Arabella, Sandro, and Clarisse reached the entrance of the Phoenix's sacred ground. Lady Arabella stood at the center of a pentagram, and close to her was an elevated platform with a golden cup and an open book next to it.Turning to address the gathering, Arabella gasped softly. "Is that me?" she murmured, looking from Sandro to Clarisse and back at the woman."You go about looking like everyone, Cara. Not that I blame you for that," Sandro grunted."You're one to talk," Arabella glared at him, recalling her confusion between Alessandro the first and Sandro earlier. Now, she was faced with her own lookalike."Like I mentioned, the sin began a century ago, stemming from your ancestors. The figures you see here are your forebears," Clarisse explained."What about Alessia, then?" Arabella inquired, considering their twin connection. "If there's a first doppelganger, it would make sense for her to be present too.""She was absorbed by the first, but that's a tale for another time," Clari
Arabella struggled against the chains that bound her, wincing as her skin burned – a sensation reminiscent of when Alessia had bound her.Now, facing Sandro, she observed him being restrained, not by Astralys herself, but by skeletal beings emerging from the ground, conjured by Astralys."What do you want?" Arabella inquired as Astralys approached a presumed spell book.Astralys flipped through its pages, wrinkling her nose, then tossed it toward Sandro, who narrowly dodged the incoming book."Stupid witch!" Astralys growled, advancing toward Arabella. "I will end her bloodline.""What do you want with me?" Arabella asked again."Be cautious, or I'll be forced to eradicate those little demons within you. But I need them; I need you." Astralys loosened Arabella's restraints, dragging her toward a podium, then turned to Sandro."Bring him."The skeletal beings that held Sandro maneuvered him like a ragdoll. Though he struggled to break free, their grip remained firm as they brought him
Blaze groaned as he woke up. The ringing in his ears persisted, showing no signs of stopping anytime soon. He remained confined in the dungeon, and it was no surprise. Sandro wouldn't release him easily, especially after what had transpired.Now, Sandro was aware of Arabella's location, and Blaze couldn't help but feel responsible.The truth had been extracted from him through torture, yet he believed it was his fault for not resisting.But then again, resisting would be tough when your weakness was exploited against you.He scowled at the several marks lining his skin and the unyielding chain that kept him restrained. Trying to break free only resulted in discomfort- burning sensations that sent a jolt of electricity through him as well as a brain freeze."Fucking bastard," Blaze snarled, kicking a pebble and wincing.The chain not only hindered his escape but also suppressed his abilities. Now that Sandro knew his identity, escaping would be an uphill battle.Glancing at the hay-cov
Sandro growled loudly, slamming into an undead, grabbing it by the neck, and snapping it completely. He leaped onto another, heading for Arabella, who seemed momentarily stunned, and tore out its heart."Would you stare all day or get down to business?" Sandro snapped."Sorry!" Arabella squealed, patting the jeans she wore and fumbling for her knife. Blaze had given her this small knife back at the Phoenix cave, an alternative to using her powers in a fight.She had rarely used it since Alessia, as battling Alessia with a knife could have been risky."Astralys!" Arabella snarled, deflecting an attack and driving her blade into an undead jugular. It sizzled, and he screeched, vibrating nonstop. Arabella eyed the knife; it had never sizzled before. It was strange that it was happening now."That is a silver blade coated with wolfsbane," Sandro commented, eyeing her. "Blaze gave it to you, I presume," he added dryly.Blaze never explained the knife's usefulness; he only told her never t
"How do you know about this?" Sandro asked Blaze, glancing aside as he spotted an attacker rushing toward him."A call from Janice," Blaze replied, landing a punch on the approaching assailant's face. He swiftly snapped the neck and tossed the body toward another, causing a stumble.Wrinkling his nose at their scent, Blaze noted they were werewolves, but much more powerful than the ordinary werewolf. Thalia and Sandro might handle a few, but he doubted he or Arabella could last much longer, especially him.The lingering wolfsbane in his system weakened him, and he wondered how he remained standing."Your whore," Sandro sneered, "How did she get the information?""Janice isn't my whore, and I don't know. Let's be grateful she's helping us escape," Blaze said."I am grateful," Sandro rolled his eyes, snarling as he tackled three approaching attackers."We can discuss any issues later; for now, let's focus on surviving," Blaze urged, hearing grunts not from Sandro, Arabella, or Thalia.
Arabella wiped away the tears sliding down her cheeks, hissing as pain shot through her side.Her chest tightened, and she gulped in two deep breaths, blinking back tears."Blaze," she muttered, shaking him in her hands, though he remained stiff. "Please wake up, please."Her shoulder trembled, her lips quivering, her head pounding, and her eyes aching. She wanted him to stir, to tease and laugh, but nothing happened.Now, more than ever, she longed to hear his voice and the reassurance he always provided, promising that everything would be fine.'He's dead, Bella. He's dead,' The words she didn't want to say aloud echoed in her head. Arabella shook her head, unwilling to accept the truth. In her mind, he would rise, and they would return to the villa, her tending to his injuries.He had to be okay; her tears held healing properties, just like the first time she had saved him. She believed she could do it again.Even as more tears fell, he stayed motionless in her arms."What's happen
"We were attacked after escaping that dratted past I had to delve into with Bella," Sandro explained. Currently, in a small room within the meeting hall, he narrated the events to Brianna, who sat listening."I need to verify everything the bitch said; she can't force me to endure all that and knowing she was lying to me," Sandro grunted, pacing the room.He halted, glaring at Brianna, who remained silent. She neither agreed nor disagreed with what he said; instead, she stared blankly ahead."Brianna!" Sandro growled, moving toward her to grab her attention. However, he stopped as he heard her voice."She spoke the truth, Alpha," Brianna said, turning her gaze to Sandro. "She was the first of her kind, responsible for this calamity. The first doppelganger and your ancestors played a part, too."Brianna continued, "She lured you into the past to manipulate you both for her evil agenda. If she had succeeded, she would not only have killed you both but all supernatural beings, making the
They stood outside in the De Luca's graveyard. It marked Arabella's first visit, and she wished it would also be the last.Despite the daytime, mournful howls echoed before the funeral commenced. She guessed it was traditions.Brianna and her sisters took charge of the ceremony, as Sandro had handed it over to them."Today, we lay to rest Nicholas Armstrong, a fierce Beta, and guardian of our pack. Let's remember the beautiful things he did for us. He died a hero, sacrificing his life for his friends. He'll be forever missed."Blaze was truly gone, Arabella pondered. She had spent the whole previous day waiting for him or someone to reveal that it was all a joke. To assure her he would wake up, hug her, kiss her, and tell her everything would be fine.But no one came. She had seen him give up, and not even her tears, which had awakened him the first time, worked this time. Brianna had mentioned something about him running out of luck. Tears streamed down her cheeks, and though she vo