XenraSilence and calmness followed. Their gazes remained fixed on Asher, who had gone still, like a corpse.From the expression on their faces, I could tell their minds were far from being at peace.Lena, who had never witnessed his episode, had her brows scrunched up as she peered into his face with curiosity. Meanwhile, the impersonator's eyes glinted with fear as they both stared at Asher.After about fifteen seconds of staring at him, someone finally tore the thick blanket of silence that had settled upon us."Are you sure he's okay?" It was Lena who asked without pulling her gaze from Asher, and almost immediately, she continued,"He doesn't look like he's okay; he looks sick." Her words tumbled out in a rush as they echoed the fear that had settled in her heart.As if her voice was the signal the impersonator needed, she took over. "Wait a second, why are his eyes still like that?" she asked, Her words dripped with frantic concern as she leaned in further towards him, without
Xenra.The impersonator's head whipped towards Lena, who had just spoken, and her lips curled upwards.Amusement glinted in her eyes, while I maintained a barely noticeable smirk.Only then did Lena recall herself. "Well, I don't mean it that way," she began to speak, her words slurring slightly as she struggled to articulate her response."I meant, if his seizure starts at night, what would I do?" She asked with a small gesture, after which she began to regain her confidence, as though she had found an excuse to strongly hold onto."Indeed, what you're saying is not wrong, but I'm not in the right position to stay with him," she continued, her words firmer this time around. "Maybe the vampire queen can stay with him. But don't worry; I won't be far away; I'll be close by, checking occasionally to make sure that nothing is wrong with him." She assured with a firm voice.As her words settled into my heart, I couldn't help but roll my eyes. 'Asher really got himself a darling mate this
XenraThe day slowly wore into the night; palpable silence hovered around everyone present in the cosy space of Asher's bedroom.On the spacious king-sized bed lay Asher, looking like a wilted vegetable beneath the white blanket, his face pale enough to seem almost luminous.Every eye was fixed on him as he shivered and shook uncontrollably; the steady rhythm of his tremors resonated through the blanket covering him, and I wondered, 'How are the mighty fallen!'"Akira!""Akira!"His voice, like a breaking hum, quivered, echoing his tremors.Just then, Royce, whose gaze had never wavered from him, asked in a cold, stern voice, "What's wrong?" Breaking the tense silence that had settled over us."He's calling the name of the person he loves so much," I answered, my voice almost unrecognisable as it seemed to resonate with his frail and weak state."Lady Akira is the person he loves so much; that's why he's calling her name," I added calmly.As if my words were the trigger the Beta neede
RoyceThe sight of the fat maid clearly lost in thoughts made me scoff as I drew nearer to her from behind. She seemed clearly oblivious to my presence."Take this!" I said, stretching my hands towards her, whose gaze was still fixed on Asher's face.She jerked, snapping back from whatever had kept her so busy, and her eyes darted from my face to the mint leaves I was holding.Yet she seemed a little muddled, which sparked a surge of urgency within me."What are you still waiting for?" I glared, my voice was stern and urgent.It was my voice that jolted her into action, breaking her out of whatever had kept her frozen in time. Without waiting for another second, she swiftly collected the twigs of mint leaves from me and dashed towards the kitchen.Her steps were swift and short as she moved about the kitchen. I followed her closely, watching as she efficiently put the necessary utensils in order, and without waiting for a second, she carefully plucked and rinsed the mint leaves befo
XenraSilence at last! I let out a deep sigh at the feel of it, my shoulders slumping as the weight of worry and frustration steamed off them.My thoughts spiralled back to Asher, and my gaze followed the motion to his face.Although he was still quivering, his jerking had stopped, and his face was beginning to bounce back to life.Lazily, I walked towards the couch and settled into it, my mind still plagued by Asher and his ailment, and just then, my thoughts began to wander."Every being truly has a weakness," I voiced out the thoughts that had kept me busy as I stared at the sleeping Asher's face."Who would have thought a day would come when the mighty Asher would be as weak as a crushed vegetable?" I missed and shook my head as my thoughts lingered.Deep within me, I compared his former stalwart and vigorous self to the weak, vulnerable, and crushed state before me, and I couldn't help but sigh in pity for him.Seconds stretched into minutes, and an hour strolled by, yet Asher r
XenraSeconds ticked by, and Asher's breath became warmer, adding flames to my burning desires.I felt it on my neck, on my back, and on every part it touched; it left tingles that trailed down my spine. My heart fluttered, beating hysterically, and gradually, I was losing my mind."Help me, moon goddess!" I silently prayed even though I didn't believe in her, even though it had been long since I last spoke to her. Deep within me, I just needed an intervention, an escape, anything at all; a distraction that would help me stay put and not give in to the tingles within me.With every passing second, my heartbeat grew louder in my ears, even though I was doing my best to keep myself in check.But there was no way I could deny what I was feeling inside; the fact that every part of me longed for him made it even worse. I felt as though I was fighting against myself, which filled me with a mix of longing and sadness.I really wished I could just turn around and hold him back, closer to m
AsherSlowly, my eyes fluttered open. The overwhelming sunlight streaming through the window felt too intense for me to handle, and my brows drew together as a sharp, piercing pain hit my head.I tried to lift my hand to soothe my head, but I felt too weak to even lift my arm. It felt as though logs of wood were pressing down on me, and as though all my strength had jerked out of my body during my shivering.After much effort, I finally managed to touch my head, which throbbed painfully against my hand, and as I brought it down, I felt something beside me—definitely the soft skin of a woman.At that instant, my head whipped towards my right to see the fat maid lying half-naked beside me.The sight of her made my eyes bulge and caused my brows to scrunch up in a mix of surprise and confusion.Scenes strolled past me, and as I struggled to recall what had really happened and why she was lying beside me like that, her eyes snapped open, meeting my gaze. Quickly, she grabbed the blanket
XenraMy eyes screwed shut, and I puffed out a deep sigh as soon as the door closed behind me.My heart ached, and a mix of emotions gushed through me.The scenes from last night kept swerving around me like a torrent, intensity all I was feeling inside.A profound sadness, deeply rooted in my heart, collided with a looming disappointment, leaving me shattered, broken, and utterly overwhelmed. I felt miserable.I felt as though I had lost touch with myself. I felt like a total stranger in the skin that embodied me; I felt like a complete loser.Although I wasn't mad at Asher, I was even surprised at how calmly he reacted to it; I just couldn't help feeling sad and angry about how I had become a total stranger to myself.My eyes welled up with tears as my present reality settled in me, and I couldn't stop the sob that threatened to break forth from my lips.My hands flew to my mouth as I tried to stifle the sob, but my tears rolled down my cheeks like a broken dam, gushing forth with r
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