As the Council's ceremonial hall fell into stunned silence, smoke was still in the air.
Her final message, "THE LAST BRIDE IS AWAKENED," was still burned across the altar in smoking black runes, even though the corrupted bride had vanished—vaporized in a flash of unstable magic.
With Rowan behind me and Elian swaying beside me, I stood in the middle of the debris. Nobody moved for a second. Nobody said anything. Then, like wildfire, murmurs spread throughout the crowd.
"A fifth one?"
"There were only supposed to be four."
According to the prophecy, one bride lives. There aren't five.
I took a position in front of the Council thrones.
"Speak the truth," I said in a cold, clear voice. "How many more are there?"
Slowly, one of the elders stood up, a bone-thin woman wearing claw rings and a silver veil.
She stated, "We were informed that there would be four." "However, we never had complete control over Project Moonfall."
Rowan snarled. "So who was in charge of it?"
She gave me a direct look.
"Your mom."
My heart stopped beating.
I shook my head and said, "No." She made an effort to stop them. I got the data key from her—
The elder remarked, "She knew the door would open anyhow, so she gave you the key." "The final protocol was created by your mother."
I gasped for air as I gazed at her.
Rowan took a step next to me. "What is the procedure?"
The elder's mouth twisted downward. "The previous bride was never a clone. She is real; she was born. concealed. groomed from birth to destroy the anchors of the bloodline.
"Anchor?" I asked. "You mean me?"
"Yes," she replied. "And him."
She gestured toward Rowan.
I became motionless.
"What are you saying?"
She was forced to murder the final genuinely bonded couple. to eliminate the only possible outcome of the prophecy. She bears your mother's original mark and is stronger than the others put together.
Rowan tightened his hold on my hand. "Who is she?"
The older one paused.
Then he said something that caused my veins to freeze.
"Vale is her name."
The name struck me like a knife in the chest.
"Vale?" I said again. "But that's—"
Rowan concluded, "Your mother's maiden name."
The elder whispered, "She named her after herself." "Because she thought that the prophecy could only be completed by her."
I stumbled back, attempting to comprehend.
I said, "She had another daughter." "A genuine one?"
"She made her out of everything in you that she couldn't control."
I gave a headshake. "That is illogical. She told me she loved me. She attempted to halt the Council.
The elder concurred, "She loved you." "But she was more afraid of you."
________________________________________
It was gloomy back at Rowan's estate.
As his body recovered from the blood-binding attempts, Elian slept under sedation. A glowing fragment of Elara's tainted brand was thrown into the flames by Rowan, who was standing in front of the fire. Tension was in the air.
I said, "I need to know what we're getting into."
He gave a nod. "My father's sealed file has been activated."
I went cold. "There's a reason you kept that locked."
He explained, "Because I wasn't prepared to know the truth." "I am now."
He entered a series on the wall of the vault. A panel opened with a hiss. A tiny holo-device came on and began projecting a video clip.
Swan's late father, Charles Blackwood, showed up. chilly. Regal. brutal.
"This indicates that Moonfall has reached its last stage if you're seeing it. The terminus is the asset with the name VALE. She isn't a contender. The reset is her. Unbridled, unlinked, and deadly to the very core of the bloodline, she bears the first mark. All others will burn if she bonds.
I took a slow seat.
I muttered, "She's the last bride." "And the one intended to put an end to the others."
Rowan turned the projector off.
He declared, "She's out there now." "And if she discovers us first..."
I said, "She won't." "We'll track her down."
I got up.
walked to the blood archives that were buried beneath the property. The crypts. Every known supernatural bloodline had been listed in stasis in this hallowed location. Entry was restricted to heirs of the Alpha bloodline.
I touched the vault with my hand.
The door opened with a hiss.
The chamber swirled with cool mist.
The crystals pulsed to life, one by one.
Each vial has a name etched on it.
Rowan came in after me.
We arrived at the last column.
Silver pulsed in only one slot.
VALE
Inside, a single drop of blood hung in mid-air.
And Status: Active is below it.
Rowan's eyes narrowed. "The file contains an embedded signal."
He grabbed it.
However, the entire chamber trembled as soon as his finger touched the edge.
The entire estate was alerted.
"Warning: Interference from the blood-link was detected. There is an external match coming up.
My heart was racing.
"She is present."
On the wall of the chamber, a new screen flickered to life.
A woman showed up.
dark hair. pale eyes. A brand that glowed like shackles across both wrists.
She grinned.
"Hello, sister."
"I believe it's time for us to meet."