VALERIE I and Arlene exchanged glances and I pleaded with her silently to say nothing to Bianca. She slipped her hands off my shoulders and turned around, smiling innocently. "You came right on time, Bianca," Arlene admonished and my head bobbed up."What is going on?" She asked. Arlene turned and grinned at me before facing Bianca again. "Valerie is going to Buenos Aires for recuperation," Arlene said and Bianca's eyes widened in astonishment. "Really? That is great!" She said, clapping her hands together in excitement. "I am so happy that you are fine now. I wish that I could go with you so that I can look after you," she muttered, pursing her lips teasingly. I chuckled and ruffled her hair, nodding my head vigorously. "I wish you could come with me too. Maybe I should talk to Lucian to let you come along," I said. She twitched her lips and waved her hand in the air, shaking her head in disagreement. "Don't worry about that, I don't want to ruin your moment," she grinned
VALERIE "Don't leave," he muttered and my breath hitched. Don't leave? Why would Lucian say that? This has to do with his brother's life. Does he care about me more than he cares about his brother? "Lucian…" I gulped hard, unable to complete my words. "It's too dangerous. No one has ever come out of there alive, listen to me. We can find another way to save Killian without putting your life in line," he whispered in what seemed like a trembling voice, or was I wrong? "I have to save Killian," I muttered and he shook his head. "There can be a way—" "There is no way!" I snapped. I wondered why Lucian behaving that way. It was unlike him to say such things or act that way. "You have to let me go," I whispered but his grip around my waist only tightened, almost crushing my bones. "I can't. I won't!" I groused. "Killian would hate me if anything should happen to you and I cannot risk watching you fall into the arms of death," he muttered. I looked at the sky and my heart const
VALERIE I didn't bother knocking before pushing the door open. Michelle raised her head from the book she was reading and stared at me in question. "I want to know what killed my father!" I blurted out, taking a quick, concerned glance toward Killian. A smirk crept into the corner of her lips and she slammed the book shut, taking a sip from the teacup beside her. "It seems like you are already deeming yourself dead," she muttered and I scoffed, unable to deny that. "Isn't that what you've always wanted?" I snapped and she grinned widely, evil dancing in her orbs. "I need to know who killed my dad before I leave," I muttered and she twitched her lips, narrowing her eyes. She sighed and threw her head back before getting up. "Let's talk outside," she said, waving her hand towards the door behind me. I raised my brows in confusion, glancing over at Killian. "What about Killian?" I asked. She glanced at him and shrugged nonchalantly. "You don't have to worry so muc
VALERIE My jaws dropped in astonishment as I stared from the blade in his little hand to his face. I couldn't believe that such murderous words just slipped out of his mouth. "Will you do it?" He asked, still extending the blade towards me. I gulped hard and took the blade from him, staring at the frown on his face. "Since they trust you so much. It will be easy for you to kill them. Besides, you're stronger than they are," he muttered. I almost scoffed as I listened to him. It felt like I was with a different boy, the exact opposite of the boy I was walking with some minutes ago. "Before I carry this out, you will tell me why you want the Lycan kings dead," I said and his eyes narrowed, that flash of innocence darting across his eyes. He dropped his head, picking his nails as his lips trembled in what seemed like anger. "He killed my friends!" He whispered in a voice dripping with venom.I shot my head back in shock, my blood freezing. I imagined the 'friends' being the same
VALERIE "Why are we here?" I asked when we reached the gate and stopped. He craned his neck backward but didn't say anything to me while he unlocked the gate. He pushed the gate open and pulled me in, not giving me a chance to persuade him out of there. A cold chill rushed down my spine when I stepped into the garden, the dark forces tugging on my skin. I shivered slightly and tugged on the collar of my dress. My eyes fell on the black lotus standing majestically in the middle of the garden. I could feel that there was more to the lotus plant than scaring off beasts. I felt its force drawing me, gnawing at my heart, and I couldn't bring myself to resist its evil temptation. My feet began to shuffle closer to it, each step towards it made my heart skip at least two beats. The black petals shone brightly in the dimly lit garden, flaunting off its dark beauty and taunting the colorful flowers in the garden. My trembling hand reached out to touch the captivating petal but Lucian's
VALERIE I sat in the moving wagon in silence, trying to calm the burning in my throat. We were already out of the manor and heading to wherever the witch was located. The sadness that swept across Lucian's face when the car was driving out of the garage caused my heart to shatter. I hoped that I would return alive for the sake of everyone who cared about me. I sighed loudly and dropped my head on the headrest, staring at the dark lane that seemed to have no end. The wagon was filled with silence and awkwardness, making me suspect that the men felt intimidated by me. Or perhaps, Lucian must have set some strict boundaries for them, and that must have included avoiding me in any possible way. I narrowed my eyes at the thought, knowing fully well that Lucian was capable of making such rules. "How many hours will it take to get there?" I asked, darting my eyes from one to the other. Silence reigned after my question and my brows raised. "Aren't I supposed to know where we are hea
VALERIE "We are surrounded by demons?" I gasped, my throat knotting in fear. Theo swerved his head around, his eyes as wide as saucers. "Stay right here, don't leave the car no matter what!" He warned and pulled the door open, slamming the door shut when he slipped out. I coiled up in the seat, staring at them from the window. They walked cautiously around, swerving their heads to the sides, their guns in their hands. My heart thumped rapidly in my chest as I hoped that nothing would happen to them. Theo swerved and screamed out to Liam, firing at something that I couldn't see. Liam spun around and pointed his gun at the woods surrounding us. We were on a deserted lane surrounded by dark woods that seemed to harbor more danger than the haunted lane. Theo fired in one direction, while Liam fired in the opposite direction. I sighed, my hands trembling in fear. I looked around in the car for a phone, intending to call up Lucian. A scream froze my hands which was already rumma
VALERIE Liam trembled when he saw the dark cloud that was forming in front of the car. "Shit!" He cursed and tumbled down to the back, squatting beside me. I stared at the dark cloud, its dark energy filling the air and darkening the entire place. My heart thumped rapidly in my chest and the hair on my skin rose as chilling air hit my skin from nowhere. I shivered and rubbed my freezing hand, feeling the eerie aura slowly creep into the car."We have to protect Theo. He is the most vulnerable to them," he muttered, his eyes fixed on the cloud. I nodded and grabbed Theo's warm hand, squeezing it assuredly.I was relieved that he was still asleep and I hoped that he would sleep till we were out of this trouble.Liam fixed bullets into his gun and cocked the gun, pointing it at the windshield."A gun won't kill it," I muttered."We have to keep it away," he muttered, not daring to share his attention with the cloud separated from us through the windshield."We have to do something t
KILLIAN Lucian pushed the door open and walked in when we got no response after countless knocks. I trailed after him into the room and slammed the door shut behind me. My eyes fell on a body under a duvet and I needed no one to tell me that she was the one curled up in there. "Little Val?" Lucian called out to her but got no response. I sighed in frustration and made to move closer but Lucian held me back.My eyes dimmed in shock at his strange behavior towards me."Lucian?" I muttered, slowly getting enraged.He turned and faced me, dropping his hand which held me back."You've caused enough trouble for everyone. I'll advise you to stay away from her if you want her to be happy," he muttered, and my heart clenched in fury."You think I'm the cause of her unhappiness?" I scoffed in disbelief, glaring at him.He took a step closer, his brows furrowing together."If you hadn't started this mess in the first place, little Val would have been alright and happy," he spat.I balled my
MICHELLE A smile spread out across my face as I watched her struggle to stay alive inside Valerie's body. "Give it up, Asmodeus, Valerie Garrett has returned," I snarled. Her head jerked up, and she growled in fury, then leaped towards me, knocking out my hand, which gripped her shoulder. Her hand reached for my neck and she pushed me roughly, hitting my back on the wall. My heart skipped but I maintained my stance and sank my nails into her flesh, sinking my teeth into my bottom lip. A dark cloud darted across her eyes and her grip around my neck tightened. "What did you say about my father, bitch?!" She growled in rage. I stiffened in shock and my eyes darkened as the realization hit me Valerie was back. She had subdued Asmodeus, and she wasn't just back to dominate her body and save the Lycan kings; she was back to seek revenge, to destroy. "If you didn't hear what I said then you wouldn't unlock yourself and come out," I wheezed, struggling to breathe as she choked me.
VALERIE (Asmodeus)The hall was silent as all eyes were fixed on Michelle, demanding an explanation for her behavior. My fist clenched under the table as I glared warningly at her. Sweat broke out on my back as I thought of ways to stop her without creating more suspicions around me. "I think we're being attacked," Michelle blurted out. My nails sank into my palm and my throat knotted, my burning gaze fixed on Michelle's face. She turned and stared at me, her lips twitched into a smirk. She turned and faced the Luna again, that sinister smile lurking around her sharp dark eyes. "There is something that I must confess, Luna," she mumbled I figured out that she might have nothing to lose in this as Damion was behind her and would support her against me. I had to do something before it was too late. "Luna…" she paused and looked at me before facing the Luna, fake tears gathering in her eyes. "There is a—" I screamed in agony and gripped my stomach, dropping out of my chair. E
VALERIE (Asmodeus)Damion glanced at me again and looked away, fidgeting slightly in his seat. I smiled ruefully and swerved my head in Michelle's direction. Her eyes locked with mine and she quickly looked away, shivering slightly. My lips twitched in excitement at how I had trapped them in my nest. The only way they could escape was to obey my words and demands. I looked at the woman again, knowing exactly how to use them as my pawns to accomplish what I had in mind. "The Lycan kings aren't here yet?" The Luna Queen asked for the fourth time since everyone arrived and took their seats. "No, my lady," her maidservant replied and she sighed in disappointment, shaking her head. "Luna, are you sure they'll come? I heard that they hardly attend gatherings," the woman muttered. The Luna pouted in anger and sighed again, unable to defend her sons. "I wonder who told you that," a hard voice echoed in the hall and everyone swerved their head in the direction of the voice. My throat
VALERIE (Asmodeus)I hummed as I analyzed the bracelets before me. I smelled of citrus and the suffocating scent of Valerie Garrett. "You should try this on," Bianca said, extending a bracelet towards me. I raised my head in her direction and stared down at the pearl bracelet dangling in her outstretched hand. I forced a smile into my face and took the bracelet then slipped it around my wrist. I stared at the pearl bracelet strapped around my wrist and chuckled in excitement.It was hard to believe that Valerie lived happily in the Nox household while I was locked away underneath the freezing dark waters of the Isle of the Blessed.A cold touch on my shoulder caused me to flinch in fear. I sighed in relief when I saw Bianca's face staring down at me with worry etched against her face. "You seemed to be lost in deep thoughts," Bianca blurted out. I forced a smile into my face and shook my head. "No, no, it's nothing serious," I muttered, adding a low, nervous laughter at the e
VALERIE We swerved our heads in the direction of the scream, and my eyes dimmed when they fell on Michelle. I narrowed my eyes, the worry that sprang up in my heart slowly settling down."Shit!" Garam spat in rage and let go of my neck. Michelle marched towards us, her eyes blazing in anger and her clenched fist swinging beside her. "You bastard!" She growled and grabbed his collar, throwing him off me. His back slammed against the wall and it cracked while he groaned out in pain. "What the fuck did you do to Damion?" She groused and slapped him hard on the face. My brows raised in surprise as I watched her land hit after hit on him. She raised her fist to slam his fist for the umpteenth time but he grabbed her fist, shoving her back. He staggered up and wiped the blood that dripped from the cut on his lower lip. "You are no different from me, bitch!" Garam spat at her. She was taken aback by his outburst, and for a moment, they stood still, fuming in anger and glaring at e
VALERIE I watched her pour the tea in silence, a smile plastered against my face. She straightened up after pouring the tea and sighed loudly, a smile on her face. "Here," she chipped and pushed the teacup closer, grinning widely. I chuckled, grazing my finger over the tip of the cup. "Anything else?" I asked. "Of course not, I just want to make sure that you are alright," she said. I raised my head and forced a smile into my face to please her. "Well… as you can see, I am fine," I replied in a sharp tone that made her brows raise. "Why do you talk that way with me, Valerie?" She asked. The happiness in her voice slowly faded away. I tilted my head to the side and folded my hand over my chest. "You're just a maidservant? How else do you want me to talk to you, huh?" I taunted, adding a mocking laughter at the end. His brows knotted, and I saw shock dart across her flushed face. "I can't believe this," she muttered, scoffing loudly. I felt happiness swell up in me as I st
KILLIAN My breath hitched the moment the cold metal got pressed down on my neck. A pair of pitch-black eyes glared down at me, and a pair of gloved hands gripped tight unto the blade. "You sent you?" I asked between clenched teeth. The face was masked, making it impossible to view the expression on his face. "My lord says your time is up. You shouldn't have dared mess with him," he muttered in a throaty voice that shook at the end. My eyes dimmed and I began to wonder which of the Alphas would dare try to assassinate me. I slowly reached for the gun I had on me and pulled it out. "Well… tell your boss you tried your best to accomplish the task," I mumbled, and before he could slit my throat with the blade, I pulled the trigger into his abdomen. He froze and his eyes widened in horror. Drops of warm liquid fell on my thighs, causing me to groan in disgust. I pushed the rogue off me and snatched the blade out of his slackened grip before reaching for the mask over his face. I
KILLIAN I gripped her shoulders and forced her to look into my eyes. "What did you just say?" I asked in an alarmed tone. Her lips stretched into a wide smile, an unknown glee floating in her eyes. "Should I say it out loud? Should I say what I saw in there?" She muttered, her head tilting to the side. My heart clenched and confusion and disbelief settled down within me. Was she truly possessed? "Should I?" She whispered in a chilling voice that sounded more like someone else's voice. "See—" I raised my hand, cutting Michelle off, my eyes still fixed on Valerie's grinning face. "Leave us, every one of you," I muttered, daring not to take my eyes off her. I waited till everyone had shuffled out of the room before gripping her shoulders again and glaring into her eyes. "Tell me the truth, what did you see in the secret room," I asked. She threw her head and laughed loudly, sinking her nails into my arm. I didn't care about her nails that sank into my skin, all I cared about