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Chapter 101: Achilles' POV
Last Updated:
2025-02-26 17:03:54
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Mated To Valentine    Chapter 102: North's POV
"You know, if I die from this, at least carve something dramatic on my tombstone. Something like: âAchilles Laurent â Poisoned, but still ridiculously handsome.ââI fold my arms. âHow about: âAchilles Laurent â Took a poisoned bullet because North got herself captured, and now heâs stuck in bed, whining like a child.ââHis lips twitch, but the smirk barely lasts before pain flickers across his face. He exhales through his nose, shifting slightly. âYou wound me, North. Iâm lying here, fighting for my life, and this is the gratitude I get?âI shake my head, forcing lightness into my tone. âFighting for your life? Please. Mara gave you enough potions to knock the poison out before we even landed in Paris. At this point, youâre more magic than shapeshifter.â"Shapeshifter is magic.""You get the drift."Achilles smirks, but I can see the exhaustion beneath it. His usual arrogance is there, but itâs muted, dulled by everything weâve been through. By everything I put him through.I swallo
Last Updated : 2025-02-26Mated To Valentine    Chapter 103:
The moonlight spills across the grand field, bathing the land in an ethereal glow. From the balcony, I can see the staff moving below, their silhouettes shifting through the dark as they work. The hum of the mowers fills the silence, steady and rhythmic, grounding me in the present when my mind keeps trying to drift elsewhere.Achilles.I won't lie, I'm very terrified for him.His condition worsened earlier. His breathing turned shallow, his skin burning hot with fever, and for a terrifying moment, I thoughtâI close my eyes and exhale slowly. Itâs just the potions working, I remind myself. Mara said this would happen. His body is fighting, purging the last remnants of the poison. He just needs time.But time feels like a cruel thing right now.My fingers grip the iron railing, the coldness biting into my skin. My thoughts shift, moving from Achilles to something just as unsettling. The Council.Theyâve requested to see Valentine and me.I donât know what they want, but I can guess.
Last Updated : 2025-02-26Mated To Valentine    Chapter 104:
The Council chamber is grand like I remember, but the atmosphere inside is anything but welcoming. Heavy silence lingers as Valentine and I take our seats, eyes boring into us from all directions. The ancient vampires seated in a semi-circle before us exude authority, their expressions unreadable.Valentine's parents aren't with us here. He mentioned earlier that they had more pressing business to attend to in Rome.I scan the room until my gaze settles on Alex who sends me a wide grin and a discreet wave.He looks better. Stronger. When I last saw him in the Ascendantsâ labs, he was a breath away from death. Bones jutting from his skin, barely conscious, his body ravaged by starvation and experiments. But now, he looksâĶ different. Bigger. His skin has regained its pallor, his muscles more defined. His pale eyes no longer carry that hollow, haunted look.Luther, his father, stands beside him, his hands clasped tightly in front of him. âI owe you my sonâs life.â His voice is heavy
Last Updated : 2025-02-26Mated To Valentine    Chapter 105: Valentine's POV
Achilles leans back against the headboard, arms folded, eyes alight with mischief despite the pain still evident in his face. His usual smirk is in place, the one that makes it seem like heâs perpetually amused by everything and everyone. North is sitting at the foot of the bed, cross-legged, engaged in conversation with him. And me? Iâm standing by the window, watching both of them, listening, absorbing."You know," Achilles drawls, tilting his head slightly, "for an ancient council full of supposed wise men, theyâre remarkably dim-witted. Took them this long to realize the Ascendants were a bigger threat than this one here." He gestures toward North with his chin.North scoffs. "Gee, thanks. What a compliment.""Itâs a fair assessment," I say, smirking. "But theyâre ancient, Achilles. So is their wisdom."North bursts into laughter. "Oh, thatâs rich! My love, did you just call them outdated in the most poetic way possible?"Achilles snorts. "He did. And itâs true. Bunch of relics
Last Updated : 2025-02-26Mated To Valentine    Chapter 106: North's POV
It's a bright day. The sun is high in the sky, scorching even, beating down on me like I'm in an oven. The sky is bright blue, the clouds form beautiful patterns. You know, those kind when the sun hides behind the clouds, creating a kind of halo. Like the movies, one would expect the weather to take a hint and not be pretty. One would expect rain and gloom to match the atmosphere. We're back in Valentine's estate, standing over a newly dug six feet hole. Down below is where Achilles is to lay forever. His casket is still open and hasn't been put into the grave yet. I stare down at him. He's too still. He's too quiet. He's too pale. He's too dead. He'd always seemed so... invisible. When he trained me, he was the best fighter. Under Valentine's control, he was a weapon. He didn't seem like someone that could die. No, not Achilles. Strong people don't deserve to be put down so easily. I half expect him to jump up with a 'boo' and a self satisfied smirk, telling us how he
Last Updated : 2025-02-26Mated To Valentine    Chapter 107:
The house is suffocating. Every room carries his ghost. The scent of his cologne still lingers on the couch, in the hallway. The soft echo of his laughter still rings in the walls, mocking me, reminding me of whatâs been stolen from us.I sit by the window, staring at nothing, my fingers gripping the fabric of my black sweater. Valentine stands near the fireplace, a glass of whiskey untouched in his hand. He hasnât fed in days. His cheekbones are sharper, his skin paler. Heâs always been broody, but now, itâs like heâs a shadow of himself, barely tethered to this world.I speak first, my voice hoarse. "I keep expecting him to walk through that door."Valentine doesnât turn. He swirls the whiskey absently, watching the amber liquid catch the light. "I hear his voice sometimes," he murmurs. "I hear him calling me daddy in that insufferable, zesty way." A mirthless chuckle escapes him. "I used to be annoyed by it. But nowânow Iâd do anything to hear it again."My chest tightens. "I
Last Updated : 2025-02-26Mated To Valentine    Chapter 108:
The drive back to the estate is quiet. Too quiet. The road stretches endlessly before us, swallowed by the night. The headlights cut through the darkness, but nothing can cut through the weight pressing down on us.Valentine keeps his eyes on the road, his knuckles white around the steering wheel. He hasnât said a word since I slid into the passenger seat. I havenât either.Thereâs nothing to say.I glance at him. The sharp angles of his face are even harsher under the dim glow of the dashboard. His lips are pressed into a thin line, his shoulders tense.I know why weâre doing this.We donât say it out loud, but we both know.The mansion in the woods doesnât feel like home anymore.The estateâwhere Achilles is buriedâis the only place that makes sense now.He needs to be near him.I do too.I let my head rest against the cool glass of the window, watching the trees blur past. âIt feels like running.âValentine exhales slowly. âMaybe it is.âI turn to him, searching for something in
Last Updated : 2025-02-26Mated To Valentine    Chapter 109:
Paris is a graveyard. Not in the literal sense, but in the way it feels as we step off the private jet into the cold night air. The city is aliveâbuzzing with cars, laughter, and life that doesnât care about our grief. But for me, and for Valentine, this place is a tomb.Achilles isnât here. Not in the way he used to be. His voice, his laughter, the way he would crack the worst possible joke just to piss me offâitâs all gone.The car ride from the airstrip is silent.Valentine sits beside me, his fingers laced with mine, his grip tight as if heâs afraid Iâll slip away too.His thumb rubs slow circles over my skin, grounding me, reminding me that Iâm not alone in this. Heâs hands are cold, but somehow they hold more warmth than Paris, and it's the only thing keeping the cold from seeping into my bones.âWe donât have to be here,â he murmurs after a while, voice soft, thoughtful. âIf itâs too much, Iâll take you back.âI turn to him, taking in the worry in his gold eyes. Heâs barely
Last Updated : 2025-02-26
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Mated To Valentine    Chapter 130: Achilles' POV
The clock on the wall reads 3:07 AM when the door creaks open.I stir, blinking against the dim glow of the fireplace as heavy boots echo across the marble floors.Then I see him.And my drowsiness vanishes.Valentine strides in like something out of a gothic fever dream, long coat dusted with grime, moonlight trailing him through the open doorway. But itâs not his dramatic entrance that has me bolting upright.Itâs the girl in his arms.I stare.Her body is limp, her head resting against his chest. Her ridiculously long black hair spills past his knees, trailing like a shadow. Her lips are slightly parted, her skin almost translucent beneath the chandelierâs glow.Oh, this is rich.I exhale sharply, pressing a hand over my heart in mock horror.âVal,â I gasp. âHave you resorted to kidnapping?âHis glare is immediate.I continue anyway.âIs this where we are now? You get a little lonely, and instead of asking me to take you out, youâwhat? Pluck the prettiest girl off the streets an
Mated To Valentine    Chapter 129: Valentine's POV (A hundred years later)
A century. A mere blink in my existence, yet it feels like an eternity when spent with him. He. He, the chaos incarnate, the walking, talking embodiment of every headache I've ever endured. Achilles. Even now, a hundred years on, he manages to fill the mansion with his incessant chatter, his ridiculous schemes, hisâĶ his presence. Tonight, I seek a reprieve. A hunt.The moon hangs heavy, a silver coin in the velvet sky. The air is thick with the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves, a familiar aroma that usually soothes me. Tonight, it merely serves as a backdrop to my frustration. I stalk through the shadows of the old cemetery, my senses heightened, searching for the telltale signs of wild vampires. Theyâre a nuisance, these feral creatures, a stain on our kind.Then, I smell it. Something sweet. Caramel, with a delicate hint of lavender. A human scent, but unlike any I've encountered before. It draws me in, a strange, compelling pull.I move silently, a shadow among shado
Mated To Valentine    Chapter 128: Achilles POV
If I had a coin for every time someone looked at me like I was an inconvenience, Iâd probably own a nice pair of boots by now.Valentineâs mother, however, doesnât just look at me like Iâm an inconvenienceâshe looks at me like Iâm a cockroach sheâs too disgusted to crush.And I have to say, thatâs not new.She says nothing when we run into each other in the halls, just gives me a long, cold stare before turning the other way and ignoring my existence entirely. But I can feel her disapproval dripping off her in waves. The king is no differentâsilent, unreadable, always watching me with mild curiosity, like Iâm some street cat Valentine dragged in from the gutter.(Which, to be fair, is accurate. But still.)I keep my mouth shut, keep my hands to myself, but the longer I sit there in that stifling palace, the more I realize I hate it. I hate the way their presence makes Valentine tense, hate the way his motherâs sharp words cut him down without effort.So when he grabs my wrist later
Mated To Valentine    Chapter 127: Valentine's POV
Achilles is a menace.A charming, loud, dramatic menace.And somehow, against all logic and reason, I am enjoying myself.Iâve spent nearly three centuries in this world, drifting through time with the same predictable routine. Nothing ever surprises me. But AchillesâAchilles is unpredictable. A whirlwind of sarcasm and chaos wrapped in a too-thin frame, wearing my clothes as if he owns them.And now, I am taking him into the city.Paris at night is a sight to beholdâcobblestone streets glistening under the glow of gas lamps, the murmur of voices spilling from cafÃĐs and carriages rolling down the avenues. The scent of warm bread lingers in the air, mixing with the ever-present perfume of the Seine.Achilles stretches his arms above his head as we step onto the street. âAh, freedom! I can already smell the possibilities.âI give him a dry look. âThat would be fresh bread, not possibilities.âHe waves a hand. âSame thing.âWe walk, side by side, and I notice heâs still too thin. The
Mated To Valentine    Chapter 126: Achilles POV
I shouldâve seen it coming.The ridiculous wealth. The manor that looks like something out of an ancient royal painting. The way people around here bow slightly when they see him, as if heâs made of something more than the rest of us.Of course, Valentine isnât just an important vampire. Heâs a prince.The prince of all vampires.I pause mid-step in the corridor, my brain struggling to process this absurd fact. I mean, I knew he was high up the vampire ladderâno one lives in a place this extravagant without some serious power backing themâbut the son of the king and queen? This is their manor?Iâm staying under the same roof as the vampire king and queen?I run a hand down my face. Holy shit.And yet, despite all this, my senses donât go haywire. I always assumed that if I ever stood in the presence of powerful supernaturals, my body would reactâsome primal, deep-rooted fear kicking in. But right now, all I feel isâĶWell. Mild panic. But thatâs normal.I shake off the thoughts and
Mated To Valentine    Chapter 125: Valentine's POV
The moment we step into the manor, I hear Achillesâ heart pick up its pace.Heâs overwhelmed.Itâs evident in the way his wide, dark eyes dart around, struggling to take everything inâthe marble floors polished to a mirror shine, the chandeliers dripping with golden light, the tapestries lining the hallways like relics of another time.He hasnât lived like this before. That much is clear.I donât acknowledge his awe. Instead, I lead him down the grand hall, past the looming portraits of my ancestors who watch us with unblinking eyes. The silence between us stretches, but I donât break it. Not yet.We arrive at the dining hall. A long, gleaming mahogany table stretches nearly the entire length of the room, fit for a feast that no one ever has.Achilles lingers at the doorway.âSit,â I tell him.He hesitates before obeying, perching stiffly on one of the velvet chairs like heâs ready to flee at any second.I turn to one of the maids, who bows instantly. âSomething hefty,â I instruct, g
Mated To Valentine    Chapter 124: Achilles POV
Pain blossoms across my ribs as another kick lands. The crowd jeers, their shouts merging into an incomprehensible storm of voices. Blood trickles down the side of my face, the warm sting mixing with the bitter cold of the Parisian night.I try to move, but a boot presses against my shoulder, pinning me down."Filthy thief," someone spits.I close my eyes. This is it. This is how it ends. Torn apart in the streets like a rat. I don't even have the strength to shift to save my own life.The huntersâstanding just beyond the mobâwatch with unnerving patience, hands resting on their weapons. Theyâre waiting for the right moment. The moment Iâm too weak to fight back.Then, a voice. Smooth, deep, unhurried.âEnough.âThe weight lifts off my shoulder. The kicks stop. The crowd shifts uneasily, murmurs rising like rustling leaves.I open my eyes.A man stands there, tall and composed, golden-blond hair neatly arranged, his fine black coat barely disturbed by the night breeze. Thereâs some
Mated To Valentine    Chapter 123: Valentine's POV
The gas lamps outside the cabaret flicker weakly, their orange glow barely cutting through the thick fog that clings to the streets of Paris.Inside, the air is heavy with the scent of cheap perfume, spilled wine, and the faint, metallic tang of blood.The orchestra plays a frenzied waltz, the violins screeching like banshees, while couples spin across the floor in a chaotic blur of silk and sweat.I sit in a shadowed corner, a glass of absinthe in my hand, the green liquid swirling like liquid poison.Across from me, a young womanâMarie, she said her name wasâchatters incessantly.Her voice is high-pitched, grating, and sheâs been going on about her village, her family, her dreams of becoming a singer.I smile, though my patience wears thin.âDo you come here often, monsieur?â she asks, leaning forward, her dÃĐcolletage on full display.Her French is tinged with a provincial accent, marking her as new to the city.I tilt my head, letting my lips curl into a dangerous smile. âOnly when
Mated To Valentine    Chapter 122: Achilles POV
I stand frozen, the heat of the flames licking at my skin even from this distance. The crackling of the fire is deafening, but itâs the silence in my chest that terrifies me. My motherâs voice echoes in my head, sharp and desperate: âRun, Achilles! Run and donât look back!âI can still smell the acrid smoke, the burning wood, the charred remains of my childhood. Half of it is gone now, reduced to ash and embers. The other half stands like a hollow shell, a monument to everything Iâve lost.My legs move before I can think, carrying me away from the only home Iâve ever known. Greece. My motherâs coven. The demon. Theyâre all chasing me now, and I donât know where to go. All I know is that I canât stay here. My heart pounds in my chest, my breath coming in ragged gasps as I stumble through the dark streets. I donât even know where Iâm going. Just away. Away from the flames. Away from the coven. Away from the demon that haunts my nightmares.Away...that leads me to Paris.The stree
