Chapter 4

The snarl came from behind Lily. Adam’s wolf instincts seized control before his mind caught up. He leaped, arms outstretched, and slammed into the creature just as its jaws closed where his sister’s throat had been. They crashed into the threadbare sofa, splintering its wooden frame. Lily screamed and scrambled backward. The Shadow Hound was larger in the mortal world—a beast of matted black fur and glowing green eyes, its body half solid, half curling smoke. Adam's hands pressed against its chest, claws already extended. The wolf in him surged, matching the hound's strength blow for blow. He shoved, and the creature skidded across the worn linoleum floor. “Get Mom and hide!” Adam shouted. Lily’s face was white, but she nodded, bolting toward the bedroom. Adam rose to his feet, his heart hammering. The hound recovered, shaking its head like a dog dislodging water. Its growl vibrated through the floorboards. “You are the prince,” it rasped, the voice scraping like stone on glass. “We have been waiting.” It charged again. Adam reached for the magic in the air—the same thick energy he had felt in the wizard world, but fainter here, like a distant echo. He pulled, gently this time, and a wall of shimmering light sprang up between them. The hound slammed into it and rebounded, howling in frustration. The barrier held, but Adam felt the strain in his core, a dull ache spreading through his chest. He couldn’t maintain it for long. “I won’t let you hurt them,” he said, his voice steadier than he felt. The hound circled, its green eyes fixed on him. “You cannot protect them forever, prince. The one who sent me knows your face, your blood, your family. He will take what you love, piece by piece.” Adam’s anger flared, and the wolf inside him answered. His vision sharpened, his muscles tensing. He let the barrier drop and lunged forward, claws aimed at the hound’s throat. But before he could strike, a deep hum filled the room. The air split open behind the hound, a gash of violet light that widened into a doorway. A figure stepped out—tall, hooded, cloaked in black. The hound immediately backed away, lowering its head in submission. The figure raised a pale hand. Shadows coiled around Adam’s wrists, pinning his arms to his sides. He struggled, but the grip was iron. “Adam Cronwell,” the figure said, voice smooth and cold. “You have something I need. But since you will not give it willingly, I will take what you care for instead.” The cloaked figure turned toward the bedroom door, where Lily’s terrified face appeared briefly before she ducked back inside. Adam heard his mother’s weak voice asking what was happening. “No!” Adam roared. He summoned every ounce of magic he had, pushing against the shadow bindings. The bonds cracked, splintered, then shattered. He dove forward, tackling the figure before it could reach the door. They hit the floor, tumbling. The hood fell back, revealing a face that was young—too young—with sharp features and eyes that held no light. The creature smiled. “You are stronger than the reports said. Good. That makes this more interesting.” It twisted, and a dagger appeared in its hand. Adam grabbed its wrist, struggling to keep the blade away. The wolf screamed in his mind, demanding he bite, tear, kill. He fought it back, needing control. “Who sent you?” Adam growled. The creature laughed. “You already know. Samael wants you alive, but I am not bound by his orders.” It brought the blade closer to Adam’s throat. A sudden light blazed in the room—golden and fierce. The creature shrieked, dropping the dagger and scrambling away. Gabriel stood in the doorway, his wings spread, his sword drawn, radiating a brilliance that pushed the shadows back to the corners. “You dare touch a prince of creation?” Gabriel’s voice thundered. The creature hissed, its form flickering like a faulty flame. “This is not over, archangel. The boy will come to us. They all do.” It grabbed the Shadow Hound by the scruff and leaped backward into the violet rift. The doorway snapped shut with a sound like a thunderclap. The silence that followed was heavy. Adam stood, shaking, his breath ragged. Lily and his mother emerged from the bedroom, both pale. His mother rushed to him, hugging him tightly. “Adam… what is happening?” she whispered. He looked at Gabriel, whose sword was now sheathed, his expression grave. “They want me,” Adam said softly. “And they will keep coming.” Gabriel nodded. “You cannot stay here. Not anymore. The mortal world is no longer safe for your family.” Adam looked at his mother, his sister. Their home. Their lives. The crystal in his pocket pulsed warm against his thigh. Samael’s voice, or his trap, waited. But so did answers—and maybe a way to end this. “Then we go,” Adam said. “All of us. To the wizard world.”