. "Innocent? Alpha, none of the components in our world are ever quite innocent enough to be given up."Jenna started to cry in terror as he casually flicked another little line of red across her flesh. "You stupid she is my leverage. My promi
Reckoning of the purple moon FATAL PASSAGE
POV: Ivory WellsAs I descended further into Callum's stronghold, the smoke-filled air stung my eyes and caused wateriness. Around me screamed the symphony of battle: steel smashing on steel, the terrible sound of rending flesh.But I drove it all to the margins, my senses sharpened with laser-like attention toward one single goal: locating my daughter Darcy. After so many years of believing her missing, I at last got proof she existed, held hostage someplace in this horrible land.Low, I passed a knot of Callum's guards interacting with Hardin's infiltration team. A few tried to turn and interact with me, but I was already swirling like a whirling tornado of flashing blades and kicked up smoke. They dropped silently and then rejoined the dusty haze.Part of me understood the need for every life lived and every hurt caused. But it was a little, always dwindling voice against the tidal urgency pushing me ahead. Once Darcy was in my arms once more, I could grieve the price of my deeds.
Reckoning of the purple moon INTO THE DEN
POV: HardinAs my squad and I battled our way deeper inside Callum's citadel, the air was filled with smoke and the sounds of injured people breathing heavily. Bodies everywhere, both enemy and ours, littered the ground. The price was already shown to be rather high.However, we could not and would not be discouraged. Not when we'd finally broken through Callum's warped domain's inner sanctum. Somewhere around here, Jenna was being held captive as his last, ruthless negotiating chip.Before that filthy creature could inflict whatever tortures his cruel imagination could conjure as "reinforcement" of his demands, we had to get to her."This way!" I gave the order with a bark and led the charge toward the big adamantium doors at the far end of a smoke-filled corridor. Callum's conceit would not permit anything less than them to serve as the entrance to his throne room.Blades leading, two guards erupted from a cross passage. I parried the first's poor attack with scorching speed, fallin
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