ARAHWhatever qualms she had about Gildeon were out the window for now.He slung his arm around her from behind, pulling her close. She gasped as his hardness pressed into her back. They shared a brief moment of silent understanding. Sex was too soon, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t do other things to pleasure her. Just the thought sent a bubble of excitement through Arah, her heart pumping in anticipation.Her head rested against his chest, listening to his heartbeat, steady at first, then faster with each passing second. The power of it enveloped her body like a sweet embrace.Gildeon buried his nose in her hair, inhaling deeply, making her shiver. “You smell incredible,” he muttered. In the reflection, she saw his strong jaw working as if he were struggling to control his lust for her.His other hand squeezed her breast, kneading it firmly, eliciting a loud gasp from her.He paused. “Too hard?” His voice was husky, his head tilting as if to search her eyes for any sign of discomfo
GILDEONHis fingers slowed, holding her on the brink. The air thrummed, eager to merge with her. He hadn’t expected her power to manifest with such intensity just from his touch. But he found a way to control it, to keep Arah in check.“Arah?” he whispered, but she was lost, eyes shut tight. He continued stroking her in a calculated way, the hem of her skirt brushing his hand, his wrist grinding against her ass with every thrust. Her hips matched his rhythm. Each squirm, each moan drove him wild, barely containing the bulge in his pants.But tonight wasn’t about him. This was all for her.“Gildeon, please...” she begged. He risked it, pushing her to the verge of insanity.Her body trembled, walls spasming around his fingers. He watched her face contort, blue eyes fluttering in silent ecstasy. He ached to kiss her but nuzzled her ear instead, holding back his own desire.He felt it—tension coiling, ready to snap. Her desperate moans and fingers tugging at his hair pushed him to work fa
ARAHShe noticed Gildeon's eyes lingering on the scar-nosed woman. Searching his gaze, she asked, “Do you know her?”“No,” he replied, then nodded at the menu. “What do you want to get?”She was taken aback by his quick, dismissive reaction but wondered if she was reading too much into it. Lowering her eyes to the menu, she skimmed over the dishes and pointed to one. “Hmm… this salmon dish right here. I just can’t pronounce the name,” she said, wincing. She caught Gildeon stifling a smile.A server approached, sensing they were ready to order. Gildeon took care of the rest while her eyes feasted on the restaurant's interior. She’d never been to a place this classy—or at least, not in the time she could remember. The lights above resembled giant pearls caged in coral reefs, casting a warm glow across the room. She thought about getting one for her studio, hoping it wouldn’t be too expensive.The walls felt alive with lush ferns and vibrant orchids mounted on panels of neat wood slats.
GILDEONHe stilled, masking his reaction with an innocent frown. Arah's gaze bore into him as he watched the short clip. He doubted she knew anything, but he couldn't take any chances. Behind him, he sensed Ghulik trying to slink away.‘Where do you think you’re going?’ he growled internally. The goblin squeaked, freezing.“M-Master, Ghulik will go guard the witch,” he stammered. “Ghulik will protect Master and Sylph Lady.”‘Stay,’ he ordered darkly, replaying the video clip for show. ‘I’ll deal with you later.’“Ghulik made a mistake,” he groveled dramatically. “Forgive Ghulik, Master!”Ignoring the goblin, Gildeon handed the phone back to Arah, noting the dark gleam in her blue eyes.“So, what do you make of it?” she asked, her tone curious and probing.He leaned back, drumming his fingers on the table, pretending to think. “Hard to tell,” he said, jerking his head slightly. “Video quality’s subpar. It could be anything. A prop, a device, a trick of the eye.”“They said it might be
GILDEONRoselia had pinpointed the witch’s last known location around the area. He'd scouted the place earlier, but without Arah, flushing the witch out would’ve been a challenge—hence, the date night.His plan had worked. He managed to lure in the enemy while making Arah warm up to him. Two birds with one stone, as the saying goes. The only thing he hadn’t expected was that damn footage putting him in a surprising spot.“How did you sense her so fast?” he demanded sharply, locking the witch’s arm in an iron grip as they walked past the grand viewing deck behind the restaurant. He needed to find someplace without a crowd.“What do you mean, handsome?” she asked, her voice dripping with mock innocence.“Answer me truthfully,” he hissed. He could’ve easily killed the witch right here if it weren't for these people. He glanced up, ensuring there was only one CCTV, and it was facing the deck.Fucking cameras.“Oh, I was actually tailing the blondes at first,” the witch explained, tossing
ARAHShe didn’t wait for Gildeon. Her heart felt heavy as she walked out of the restaurant. Had she stayed, she would’ve grilled him about that woman, and he would’ve lied again, stringing together some smart words just to make her shut up.The thought of her husband doing who-knows-what with that scar-nosed woman gnawed at her. Distasteful images started to creep into her mind. She pushed the thoughts away as she wandered through town, trying to distract herself.Every now and then, she stopped, feeling like someone was watching or following her. She thought maybe it was just the cold, so she ducked into a clothing shop and bought a random jacket. She also grabbed a pair of flip-flops to replace her heels that were killing her feet.With the paper bag swinging from her arm, she continued her stroll until she ended up in the amusement park. She wished Gildeon were here with her. This could’ve been the perfect end to the night if he hadn’t ruined it. Though in hindsight, didn’t she als
ARAHEverything was hazy and happening so fast. She was riding something warm and alive, with feathers—like a bird. She waved her hand, throwing a spear downward without touching it. She killed someone. She couldn't see who it was. And then Gildeon. It was a blur, but she saw him on a horse in the distance, staring at her. She heard her own voice whispering, "You came, just as planned," before feeling a sudden shake, the vision dissolving abruptly.“Miss, are you okay?” A woman’s voice snapped her out of her daze, a hand on her shoulder. It was the little girl’s mom.Arah blinked and nodded, trying to collect herself. “Yes, I’m fine,” she said reassuringly, a shaky smile on her lips. “Just had a mild headache.”Inside, she trembled. Was that really a memory? She couldn’t wrap her head around killing someone—with a spear and while riding a bird, no less.Her mind reeled.“Do you want us to call for help?” the mom’s voice jolted her again.She shook her head. “No need, thanks.” She put
ARAHHer reflexes kicked in. She leaped from her seat, the chair clattering to the ground. Dodging to the side, she barely escaped his grasp. She stepped back, almost colliding with Madam Linlin, who had also sprung up, her eyes wide with shock. Crystals on the other table rattled against Arah’s back.“Mister, you’re scaring my client!” Madam Linlin exclaimed, then suddenly froze. “Wait, you’ve been thralled! Who’s your master?”Thralled? Master? Arah was about to ask what she meant, but the bald man snarled, animalistic, startling her. With a forceful swing, he swept the center table aside. The tent shook violently, making her fear it might collapse. The cards scattered, mingling with her toppled paper bag.“What do you want?” Arah yelled, heart pounding. Her hand fumbled behind her back, searching for the biggest crystal slab.He didn't respond. Dark eyes filled with silent rage fixed on her. His muscles tightened, veins bulging in his temple and tattooed neck. His posture was unner
ARAHAll she wanted was to escape to another memory. The thought of staying, of witnessing what she feared might happen, made her stomach churn. She wasn’t sure she had the strength to watch if her worst guess came true.“What are we going to do, Rose?” Lily whispered, her body trembling next to her sister.“We’ll run. Like Mama taught us,” Rose replied in a hushed tone.The girls turned and bolted, their breaths sharp and panicked. For a moment, Arah felt a flicker of relief, hopeful they had escaped, but it quickly vanished as the men closed the distance with alarming speed. One grabbed Rose by her hair, yanking her backward. She let out a choked scream, her hands clawing at his grip. Lily turned, only to meet the same fate, her shriek piercing the night as another man snagged her by her locks.“Let us go!” Lily shouted.“You devil children shouldn’t live,”
ARAHShe was standing on a farm. The morning air was sharp and cool, carrying the smell of damp earth and manure. In the distance, a herd of cows grazed lazily, tearing into the grass, their low, rumbling moos punctuating the quiet.A man stood a few yards away, working with a pitchfork to gather loose hay into neat rows. His faded plaid shirt, sleeves rolled to his elbows, stretched across his broad back as he leaned into each motion. His hat—an old, fraying straw thing—was pulled low, concealing most of his face.From the modest farmhouse, a beautiful woman emerged. Her blonde hair was tucked under a scarf tied neatly at her chin. Her skirt was simple and practical, reminding Arah of the countryside outfits she’d seen in old movies. She cradled a woven basket in one arm.The man straightened, looking up from his work, and smiled. Arah could tell by the warmth in their gazes that they were a happily married couple.“I’ve already f
ARAHGildeon was finally here. Her heart thudded wildly in her chest—a chaotic mix of joy at his arrival and relief at escaping the harrowing void. She felt as though she’d been reborn—only for a wave of dread to crash over her at the thought of how close she had likely come to death mere seconds ago.“Lokius, come with me,” Drusden commanded, a crazed smile spreading across his lips. His lack of concern set Arah on edge. “We’ll handle the salamander. You two,” he said, gesturing to Vienna and Alaunus, “stay here. The gate has been opened. Continue the ritual.”Arah’s gaze flicked to the hovering fog spiral. Was that what he meant by the gate? It had tried to lure her in and shatter her sanity. Did this mean she was still compromised?Drusden brushed the back of his hand against the side of her face. She whimpered, shrinking away from his touch.Smirking, Drusden sai
ARAHShe tried to resist stepping closer to the stone bed for as long as she could, but Vienna’s bangle held her in an iron grip. Her hands gripped the edge of the bed, knuckles turning white as she pushed back. But it was a damn struggle. It was as though an invisible wall pressed against her from behind, threatening to crush her if she didn’t give in.“You’ll only hurt yourself if you keep fighting it, Mrs. Ayadi,” Drusden’s voice rang out from behind her. She glanced back, her eyes sweeping over the red hooded robe he wore. Noticing her stare, he glanced down at himself and smoothed his hands over the fabric. “Ah, this is just a formality,” he said with a shrug. “Not my usual style, but necessary.”“I won’t give you people what you want!” she protested, clinging hard to her resolve. Every second she could buy felt vital. Gildeon had to get here in time.&ldqu
ARAHShe woke in Alaunus’s infirmary, feeling both weak and oddly rejuvenated. Had they brought her back? Her head throbbed, memories swirling but refusing to take shape. The last thing she could recall was a force—something overwhelming, wrapping around her senses. Then, nothing but darkness.Sitting up, she looked down at herself. She was dressed in fresh clothes—one of her own dresses. Her Gorgon amulet was gone. Blood and dirt had been scrubbed away, leaving no trace of the battle she’d fought earlier. She froze as the realization hit her.Drusden’s coven...They had captured her.Arah tried to scramble out of bed, but every time she reached for the edge, her hand recoiled as though she were plunging it into ice-cold water.“You’re awake, Lady Arah.”She flinched, her gaze snapping to the door as Vienna entered, carrying a tray of food and drinks. The witch was all c
GILDEONAnger and disappointment burned in his chest. “We had a plan for this, Roselia,” he growled, his gaze hardening on the witch. “What the fuck happened?”“Drusden set a trap in the fog, My Lord.” Roselia stared down at her trembling hands, caked with dirt and blood. “An efficient one… to capture Miss Arah.”“You were supposed to use your fog.”Her head snapped up. “If I used it as a barrier for Miss Arah, those witches would’ve taken me down right then and there.” She pointed to her chest. “They had their orders—I saw it plain in their eyes.” She shook her head and sucked in a shaky breath. “I made a choice.”His jaw clenched. “To give up Arah instead?”“My Lord, that barrier was never going to hold for long,” she said firmly. There was a subtle hint of hurt in her eyes that made Gi
GILDEONThree strikes.He had only three moves left before his body would give out. He needed to conserve his remaining energy—to fight the enchanted poison coursing through him while ensuring he would still be alive for the next few hours.Gildeon had to bet everything on these final attacks.“Overconfident, are we, salamander?” Vergilius said, a wry smile curling his lips.Gildeon shrugged. “I just like my odds.”Vergilius looked composed, but the way his fingers brushed the brim of his hat told Gildeon that the elder vampire’s fight was nearing its end. Even so, Vergilius would certainly want to drag Gildeon down with him.‘He can only try,’ Gildeon thought.His chest heaved, hot steam slipping through his gritted teeth in a hiss. The battle haze enveloped him. Fire surged in his arms, crackling as it burned from within. Swiftly, he unleashed a torrent of flame
GILDEONHe watched the next scene unfold. Young Vergilius, now a vampire, stood in the old priest’s depraved chamber. The sick bastard had gathered another group of young women, some already naked on his bed.The old man paused halfway through removing his robe and turned to the doorway. “Vergilius, is that you?” he exclaimed, narrowing his eyes. “Word reached me that you had escaped, you ingrate! Bold of you to show your face here after you nearly sent me to meet our Lord.”“Our Lord?” Young Vergilius scoffed, glancing at the naked girls. “You dare invoke His name while committing such a profane act, you old wretch.”Without waiting for a response, Young Vergilius launched himself at the old priest, hurling him across the room. His mouth latched onto the man’s neck, and the wet sound of blood being drawn filled the air as the girls around them screamed, too terrified to move.Gildeon watched as Young Vergilius nearly drained the p
GILDEONPresent Vergilius seethed beside him, dark eyes fixed on Father Jean. Young Vergilius stood frozen. Shock and confusion etched on his face, likely not expecting the old man to betray him, let alone accuse him of defiling the woman he loved.Young Vergilius tried to deny the accusation as guards dragged him away. But his word meant little against the ironically respected priest. There was clearly no way to save his skin. Charlotte’s father appeared, enraged. He beat Young Vergilius nearly to death.The scene shifted. Gildeon found himself in a dank prison cell. Young Vergilius slumped against a filthy wall, surrounded by rats, stripped of his robe and collar. Bruises marred his face and body, and each breath was visibly painful. His expression cycled between anger, despair, and frustration. He muttered a broken prayer, running his hands down his face before looking up, teeth gritted.“Why have you forsaken me, my Lord?&