~Samantha~

“There!” Lila pointed. “Inside!”

We sprinted to the door. Lila kicked it open. We piled in.

“Block it!” Dominic dumped Killian on the floor. Started shoving couches and tables against the entrance. “Windows too!”

We barricaded everything fast. Could hear boots pounding closer outside.

“That door’s not gonna last long,” Lila said, knives already back in her hands. “They’ll bust through.”

“I know. Buys us a minute.” Dominic peeked out a crack in the window. “How many you see?”

“Fifteen. Maybe more joining.”

“Perfect.” I knelt by Killian again. Felt his pulse. Weak but still there. “He needs more. The spell messed him up bad.”

“Then do it quick. Company’s almost here.” Dominic didn’t turn around. Just kept staring out.

I stood. Moved to the window. Saw them circling the cabin. Closing the net.

Then Tall guy stepped through the busted door. Chill as hell. Like he was walking into a party.

“Enough.” His voice sliced through the noise. “Stop.”

Every single one of his guys froze. Mid-swing. Mid-step. Just stopped.

“What the hell?” Dominic panted. Blood dripping off his claws. “Why’d they quit?”

“Because I said so.” Tall guy locked eyes with me. “Luna’s worth more alive. Black Moon was clear. But the rest of you? Disposable.”

“Come get some.” Dominic stepped in front of me. “See how that ends for you.”

“Don’t need to try. Just need to do this.” He raised his hand. Closed it into a fist.

Killian dropped again. Screaming. Purple flooding back into his eyes.

“STOP IT!” I threw blood straight at the guy.

He caught it. Crushed the silver in his fist like it was tissue paper. “Cute. But useless on me.”

“What even are you?” Lila gripped her knives tighter. “You’re not normal.”

“Nope. I’m what happens when Black Moon finishes perfecting the curse.” He smiled. “I’m the endgame version of your buddy over there. If he lives long enough. Which he won’t.”

He flicked his fingers again. Killian screamed louder. Body jerking. Twisting. Curse taking full control.

“Make it stop!” I ran at the guy. “Please! He’s dying!”

“That’s the goal.” Tall guy didn’t flinch. “Black Moon wants him gone. Wants you to watch. Wants you broken before he collects you.”

“He’s not collecting shit!” I dumped everything left. Every last drop of royal blood. A huge wave of silver light exploded through the room.

Tall guy screamed for real. Dropped to his knees. His whole crew dropped too. Burning. Writhing.

“GO!” I yelled. “Everyone out! Now!”

We bolted. Dominic scooped Killian up again. Lila covered the door. I went last. Made sure we all cleared.

Behind us the cabin caught fire. Silver flames chewing through everything.

We ran until we couldn’t hear the screams anymore. Until the glow was gone.

We collapsed in the dirt just outside the clearing, far enough that the heat from the burning cabin hit our faces like a bad sunburn. I stared at the blaze, trying to catch my breath. Then I saw shapes. Dark figures standing right in the middle of the flames. Not burning. Not screaming. Just... standing there like the fire was nothing.

I blinked hard. Rubbed my eyes. “Guys... there are people in the fire.”

Lila groaned from where she was flat on her back. “Sam, you’re seeing things. We torched the place. They’re gone.”

“No, I’m serious.” I sat up straighter. “They’re just standing there. Watching us.”

Dominic lifted his head, squinting. “Babe, you’re exhausted. The smoke’s messing with you. Nobody survives that.”

“I’m not paranoid.” I started, but then the flames parted like curtains.

The tall guy stepped out first. Skin untouched. Clothes barely singed. Behind him, more of Black Moon’s elite. Same black gear. Same masks. They walked straight through the fire like it was a warm shower. At least eight of them. Maybe ten.

They stopped at the edge of the clearing. The tall guy tilted his head, looking at us sprawled out like roadkill.

“Well damn,” he said, voice dripping fake surprise. “You’re still kicking. Thought that little silver bonfire would finish the job. Guess we underestimated the cockroaches.”

Dominic pushed to his feet slow, growling low. “You should’ve stayed inside.”

The tall guy laughed. Short. Mean. “Kill you? Nah. Black Moon wants the show. Wants you to see how pointless this all is. You really thought fire and some fancy blood tricks could end us? We’re the upgraded model. Curse-proof. Fire-proof. You’re just... snacks.”

Killian sat up suddenly. The black lines on his arms pulsed once, bright, then settled. He looked at the tall guy. Then at the others behind him.

“Killian, sit your ass down,” Dominic snapped.

Killian ignored him. Stared straight at the tall guy. “You talk too much.”

The tall guy smirked. “What, the pet’s got something to say?”

Killian cracked his knuckles. Voice came out rough, like gravel. “I’m done running from this curse. If it’s gonna eat me anyway... might as well feed it you assholes first.”

“Killian, you don’t have to do this.” I reached for him. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

He shook his head once. “Back up. All of you. Get in the corner by that tree. Now.”

Lila grabbed my arm. “He’s serious. Move.”

Dominic hesitated, eyes flicking between Killian and the elite. Then he nodded once. “Fine. But if you drop, I’m dragging you out myself.”

We backed up fast. Pressed against the big oak at the edge of the clearing. Watching.

Killian walked forward alone. The elite spread out, forming a loose half-circle. Smirking.

The tall guy spread his arms. “Come on then. Show us what the curse can do when you stop crying about it.”

Killian didn’t answer.

He hit the first guy so hard the mask cracked.

Second guy swung. Killian ducked, came up under him, ripped throat open in one motion.

Third tried to flank. Killian spun, grabbed his arm, snapped it backward, then drove claws into the side of his neck.

The tall guy stopped smiling. “You’re supposed to be weak.”

Killian wiped blood from his mouth with the back of his hand. “Not tonight.”

He went for the tall guy next. Shadows flickering around the tall guy like he was trying to pull some magic.

The other elite rushed in to help. Killian met them head-on. Took hits. Gave worse. One went down with a snapped neck. Another with his chest caved in. Another missing half his face.

When the last one dropped, Killian turned back to the tall guy. Grabbed him by the throat. Lifted him off the ground.

“You tell Black Moon,” Killian said, “next time he wants to play puppet master... send someone who can actually fight.”

Killian turned. Looked at us. Eyes brown again.

“It’s done,” he rasped.

I couldn’t hold back. I rushed forward before I even thought about it, stopping just short of touching him because he was covered in blood, his, theirs, didn’t matter. My hands hovered uselessly near his arms.

“Killian... oh my god, look at you.”

He gave a tired half-smile, the kind that never quite reached his eyes when he was hurting this bad.

Dominic stayed rooted a few feet back. Arms crossed so tight the veins popped in his forearms. Jaw clenched like he was biting back glass. He didn’t say shit.

Lila caught it too. Her eyes darted between us, one brow arched high.