POV: Xavier

"How many?" Luna asked.

"At least a dozen. Maybe more."

"We can handle a dozen," I said grimly.

We circled around, staying low. The mate bond pulled at me, telling me Thelma was moving toward the central chamber. I felt her determination through our connection, and underneath it, the growing pressure of Morgana's corruption.

We found a side entrance, poorly guarded. I took out the first guard silently, snapping his neck before he could sound an alarm. Luna handled the second with a spell that stopped his heart.

Inside, the temple was cold and dark. The walls were covered in old bloodstains, centuries of sacrifices performed in Morgana's...