XenraMy lips curled into a smirk as I watched Asher's Beta, Royce, climb into the chariot. Deep within me, I was glad my plan was working. As we continued our journey, I couldn't help but savour the fact that I had put up a good show."This is just the beginning," I muttered under my breath.As I dwelled in the euphoria of the moment, I resolved deep within myself to leave a lasting impression in the heart of Asher, for I was determined to get his attention and make him conscious of me.I wasn't going to relent in getting my way back into his life, and nothing would stop me from doing so.As I dwelled on it, I felt my blood boil with a fierce determination."By the time I've succeeded in finding my way back into your life, I'll get everything I want and leave you miserable." I whispered, my words heavy with determination.As I relished the satisfaction I was feeling, my mind began to race with calculations as I sought what else to do at that moment.I knew I had to utilise every opp
Xenra"Please, Alpha, I'm so tired; I'm drained, there's no iota of strength left in me, and I'm about to faint." I pressed on, my voice breaking as I stared straight into Asher's eyes.But he stood there with his hands hanging on his waist, his forehead deeply furrowed in frustration, yet he didn't say a word to me.From the expression on his face, I didn't need anyone to tell me how angry he was, but then, I also knew he was doing his best to keep his anger in.But since he seemed unyielding to my pleas, I pressed further, despite the fact that he was seething. "Please, Alpha, can I just go back to the pack?" I asked again, "I don't want to be a burden to you anymore."But as soon as the words left my lips, he flared up, "Indeed! You won't just turn back and go to the pack; you'll turn back and go to the land of the dead, where you'd never return!" He stated, his voice heavy with anger, as his words tumbled out in a rush.His anger was clearly written on his face as he growled.At
AsherWe arrived in Maltos' Castle to find the vampire queen and her entourage waiting for us at the entrance of her mansion. As soon as I stepped down from the chariot, she walked towards me, "Asher!" She exclaimed, her eyes glinting with warmth,"What a pleasant surprise!" Her words were wrapped with warmth as we closed up the distance between us."I just wanted to surprise you, vampire queen." I answered in a matching intensity even though there was no smile on my face."I wasn't really happy you had to go through the stress of coming to my pack when you could have just given the orders, and I'd be there." I added calmly.At my words, the vampire queen's lips spread into a barely noticeable smile, which complimented the image of the Xenra I had in my head."That's so thoughtful of you," she responded calmly.I was still trying to accept the reflection of the old Xenra when the vampire queen took my hand and placed a tender kiss on the back of my palm.Her actions made my brows scr
Asher"Oh, that portrait?" The vampire queen responded with a smile on her face and placed her hand on the portrait as though she was admiring it.But from the glint in her eyes, she looked as if she was thinking about something, which made my brows crease slightly, and I began to wonder what was going on.Xenra would never hesitate to share the story she had always delighted in. It was one of the things she loved talking about, and even though she hardly expressed her emotions, the excited glint in her eyes whenever she shared that story always betrayed her stoic composure. As I sat calmly observing her reaction, my smile remained plastered on my face, even as I attempted to maintain a friendly air around us."Well, there's nothing really special about it, apart from the fact that it has always brought smiles to my face whenever I stare at it." She answered after about seven seconds had passed, her words wrapped in warmth, After which she pulled her head backwards and burst into la
AsherBefore I could get myself to say another word to her, she pressed on,"I know what that portrait is all about; I know it was me in my teens. I was only trying to pull your leg." She explained calmly, although the crease in her forehead spoke otherwise."Oh," I responded calmly, even though deep within me I was satisfied with what she had just said.As if she could read my thoughts, she continued, "Come on, Asher, it's been a while; I only wanted to have fun with you. You don't have to give me that serious look." She said, her words tinged with desperation.At her words, I forced a small smile to my face and said, "Yeah, I understand." Even though deep within me, I understood nothing.A cloud of silence descended upon us, and after about six seconds of not saying a word to each other, her voice came again."Anyways, let's talk about something else," she said. "How about your mate?"My brows twitched at her words, and I began to wonder what she was trying to do. "She's fine," I
Asher.My eyes slowly opened to the brightness of a new day, and my vision gradually adjusted to the smiling face of the vampire queen, who was staring down at me."Are you okay?" I asked, my brows furrowing as I stared at her.At my words, she nodded her head fervently, and the smile on her face broadened."I am," she said. "I was just admiring your handsome face. I love how you were sleeping like a baby, the peace you exuded, the calmness." She chuckled."You were really good last night," she purred. "It has been a long time since I had such great sex." Her voice was filled with warmth as she basked in the afterglow of great sex.For about five seconds, I couldn't get myself to respond to her; the Xenra I knew had never complimented me before, no matter how good the sex was.She had always held onto her pride, demanding I admit to how good she was. This total reversal of hers was really weird.It was that realisation that left me speechless, but after about five seconds, I snapped o
XenraSince it was still early, I made my way into Maltos' palace in an attempt to get as much information as I could.I needed to get into my secret chambers before the guards assumed their various posts. I knew I had to do it discretely and not attract any attention to myself.As I casually walked towards the hallway that led to my secret library, I was deeply engrossed in the thoughts of conveying the secret book to the room given to me when I saw maids and guards running helter skelter in and out of the chamber that used to be mine.My curiosity piqued, and I swiftly walked towards one of the guards."Excuse me," I called his attention, which halted him in his tracks. "What is going on?" I asked the guard, who was already panting really hard."It's the Alpha; he's having his seizure, and nobody can help," his words tumbled out in one breath."The vampire queen can't help as well; he's..." He was still trying to catch his breath when I dashed into the room.I didn't need him to com
Royce My fists clenched beside me as I watched the Alpha gradually regain his breath pace. Deep within me, I was seething; my teeth were gritted as I stared furiously at him. I wanted to kick and hit hard against the wall at his narrow escape from death's grip, but since I wasn't alone, I knew I had to keep my anger in. "The Alpha needs to get some rest." It was the annoying fat Omega's voice that pierced through the fog of anger that had settled in my heart. If it were before, she would have been the one to excuse us, while I stayed watch over the Alpha, but at that moment, I saw it as an opportunity to slip out of his presence and let my anger out. 'After all, who cares if anything happens to him while I'm away? It'd be an opportunity to get rid of two birds with one lucky opportunity.' I pondered within myself. With a small bow of my head towards the feeble Alpha whose face was beginning to bubble up with life again, I made my way out of his sight, my steps heavy with de
AsherMy heart was filled with warmth as I stared at Xenra's tear-stained face, the pain and weakness that had overwhelmed me gradually seeping off my shoulders.Xenra's words had given me another chance to live, a reason to hold onto life, and I had decided to grab it.Deep within me, I was beginning to feel strength spring up within me, and I knew her prayer had something to do with it.Xenra looked stunned to find me staring at her; on her face was etched a mix of emotions—surprise, excitement, and disbelief—all glinted in her eyes.Her lips parted as she stared at me, but she couldn't utter a word; the surprise she had felt had left her utterly speechless.Seconds stretched on, and none of us tore our gaze away from each other. At that moment, all I felt was peace and truth, a sincerity that couldn't be denied.There was no other word to be said; I had seen and heard it all myself.As we stared at each other, the thudding sounds of boots running towards us made our heads whip towa
XenraMy heart banged faster as I stared at Asher, who was lying down almost motionless. The sight of him looking so weak and frail made my heart jump so hard from fright."Asher!""Asher!" His name tumbled out of my lips as desperation swelled within me. I was in an urgent need to get to him; I tried to drag myself towards him, but I couldn't even move an inch.The transfer I made to save his life had left me feeling like a sack of bones.Chills and goosebumps wrapped around me as I watched him groan in pain. Fear and desperation firmly clung onto me at the thought of him dying.My heart was torn apart, and I couldn't bear to watch his life slip away from him."Asher," I called with every strength I could muster this time around. But my voice was barely above a whisper, rough and harsh.Asher's eyes flickered open, but he couldn't even keep them open. He was so weak and almost lifeless; he couldn't even move an inch."Asher!" I called a little louder again, my voice filled with despe
Asher"Bastard! You bastard!" Leo growled, his voice heavy with a seething rage as he glared at Xenra."You dare lay your filthy hands on my father, and you have the guts to say it to my face?" He continued, disbelieving, ringing in his tone as his eyes glinted with wrath.The veins on his face became more visible as he seethed, and at that moment I felt my strength seeping off my shoulders.My knees couldn't hold me up anymore, and I staggered backward; my steps took Xenra unaware, and despite her efforts to hold me back, I fell to my knees."Asher, Asher, Are you okay?" Xenra asked, her words rushed and urgent as she stared at me, desperation glinting in her eyes.From the look on her face, I could tell she really wasn't waiting for my response. She had gotten the answer herself and had only asked because she was scared. I could see it in her eyes. An unfamiliar look I had never seen before, even when she pretended to be an ordinary maid, even when she went through the harsh punishm
Xenra."You bastard!" Lenhandro cursed, staggering backward, his eyes wide open in shock. The disbelief and pain written all over his face were palpable.He winced and gasped for breath, desperately trying to cling to life as it began to slip away from him, but there was nothing he could do while I watched in anticipation as he struggled all he could, until he finally collapsed with a heavy thud.The veins on his face and neck were now visible, and his laboured breathing was now very audible. He bared his teeth, unmistakable wishes in his eyes as he glared at me, but all he could do was curse.The sight of him struggling to hold onto life made me chuckle, the sound of which echoed the mockery and contentment in my heart.Lenhandro's eyes fluttered as he tried to stay awake, but then, even he seemed to have realised he wouldn't be able to stop what was coming.As it dawned on him that he couldn't do anything to stop his inevitable demise, he growled again, "You bastard!" Shooting an an
XenraMy lips spread into a small smile as I snapped out of the thoughts that had kept me busy. "Really?" I asked him. "You want us to join hands together?"My words were wrapped with surprise as I spoke, staring at him in a feigned excitement."Of course, my love," Lenhandro swiftly replied, determination ringing in his tone."We can join hands together, and you'd see just how we can take over the world. The world is large enough for both of us to rule." He added, conviction echoing in his voice as he gestured.He halted in his tracks, and I saw him swallow hard. "Look, Xenra, I'm not ready to fight with you; I would never do that again," he said. "I'm ready to go with your terms."His furrowed brows were supposed to convey his sincerity, but I could see right through him, and I knew it was a mask over his evil ambition.As if he hadn't said enough, he continued, "I'm really sorry about what happened; believe me, I really regretted it," he said, "I've really missed you so much, my lo
XenraMy steps were heavy with determination as I rushed through the hallway with just one intent in mind—to get to Lenhandro.The hallway was packed with maids and male servants, who were hastily running in all directions, speaking for safety, while Leo's and Lenhandro's soldiers chased them, slashing them with their swords.Cries of anguish and fear echoed in the whole of the palace, but the soldiers didn't spare them.Inside the hall, Asher's soldiers were already fighting against the invaders, clashing against them, and they tried to secure their home.Seeing the maids and the old servants being slaughtered greatly enraged me, and I marched towards them.Since Lenhandro's soldiers had come from the main entrance, I knew if I could break through the approaching guards, I'd get to the bastard who betrayed me.As I brooded over my wrath, a soldier fell beside me, and his spear slipped from his grasp. Without waiting for another second, I swiftly picked it up, and with that same inten
Asher"Quickly, let's go," Xenra said to the guard that supported my other arm, and they both led me into the secret passage.As we walked through it, I kept hearing the loud wails and screams of my people, conveying their agony and distress.The sound of metal clashing against another filled the air and made my heart ache. That was the cry of my innocent citizen, and the fact that I had to hide to save my life broke my heart.As we walked through the dimly lit passage, my heart kept bleeding as their voices filled the whole space.Deep within me, I knew I had to do something; I knew I shouldn't be the coward who abandoned his people and flew to safety while his people were being sacrificed in their home.Filled with that determination, I halted in my tracks, refusing to be led farther away from my people, who were sacrificing their lives for our clan.Xenra's head whipped towards me, but before she could say a word about it, I swiftly began to speak:"This whole thing will lead to ev
Xenra"No," I shook desperately as I stared at him, "I can't leave you." My words tumbled out in a determined rush.Seeing him getting weaker and weaker was already a painful sight, but what I couldn't bear to do was to leave him alone just as he had requested."What is wrong with you?!" Asher said, more like a statement than a question. "I'm asking you to leave now. Do you want Lenhandro to kill you again and have the last laugh?""He's your worst enemy, and we both know you'd forever be uneasy if you don't have your revenge against him tonight," Asher added, his voice firm and resolute.Asher's breath finally stabilised, but then I knew it wasn't something to rejoice over, since that was the nature of the poison. My clan's mate had always referred to it as "the poisonous deceit."I knew it was the last gathering of strength that would last for just twelve hours after the person had been injected, before his eventual demise."As you can see, I'm getting better and can take care of my
AsherI could feel my spirit gradually leaving my body as I lay there. The whole of me felt heavy; I was tired of struggling, and my vision began to blur.Vaguely, I heard Lena hiss and saw her walk away from the room. The victorious smile I saw on her face jabbed at my heart even as it dawned on me that I wouldn't be able to save my people and defend what I had always held dear.My mind began to reel with countless thoughts, a chaotic mix of thoughts that made my mind run wild as I sought a solution.But no matter how much I tried, I just couldn't get my mind to focus. The intense pain I was feeling inside wouldn't allow me to focus on a possible solution, and I began to wonder if that was how I would die.My chest was tightening within me, and my breath grew short. Gradually, I began to gasp for breath.Outside my room, I could hear the footsteps of soldiers running towards the entrance. I could also hear the heavy thuds of soldiers on the marbled floor outside the mansion as they r