The first soldier lunged. John moved before fear could make the decision for him.He seized Lily by the shoulder and shoved her toward Elena. At the same instant, he ducked beneath the soldier's spear. The weapon sliced through the air where his chest had been a heartbeat earlier.The soldier stumbled forward. John saw the opening. He drove his shoulder into the man's ribs.The impact should not have been enough to move a grown man, especially with John's starving body, but the soldier was already off balance. He crashed into a burning wooden post, cursed, and staggered backwards.John barely had time to breathe. Another spear came toward him. He twisted aside. The blade tore through his sleeve and scratched his upper arm.Pain flashed across his skin. John looked at the blood. Something inside him went cold. These men were actually trying to kill him.There would be no negotiation. No second chance. “John!” Marcus shouted. John turned. His father was standing between Elena and the th

The river was less than a day's walk from Blackstone Village, but Harlan had decided that no one from Blackstone would touch it.John stood at the edge of the village when the messenger delivered the answer.“Half your remaining grain,” the man said. “That is the price for access to the river.”John's eyes narrowed. “And if we refuse?” The messenger shrugged. “Harlan says you can watch your people starve.” The words settled heavily over the gathered villagers.They had barely survived the military raid. Their grain stores were limited, their fields were dry, and the next harvest was still months away. Giving away half their food would be dangerous.Giving away half their food simply to obtain water was worse. John looked toward the dry fields.Then he looked back at the messenger. “Tell Harlan he gets nothing.” The messenger's expression hardened.“You should reconsider.”“No.”“Harlan has fifty armed men.” John glanced toward Blackstone's newly organised guards. “We have more than th

The wounded soldier had barely finished speaking when a scream tore through Blackstone Village.John spun toward the eastern wall. A second scream followed, this one cut short by a terrible growl.Marcus came running from the direction of the barracks. “John! Something is inside the village!” The alarm bell began ringing.Villagers poured from their homes, some carrying farm tools, others clutching spears that John had helped them practice with.Then something crashed through a wooden fence. A creature emerged from the darkness. It looked like a wolf, but John knew immediately that it was not one.Its body was nearly twice the size of an ordinary wolf. Thick black fur covered its limbs, and two pale ridges ran along its spine. Its eyes reflected the moonlight with an unnatural red glow.More frightening was the faint distortion surrounding its body. The air itself seemed to tremble around it.“Hold the line!” Marcus shouted. Four villagers raised their spears. The creature disappeared

The pressure outside the house became so heavy that the wooden walls groaned.John could barely breathe. Mira was already on her feet despite her injuries. They're here.”John looked toward the window.“Who?”“A hunter.”Her expression was grim. “Not an ordinary one.”A deep voice suddenly echoed across Blackstone Village.“Give me Mira Vale.”Every candle in the village had already gone out, leaving the settlement buried beneath darkness.The voice came again.“Hand her over, and nobody needs to die.”John's jaw tightened. Around him, the village guards were gathering weapons.Marcus was already outside organising them. John knew the truth. If the man outside was as powerful as Mira claimed, sending the militia against him would be suicide.But fighting openly would be just as dangerous. The stranger might sense John's cultivation. John turned toward Mira. Can you walk?”“Yes.”“Then you're going to hide.”Mira stared at him. You intend to fight him?”“No.”John looked toward the darkness. I