"You failed your mission and dare come back?" The woman scolds, her sharp eyes fixed on the rigid figure before her. Ella stands motionless, her body refusing to flinch under the weight of the accusation. She knows better than to aggravate the situation by justifying her failure or the days of silence that followed.
The Organization cares for nothing but results. The method doesn't matter, only success is acknowledged.
"And her?" The Lady's gaze narrows as she realizes that Mia, Ella's constant shadow, is nowhere in sight. Wherever Ella goes, Mia follows, unless she's dead.
That would be a relief. Mia was nothing but a liability, to the Organization and, more importantly, to their most valuable asset: Ella.
"She's fine." Ella wipes the stupid grin off her face. No more details are needed; the thoughts running through her mind are clear enough.
"That's quite unfortunate." The lady makes no effort to hide her dissatisfaction. She is not one to conceal her emotions.
"Tell me, what should I do with you after your failure?"
A tricky question. One Ella is all too familiar with. If she suggests a punishment, the lady will rage, double it, and blame her for asking. If she says nothing, the electric whip, the standard punishment for failure, will be waiting.
"Go on, I'm all ears."
Ella meets her gaze head-on. "I don't deserve punishment. And even if I did, you wouldn't dare give me one."
The lady's fingers curl into the wooden table. Her eyes widen at the sheer audacity.
"You think I won't punish you because you're a valuable asset?" Her voice is eerily calm as she pushes away from the table. She strides forward, eyes locked on Ella's in challenge.
But Ella doesn't flinch. She holds her ground, her unwavering gaze sending a shiver down the lady's spine.
"You won't," Ella states, "not because I'm an asset, but because only I can complete this mission."
"And why is that?"
"Because only I have the ability to do so." Her voice is steady, certain. "By now, I know you're not human. I should have realized it sooner. But it doesn't matter. I know now, you're one of them."
Her time at Wills Hills had exposed enough truths. She might not have the full picture, but her gut tells her one thing: this mission is hers alone to accomplish.
"You sent me because I'm the only one who can do it. Because you're afraid to do it yourself. I don't know why you want that stone, but I know you need it. And I can get it." Her lips curl slightly. "You could try, but you might not make it out alive."
If John's words are true, anyone outside his bloodline who touches the gemstone will freeze to death. That makes Ella the only exception. The only leverage the Organization has. They wouldn't dare strike too hard.
"Impressive."
A tiny smirk tugs at the lady's lips. The girl is sharp, half right, at least. Yes, she needs the stone. But it isn't fear that keeps her from retrieving it herself. It's simple logic. Ella is the only one who can handle it without dying.
Besides, her grudge against the Ice-Pack still lingers. And then there's John... the past she has never quite buried. He had chosen power over her. Rejected her for a stronger witch.
That was fine. Because one day, she would be more powerful than any witch in existence. And then, she would show him her worth.
The gemstone is only a piece of the puzzle. A key to unlocking something greater, someone greater. A being powerful enough to grant her what she desires most.
"Fine." She clasps her hands together, her smirk widening. "You got me. I'm a witch. By now, I assume you've figured out plenty about my kind." She leans in slightly. "So here's the deal. Go back and finish your mission. But this time, you're not just stealing the gemstone. You'll also bring me the White Witch's pearl earrings and the Dark Witch's ring. Deliver those to me, and I will cure your friend from my poison and grant you both the freedom you so desperately want."
Ella holds her gaze for a moment longer. Then, she gives a slow nod.
The deal is made.
....
At the other end of the territory, Steffen's meeting with the council comes to an abrupt end, a plan set in motion to capture Teslime. The moment he steps out, urgency claws at his chest, Ella is missing from the mansion. His men scatter in search of her, their footsteps pounding against the soil. His voice, sharp and commanding, cuts through the air like a blade.
"You are all dead if she isn't found," he growls, meaning every word. If his mate is gone, their lives will be forfeit before the sun sets.
Then, her scent. A familiar trail rushes through him, igniting his blood with both relief and rage. Without hesitation, he takes off, following the scent until it leads him to the front gate, where he finds her, exhausted, yet standing.
"Where were you?" His voice is a scolding snarl, his frustration unmasked. "How did you get past the guards?"
Ella barely flinches at the sharp edge of his voice, but her gaze flickers, just briefly, toward Balu, who stands stiffly to the side. Balu's fingers dig into her thighs, a nervous tremor betraying the calm she struggles to maintain. Her wide, pleading eyes lock onto Ella's, silently begging her to stay quiet.
Fear laces through Balu's veins, cold and paralyzing. If Steffen discovers the truth, that she allowed Ella to escape, he will never look at her the same way again. His wrath could level her, his disappointment could strip her of the status she has worked tirelessly to secure. Worse, he might cast her out completely.
She cannot let that happen.
"Tell me, how did you get out without being seen?"
"I,I'm sorry," Ella says, her voice controlled. "I was troubled and needed fresh air. I went for a stroll. The guards must not have noticed when I used the back door."
Balu releases the breath she didn't realize she was holding. Relief floods her chest. If Ella had uttered a single word about her involvement, everything she valued, her position, her loyalty to Steffen, would have crumbled. Yes, she had distracted the guards to help Ella flee, but it was never out of kindness. She wanted Ella gone. She wanted Steffen to stop being so consumed by her.
And yet, she's back.
Steffen's tense expression softens slightly. "Don't do that again," he says, his voice lower but still firm. "If you ever need to leave, tell me. I will accompany you myself."
She nods. "I'm sorry. It won't happen again."
The momentary relief in Steffen's features is almost imperceptible, but Ella catches it. She has been gone for only hours, but in that time, his world had begun to collapse. The mate bond is eating away at his defenses, his emotions unraveling in ways he never expected.
Every second without her presence felt like a knife twisting in his chest.
"Can I rest now? I'm exhausted," she asks, careful not to sound too eager to leave.
Steffen nods, granting permission. She ascends the stairs toward her room, but as soon as the door closes behind her, she exhales a sharp breath. Her body aches from the journey, from the desperate change of vehicles, from ensuring she returned unnoticed. But all of that effort feels like nothing now.
Because the real challenge lies ahead.
Three weeks. That is all she has to steal the gemstone, the white witch's pearl earrings, and the dark witch's ring. Three weeks to complete the mission or watch Mia die.
"Three weeks, that's all you have to save your friend from my poison. I will give you a pill to subdue its effects, but if you fail to bring me what I ask for, she will die. And believe me, no one but I can save her."
The words still ring in her ears when another voice cuts through her thoughts.
"Why have you returned?"
Ella's head snaps up, her gaze locking onto Balu, who now stands in her room, displeasure written all over her face.
Great. This day keeps getting better.
"What do you want?" Ella asks, her voice flat with exhaustion. She already knows what's coming.
"You were supposed to leave and never come back. So why are you here?"
Ella smirks. "You don't look happy to see me."
Balu's eyes flash with barely contained rage. Her cheeks puff with frustration, her lips press into a thin line. It's almost cute.
"Listen, I didn't want to come back, but my hands are tied," Ella says, lifting her hands as if bound.
Balu scoffs. "I don't see any ropes."
Ella sighs. "I couldn't bear the thought of leaving your king. You know he'd go mad if his mate weren't here."
Balu's expression darkens. "Oh, spare me the drama. We both know you didn't come back for love. What's the real reason?"
Ella leans back against the wall, arms crossed. Balu is pushing, fishing for information, but she won't get anything. Trained assassins don't spill secrets, especially not to someone who sees them as a threat.
"And if I did come back for a reason," Ella muses, tilting her head, "what would you do about it?"
Balu's jaw tightens. "I'd tell Steffen the truth. Let him know his so-called innocent mate is an assassin with a heart as cruel as ice."
Ella's smirk widens. "Go ahead. And while you're at it, tell him how his most loyal bed companion helped me escape right under his nose."
Balu's body stiffens.
"You wouldn't dare," she whispers, but doubt flickers in her eyes.
Ella shrugs. "Would I?"
For a long moment, silence stretches between them, thick and unyielding. Balu knows the truth, if she exposes Ella, she exposes herself.
Balu glares, stepping back. "I knew you were dangerous, but I underestimated how devious you are."
Ella meets her stare with unwavering confidence. "Glad you're finally catching up."
Balu's lips press into a thin line. "I don't know what your motives are for coming back, but whatever they are, I won't let you succeed."
With that, she turns and storms out, leaving Ella standing in the dimly lit room, the weight of the coming weeks pressing down on her.
She cannot fail. Mia's life depends on it.
And she has no intention of losing.
The night air is crisp as Ella stands on the balcony, her gaze fixed on the streets below. The city hums with life, but she sees none of its charm. A warm presence settles beside her.
"Ella, are you okay?"
She doesn't answer at first. Instead, she watches a man in the distance, his hand shamelessly grazing the waitress's backside as she walks past. The woman stiffens but says nothing, her steps quickening as though fleeing an unseen threat.
"Quite a sight, don't you think?" the man beside her says, trying to break the silence.
She turns to him, her stare heavy with something unreadable. "You see beauty. I see the ugly." Her voice is calm, but there's a bitterness laced within. "Men like him do whatever they please because they're rich. They think the world belongs to them. In fact, that's just how the world is, unfair."
He studies her, reading the weight behind her words. "You don't seem okay. What's wrong?"
She hesitates. Then, with a slow breath, she asks, "If I had a request... something difficult... would you fulfill it?"
"I don't know what it is, but I'll try," he says without hesitation.
"And what if it's something precious to you?"
A flicker of understanding crosses his face. "Is it the gem?"
She doesn't respond, but her silence is enough of an answer.
He exhales, rubbing his jaw. "If you tell me why you need it, I'll give it to you."
It's a dangerous promise, but he means every word. The gemstone is invaluable, not just to him, but to his entire pack. It holds power that could shift the balance of the supernatural world. In the wrong hands, it could bring devastation to both humans and creatures alike.
Yet, for her, he would part with it. But only if he can be certain she won't use it for destruction.
"I wish I could tell you," she murmurs. "But I can't. I just need you to trust me."
His eyes search hers. "And if I don't?"
A muscle tenses in her jaw. Her lips part, then press together before she finally says, "Then I'll have no choice but to steal it again."
The air between them thickens with tension. She doesn't flinch, doesn't waver. Her bold gaze meets his, unwavering in its conviction. The night is still, yet in this moment, everything feels like a brewing storm.
She means it.
And he knows it.