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The Here and Now
Last Updated:
2024-10-29 19:42:56
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Love that Kills The Summer Estate
The mountains rose in the view, emerging from the carpet of colorful leaves. The road snaked up as we got closer to the estate. Suddenly, the woods became scattered, and my eyes were drawn to the huge rock on the side of the road. "Wait in the car," Ash said as he pulled over, stopping the car in front of the stone. I noticed him take a signet ring from his jacket pocket and put it on the little finger of his left hand. The ring looked like it was made entirely of a smooth black stone. "What is it?" I asked, pointing at the signet. Ash smirked, bringing his hand with the ring closer toward me. "This is the proof that these lands belong to me. This is the Malachious Ring." I smiled nervously. "This might be a stupid question, but what do you need it for?" "You'll see." Ash winked at me and got out of the car. He stepped toward the rock. He fisted his hand and pressed the ring's smooth surface against the large stone. As soon as he did, the stone resonated, sending a wave of vibrat
Love that Kills Test
I put on a lemon cotton dress with short sleeves and a flared skirt. Then I slid my feet into kitten heels and went downstairs to join Ash and Baltazar in the salon. I found them laughing and drinking whiskey. It was nice to see Ash relax. He looked so different from how I saw him in his office in the Malachious Residence. As soon as I entered the room, Baltazar's gaze turned toward me, and his lips slowly twisted upward."Someone's just turned into a stunning woman," he commented, clearly appreciating my looks."Why thank you," I replied, giving him a bright smile as I headed toward the kitchen island.Ash narrowed his eyes at me. "Are you trying to impress him or make me jealous?"I grinned, teasingly tangling my finger around the strand of my hair. "Would it be a bad thing if I said that it's both?"Baltazar burst into laughter and placed his hand on Ash's shoulder. "I'm beginning to understand why you've changed your mind, my boy.""Changed his mind about what?" I questioned, look
Love that Kills My Peace
"Wine or whiskey?" Ash offered the right cure for my heart-crushing anxiety."Wine," I replied, folding my arms around my waist and sitting on the salon's sofa.He swiftly uncorked an old-looking bottle and filled my glass with a rich red liquid. He handed me the wine, then quickly refilled his whiskey glass, and joined me on the sofa. "How's your hand?" He looked at the cut, which was now almost completely healed."It's fine," I repeated for the fifth time, and each time, I found Ash's concern more annoying. "Baltazar called me a cursed child," I told Ash, carefully watching his reaction to my words. "Do you know what that means? Because as soon as he smelled my blood, he started looking at me as if I was about to turn into a monster." Frustration grew within me. I knew what I saw in Baltazar's eyes: disgust and a heated rush of hatred. It no longer mattered who I was. WHAT I was overshadowed everything else.Ash sighed and took a sip from his glass. "Baltazar is a good man, but he i
Love that Kills Their Target
Ash shielded me from the wolves, pushing me back into the corridor. "Baltazar, walk away and take your wolves with you before I take it as an act of treason," Ash hissed, his nails turning into sharp blades."Ashtar, I am here because I'm loyal," the old wolf claimed, lowering his head."Loyal to who?!" Ash growled."To your family!" Baltazar roared but then bowed and took a deep breath. "Give her to us; that's all we want. You know that it has to be done, and either we do it or the King's men will. At least we can grant her a seemingly painless death."I clamped my hand over my mouth. The fear, the anger, the confusion—all those emotions violently rose inside me, and I had to restrain them before they burst out in a scream that was already building in my throat.Ash glanced at me over his shoulder and quickly returned his gaze to Baltazar. "She is NOT a threat!" He stood on the threshold, blocking the way into the house as he spread his arms, armed with sharp claws.There was a momen
Love that Kills Escape
"Nala! Nala, can you hear me?!" The familiar voice was breaking through the blur of distorted sounds. A light slap on my cheek brought back the feeling of heaviness in my body. Other senses returned at once, hitting me with an overwhelming dose of pain.The ache came from everywhere, as if I had managed to strain every muscle in my body and put all my nerves on fire. A ragged exhale left me, and I forced myself to open my eyes, processing my position and surroundings. My legs were lying on the ground, and I couldn't move them. My upper body hung limply, supported by Ash's arms as he knelt next to me. His chest rattled with shallow breaths while his filled-with-concern eyes studied me. His fingers squeezed my arms as if he were urging my reaction."What… happened?" I rasped."You killed them, Nala," he said softly before glancing around. I followed his line of sight and saw burned, still-smoking bodies lying on the ground wherever I looked. Ash and I were the only ones alive. I gasped,
Love that Kills The Only Way
After some time, I could finally walk without Ash's help. I was regenerating faster than before, although I was still a little lightheaded and walked rather wobbly on my feet. Ash constantly asked me how I felt, even though it was his condition that I was more worried about. Some of his wounds were still bleeding, and that was one of the things that made me anxious. What if Baltazar knew about the tunnels? What if we encountered his warriors again? If that happened, I would have to rely on Ash's strength, but how could I do that if he wasn't even properly healing?! I had yet to fully understand and control my inner power, and my fighting skills hardly allowed me to fight against the weaker wolves. My energy could be enough for a single blast that could take down several wolves, but then what? I tried to stay positive, hoping that Calvel and others would come to our aid, but I couldn't stop the panic from rising. "Why are your wounds not healing?" I asked softly. Ash sighed and gave
Love that Kills Heartache
I drifted into nothingness. I didn't know how long I was lying on the ground, unconscious. The screech of metal grinding against the stone was the first sound to pull me toward the land of the living. It made my body jerk, or so I thought because I was certain I couldn't move on my own. The feel of a pair of strong arms wrapping around me and lifting me came a moment later. I sensed the unique scent of the summer storm heavily mixed with the coppery smell of blood."Thank you for your gift, angel mine." Ash's voice vibrated through my skin. Then his lips touched my forehead, and for the first time, I felt that my skin was colder than his.I couldn't move. I couldn't even open my eyes. I couldn't utter a word. All I could do was hear and feel... and everything I felt was overwhelming.Ash's grip on my body tightened as he started walking, carrying me. I didn't see what was happening. I merely felt the movement, my body shifting at the pace of energetic steps."Fucking hell!" I heard Ca
Love that Kills Resolution
A few servants saw me as I walked back to my chamber, but they simply passed me by. I felt as if something had changed. Except for a few, no one here treated me with the utmost respect, but they had never openly shown their hostility either. Now I saw their lips curve downward as they sent me glances filled with disdain and sometimes... pity. That only helped my anxieties grow stronger.I wondered if any of those servants were going to inform Ash about my midnight stroll. I was almost certain that someone would. I hoped that it would make him come to my room and ask about it. I expected him to come as soon as I returned to my chamber, but that didn't happen…I started finding it frighteningly disturbing. No one checked up on me. Neither Ash, Amanda, nor Calvel came to see if I was still alive as if it no longer mattered. Not even Hunter stayed around my room for my safety; no guards did. Thinking about it caused another crack in my aching heart because it only made everything I heard
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Love that Kills Heartbeat
NALA A week later Happiness. I think that was what I felt. Bliss and happiness. I woke up naked in our bed. Ash was lying behind me, his naked chest pressed against my back. One of his arms served as my pillow, while the other casually rested on my waist. I would never get tired of waking up like that. I could feel his cool breath brushing the crook of my neck, and a shiver traveled down to my lady parts. "Is my Queen getting aroused?" Ash purred into my ear, and I bit my lip to stifle a moan. "I'm not your Queen yet," I told him, pretending that his voice didn't increase the humidity between my thighs. "You have a crown on your lovely head in my eyes already," he said, kissing my neck. "I think I'm hungry." His arms wrapped around me, pulling me close and melting my body with his. His teeth grazed my skin as I shuddered in anticipation. "How does it feel?" I asked him all but breathlessly. He chuckled and nibbled on my earlobe. "How does what feel?" "Drinking blood," I said.
Love that Kills The Fate
NALA"Wake up, angel. Please, wake up." Ash's voice slowly pulled me out of unconsciousness. I opened my eyes and saw his worried face brighten up with a smile. He held my head on his lap and stroked my hair, and the relief I felt when I saw him made my whole body shudder in sweet relief.Tears gathered in my eyes. "Ash," I murmured, my voice cracking. "You're here… This isn't a dream."He shook his head and chuckled. "Of course I'm here. I had to save you." He leaned down and kissed my forehead.As I retrieved my awareness, anxiety flooded me. "W-where is Drystan?" I stuttered, looking around.Ash pointed at the fountain, and the stone soaked in blood. "He is gone," he said, but I heard restlessness in his tone. Then I felt the ground shaking and small stones dropping from the ceiling.I swallowed and looked into Ash's eyes. "What's going on?"He stroked my hair and took a deep breath. "I need to get you out of here. Calvel should be close to the temple." Before I could say anything,
Love that Kills To Death
ASHWe found the temple, but it wasn't the map that brought me here; it was her. I could sense Nala from miles away as we moved through the wasteland. I ran ahead, leaving the map to Calvel and the rest while I rushed to the temple of Belial. I was the fastest, and I needed to be there as soon as I could. I had to stop this—stop Drystan and stop the apocalypse.I burst the door open, and my eyes instantly found her. Nala was lying by the stone fountain in the center of the hall. Her entire neck and most of her angelic face were covered with blood. The wounds on her neck were fresh and still bleeding. That cunt, whom I used to call my brother, fed from her. He caused her unimaginable pain…My blood turned into molten lava. Fury stormed inside me, ready to erupt. My claws were out and prepared to rip the flesh of those who harmed her. I saw tears falling down her pale cheeks, blending into the streams of her blood. "Ash," she murmured, her voice barely audible, but I could still hear he
Love that Kills The Curse
NALA I begged Drystan to stop, but he didn't. Then I begged him to kill me, but he only chuckled through his teeth as he sucked my blood. Finally, I embraced the sweet darkness around me. Losing awareness was my bitter reward for getting through another night of torture. I drifted through nothingness until the vague sounds reached my ears. I floated toward them, toward the soft light that suddenly opened in front of me. I saw spiral stairs carved in stone. Someone ran up. I couldn't see the face. I could only hear the clanking of the heels hurriedly hitting the stone steps. I followed that person and quickly found myself in a castle tower. The one whom I followed stopped by the window and untied the strap of a black cloak. As the heavy cloth fell down, it revealed a familiar, black-haired woman—Estelle. She wore a white cotton dress covered with blood stains. Her black hair was untied and tousled, and her slender hands and face were dirtied by bloody mud. She looked at her trembling
Love that Kills My Light
ASHIt had been two days since I had been losing my mind. How could I make such a foolish mistake?! How could I not predict that one of our allies might have been followed?! Drystan and Baltazar killed one of the groups that wanted to side with us. They tracked them, murdered the entire pack, and forced their Alpha to give them our location before they ripped his heart out.Drystan knew that he would never defeat us in our territory, but what he had planned wasn't a surprise, full-on attack. He only wanted Nala. I didn't know why at first, but then I learned about the ancient ritual that could give the demon's spirit enough strength for him to be reborn. The strength he needed was in Nala's blood. Now, for two days, I sensed her agony and couldn't do a fucking thing about it."Did you find that old fox?" I asked Calvel as soon as he entered the meeting room.The grim look on his face couldn't mean anything good. "I found that fucker, Jarrod, in two pieces. Someone decapitated him—a cl
Love that Kills Making a Choice
When I regained consciousness, my whole body rattled from the piercing cold. Drystan wasn't lying. Whatever he did when he bit me filled me with raw fire, burning my insides to ashes. Once the pain pushed me to madness, I wished for death. I thought I had died when the relief finally flooded my senses. But I was still alive, and as the scorching flames left me, the slightest breath of wind sent icy needles to prickle my skin.The shackles were still on my wrists, and the heavy chains restrained my movement. The skin around the cuffs was torn and constantly bleeding. I couldn't stand up or even lift my head. I wish I could say that I survived the previous night, but I couldn't even call it surviving. Drystan let me breathe only to finish this three-day ritual.The realization filled me with a new wave of pain… I should die. Not because it was remarkable that I was still in the world of the living, but because only my death could stop the apocalypse. Without my blood, Belial would not b
Love that Kills Pain
I opened my eyes and winced from the pain. Every part of my body hurt, and the fact that I was lying on the cold stone ground wearing nothing but a partially torn nightgown made the pain more vivid and overwhelming. My hands were shackled in chains so heavy that I barely mustered the strength to lift them. The chain was bolted to a large stone at the foot of some kind of sculpture. Struggling, I rose to a sitting position and focused my eyes on my dimly lit surroundings. The place where I was, resembled ruins. I could see broken columns and crushed rocks lying around a spacious, round hall with a dome-shaped ceiling.I turned around and took a close look at the sculpture next to me. It was at least seven feet tall and resembled a terrifying man-like creature with massive horns on its head. His huge arms were armed with stone-shaped claws, while his feet melted into the center of the podium. The stone where my chain was bolted was part of a ring, placed within a three-foot radius of th
Love that Kills Our Bond
I stared at the mesmerizing mark on my neck and couldn't help the grin that curled up my lips. I brushed it with my fingertips, and it seemed to faint under my touch and then reappear once I took my hand away. "Do you like it?" I heard Ash's voice coming from behind me. It didn't startle me as much as before. This time, I could feel his presence seconds before he spoke. I turned around to face him. "Your mark looks beautiful," I said. He chuckled and touched the spot on my neck. "Actually, it's not mine, but ours. It represents our union." Then he leaned down and kissed it, sending a wave of pleasure down my body. "Don't do that," I breathed. "Do what?" he teased. "This?" He traced the mark with the tip of his tongue. I moaned, fisting the collar of his half-unbuttoned shirt. Then I forced him to face me. "You are not playing fair," I told him, frowning. "This mark is… extremely sensitive." He grinned. "I know. As a matter of fact, from now on, I will know your feelings. I will
Love that Kills Weapon
A few hours later, I was sitting in my chamber and combing my shower-damp hair in front of the mirror. Was I truly the only one able to stop Belial? But how was I supposed to do that? Should I attack the Drystan-Belial duo the way I attacked everyone in the auditorium? But the last time I used that power, it drained me, and even now, I didn't fully regain my strength. Perhaps I should concentrate the stream of power on Drystan and Belial without dispersing it, but what if that still was not enough? What then? As a descendant of an Archangel, I could only possess a mere percentage of his power. Could I truly be a match for the true fallen, even in his weak, spiritual form? I groaned in frustration, tossing my hairbrush on the table."You are worrying too much. It's overwhelming, isn't it?" Ash suddenly appeared in my mirror, and I almost screamed."Don't do that!" I frowned at him. "Make a sound at least!"He chuckled and stepped closer, taking a few strands of my hair between his fing
