Trigger Warning: Suicide attempt. If this topic is distressful for you, then please do not read this chapter and skip to the next chapter when released.With a struggle, I manage to open my eyes. I’m feeling groggy and realise I’m in my room on my bed. My Dad is leaning against a wall with arms crossed and a not-impressed look on his face. My brothers stand in front of my door as if guarding it, and my mother wipes the blood from my arm where I have been bitten. I flinch from the pain and pull my arm away from her as she dabs too close to the bite mark.‘Lylah,’ Dad says. ‘I know you are grieving, but what on earth were you thinking? Attacking Tamara and Vicky like that? They are both seriously hurt!’‘Good! They got what they deserved. I hope they never come near me again!’ ‘Lylah!’ Everyone says.‘They said it’s my fault Micah’s dead. Do you expect me to sit there and listen to them ridicule me and blame me for my mate’s death?’ I argue.‘No, but violence is not the answer, Lylah,’
Chapter 51We are together in the dining room. It’s quiet, but everyone is weary and exhausted after this morning’s ordeal. Everyone has been watching me like a hawk throughout the day. Beth serves us dinner, and my Dad gives me a look after I have been pushing my food around for a while with my fork. I begin to eat my food, and he nods. I manage to eat over half my meal. It’s the most I’ve been able to eat for a long time. I place my fork down and stare at my wrists as I caress my thumbs over the scars. Theo sitting next to me, frowns at the scars but doesn’t say anything.With everyone now finished dinner, I stand. ‘I’m very tired, and you probably are all tired too. I’m going to go to bed,’ I say, leaving the hall. As I enter my room, Amara rushes in behind me.‘Amara?’‘Lylah,’ she says, rubbing her arm nervously. ‘It would give me peace of mind if you would allow me to sleep in your room with you tonight?’‘Amara,’ I sigh, ‘I’m not going to… you know,’ I say, unable to finish the
Chapter 52Pacing back and forth angrily in my room, I punch my wall, grazing my knuckles. I try to read a book for a while but can’t concentrate. All I have on my mind is vengeance. Finally, I toss the book aside and walk out onto my terrace for fresh air.I notice all the local male pack members heading towards the training grounds. My father must have mind-linked all the males over eighteen to begin daily training immediately. Why hasn’t he told me he was starting the training today?With determination on my side, I open the top drawer of my dresser and take out my boxing hand wraps. I put the loop over my thumb, wrapping my wrist and the palm of my hand. Next, I make the crosses across the back, wrapping the material between the fingers. I clench my fist to feel it’s tight and secure, then wrap my other hand the same way.I jump down from my balcony and jog to the training field.As I arrive, men ask each other why I’m there. At the same time, other men check me out. I want to kno
It’s been over nine months since I have gone to the area in the woods where Micah and I would train. Nine months since the flame in my heart went out. Nine months since I lost my true love and fated mate. It hasn’t gotten easier. It’s only become harder living another day without him. My heart has never stopped aching; each day, the pain I feel only worsens. Kayla told me the mate bond could become physically painful for some when your mate dies. She has been giving me potions to help the pain, but in the last couple of months, they haven’t worked as well as they usually would. I tend to keep away from everyone and find somewhere quiet until the pain passes, as I don’t want them to worry more than they already do. It can sometimes last a couple of hours. I have to bite down on a stick I wrap with material to suppress any screams or cries. My heart is so broken that I realise that not even magic or potions could ever fix me. Heading to the training field, I notice a she-wolf racing tow
We all step back and gasp in shock. ‘Wands! This cannot be happening right now of all the times, places and species!’ Soren says, looking between Lord Talon and me. ‘This is not good…’ Nadia says with worry. I point my finger at Lord Talon, ‘Liars!’ I yell, ‘His eyes are red. You did kill them. You killed them all!’ I shout, tears escaping my eyes. I withdraw my dagger. I’m glaring at the vampire who killed my beloved Micah, my fated mate. His eyes flicker like fire as he doesn’t break eye contact with me. I want to kill him, but for some reason, I feel drawn to him as if something is pulling me towards him. He is incredibly handsome and attractive, with a mysterious aura about him. My eyes change from light blue to dark blue every second with mixed emotions. I close my eyes tightly for a moment and tell myself he is responsible for Micah’s death. He killed Micah. I have to kill him now while I have the chance. Lord Talon takes a step forward. I lunge angrily toward him and thrust
Trees, mountains, and rivers fly by us from the intense speed the vampires run. They are so fast that I cannot even fight, argue or speak for Lord Talon to put me down. Finally, after an hour they come to a stop in an open field with low grass. There are some trees and mountains in the distance. I can hear water flowing nearby. I give the darkest glare to Lord Talon as he gently puts me down. He doesn’t respond. I’m relieved our bodies are no longer in contact, stopping the sparks between us. ‘We can’t risk the girl seeing the entrance to our lair. You’re going to have to blindfold her. We also need to feed,’ Soren tells Lord Talon. They all stare at me silently. ‘Don’t you dare even think about it! I refuse to be your meal!’ I yell at them. Soren and Nadia give Lord Talon a sympathetic look. ‘It’s fine,’ Lord Talon says to them. ‘I’ll go find a deer. In the meantime, you two feed and watch the girl while I’m gone,’ ‘It’s Lylah! Not girl!’ I huff. Lord Talon smiles but I scowl ma
Lord Talon raises his hand in the air and lowers me to the ground. As he takes my dagger from my hands, I try to grip it tighter, but his telekinesis stops me. I look at him, surprised as he takes my dagger and cuts the rope from my wrists. I give him a confused look. The wind picks up and blows his long dark wavy hair across his face. ‘Whether your wrists are bound or unbound. Either way, it will not stop you from trying to kill me or running away, but your wound, Lylah,’ he says and softly caresses his fingers beside it. His eyes suddenly turn black from blood lust, and his breathing intensifies, but he quickly regains control, stopping himself from tasting my blood again. I want to slap his fingers away, but I can’t. Instead, the warm feeling from his touch makes my eyes close. ‘You need your wolf to heal it, so Soren and Nadia stop blood lusting for you. They are blood flames and should only be craving each other’s blood for feeds. They shouldn’t be blood lusting after you like th
Lord Talon POVThe moment Soren, Nadia and I arrived at Blue Scale Rock. We could see the werewolves and Lycans were already there. My feet begin to move on their own, and the sweetest scent comes over me. Sweat begins to form across my forehead as I try to stop myself from walking any closer to the pack.‘Lord Talon, is everything okay? You don’t look so good,’ Soren says.‘I’m not sure. I feel strange,’ I tell Soren.‘Stay here, Lord Talon. We will conduct the meeting, and you can join us when you can,’ Nadia says. I nod and gesture for them to go as I fight myself to keep still. What is wrong with me?I listen to the meeting, but the scent comes closer and becomes more alluring. Against my will, I walk toward everyone. Beads of sweat drip from my forehead, and I suddenly realise what has happened. I’ve found my long-awaited blood flame. My fated mate that I’ve desperately waited over two hundred years for. I shake my head, ‘No, it can’t be,’ I say.‘Lord Talon?’ Soren says, confuse
We arrive back in the underground and enter the castle. ‘Tonight, we will celebrate our victory and our official lady of the coven, Lylah.’ Talon shouts. The coven cheers and dissipates to prepare for the celebration. I face Talon, Soren and Nadia. ‘There is something I need to do first before we celebrate. Can you take me down to the crypts?’ I ask them. They give each other a confused and unsure glance. ‘Cedric should celebrate with us.’ I tell them. ‘Lylah,’ Talon says, ‘You know he doesn’t want anyone to see him in this state. You know he has gone mad?’ ‘I know, but I need you to trust me on this.’ I say, my eyes pleading with his. ‘You know you always have my trust. Come on then, let's go down to the crypts.’ Nadia carries a fire torch as we descend through an abundance of stairs and narrow passageways. As I enter the crypt, I gesture for them to wait at the entrance as I slowly approach the shadow in the corner. ‘Cedric.’ I say and watch the shadow flinch. ‘We’ve met befor
Talon watches, intrigued, as the werewolves shift into their wolf forms while my father and brothers shift into their Lycans. Talon gestures for me to climb onto his back. I wrap my arms around his neck as he holds my legs. Together with the pack, we run forward for many hours until we meet the coven of vampires awaiting us.‘Lord Talon, Lady Lylah.’ All the vampires say, bowing as they greet us.Nadia and Soren approach and stand by our sides as if to guard us. I look over at my father and nod to indicate we’re ready. We head in the direction of the mountain we last saw Lord Atticus. It becomes dark very suddenly before we even approach the mountain. Hundreds of black whisps whip by us and then circle us. They are extremely fast, and I know exactly what they are. ‘Blood Dwellers.’ I mutter under my breath.‘He’s here!’ Talon shouts, warning everyone.‘I see you brought the entire coven and even the wolves to watch you pledge your allegiance to me, along with my dinner.’ Lord Atticus
‘Alpha Maximus, Luna.’ Talon says to my parents as we face them in the dining hall. ‘We have to put Lord Atticus to an end. Over one hundred years ago, he went on a murderous killing spree. He even killed our father as well as beloved members of our coven.’ ‘Your brother is who’s responsible for all of these deaths? For Micah’s death?’ Theo asks. ‘Unfortunately, yes. He is my brother. We had managed to send him through a portal into an abyss of darkness. Since he freed himself over a year ago, he began where he had left off, continuing to kill and murder whilst growing in strength by feeding off his victims. He knows Lylah is my Blood Flame and, unfortunately, has managed to taste her blood. He would have figured out not long after we escaped from him that the small taste of Lylah’s blood he had, has greatly strengthened him much more than anything else he has ever fed off. Lylah’s blood is unlike anyone else's. Just one cut, one drop, can send any vampire within a distance into a Bl
My breath catches, and I realise at this moment how much I truly care for Lord Talon, that I’ve fallen for him so hard, like ocean waves crashing into rocks. Like lightning that has struck the ground. Like the sound of thunder that ripples through your body. I’m in love with Lord Talon. I place my forehead against his and use my free hand to cup his cheek. We breathe heavily in unison as a sense of overwhelming love and desire takes over us.My walls come crashing down, and my lips slam into his with a fiery passion. My lips coax his open, and our tongues entwine and dance as if they were meant to be.We gasp for air as we part, and I pull Lord Talon’s shirt from over his head and toss it. Our hands explore every inch of each other as we kiss again. I straddle his lap and begin to undo his belt as he pulls the laces undone on the back of my dress and yanks it down, exposing my breasts.Now, completely naked, we both pause with our foreheads touching, taking in as much of each other as
I arrive at a set of stone steps that lead to nothing but a dark dead end. I feel the ceiling and realise it’s a large paver. Using all my strength, I push it open and climb out. I look around and see I’m in a very old graveyard. I know where I am. I saw it on the map. I run east toward the mountain where Lord Atticus awaits Lord Talon.After hours of running and jogging, I have to rest. The sun will be rising soon. I lay next to a large tree and sleep for a while before I continue east. It’s almost nightfall, and I’m exhausted. Lord Talon would have come to check on me through the night to find I’m gone and see I’ve escaped through the window. I continue to look over my shoulder every so often, knowing Lord Talon could catch up to me any time now. That’s if he knows I’m heading toward Lord Atticus. He might think I’ve possibly escaped to return home to my pack.I’m feeling very hot and flustered. At first, I thought it was from all the running, but no matter how much I rest, it only
I run from one hall to another and then one corridor to another through many rooms and down staircases I haven’t seen before. I have no idea where I’m running to, but I don’t care. I just want to get away. I’ve passed many vampires along the way, but I completely ignore them as they stare curiously at me. Once out of sight, I lean against the grey stone wall in the shadows before sliding down to the ground and hugging my knees. Lord Talon is my mate. That’s why he hasn’t killed me. That’s why he wants to keep me alive and protect me. This is why I’ve been developing feelings toward him. Lord Talon knew this whole time since we met that we were Blood Flames. No wonder he looked devastated and heartbroken every time I tried to kill him. I feel terrible, among many other feelings. I’m angry that Micah and Lord Talon kept things from me. I feel I’m betraying Micah by being attracted to Lord Talon. I’m upset and heartbroken that Micah isn’t alive. I’m frustrated at myself for not figuring
A plate of vegetables with a steak is placed in front of me, whilst a serving of blood is poured into Lord Talon’s goblet. I refuse to make any eye contact with him. Instead, I watch the flames of the candles on the table flicker.Halfway through silently eating my meal, five vampires I’ve never met before enter the dining room, marching. One leads the others as they approach Lord Talon and bow. Nadia and Soren enter behind them and sit at the dining table.‘My Lord,’ The lead vampire says.‘Mervin, tell me you have returned with good news? Where are the others?’ he asks.‘My Lord, they are all dead. Along with many more human casualties.’‘What!? You were supposed to observe the whereabouts of Lord Atticus and return to me as soon as he was found.’‘Forgive us, Lord Talon. When we found him, he was in a rural town. We were well hidden and observed him. He killed every single human as if it were a sport and drank the blood from some of them before he had them ripped apart. We tried to
Lylah‘I’m Becky. I’ve heard so much about you.’ she beams and squeezes herself closer to Lord Talon.A burst of jealousy from Becky touching Lord Talon’s arm ignites within me.‘I’m sure….’ I say while telling myself not to care that Becky is practically rubbing herself all over, Lord Talon. He keeps glaring at her and giving her back-off looks. But she persists in fluttering her eyes at him anyway.Not wanting to stare at her face or acknowledge her. I ignore her and look at Lord Talon.‘You should find that blood flame of yours and feed off it. It's quite silly, starving yourself of blood when a human is living here against her will. The last thing I need is you trying to bite me.’ I say sarcastically.Becky bursts into laughter and begins elbowing Lord Talon in the ribs, ‘Master, you should take this human's advice and feed off your blood flame. In fact, you should do it right now?’‘Becky, that’s enough!’ Lord Talon growls. ‘I can live off the blood of animals for as long as I ne
Lord Talon‘Becky, it’s healed,’ I say as I enter the room.She is brewing something in a small cauldron, and it smells horrendous. ‘What’s healed?’ she asks, walking around the table and toward me.I unbutton my shirt and watch her jaw drop. ‘What did you do?’ she asks. ‘I didn’t do anything.’ I tell her.‘Something must have happened? Tell me everything you did from last night up till now.’‘I was sitting on the window ledge watching the lake until I heard Lylah yelling and crying in her sleep. I raced in there and held her in my arms, and I spent over an hour comforting her until she fell asleep on me. I did notice the pain from the wounds had gone by then but didn’t think much of it as I was too worried about Lylah. I woke up with Lylah sleeping against me. We spoke, and she told me Micah is her mate who she thinks I killed, and I bolted out of there freaking out she had a mate, then ran into Soren and told him. My chest itched from the stitches, so I ran my hand over it, and th