Chapter 439: The Reckoning
Killian's POV
The night smelled like blood and fire.
I couldn't stop moving.
Every rogue in my path fell before they even had a chance to react. I didn't feel
them fall. Didn't care.
Because she was here.
Astrid.
And I would burn this entire place to the ground to get her and Elara back.
"Killian! We need to push back toward the main entrance!" Ryder shouted over the chaos.
"Then do it," I snarled, my claws slashing through another rogue's throat. "I'm getting Astrid."
The camp was collapsing around us, rogues scattering in terror. But I didn't care about them.
I cared about one thing.
I slammed through the wooden doors, my wolf roaring inside of me, scenting her immediately.
Astrid's POV
The walls shook.
The sounds of battle grew louder, closer.
I knew what that meant.
Killian was here.
I forced myself to remain still, though my wrists ached from where they had been tied.
The rogues had been restless since nightfall. They hadn't expected an attack so soon. Hadn't expected Killian to find me.
They had underestimated him.
The cell door slammed open.
Golden eyes.
A blur of rage and power.
"Killian," I breathed.
The rogue beside me barely had time to react before Killian was on him.
The fight was over before it started.
I had seen Killian fight before, but this-this was different.
This was a mate unhinged.
The rogue's body crumpled, lifeless. Then Killian was in front of me.
His hands gripped my face, his golden eyes scanning every inch of me.
"Astrid," he rasped. "Are you hurt?"
I shook my head. "No. But-"
A scream.
Elara.
Killian's POV
Astrid was gone before I could stop her.
I barely kept up as she tore through the corridors, following the sound of our
daughter's screams.
We turned a corner-and stopped.
At the far end of the room, Elara stood frozen in terror.
And beside her, holding a dagger to her tiny throat-
The Rogue King.
Astrid's POV
I couldn't breathe.
I couldn't think.
All I could see was my daughter, standing in the grasp of the most monstrous man
I had ever faced.
Ardan's lips curled, amused. "Ah, there you are," he mused. "I was beginning to think you wouldn't come."
Elara whimpered, her body trembling violently.
"Let her go," I said, my voice deadly calm.
He tilted his head. "Let her go?" he echoed, almost laughing. "Oh, Astrid. I didn't
take her to keep her. I took her to break you."
Something inside me snapped.
Killian was already moving, but Ardan
in his tracks. Contentet
against Elara's throat, stopping him ressed the dagger harder et
"Ah, ah," Ardan chided. "One wrong move, and-"
"Don't," I whispered, my body shaking. "Please."
His dark eyes gleamed with twisted delight. "Do you know why I took her?"
I clenched my fists. "Because you're a monster."
He laughed. "I took her because I
wanted to watch you suffer. I
el?
wanted you to feel helpless. I wanted you to feel what I felt when the world left me behind." His expression darkened. "And now, I want to take away the only thing that makes you whole."
Elara sobbed.
I couldn't lose her.
I wouldn't.
Something inside me shifted.
I let my power surge.
Ardan barely had time to react before the room exploded with energy.
Killian's POV
I barely saw Astrid move.
One second, she was standing there-the next, Ardan was flying across the
room.
The second Elara was free, I was there.
I grabbed her, cradling her against
my chest as she sobbed. She
safe. She was safe. Delongs
But Astrid-
Astrid was facing Ardan.
And she was going to end him.
Ardan stumbled to his feet, rage twisting his face. "You-"
Astrid didn't let him finish.
She struck-fast, deadly, unstoppable.
She was pure fury.
For Elara.
For Ryker.
For all the pain he had caused.
She didn't stop.
Not when he screamed.
Not when the power tore through him like lightning.
Not when he fell.
And then-it was over.
Ardan lay motionless.
Dead.
And Astrid fell to her knees.
Astrid's POV
I couldn't move.
I couldn't breathe.
I had won.
I had killed him.
I lifted my gaze-—and met Killian's.
Elara was in his arms, sobbing.noveldrama
I let out a choked breath, staggering toward them.
Killian met me halfway, his arms wrapping around both of us, holding us tight.
Elara buried her face in my neck.
"We're okay," I whispered, my voice trembling. "We're okay."
Killian's grip tightened. "We're going home."
And for the first time in days-
I believed him
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