Chapter 153. The Witch’s True Power

Alison’s POV

The morning air was crisp, carrying the scent of damp earth and pine through the open window. I lay still, cocooned in the warmth of Xander’s arms, my body aching in the most satisfying way. Last night, he had loved me with a desperation that spoke of his fears, his need to reassure himself that I was still here, still his. He had traced his mark on my neck with his lips, whispering promises of forever even as we lost ourselves in the fire that always burned between us.

But now, reality has come crashing back.

I turned slightly in his embrace, watching the steady rise and fall of his chest. For a moment, I let myself imagine a different life, one where we weren’t constantly fighting, where we could wake up tangled in each other every morning without the weight of war on our shoulders. But I knew better than to entertain such fantasies. Our reality was far from peaceful. And today, we were walking straight into the heart of darkness.

Xander