Miss Sophie placed a hot, steaming bowl of cereal in front of Giselle, who was sitting at the table in the kitchen. "Come on, I made food for you. Eat alright." Miss Sophie said, her voice soft and soothing. Giselle remained still and didn't look up, her eyes fixed on the cereal. "I want Miss Valeria... where is she? She promised to come out and hug me. What happened that night? We saw her with my mama at the bridge." Miss Sophie stood straight and shut her eyes. She had no idea how to explain what happened and had no intention of explaining what happened. She just needed to make sure that Giselle ate so she didn't fall sick. Miss Sophie picked up a spoon and began to stir the cereal. "Come on baby girl, eat so it does get soggy. Valeria misses you, but she's hoping your papa lets her out of there," she said. Even though she lied, she had to at least tell her something so she would eat. "But trust me, you are going to see her. I promise you,
Brutus strolled past the dimly lit hallway towards the throne chamber... a gust of breeze followed behind him as it poured particles of dust on his coat. His eyes gleamed with rage as he scanned around the chamber. His beta, Lucian, walked in a few seconds later. The messenger, Khai, lowered his head as Brutus' glare sent shiver down his spine. Every step he took echoed against the gravelled floor, causing an eerie atmosphere. "What's going on? Why hasn’t Xhafer returned here?” Brutus' voice dripped with venom as it cut through the silence, causing Lucian and Khai to look up at him. Khai cleared his throat. “We are waiting patiently, just like you said we should." he paused. "But we haven’t heard from Nickolas yet.” His Brutus eyes flared up, revealing the sharp angle of his face. His sharp, piercing green eyes bored through Khai’s soul. His lip curled into a twisted smile. "And you are telling me that!” His voice was cold and menacing. “We
"My words should never be questioned!" Brutus fired at Khai, who trailed behind him as he hung a satchel over his shoulder. They stormed into the armoury as Brutus glared at the warriors. "I'm going to have fun with you boys today, " he said, a mischievous smile plastered on his face as he tapped on their shoulders. Brutus supervised the weapons they were taking along as Lucian walked in on them. "Brutus." Brutus whirled around to see who was calling him. "You are here finally," he said, crossing his hands behind him. "Y—yes... But what's going on?" Lucian waved his hand in front of his face as the dust penetrated his nostrils. "What do you think is going on?" Brutus threw his hands to his sides. His eyes darted over the room and back at Lucian. "Things will go wrong. Obviously," Lucian rubbed his palm over his forehead and said, "But it hasn't been three days yet." "Do I look like I care?" Brutus gave a m
RAGE! ANGER! "What the hell is going on?" Nickolas clenched his fists as he kicked the table in front of me, causing everything to smash into pieces. Sam walked over to the wine rack and poured himself a glass of wine. "You have to calm down, Nickolas." "Calm down? Did you say I should calm down?" Nickolas bellowed. "The Nightshadow clan has gone down in flames with no survivors, and you expect me to be calm." Nickolas groaned as he rubbed his palm over his face. He tried to hold back his anger, but it wasn't working. He needed to vent his anger before things got out of hand. "He gave us three days, and those three days never ended... Why did he have to go and destroy another clan? Is that how bad or hungry he gets?" Nickolas slammed his hands on the table. He became so furious that he pushed down everything and turned the table upside down. Nickolas couldn't believe that he tried to believe Brutus, but Brutus deceived him.
"Father!" Emilia's lips quivered as she staggered backwards and fell on the couch. "How could you! Huh? Tell me, how could you go that far?" Sam bellowed, his voice menacing, as he gestured his finger at Emilia. Tears welled up in Emilia's eyes as she was unable to believe that her father could do such to her... he loved her, and now he was upset because of the situation they were facing. Camilla rushed to Sam and held his arms tightly. "Stop it, Sam. She's our daughter, and she only did what she could to save what's hers." She pitched in. "What?" Sam's eyes widened. "Didn't you put her up to do this?" Sam rubbed his palm over his head as he paced around the room. "Why are you so bent on destroying things? And you..." he paused and gestured his finger at Camilla. "I told you about this, yet you didn't talk to her. Do you think that if this gets out, my position is at stake and we might get banished? Huh?" Camilla crossed her arms ac
VALERIA "Arghh!" I smashed the glass in my hands into pieces as they pierced into my flesh. I tilted my head and glared at the curtains that covered the window. How did I get here? How did it get to this? Anytime I try to run away from my problems, I just end up facing more trouble. I glanced around the dimly lit, dusty, and air-deprived room. No matter how I tried to think of how terrible my life had turned out to be, I just couldn't take it. The air in the room hung in despair as I stared at my blood dripping on the floor of the room. If Brutus doesn't let me go, then he will have to bury me here. I placed my palm on the floor tightly as I stood in the centre of the room and walked over to the window. My hands trembled as I drew the curtains apart. Tears streamed down my face as I pressed my trembling hand against the window. Everyone was burned alive. No one survived—not even me, because I have no idea if I can escape
VALERIA The shadow of the door reflected on the wall as the door creaked open and a cold breeze swept into the room. I pressed my legs against my chest and looked up... my eyes met his. His body was thick with muscle, along with an intelligent face and striking charm. I ran my eyes over his powerful build and long fingers, which were covered with tattoos. The room fell silent as my eyes were glued to him, and the only sound I could hear was my heart thudding in my chest and the faint sound of my trembling breaths. He was adorable. He took a step, walking towards me, and I blinked my eyes. I ran my fingers through my hair and threw my face away, staring at the curtains. My eyes were mixed with disdain and fear... I had no idea what he wanted from me. The air I breathed in was tense, engulfed in his aura, as he closed the distance between us. "You've been a good girl." His voice was menacing as his darkened gaze pierced and locked on my body.
BRUTUS I stormed out of the room and locked it back. How dare she reject me? How much does she know about me that makes her reject me? I slipped my hands into my pocket as I headed to my room. She has a child. Those words resounded in my head as I peeled off my clothes and threw them on the bed. I stood under the shower, allowing the water to calm my nerves. ~~ Flashback "What's your name, and where do you think you are heading?" She gasped, fell to the floor, and placed her palm on her chest. Terror and fear washed over her. I saw her hands tremble and her legs wobble. My eyes ran all over her body as she struggled to get on her feet. "Valeria. Please let me go," she said, falling to her knees, clasping her hands together, and pleading. I gave a mirthless laugh and ordered two warriors to carry her. "Throw her into the fire!" I ordered and began to walk away. Her eyebrows twitched. "Nooo!
Camilla pushed some chairs out of her way as she rushed to Sam. Her eyes fell on Sam, sipping wine as he scrolled through his phone. Her ears flared up. "Sam, what's going on? Why aren't you saying anything? Why are you quiet, like we are not part of the family?" Camilla rested one hand on her waist and the other on her forehead. Sam didn't say a word; he didn't even look up at her. He remained engrossed in his phone with no atom of emotion written on his face. "You sat there while that stupid girl humiliated me and our daughter. You watched her slap me, and you did nothing about it." Camilla kept on ranting. That was all she could do. She couldn't fathom the fact that Sam remained quiet and wasn't saying anything. Or was he part of everything that had been going on? She had doubts about it but hoped it wouldn't be true. Sam adjusted his glass, turned off his phone, and placed it beside him on the couch. He looked up at Camilla and crossed his legs. "Camilla, y
Camilla pushed some chairs out of her way as she rushed to Sam. Her eyes fell on Sam, sipping wine as he scrolled through his phone. Her ears flared up. "Sam, what's going on? Why aren't you saying anything? Why are you quiet, like we are not part of the family?" Camilla rested one hand on her waist and the other on her forehead. Sam didn't say a word; he didn't even look up at her. He remained engrossed in his phone with no atom of emotion written on his face. "You sat there while that stupid girl humiliated me and our daughter. You watched her slap me, and you did nothing about it." Camilla kept on ranting. That was all she could do. She couldn't fathom the fact that Sam remained quiet and wasn't saying anything. Or was he part of everything that had been going on? She had doubts about it but hoped it wouldn't be true. Sam adjusted his glass, turned off his phone, and placed it beside him on the couch. He looked up at Camilla and crossed his legs. "Camilla, y
Camilla pushed some chairs out of her way as she rushed to Sam. Her eyes fell on Sam, sipping wine as he scrolled through his phone. Her ears flared up. "Sam, what's going on? Why aren't you saying anything? Why are you quiet, like we are not part of the family?" Camilla rested one hand on her waist and the other on her forehead. Sam didn't say a word; he didn't even look up at her. He remained engrossed in his phone with no atom of emotion written on his face. "You sat there while that stupid girl humiliated me and our daughter. You watched her slap me, and you did nothing about it." Camilla kept on ranting. That was all she could do. She couldn't fathom the fact that Sam remained quiet and wasn't saying anything. Or was he part of everything that had been going on? She had doubts about it but hoped it wouldn't be true. Sam adjusted his glass, turned off his phone, and placed it beside him on the couch. He looked up at Camilla and crossed his legs. "Camilla, y
Camilla pushed some chairs out of her way as she rushed to Sam. Her eyes fell on Sam, sipping wine as he scrolled through his phone. Her ears flared up. "Sam, what's going on? Why aren't you saying anything? Why are you quiet, like we are not part of the family?" Camilla rested one hand on her waist and the other on her forehead. Sam didn't say a word; he didn't even look up at her. He remained engrossed in his phone with no atom of emotion written on his face. "You sat there while that stupid girl humiliated me and our daughter. You watched her slap me, and you did nothing about it." Camilla kept on ranting. That was all she could do. She couldn't fathom the fact that Sam remained quiet and wasn't saying anything. Or was he part of everything that had been going on? She had doubts about it but hoped it wouldn't be true. Sam adjusted his glass, turned off his phone, and placed it beside him on the couch. He looked up at Camilla and crossed his legs. "Camilla, y
Camilla pushed some chairs out of her way as she rushed to Sam. Her eyes fell on Sam, sipping wine as he scrolled through his phone. Her ears flared up. "Sam, what's going on? Why aren't you saying anything? Why are you quiet, like we are not part of the family?" Camilla rested one hand on her waist and the other on her forehead. Sam didn't say a word; he didn't even look up at her. He remained engrossed in his phone with no atom of emotion written on his face. "You sat there while that stupid girl humiliated me and our daughter. You watched her slap me, and you did nothing about it." Camilla kept on ranting. That was all she could do. She couldn't fathom the fact that Sam remained quiet and wasn't saying anything. Or was he part of everything that had been going on? She had doubts about it but hoped it wouldn't be true. Sam adjusted his glass, turned off his phone, and placed it beside him on the couch. He looked up at Camilla and crossed his legs. "Camilla, y
Camilla pushed some chairs out of her way as she rushed to Sam. Her eyes fell on Sam, sipping wine as he scrolled through his phone. Her ears flared up. "Sam, what's going on? Why aren't you saying anything? Why are you quiet, like we are not part of the family?" Camilla rested one hand on her waist and the other on her forehead. Sam didn't say a word; he didn't even look up at her. He remained engrossed in his phone with no atom of emotion written on his face. "You sat there while that stupid girl humiliated me and our daughter. You watched her slap me, and you did nothing about it." Camilla kept on ranting. That was all she could do. She couldn't fathom the fact that Sam remained quiet and wasn't saying anything. Or was he part of everything that had been going on? She had doubts about it but hoped it wouldn't be true. Sam adjusted his glass, turned off his phone, and placed it beside him on the couch. He looked up at Camilla and crossed his legs. "Camilla, y
Camilla pushed some chairs out of her way as she rushed to Sam. Her eyes fell on Sam, sipping wine as he scrolled through his phone. Her ears flared up. "Sam, what's going on? Why aren't you saying anything? Why are you quiet, like we are not part of the family?" Camilla rested one hand on her waist and the other on her forehead. Sam didn't say a word; he didn't even look up at her. He remained engrossed in his phone with no atom of emotion written on his face. "You sat there while that stupid girl humiliated me and our daughter. You watched her slap me, and you did nothing about it." Camilla kept on ranting. That was all she could do. She couldn't fathom the fact that Sam remained quiet and wasn't saying anything. Or was he part of everything that had been going on? She had doubts about it but hoped it wouldn't be true. Sam adjusted his glass, turned off his phone, and placed it beside him on the couch. He looked up at Camilla and crossed his legs. "Camilla, y
Camilla pushed some chairs out of her way as she rushed to Sam. Her eyes fell on Sam, sipping wine as he scrolled through his phone. Her ears flared up. "Sam, what's going on? Why aren't you saying anything? Why are you quiet, like we are not part of the family?" Camilla rested one hand on her waist and the other on her forehead. Sam didn't say a word; he didn't even look up at her. He remained engrossed in his phone with no atom of emotion written on his face. "You sat there while that stupid girl humiliated me and our daughter. You watched her slap me, and you did nothing about it." Camilla kept on ranting. That was all she could do. She couldn't fathom the fact that Sam remained quiet and wasn't saying anything. Or was he part of everything that had been going on? She had doubts about it but hoped it wouldn't be true. Sam adjusted his glass, turned off his phone, and placed it beside him on the couch. He looked up at Camilla and crossed his legs. "Camilla, y
Camilla pushed some chairs out of her way as she rushed to Sam. Her eyes fell on Sam, sipping wine as he scrolled through his phone. Her ears flared up. "Sam, what's going on? Why aren't you saying anything? Why are you quiet, like we are not part of the family?" Camilla rested one hand on her waist and the other on her forehead. Sam didn't say a word; he didn't even look up at her. He remained engrossed in his phone with no atom of emotion written on his face. "You sat there while that stupid girl humiliated me and our daughter. You watched her slap me, and you did nothing about it." Camilla kept on ranting. That was all she could do. She couldn't fathom the fact that Sam remained quiet and wasn't saying anything. Or was he part of everything that had been going on? She had doubts about it but hoped it wouldn't be true. Sam adjusted his glass, turned off his phone, and placed it beside him on the couch. He looked up at Camilla and crossed his legs. "Camilla, y