Sera's POV
Uncle.
Caspian's voice is dead. Empty. Like something inside him just broke and can't be fixed.
Mordren stands before us in his black and gold robes, surrounded by at least thirty Temple hunters. He looks exactly like I imagined tall, handsome, with Caspian's same ice-blue eyes. But where Caspian's eyes show pain, Mordren's show only cold calculation.
You look surprised, nephew, Mordren says with a smile that doesn't reach his eyes. Did you really think I wouldn't know about your little discovery?
You killed them. Caspian's hand tightens on his blade. My parents. You killed them and made me believe a Heretic did it.
I did what was necessary. Mordren sounds bored, like we're discussing the weather. Your parents discovered certain... inconsistencies in the Temple's teachings. They were going to expose us. Destroy everything we've built. I couldn't allow that.
They were your family!
They were traitors. Mordren's voice turns sharp. Just like you're becoming.
Caspian takes a step forward, rage burning in his eyes. I grab his arm, holding him back.
Don't, I whisper. That's what he wants.
Mordren's smile widens. How sweet. The Heretic protecting her mate. Tell me, Sera Nightshade, does he know what you really are yet?
Ice runs through my veins. What are you talking about?
You don't know? Mordren laughs. Oh, this is delicious. The Moon Goddess marked you as a Heretic, yes. But she didn't tell you why, did she?
To break the Cycle of Chains, I say, trying to sound confident. To free the mate bonds from the Temple's control.
Partially true. Mordren starts walking toward us, his hunters moving with him. But there's more. You see, every century, the Moon Goddess creates a Heretic. And every century, that Heretic is given a choice save the wolves, or destroy them.
Caspian moves in front of me. Stay back.
Your parents were Heretics too, Sera, Mordren continues, ignoring Caspian. Both of them. Did you know that? They had the same power you do. And they chose to use it to help the Temple control other wolves.
You're lying, I breathe.
Am I? Ask yourself why did your pack turn on you so quickly? Why did your own parents call you an abomination? Mordren's eyes gleam with cruelty. Because they knew what you'd become. What you'd be forced to choose.
My heart pounds. I don't believe you.
Then believe this. Mordren pulls something from his robes a small mirror that glows with silver light. Look into it. See the truth for yourself.
Don't, Caspian warns.
But I have to know.
I step forward and look into the mirror.
Images flood my mind memories that aren't mine. I see my parents, younger, using their Heretic powers not to free wolves but to bind them. I see them working with the Temple, helping create the Binding Altar. I see them making the choice I'm terrified of making.
They chose to destroy.
No, I gasp, stumbling backward. That's not real. It can't be
It's real, Mordren says. Your parents built the very system you think you're going to destroy. And when they realized what they'd created, when they tried to break it, I had them executed. Just like I'm going to execute you.
Caspian catches me as my legs give out. He's lying, Sera. He has to be.
I wish I was, Mordren says. But the truth is simple Heretics always choose power. Always choose control. You think you're different? You're not. Give it time, and you'll make the same choice they did.
Rage burns through my fear. I am nothing like them!
Prove it. Mordren gestures, and his hunters surround us. Surrender now. Come quietly to your execution. If you're truly innocent, truly different from your parents, then you won't fight back.
That's insane, Caspian snarls.
Is it? If she fights, she proves she's willing to hurt others to save herself. Just like every Heretic before her. Mordren's smile is poisonous. So what will it be, Sera? Will you come peacefully? Or will you show your true nature?
It's a trap. I know it's a trap.
If I surrender, I die. If I fight, I prove him right.
Don't listen to him, Caspian whispers urgently. We'll fight our way out
And kill how many wolves? I ask quietly. How many people just following orders, believing the lies they've been taught?
Sera
He's right about one thing, I say, my voice breaking. If I use my power to hurt people, I'm no different than what he says I am.
Caspian grabs my shoulders, forcing me to look at him. You are different. You're good and kind and you've spent three years running instead of fighting back. That's who you are.
Is it? Tears burn my eyes. Or am I just scared? What if he's right? What if I'm one bad choice away from becoming
You're not. Caspian's voice is fierce. I know you're not. The mate bond doesn't lie, Sera. And everything in me says you're worth fighting for.
Something in his words steadies me.
I look at Mordren, at his hunters, at the trap closing around us.
Then I make my choice.
I'll surrender, I say clearly. But only if you let Caspian go. He was just doing his duty as a High Priest. He doesn't deserve punishment for my crimes.
NO! Caspian's grip tightens. Sera, don't
How noble, Mordren interrupts. But I'm afraid that's not an option. You see, my nephew has already committed treason. He fought his own hunters to protect you. He learned the truth about his parents and didn't immediately kill you for it. He's chosen you over the Temple.
He hasn't chosen anything, I argue desperately. He's confused
I've chosen her.
Caspian's words cut through the tension like a blade.
He steps forward, still holding my hand, and faces his uncle with his head high.
You're right, Caspian says. I've chosen Sera over the Temple. Over you. Over everything I was taught to believe. Because I'd rather die with her than live another day serving your lies.
My heart stops.
Caspian, no
I'm done being your weapon, Caspian continues, his voice ringing with power. Done hunting innocent people. Done pretending the Temple is something good when it's built on murder and manipulation.
Mordren's face darkens. You ungrateful
And I'm done listening to you. Caspian raises his blade. If you want Sera, you'll have to go through me.
Pride and terror war inside me. You can't fight them all
Watch me.
The hunters attack.
Caspian moves like lightning, his blade flashing as he cuts through the first wave. I throw up barriers of moonlight, protecting our backs, while he handles the front.
We fight together like we were born to it his precision and my power creating a perfect storm.
But there are too many.
A hunter breaks through, slashing at Caspian's side. He staggers, blood blooming across his white robes.
NO! Power explodes out of me, sending hunters flying in all directions.
But more keep coming.
Mordren watches from the sidelines, not even bothering to fight. He knows he's won. It's just a matter of time.
Sera, Caspian gasps, pressing a hand to his bleeding side. You need to run. I'll hold them off
I'm not leaving you!
You have to
A blade flashes.
Kieran appears from nowhere, his sword aimed at Caspian's heart.
Time slows.
I see the blade coming. See Caspian too injured to dodge. See my mate about to die.
And I make a choice.
I reach out with my power not to create barriers or throw blasts of light, but to do the one thing I swore I'd never do.
I grab the mate bond between Kieran and his partner I can feel it, a silver thread connecting them and I pull.
The bond doesn't break. But it twists, sending agony through Kieran.
He screams and drops his sword, clutching his chest.
I've done it. I've used my power to hurt someone through their mate bond.
I've become exactly what they said I was.
The fighting stops. Everyone stares at me in horror.
Even Caspian.
Sera, he breathes. What did you do?
Before I can answer, Mordren starts clapping.
There it is, he says with satisfaction. The true nature of a Heretic. Thank you for proving my point so beautifully.
Shame burns through me. I didn't break it. I just
You weaponized a mate bond, Mordren interrupts. Just like your parents. Just like every Heretic before you. You're all the same.
No. But my voice is weak.
Caspian steps toward me, and I flinch back.
Don't look at me like that, I whisper. Please. I did it to save you
I know, Caspian says quietly.
Then he pulls me into his arms.
I know, he repeats against my hair. And I understand. You had no choice.
But I used my power to hurt someone
To save me. Caspian pulls back, cupping my face in his hands. That's the difference, Sera. You didn't do it for power or control. You did it out of love.
Tears stream down my face. How can you still
Because I love you too, Caspian says simply.
The world stops.
He said it. Out loud. In front of everyone.
Mordren's expression twists with disgust. How pathetic. Kill them both.
The hunters advance again.
But before they can reach us, the ground starts shaking.
Silver light explodes from the cave behind us brighter than the moon, brighter than the sun, so bright we all have to look away.
When I can see again, someone is standing in the cave entrance.
A woman with dark hair streaked with silver and eyes exactly like mine.
My mother.
She's alive. Luna was right.
And she's not alone.
Behind her stand dozens of wolves all of them marked with the Heretic's symbol.
All of them glowing with power.
Hello, Mordren, my mother says, her voice cold as ice. Did you really think you killed us all?
Mordren's face goes pale. Impossible. You're dead. I watched you burn
You watched an illusion burn. My mother smiles, and it's terrifying. We've been waiting, gathering our strength, preparing for this moment. And now, thanks to my daughter, the time has come.
She looks at me, and her expression softens.
Hello, Sera. I'm sorry I left you. Sorry I let you believe you were alone. Her eyes harden again as she turns back to Mordren. But that ends now. The Heretics are done hiding. Done running. Done letting you control our people through fear and lies.
The air crackles with power as all the Heretics raise their hands.
This is war, my mother declares.
And the forest erupts into chaos.