Verena I’m back in the room I woke up in, and surprisingly everything I brought to the motel is here with me. Including my cell phone which I have been staring at for the last hour and the disk he gave me should I be in trouble. I know I shouldn’t, but I am dying to call Niklaus. He’s probably wor
His sincerity wraps around me like a warm embrace, and for a moment, I let myself lean into it. “That’s sweet, Niklaus. Really. I’ll keep that in mind.” There's no way in hell I'm admitting that I miss him, too. “Good,” he says, and I can hear the smile in his voice. “Because you might not realize
Niklaus I felt more at ease after Verena reached out to me, so at ease that I called Lucan to a meeting. Things will only escalate from here because we’ve both drawn blood, and honestly I’m not in the fucking mood for a war. Then again, who is? “You sure about this, Klaus?” Ares asks next to me.
Because if there’s one thing I know about wars, it’s that they don’t just end with a meeting. They end when one side can no longer fight, and I’ll be damned if it’s going to be mine. As we drive back, the silence in the car is thick, each of us lost in our own thoughts until Ares finally breaks it,
Verena My feet barely make a sound on the lush carpet as I wander back to my room, the earlier conversation with Axton echoing in my head. It’s unsettling, knowing that my tragedy, my very personal loss, was just a cosmic currency for powers I never asked for. I slump onto the bed, the soft cushi
*** Later, I stride into Axton’s lavish study, a blend of ancient elegance and modern chic, where he’s seated, surrounded by a myriad of ancient texts and digital screens—his way of keeping a foot in both worlds. He looks up, one eyebrow arching in mild surprise as I close the door behind me with a
Verena When Axton said a High Priestess would be visiting me today, I expected an older woman. Gray hair, wearing black robes, a permanent scowl on her face. I expected her to be strict, training me until I could no longer stand. To be honest, I pictured McGonagall from Harry Potter. So why is the
As Kris and I sink deeper into the plush cushions of the sunroom, the afternoon light casts a warm glow over the array of mystical paraphernalia she’s brought along. From crystals that shimmer with hidden depths to jars of herbs that smell like a wild forest, each item seems to pulse with an unseen
“I love you so fucking much,” he breathes against my lips, his forehead resting against mine. His voice is a husky whisper, carrying the weight of his emotions. “Thank you for everything — for our son, for this life, for a future that looks brighter every damn day because of you. You’ve given me a f
VerenaI sit quietly in the softly lit room; the air filled with the subtle scent of lavender and sage. Nastassja moves around with an air of focus, setting up the final components for the soul extraction and replacement ritual. My mind drifts to Niklaus and Arsenio, sleeping peacefully under his f
“In all lives that may come, and in all universes that may exist, you will always be my son, my light, and my hope. You have King blood in you and you are destined for greatness. By my will, and by your forefathers' blessings, so will it be.”After reciting the vow, I lean down and gently kiss Veren
“A son…” he whispers, then he murmurs something in Greek, I’m assuming—a prayer or a promise, perhaps both—before leaning over to kiss my forehead.“Thank you, Verena,” he chokes out, his voice breaking. “Thank you for giving me a son, a blessing.”His gratitude, so heartfelt, so raw, eases the last
VerenaThe pain is indescribable, a relentless, consuming force that grips my entire body. I’m clutching the sheets, my knuckles white, screaming as another contraction hits. Niklaus is beside me, his face etched with concern, his hands attempting to comfort me, but right now, I’m not having any of
I nod, understanding her struggle. “That’s completely valid, and I get it. Kris disappeared when you needed her. It’s not something you can just forget.”She sighs, looking down at her hands before meeting my eyes again. “I know. And I’m glad she’s doing good now, really. But you’re right, it feels
NiklausI’m perched at my desk, staring blankly at the papers strewn across it, but my mind is miles away, focused on the ticking clock and the phone beside it. The quiet of the office amplifies the occasional rustle of leaves outside, a cruel reminder of the waiting game I’m now playing. Three mon
“I didn’t teach you any dark magic because I was terrified of the implications it would have. You have Peter’s blood; my blood, and with that comes an addiction to dark magic,” she admits. “You’ve felt it, haven’t you? The pull? The lure to take things a step further? I know how it feels, darling, a
VerenaThe sun is warm on my back as I move among the tables laid out on the pack lands, the laughter of children bubbling around me like a cheerful stream. I’m arranging the final touches for the picnic we’ve promised them, smoothing a tablecloth here, straightening a plate there. The ladies of the