Alpha's STOLEN Mate (by Abigail Hayes) novel Chapter 212

Chapter 212

Frost

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The deepest chamber of the cave stretched before us, all jagged rock and shadows that seemed to pulse with their own dark rhythm. We stood at the threshold of something ancient and terrible-I could feel it in my bones.

Evelyn positioned herself in front of a smooth section of wall, her fingers tracing patterns only she could see. She turned back to face us,

and despite everything, there was a fierce grin on her face.

“Ready, warriors?” Her voice rang with confidence. “The day of reckoning with Morgath is finally here!”

I couldn’t help but smile at the sight of her. She’d transformed herself into something out of a fantasy novel-dressed head to toe in a dark purple bodysuit that hugged her frame, with various vials and pouches hanging from her belt and thighs. In her hand, she gripped what looked like a dagger, except the blade was impossibly thin and delicate, more like a metal wand than any weapon I’d ever seen. Rings glittered on her fingers, each one humming with subtle magic. Even her hair was woven through with small charms and crystals that

caught the dim light.

“With how perfectly prepared you are,” I said, my grin widening, “I’m confident Scarlett and I are more than ready. Open the barrier,

Evelyn.”

She laughed, a sound of pure determination. “I brought every treasure I’ve been hoarding! All my best materials, all my secret weapons!” She pulled out two small vials from her collection, the liquid inside shimmering with an iridescent glow. “You two better protect me in there. Now drink these-quickly! They’ll help us slip past Morgath’s defenses undetected.”

I took the vial and downed it in one gulp. It tasted like starlight and smoke.

Scarlett finished hers and flashed a rare smile. “I’ve never seen you this committed to anything before. If you’re putting this much effort in, then I know for damn sure we’re bringing our Alpha home.”

Evelyn’s hands began to glow as she worked her magic on the barrier. “Just watch me.”

The wall shimmered, then dissolved like morning mist. Beyond it, a swirling vortex of energy beckoned-the gateway into Morgath’s

twisted realm.

We stepped through together.

The sensation was like falling through water and air simultaneously, gravity twisting in impossible directions. When we finally touched down, it was beside one of those massive crystalline trees I’d seen before-the ones that seemed to breathe with corrupted magic.

We huddled close, voices low as we strategized.

Evelyn pulled out her strange dagger-wand, whispering an incantation under her breath. The metal sphere at its tip suddenly flared to life, shooting out a beam of light that pointed steadily eastward.

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Chapter 212

Scarlett’s eyes widened. “Wait-is that Elowen’s location? How did you find her so easily?”

Evelyn’s expression was fierce with pride. “I told you-this time I’m fighting to the death. I’m using every skill I’ve ever learned, every

trick I’ve ever mastered!” She tapped the dagger. “Tracking spell. One of my best.”

I felt hope surge in my chest. “Then let’s move. We need to-”

“No, no, no!” Evelyn cut me off, shaking her head emphatically. “We can’t all go. Someone needs to stay here as our backup-our escape

route if things go sideways.”

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I scratched the back of my head, confused. “Do we really need that? You said you’re fighting to the death.”

“Well, yes!” Evelyn shot back. “But even a death battle needs an exit strategy! What kind of idiot charges in without a backup plan? If the

situation turns against us and we have no way out, we’ll actually die!”

Scarlett nodded slowly. “She’s right. I’ll stay here and cover our retreat.”

Evelyn immediately pulled off one of her bracelets-a delicate silver thing woven with tiny runes-and fastened it around Scarlett’s wrist.

*If we’re in danger, this will start glowing,” she explained, her voice urgent. “When that happens, follow the bracelet’s guidance. It’ll lead

you to us so you can help us escape.”

Scarlett actually laughed out loud. “Good God, Evelyn! When you’re serious, you’re like a master strategist! If you’d always been this thorough with enemies…” She shook her head in amazement. “We’d have been safe ages ago!”

Evelyn puffed up with pride. “I know Morgath is a genius witch! But who wasn’t a genius when they were young? If I hadn’t been wasting away in your pack all these years-back in my prime, I was the-

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