CHAPTER 026There was too much quiet in the alley; the shadows felt alive. His breathing was steady, yet his mind was anything but calm. Dante lingered in the darkness. He knew full well it wasn’t an accident, and he’d followed her here. He wanted to follow Lucia, wanted this confrontation. He was trapped; she was baiting him.Her silhouette was sharp against the dim glow, and Lucia stood in the moonlight. She didn’t move, not one bit... too still, as if waiting for the pull of a trigger. Her voice pierced the silence, yet she remained motionless, not even turning her head.“Are you going to step out or do I have to drag you out?” Dante hesitated; there was steel beneath her calm tone.His fists clenched, he pressed his back against the cold stone wall. He could leave. Avoid this and disappear into the night. But he knew better. Lucia wouldn’t stop. The next confrontation wouldn’t end as cleanly as this one might; she’d find him.He stepped out of the shadows with a sigh and put up hi
CHAPTER 027The dimly lit room had been scuffing her boots against the wooden floor as Lucia paced back and forth. She didn’t trust him, not for a second, but she knew she needed him. The mere mention of Matteo stirred her emotions, and the prospect of defeating him was the sole force keeping her grounded. But aligning with Dante? She wasn’t sure she could win that gamble.With arms crossed over his chest, Dante leaned against the wall, his face careful and neutral. Her anger, piercing and unyielding, would hover just beyond his grasp. He didn’t know if she would kill him or agree to his plan, but he kept quiet, letting her make up her mind.It was finally that Lucia stopped and turned to him. “How can I trust you?” she added icily. “You’re a Vulpin mafia member.” ‘For all I know, this is just another one of their games,’ I said.”Dante pushed herself off the wall and stepped, careful, toward her. He said evenly, “I’m not asking for your trust.” “I’m asking for a chance to prove that
CHAPTER 028The lamp had only one dim, golden glow that fell over Nero’s desk, but it wasn’t enough to reach the farthest corners of the room, and so the shadows pooled at the edges. Across her arms, Lucia sat in the chair opposite him, her posture stiff. His gray eyes were cold and calculating; his fingers were steepled as he leaned back in his wheelchair.He started, the name falling from his lips like a warning. “He’s getting too close.”The edges of her mouth tightened, and Lucia frowned. “It’s not that big of a deal.”“No,” Nero snapped. ‘You’re not reading into it enough.’ There’s a reason men like Dante don’t get close. And it’s never a good one.”Her defenses rose like a wall; she bristled. “He’s been useful. “He’s given me information we wouldn’t have gotten otherwise.”Nero’s gaze didn’t waver. “Useful? Yes. Trustworthy? No. Lucia, he’s tied to the Vulpin mafia. You don’t want that thread tangled around your neck.”The reminder churned her stomach, but she kept her face neut
CHAPTER 029Lucia stirred awake; the room was dark and cold. Her head pounded, and her limbs felt heavy, restrained. She tried to blink it all away and make sense of the place she was. Damp stone stank; she could almost smell blood in the tang of that metal smell.She pulled against the leather straps that bound her wrists to a wooden chair; her wrists burned. The confusion began to clear, and a sharp pang of anger replaced it. The betrayal, the memory of what happened, flooded back, and she clenched her teeth. The whispered apology before the darkness took her, Dante’s calm voice.Footsteps echoed down a corridor, getting louder. She forced her breathing to quicken, to calm. Dante stepped in, and the door creaked open, his face hidden by the dimmer light of a single overhead bulb.She spat, her voice raw but steady, 'You.' “You trusted me and this is what you do?”She caught him flinch, barely noticeable. His hands tucked into his coat pockets, he stepped closer. He spoke low, almost
CHAPTER 030Her body burned as if all had been drained, leaving only the felt hollow shell. Her skin took the sharp chill of the steel table, and she struggled to pull in a shallow breath that almost sounded like a loss she wasn’t sure she would win. The room was filled with metal and antiseptic, as machines hummed faintly, but the voices that filled the room were cold and calculating, the worst of all.Matteo’s voice echoed smugly, triumphant, “Her blood is unparalleled.” “It’s power in liquid form. “A few more vials, and I’ll be in the black.”Her body wouldn't move; she wanted to scream, to lunge at him and wipe that smirk off his face. Her veins burned from whatever drug they had pumped into her; her muscles were leaden. The restraints around her wrists dug in her skin, refusing to shift.“One of these will knock you on your ass,” another voice cautioned. "It's a hybrid's regenerative properties. If you drain her too quickly, they might collapse."Regenerative properties. That’s w
chapter031At the Lupari estate, darkness covered everything, and candles lit only Matteo's study room. Following Lucia's mysterious death, everyone felt uneasy.Dante leaned against the window, trying to make sense of what had happened while watching the stars move above.He felt something important about Lucia had escaped him, which would have made a difference, Matteo moved toward the room, and his quiet footfalls sounded on the wooden surface. Relief met sorrow in his gaze. "Dante," he started with a firm but heavy voice, "you need to hear something important."His eyes showed puzzlement as Dante looked toward his half-brother. "What is it, Matteo?"Matteo paused to control his nerves, then lifted his eyes to Dante.Though Lucia worked alongside us, she shared something more special as our blood relative. She was our sister."Dante's eyes widened in disbelief. "Our sister? How is that possible?"Matteo offered the news solemnly that we both descended from the same father."Lucia is o
Chapter 032 Darkness enveloped Lucia as she awoke while her head pounded with pain, she attempted to move her arms but discovered cold metal bands had tightly bound her wrists. Chains.Her body filled with terror as she fought against the restraining chains. "Where am I?" she whispered, her voice trembling, the small space felt damp, and stone walls pressed against her as if they wanted to suffocate her.The heavy, musty air made drawing breath into her lungs difficult. Thick shadows produced strange forms across the walls, which caused Lucia's heartbeat to quicken. She inhaled deeply to regain control of her emotions."Let me go!" she screamed but received no answer except the distant sound of water dripping.Days passed, or maybe weeks,the duration of her captivity seemed endless.Lucia had no memory of herself, arriving at this place, or anything else. Her mind was a blank slate. The only sensations Lucia experienced were the freezing metal chains and an intense desire to break fre
Chapter 033Alessandro guided Lucia through the magnificent entrance of the Velvet Night Gala.The entrance revealed a splendid hall where people talked while soft music played, chandeliers hung from the ceiling, creating a warm atmosphere for the elegantly attired crowd.Lucia stared in awe at the scene before her, she felt tiny and lost among the crowd yet held onto Alessandro's arm for support.Alessandro spoke quietly to Lucia and said, "Stay close." His gaze moved across the entire room while he spoke.The important people we need to meet tonight await our arrival.Lucia’s heart pounded. "Where are we going?" she asked softly. Alessandro led her to the VIP lounge. "They need to see you, Trust me."The corridor featured plush red carpets and ornate decorations that stretched throughout the entire length. Many people directed their attention toward Lucia.Every corner of the room brought curious stares from well-dressed men and women who watched her. A dark-suited man of average heig
Chapter 085As the wind howled through the mountain pass's narrow path, Dante's hands clenched around the hilt of his sword. His breath came in irregular, shallow gasps, and every step felt like a thousand burdens.Even though his past had always hovered over him like a shadow, he was resolved to put it behind him today.He would prove himself today, if not to the entire world, then at least to Lucia, who was the most important person.The stakes were high, but the mission was straightforward. In order to prevent Matteo from unleashing his evil magic, he and the team needed to recover an old artifact.Dante had offered to lead the risky portion, but Lucia took the lead.He could feel the pull of his former life, the darkness that had long defined him, the farther they ventured into enemy territory. Now, however, he was fighting for redemption.He saw a vision of Lucia's face, her eyes full of something other than determination. It might have been hope. Perhaps it was trust.He hadn't
Chapter 084Alessandro sat in the dimly lit chamber, a soft fire flickering in the hearth before him.The room was quiet, save for the occasional rustle of the papers scattered across the wooden table in front of him.The ancient walls of the mansion held an eerie still as if the very air was holding its breath, waiting for what was to come next.The task ahead weighed heavily on him, yet he had never shied away from responsibility.Tonight, he was not just Alessandro Stellini. He was a strategist, a leader, a man whose alliances would determine the fate of their world.Lucia had entrusted him with this mission to unite the forces that would stand against the chaos Matteo and Kalyndria sought to unleash. And Alessandro, despite his doubts, would not fail her.The door to the chamber creaked open, and he looked up to see Isabella step inside, her eyes sharp and focused, as always.Her presence was a comfort in this tense moment, a reminder that he was not alone in this fight."Have yo
Chapter 083Gasping for breath, Lucia stood at the base of the Italian Alps, staring up at the jagged rocks that hid the ancient temple she sought.The fresh aroma of the snow-capped mountains blended with the scent of pine trees in the crisp air.It was not only the physical weight of the Heart of Lunaria that was heavy in her hands. It was the weight of accountability and the knowledge that her decisions could either preserve or ruin everything she held dear.She had reached this point in her journey where she would confront the unknown and enter the center of power beyond her comprehension.The knowledge of Eldrin's increasing power weighed heavily on her heart, and the road ahead was dangerous. Though doubt gnawed at her insides, she had no choice but to move forward."Are you sure about this?" Nero's voice broke the silence, and he was always there by her side.Lucia looked at him, his expression a mix of resolve and worry. She could see the fear in his eyes the fear of failing,
Chapter 082Isabella's fingers hovered over the ancient book, its pages smudged but still readable from years of turning.Her heart pounded as she turned the pages of the yellowed parchment, the words drawing her further into the mystery of Eldrin, the mighty creature who had suddenly materialized.She had been having visions that were getting more precise and distinct. But they were still illogical. Similar to a puzzle that needs to be assembled, the pieces were dispersed.She was trying to make connections as her mind raced. Not only was Eldrin a strong being, but he was also something much older, with ties to the Blood Moon.Prophecies from antiquity that mentioned equilibrium and forces that could either tip the scales in favor of life or destruction had never been clear.However, this was something different. Eldrin was not a normal person. He was the final member of a lineage that had been developed since the beginning of time in order to preserve the harmony between chaos and o
Chapter 081Matteo Vulpin stood in the dimly lit room, his back straight and his fingers resting lightly on the cold wood of the table. The walls around him felt like they were closing in, the air heavy with the tension he had built over months.Usually, he played a slow, calculated game, but tonight, something felt different. Everything was about to shift, and he knew it.His next move would shock Lucia's coalition, leaving them vulnerable and exposed.The plan was set in motion a long time ago. Lucia meticulously crafted every detail, perfectly timing each betrayal and assassination.One by one, Lucia's once-strong alliances began to crumble. He couldn’t help but feel a slight satisfaction as he imagined the fear spreading through her ranks.Matteo’s gaze flickered toward the map on the table before him.He was not only interested in the supernatural world but also in the lucrative mafia world.Lucia had trusted too many people too many people who had already chosen their sides.He k
Chapter 080Sophia’s eyes flickered open, her vision blurry at first, the darkness around her swarming with fragmented images. Her mind felt like a jigsaw puzzle, the pieces scattered, waiting to be put together.She could feel the pulse of her heart, slow and heavy, as though something had been stolen from her, something vital that she could not yet recall.A voice whispered in the back of her mind, sharp and full of malice. “You’re not whole yet. Not yet.”She blinked, trying to make sense of the words, but they faded into the shadows as she pushed herself to sit up. The air smelled thick with magic, familiar yet foreign, as if the very fabric of reality had been altered.She could feel the power pulsing through her veins, her body still not entirely her own but stronger than she remembered.The ritual had worked. But it had been incomplete.Sophia’s hand pressed against her forehead, the memories flooding back in flashes images of betrayal, anger, and a thirst for revenge.She reme
Chapter 079The night in Corciano had always been peaceful. The cool breeze swept through the streets, carrying the scent of fresh flowers from the nearby gardens. It was the kind of place where the supernatural lived quietly among the humans, each of them keeping their heads down, knowing their place in the world.There was a calm here, a sort of stillness that settled in the heart. But all of that would change in an instant.A crackle of energy split the air, followed by a low rumble like thunder. The ground trembled beneath their feet, and the night sky, which had been clear and serene, darkened as if something unseen was blocking out the stars.A sudden, sharp gust of wind blew through the trees, rattling the branches and sending leaves spiraling into the air.Then, the figure appeared.Eldrin stood at the center of the town square, his presence undeniable. He was tall, his long hair flowing like dark silk around his shoulders.His eyes, glowing faintly with a light that seemed bo
Chapter 078As Nero observed the mayhem all around him, his heart raced. As Matteo's army swept through the room, the Heart of Lunaria flickered feebly on the table, its light fading.The dark magic swirled in the air, thick and suffocating, and he could feel its oppressive weight.Lucia was only a few paces away, and her eyes reflected his desperation.She had to finish the ceremony, She had to complete what she had begun.However, Matteo's troops had already arrived, and they would not give up until they had Lucia and the Heart."No!" With a roar, Nero moved ahead of her, his hands automatically grabbing hold of his divine power. "Remain back!"The soldiers paused, obviously not anticipating opposition. However, the sinister energy that pervaded the space propelled them forward, and the first blow came like a wave, strong and relentless.Nero barely flinched, even though he felt the impact of their spell. This time, though, something was different. He was accustomed to the weight of
Chapter 077With the Heart of Lunaria in her hands and glowing with a spooky, ethereal light, Lucia stood in the middle of the darkened room.entire being trembled with energy as she felt its power pulsing through her. Its emotional and physical burden was too much to bear.The moment had arrived to decide. She was aware that there would be a sacrifice involved in using the Heart. What sort of sacrifice, though? She wasn't certain that she was prepared to make that decision.She was startled out of her reverie by a gentle knock on the door. Nero was standing there when she turned around, his expression solemn, but his eyes softened as they met hers.He walked into the room and shut the door without saying anything.Nero said softly, "Lucia," in a worried voice. "I understand your thoughts. You've spent hours gazing at the heart. You must make a choice.The mention of the decision made Lucia's chest tighten. She was unwilling to make it. The cost was the last thing she wanted to consi