Avery Her eyes fluttered and I was immediately at her side. Her soft, sleepy smile made everything feel like it might be okay again. "Avery," she whispered, her voice hoarse but steady. "Don't look at me like that. I'm fine." I gave her a tight smile, squeezing her hand. "You had us all worried, you know." "I know," she said with a soft chuckle, her eyes closing again as she yawned. "But I'm awake, I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere." "I'm so happy that you are awake, how could you have done that all alone, you should have called us, you should have told me your plans instead of endangering yourself like that, don't ever do that again Clara, I was scared to death." I couldn't help as I voiced my fear, she had a teasing smile on her lips as she looked at me. Beneath that, I could see that she was truly going through some pain but trying to act like she was okay. "I am sorry about what happened, I am sorry for doing all that without informing you, that was very wrong of me I w
Days after what Xavier said, I decided to give the Eligara members a chance, so we set out to the crimson shadow pack and also with Agiel as a prisoner.Once we reached the crimson shadow pack, we headed to the council of Eligara and met them patiently waiting for us.As we entered the chamber, we were given a warm welcome, and proceeded to having our seats while Agiel was cuffed and made to stand in the center of the room.I sat at the council table, my fingers tapping impatiently against the wood, I still wasn't happy with them and I wanted to get this done with as soon as possible.My jaw was set tight and a low growl, rumbled in my throat, as I watched some council members droning on about matters that I'm not concerned with as they approached the table to take their seat.My sharp gaze flickered around the room, catching the indifferent faces of those who seemed worlds apart from the primal instinct thrumming within me.As the council members droned on while getting ready to addr
Days after what Xavier said, I decided to give the Eligara members a chance, so we set out to the crimson shadow pack and also with Agiel as a prisoner.Once we reached the crimson shadow pack, we headed to the council of Eligara and met them patiently waiting for us.As we entered the chamber, we were given a warm welcome, and proceeded to having our seats while Agiel was cuffed and made to stand in the center of the room.I sat at the council table, my fingers tapping impatiently against the wood, I still wasn't happy with them and I wanted to get this done with as soon as possible.My jaw was set tight and a low growl, rumbled in my throat, as I watched some council members droning on about matters that I'm not concerned with as they approached the table to take their seat.My sharp gaze flickered around the room, catching the indifferent faces of those who seemed worlds apart from the primal instinct thrumming within me.As the council members droned on while getting ready to addr
I could see the pain and anger in Annalise's eyes as Agiel confessed all that he had done in the past. I couldn't help but feel her pain as she sat close to me, her hands trembling with pain and anger.Everyone in the room was horrified at what Agiel had done. The leader of the council ordered the guards to take him away as he would be executed in some days time.Annalise pulled away from my hug, as the guards walked Agiel out of the room, but as soon as Agiel was close to Annalise's side of the table, he tackled the guard and lunged at Annalise with a knife, stabbing her on the chest before I could even blink an eye.I stood frozen, breath caught in my throat as my eyes widened in disbelief. My face drained of color, lips parted slightly, as if trying to speak, but no words came out.A shiver ran through me, and my hands trembled, as I tried to touch the wounded part of her chest, my heart pounded erratically, as I couldn't tear my gaze from the horrible scene, unable to fully compre
The door slammed behind Kingston, the echo lingering in the air like a warning. Jason stood by the window, his posture tense and jaw clenched, as though he was ready to throw someone else out if need be. The room felt charged, as though an unspoken threat lingered in every corner. I watched as Kingston walked to his car, turning around severally with a puzzled look on his face. “What the hell was that about?” I finally asked, breaking the heavy silence. My voice sounded stronger than I felt, but I wasn’t going to let Jason’s mood intimidate me.Jason turned, his dark eyes meeting mine with a stormy intensity. “You need to stay away from him, Willow. All of you do.”Ruby, seated on the couch, raised an eyebrow. “And why’s that? He seemed creepy, sure, but what’s the big deal?”Jason’s lips pressed into a hard line. “He’s not a good person, that’s the big deal. Trust me on this one. A few years ago, I worked on a case where Kingston was involved. I can’t go into details, but he’s bad n
From where I stood, in the corner of their chamber, I noticed there was some other presence just like me, some other vampire like me was also present, and I could smell them.I watched as Agiel stabbed the girl on her chest, and I let out a grin, my whole body, thirsty for her blood, and as the man beside her took her away, I walked out of the room gently and unnoticed.I decided to head back to the vampire castle, but first I needed to know if what felt right, I needed to know if exactly there was another vampire.As soon as I was out of sight and into the bushes, I had the leaves rustle and I froze, not out of fear but the fact that I know that, whoever that is knows I'm a vampire.“Show yourself.” I said, as I lowered the hood of the jacket I was wearing, to cover my face, and protect me from the blazing sun.“Show yourself already and don't hide inside the bushes.” I said, looking around me.“Draven?” The voice called, out of surprise, I turned around, my eyes widened in disbelief
When I regained consciousness, the world felt wrong. It was the kind of wrong you sense in your gut, but your mind is too clouded to process at first. My body ached, a deep, dull pain radiating from my neck and limbs. I tried to move, but the restraints holding me were tight, unforgiving. I could barely move my wrists, let alone my legs. My surroundings were unfamiliar, cold, metallic, and humming with the low, steady rumble of an engine. I blinked several times, trying to adjust to the dim light.The realization hit me slowly. I’m on a plane.I jerked my head to the side, feeling the sharp tug of the ropes, but nothing gave. There was no escape. The air around me was thin, carrying a stale scent that made my stomach churn. As I struggled to orient myself, I saw Elena. She was seated across from me, her gaze locked on mine, unwavering and predatory. “How long?” I rasped, my throat sore from the silence. My words felt foreign, like they hadn’t been used in days. “How long was I out?”
I sat in the study, the quiet hum of the house around me doing little to calm the storm swirling inside. My fingers absently tapped the edge of my desk, but I couldn’t focus on anything, nothing but her voice. “It’s disgusting, Lucas.”The words had landed heavier than I expected, heavier than I wanted to admit. They repeated in my mind, over and over, as though she was still standing in front of me, her eyes flashing with anger, her voice cutting through the space between us. Disgusting. The word felt like a punch. And I couldn’t quite shake the sting.I had gone too far, hadn’t I?I hadn’t meant to upset her, hadn’t meant to cross any lines. But watching her with Ryan tonight, seeing the way that man had looked at her and tried to touch her, I couldn’t sit by and pretend it was fine. She didn’t deserve that kind of treatment. But the way she’d turned on me, my attempt to protect her, to help, had been met with nothing but contempt.She doesn’t need me to protect her.That’s what her
Sasha’s head throbbed as she slowly opened her eyes. She looked around a room she didn’t recognize. She blinked a few times, trying to clear her foggy mind. The last thing she remembered was the club, the pounding music, the bright lights, the glass of wine in her hand.Her stomach churned as the memory of the night before came flooding back. She’d been so drunk, so desperate to forget everything that had happened between her and her mother. She had been trying to drown her sorrows, to escape the whirlwind of emotions and confusion that had consumed her after their everything . But now, here she was, in a strange room with no idea how she got there.Panic set in. She sat up too quickly, feeling the blood rush to her head, and a sharp pain shot through her skull. She squeezed her eyes shut and rubbed her temples, trying to stop the dizziness. “Where am I?” she muttered to herself, her voice shaky. She swung her legs over the side of the bed, standing up too quickly again. Her knees bu
Avery I let out a deep sigh as I stepped into the room where my father was placed, I watched with keen interest and let out sight he was deep asleep, I couldn’t wait for him to be fully aware of his surroundings, u sat next to him and slowly moved his matted hair away from his face. His body suddenly twitched and I took my hands immediately, I waited patiently for him to move again and then he did. A groan escaped his mouth as he opened his eyes and he looked at me.I held my breath controlling myself from screaming out of joy, seeing the man that brought me into this life slowly gaining his life back, in the silence… His eyes met mine, confusion clouding his gaze. “Avery…” His voice was a rasp, weak but filled with disbelief. “But… but you’re…” “Father,” my voice broke as I gulped several times trying to control the tears threatening to fall from my eyes. “Am I dead?” He asked and I couldn’t help but chuckle a bit. “You’re not dead, I’m not dead, Father.” My voice broke as I sai
The dim lights of the club flickered above Sasha as she entered, her mind still reeling from the conversation with her mother. The sharp edges of her anger had dulled into a heavy sadness. She didn’t even know why she was here. Maybe it was the music, loud enough to drown out her thoughts. Or maybe it was the alcohol, which promised to numb the ache in her chest. She didn’t care. She just wanted to forget, even if for a little while.“How could she do this to me?!” She sniffed and blinked her eyes severally. Her heels clicked against the polished floor as she walked to the bar. She barely noticed the crowd of people dancing, the flashing neon lights, or the endless thumping bass. Everything felt distant, as if she were floating outside of her own body. She sat at the bar, the stool cold beneath her, and ordered the strongest wine they had.The bartender gave her a raised eyebrow but didn’t ask questions. Sasha took the glass in her trembling hands and brought it to her lips. The shar
Sasha paced in her room, Avery’s words echoing in her mind. “Father is not my father.” How could everything she knew about her life be a lie? She had always been Mr. Montgomery’s daughter, raised in the mansion, treated as his own. It didn’t make sense. Avery had to be wrong, but part of her wasn’t so sure.Her thoughts were interrupted when the door creaked open, and her mother entered, immediately sensing something was wrong.“What’s bothering you, darling?” Mrs. Montgomery asked, her voice filled with concern.Sasha stopped pacing and turned to face her mother. “Nothing,” she said quickly, trying to hide her feelings.Mrs. Montgomery didn’t buy it. She took a step forward, her sharp eyes assessing Sasha’s expression. “You’re a terrible liar,” she said with a slight smile, though her tone remained concerned. “Now, come on. Dinner’s ready. I’ll get you something to eat, and you can tell me what’s really going on.”She followed her mother to the dining room. As they sat at the table,
AveryThe warmth of the conversation between Clara, Nathaniel, and me was a welcomed reprieve from the chaos that had been unfolding around us. For the first time in what felt like forever, I could finally breathe a little easier. My father had woken up, and though his condition was still delicate, he was awake alive and that was all that mattered to me right now. I could finally smile again, and laugh again. The burden that had been pressing on my chest for so long was beginning to lift.“Clara, you have no idea how relieved I am,” I said, as I leaned back in my seat beside Nathaniel, my heart still beating a little faster with excitement. “I never thought I would see him open his eyes again.”Clara smiled back, her expression warm and understanding. “You’ve been so strong, Avery. I’m happy for you.”Nathaniel, sitting beside me, reached out and gently took my hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “We’ve all been through a lot, but things are looking up now,” he said, his voice stead
Sasha paced furiously around the room, her mind spinning with the information that Ethan had just unloaded on her. Each thought bounced off the walls of her head like an unrelenting echo. How had Nathaniel and Avery met? More importantly, how had she missed the connection between them? There was never a moment she noticed them being close before Avery was supposed to be dead, it felt like they were two people that lived in a different world so how did it all happen? When are where had they met? It was just like a puzzle she couldn’t solve and as she thought about it, it only confused her the more… feeling more baffled than she will ever admit. "How did I not see this?" she muttered to herself, clenching her fists. She couldn't wrap her head around it…Avery and Nathaniel? How had he come into her life? And why had he interfered when they were so close to finishing their plans? She had to know the truth. She had to understand how deep this betrayal ran.She couldn’t help but wonder if
Avery“Are you okay?” I suddenly heard Nathaniel’s voice beside me and I tilted my head to look at him, I had a smile on my face as I nodded my head to let him know I was fine. We had decided to visit my dad today and I was a bit nervous, hoping he was finer than the way he was the last time I visited.The room was quiet, save for the soft beeping of the machines monitoring his vitals. My eyes immediately went to the bed, where my father lay, connected to a series of tubes and wires. His face was pale, almost ghostly, but I could still see the familiar features, the sharp jaw, the soft lines around his eyes, and the dark hair that was now more salt than pepper. A tight knot formed in my stomach, seeing him so vulnerable, so broken. I had spent time wondering if I would ever hear his voice again.Nathaniel gave my hand a gentle squeeze. “He’ll wake up, Avery. He’s strong. Your father’s been through worse.”I nodded, but the ache in my chest didn’t go away. I wanted to believe him, but
“I can’t believe this inspector, it looks like you are imposing on us,” Mrs. Montgomery stated trying to hide the anger brewing deep inside of her. “I am not imposing please, I am only stating based on what is written here, I dare not impose on you Mrs. and Miss Montgomery,” the inspector replied and Sasha clenched her hands beside her. She hated the fact they didn’t take her and her mom seriously, it seemed like they had become a subject of mockery, the once respected family as become nothing to them, something they could talk and trash just the way they deemed fit, she hated this, the hated the feelings and she looked at her mom. For the first time in the whole of her existence, she saw that the woman was dumbfounded, and had nothing to say… of course, they had nothing to say at this point, how would they ever be able to defend themselves, it wasn’t an easy one at all. She had always been the one in control, the one who kept her family's secrets close, the one who maneuvered thr
AveryI burst into laughter, my head lolling back as Nathaniel continued speaking, I never knew he had this goofy part of him, it was beautiful to watch and his beautiful face in the darkness made it better, I watched him as he looked serious quite enjoying the conversation just like I do. “I swear, Avery,” he chuckled, his voice warm, “You can’t possibly be serious. The way you’re acting is enough to make anyone believe you’re planning world domination.” He grinned at me, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “It’s not bad if you do I ate the world, I am very sure everyone will readily go on their knees to worship the empress!” I burst into laughter, shaking my head. “You don’t understand. It’s all about strategy. You have to think ahead. Like chess, Nathaniel.”He raised an eyebrow, feigning interest. “Oh? Tell me, Queen Avery, how would you take over the world? What’s your first move?”I bit my lip, pretending to think. “Well, first, I’d take control of all the ice cream factories,”