The Warrior’s Broken Mate novel Chapter 99

The village was mostly destroyed roofs caved in, walls torn open. A battlefield.

We searched every building. No one. Until Elias stepped out and an arrow nearly hit him, embedding in the hut.

I rushed to him, and people poured from the buildings. A familiar voice called orders.

“Kronos,” I breathed. He pushed through the crowd, stopping in shock before me.

“Lyra. You’re here.” Kronos said, shocked as he lowered his bow and arrow.

“Arthur said you needed help.” I replied.

He hugged me, but Elias growled and stepped between us.

“Kronos, this is Elias. Elias, Arthur’s guard, Kronos.” I said.

“He doesn’t touch you again.” Elias snapped.

“I did warn you about possessive mates.” I said.

“I didn’t know it was that bad.” Kronos admitted.

“Why did you attack?” I asked.

“We saw those creatures.” He said.

“Werewolves. They’re with us. Spread the word – more survivors are out there and our wolves are looking for them. The wolves aren’t going to hurt them.” I instructed.

“You two. Go to the other camps.” Kronos ordered two of his men. So they ran back from where they came from, a small forest that was still standing beyond the village and got on

their horses and took off.

“So, you’re here to save the day. How do you plan on doing that?” Kronos asked.

“No idea. I needed to come here and see how bad everything was first.” I said.

“It’s worse than you thought, isn’t it?” He asked.

“A hell of a lot worse.” I said.

“Well, we need to start preparing. It’s going to be nightfall soon. It gets really cold here at night and we can’t survive without a fire.” Kronos said.

“Her people will see a fire.” I said.

“Exactly.” He said.

His people dispersed to set up camp, stretching a canopy over the village to hide the firelight. They secured the sides, cloaking the place from view. I was surprised we’d walked straight in -it could’ve been a trap. There was no food cooking, which made me wonder if one of our wolves had been their prey. The wolves patrolled the perimeter while I stared toward the ruins of Arthur’s castle, its faint glimmer still visible. Arthur sat by the fire with Kronos, speaking in hushed tones. He kept glancing at me. I couldn’t catch their words, but for once, even a werewolf whispered well.

I felt Elias approach, and before I could turn, he was behind me, his arms wrapping around my waist as I stared out into the endless darkness.

“Do you feel that same worry I’m feeling?” He whispered, his breath warm against my ear.

“Yeah.” I murmured. “We’ll see what happens tomorrow. If it doesn’t sit right, we leave.”

“I’m glad we think alike.” He said softly.

“I didn’t come here to be tricked into something that could hurt you, me, or our pack.” I admitted.

“I know.” He replied, pressing closer. “If he’s scheming, he’s damn good at it.”

“He’s a King. Lying comes naturally to them.” I said, a hint of bitterness in my voice.

“Really?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Did I say werewolf King?” I teased.

“Nice save.” He said, and I chuckled against him.

“Our warriors will be up all night. We should rest.” I suggested.

“Yeah. Me too.” He said. “I found a hut that’s not too ruined. Already claimed it.”

“Perfect.” I said, turning into him, feeling the warmth of his body against mine.

Glass. Frame carved with thorns. And the woman in the glass was not me.

She stared with eyes like coal; her lashes were long, knife–sliced shadows. Her cheekbones cut the light. Her lips my lips – were painted a colour that felt wrong on my tongue. For a breath I thought she would blink and the joke would be over. The mirror did not lie.

I – not I – the black witch looked back. And behind her eyes, something moved. Memory, maybe. Or the residue of a life I had not lived.

—

Panic struck like a hand at my ribs. I raised my fingers to my face and they did not tremble. The nails were longer, tipped with a darkness that caught the light. When I laughed a sound I did not recognize the laugh came out low and amused, not mine but not entirely foreign either.

—

Warmth flooded me then, not the warmth of sunlight but the searing, humming hunger of power.

I tasted it sweet, coppery, familiar and stomach sank. I tried to summon my own

my memories, but a film muffled them. The black witch’s thoughts bled through, brushing the edges of my life until I didn’t know where I ended and she began.

I should have resisted, ripped her from me, shouted my truth.

Outside, the forest exhaled. A name I loved echoed beyond the trees, and the castle’s bells tolled – not warning, but summons.

I touched my lips. They were cold. The black witch’s smile curved up, and for the first time since the mirror, something like laughter – but not mine – escaped.

—

I jolted awake really suddenly and Elias jumped as well, sitting up to see what was happening around the hut.

He saw me shaking, breathing hard, and pulled me close, holding me tight.

“It’s alright. You’re safe. It was just a bad dream.” Elias whispered.

Safe now, maybe. But what the hell was that? I’d been inside the black witch’s body. This wasn’t just a nightmare – it was something far worse.