KEILAH
I slowly opened my eyes, only to find myself tucked under the covers, and for a moment, I couldn't quite place how I ended up there. My last memory was sitting in the kitchen, eating with Barbra, and then... waking up here. How had I gotten to the bed?A voice startled me from my thoughts. "Are you okay?"I turned to the side and saw Garbie sitting there, her concern evident. "Jesus, Garbie, you startled me," I muttered, my hand over my chest as I tried to steady my breath."Sorry," she said quickly, her tone apologetic. "I didn’t mean to startle you. Are you alright?"I sat upright, facing her. "I'm good. Energetic and all, but... what happened? How did I end up in the bed when I was in the kitchen eating?"Garbie went silent for a moment, her lips pressing together as if deciding how to answer. Then she spoke, her voice a little unsure. "I don’t know about human food, but it must’ve gotten you drunk after youKEILAH I watched as the fight in the ring reached a fever pitch. One vampire—lean, with scars tracing his face—moved with an intensity that even my eyes could barely follow. His opponent, a stockier man, was fierce, but it was clear he was no match for the first vampire's speed and precision. With a swift motion, the scarred one pinned him down, pressing his arm firmly to the ground as the crowd cheered.The victor rose, the surrounding vampires chanting his name as someone handed him a massive wooden bowl filled with dark, thick blood. A proud grin spread across his face as he raised it to his lips, drinking deeply. My stomach churned at the sight, but I clenched my fists, determined to keep my reaction hidden. This was their way, and I couldn’t afford to look squeamish here. But, of course, Maureen noticed. Her sharp eyes caught my expression, and she leaned over, her tone soft with understanding. "If it makes you uncomfortable, you don't have to watch."I managed a small smile, s
KEILAH I pulled the covers tightly around me, curling up as if I could hide from the weight of the feeling that had been clinging to me since we left the vampire town. It was as if the night had left a trace of its energy on me, sinking deep into my skin, tightening around my chest, pressing in on me with a force I couldn’t shake. I tried to push the sensation away, burying myself in the blankets, but it didn’t help.Even during dinner, as I sat with Barbra and Garbie, I couldn’t escape it. They didn’t feel it. They couldn’t. How could they? It wasn’t something you could explain, and I didn’t want to make them worry. So, I forced myself to smile, to laugh, and pretend I wasn’t suffocating under this invisible pressure that was slowly wearing me down. But it was getting harder to ignore. It was like some dark cloud hanging over me, and I had no way of pushing it away.Maybe it was the energy of the vampire town. Maybe the overwhelming presence of so many creatures, their powers swirli
KEILAH I pulled away from Damien, gagging as an unfamiliar, metallic taste flooded my mouth. The kiss had been impulsive, desperate, and now I was paying for it. My stomach churned, and I stumbled back, spitting on the floor to rid myself of the sharp tang lingering on my tongue. “Ugh!” I coughed, dragging the back of my hand across my lips. The taste was so overwhelming it made my throat tighten, and I could feel bile rising. I rushed toward the kitchen, my bare feet skidding on the cold floor. I fumbled for the tap, twisting it on, and let the water pour into my mouth. I gargled and spit, repeating the process until the sharp taste dulled, replaced by the cold purity of water. My hands shook as I gripped the sink, leaning over it as I took deep breaths, trying to calm the storm raging inside me. When I finally straightened up and wiped my mouth, I glanced over my shoulder, expecting Damien to be there. But the space where he’d been standing was empty. I frowned, turning towar
DAMIEN “Do it already—I can’t stand the coldness radiating from you anymore,” she said, pulling me out of my thoughts. My mind had drifted, stuck on the one word that lingered after everything she said: *trust.* What the hell made her say that? Trust? From her? I let out a low chuckle, more to myself, at the absurdity of it. Trust was a concept I couldn’t even entertain, yet hearing it from her did something strange to me. It left a faint buzz in my chest—a feeling I couldn’t name. My attention shifted to her mate’s wolf, who had risen and now stood protectively at her side, its piercing gaze fixed on me. “Do I need to grab a knife from the kitchen and cut myself to get you started?” Her sharp words pulled me back again. I looked down at her, taking in the determination etched across her face. She wasn’t going to back down. With a quiet sigh, I reached for her and pulled her closer, my grip firm but careful. “It’s going to sting,” I warned, my voice low.“I know,” she repli
DAMIEN The scream sent ice down my spine. Before I knew it, I was dashing up the stairs, each step heavier with dread. Seth and the others followed close behind, their footsteps echoing in the tense silence of the house. When I reached my room and shoved the door open, my senses went into overdrive.I scanned the room for any sign of danger. The windows were intact, no strange scents lingered in the air, and everything appeared undisturbed. It didn’t make sense. Nothing about this place screamed threat.My eyes darted to Keilah. She was leaned against the headboard, clutching the blanket tightly around her body, her eyes wide and darting between all of us. “What happened? Are you hurt?” Garbie asked, his voice steady but concerned. It was a question I should’ve asked, but deep down, I already knew the answer. Keilah’s fingers twisted into the blanket, and she let out a shaky breath before forcing an awkward smile. “Not really,” she said awkwardly, her voice shaky. “I’m good. I mean
DAMIEN The oppressive silence of the Red Castle bore down on me, each heartbeat echoing in my ears like the toll of a bell. My breaths were shallow as I tried to piece together what had just happened. One moment, I had been in the forest, confronting Aaron—or what I thought was him—and now, I stood here, trapped in my domain.I reached out with my senses, probing for any signs of life, magic, or danger. The air crackled faintly, a telltale sign of a powerful spell. It wasn’t my magic—it was something foreign, invasive, and far stronger than I’d anticipated. My jaw clenched as I realised just how badly I’d been played.The laughter from earlier still echoed faintly in my mind, sending a chill through me. It wasn’t Aaron’s voice now, nor was it the voice of anyone I recognized. It was distorted, layered with malice, a voice meant to unsettle and provoke.“Draven, the monarch,” the voice intoned, each word laced with a sinister melody that reverberated in the stillness. It didn’t echo t
KEILAH The moment Damien closed the door, I let out a long, shaky breath, the tension in my chest finally easing. "That was embarrassing," I muttered under my breath, slumping against the edge of the bed. My body felt like it had been wrung out, my nerves still buzzing from his presence.I stayed there for a moment, letting my heartbeat slow before deciding it was time to pull myself together. With a sigh, I pushed myself off the floor, only to feel the cursed blanket wrap itself around my legs. Before I could stop it, gravity had its way, and I tumbled back down, landing hard and awkwardly on my face.“Holy shit,” I hissed, tasting blood on the tip of my tongue where I’d bitten it during the fall. I groaned, untangling myself from the blanket. The sting in my forehead added to the indignity of the moment.Finally freeing myself from the blanket, I stumbled to the bathroom. Flipping on the light, I leaned over the sink and stared into the mirror. My reflection wasn’t as bad as I fear
KEILAH I froze. My fingers flew to my neck, touching the place where Damien’s mark had been, the one that had been a constant reminder of him and everything that came with it. It was smooth now, unblemished. No trace of the mark remained.Gone. Just like that.I stared at Garbie, disbelief and confusion swirling in my mind. “How is that possible?” I asked, though I wasn’t sure I wanted the answer.I pushed myself up, my legs feeling too light, like they weren’t quite holding me properly. The floor beneath me seemed distant, and for a split second, I thought I might collapse again. But before I could fall, Barbara was there, her hands steadying me.“Keilah, take it easy,” she said, her voice filled with concern.I nodded, barely registering her words as I shook off her hold, moving with urgency toward the stairs. My heart pounded in my chest, and I couldn’t make sense of what was happening. The need to see myself i
DAMIEN I parked the car at the side of the road, the wheels crunching over gravel as I threw it into park. I turned to Seth, keeping my voice steady but firm. "Stay in the car. I’ll be right back."Seth didn’t say anything, just nodded as I got out of the car. I walked to the backseat, opened the door, and carefully lifted Marina into my arms. Her body was cold, unnervingly still.As I moved towards the woods, I noticed Ralph getting out of his car right behind mine. He didn’t say anything, just leaned against the side of his car, his arms crossed. He wasn’t trying to make this more complicated than it already was.James met me halfway as I carried Marina, walking quietly beside me, his eyes scanning the forest. We made our way towards the boundary where the barrier that separated the woods from Greenery Village stood visible, a shimmering line of magic hanging in the air. It felt like stepping into another world, one that was both calming and dangerous at the same time.When we reac
DAMIEN I clenched my fists so tightly that my nails cut into my palms, drawing blood. The scent of it filled the air, but I ignored it. The urge to destroy something—anything—coursed through me, but I forced myself to stay still. Losing control would get me nothing. Seth spun me around by my shoulder with a rough jerk, forcing me to face him. A guttural growl rumbled in his throat, his eyes burning with fury. "Where is Garbie? Did she go with the human?" His voice was sharp, laced with accusation and barely contained rage. A snarl erupted from Ralph before I could even respond. "She fucking has a name," he snapped, stepping toward Seth, his wolf flickering beneath his skin. Seth didn’t even glance at him. His glare stayed fixed on me as he spat, "To fucking hell I care about that." His chest heaved with frustration as he ran a hand through his hair before stabbing a finger in my direction. "I never liked that little thing from the first time you brought her here, and now look—she
KEILAH A deep, bone-chilling growl rumbled through the air, cutting through the steady downpour. My breath hitched. The creatures didn’t move, but I could feel their presence pressing in, watching.“How do we stop the rain?” I whispered, my voice barely audible over the storm.Garbie let out a frustrated sigh. “If I knew, we wouldn’t still be here!”I clenched my fists. My soaked clothes clung to me, making the cold settle deeper into my skin. I could barely tell where my trembling ended and the shivers from the cold began.I tilted my head slightly, careful to keep my eyes shut. “What if… what if we change the way we feel about it?”“What?” Garbie asked, confused.“The rain,” I said quickly. “What if it feeds off fear? I mean, think about it—when it started, we panicked. What if that’s what made it stronger?”Garbie went quiet again, then, after a moment, said, “That’s ridiculous… but I have no better idea, so let’s try it.”Before I could concentrate my mind, a strange, hollow soun
KEILAH The world spun violently around me as I tumbled down the rocky hill, my body rolling uncontrollably over jagged stones and patches of rough dirt. Pain shot through me with every impact, but I couldn’t stop. I had no control over my descent, and the speed at which I was falling only increased with every passing second.Above me, I could hear Garbie’s frantic voice, shouting something I couldn’t make out. My head slammed against the ground, sending a sharp, dizzying pain through my skull. I gasped, my arms flailing, trying to find something—anything—to stop my fall. But the hill was too steep, too cruel, and all I could do was brace for the inevitable.Then, suddenly, my body collided with a thick patch of grass, soft compared to the harsh terrain above. The impact still knocked the air from my lungs, but it slowed me enough to let me twist and dig my hands into the dirt. My fingers curled around a thick root, and I clung to it desperately, my chest heaving as I fought to catch
RALPH I watched her, every muscle in my body tense with a mixture of rage and something far darker—something I couldn't name. Her lips, soft and warm against mine, had been a shock to my senses. I could feel the bond snap into place the moment she kissed me, my wolf roared to life. It was everything I needed to reconnect with the beast inside me, but nothing had prepared me for the flood of emotions that came with it.I pulled away, gasping for air, my eyes snapping open to find Keilah still frozen in place, her expression unreadable. I saw it, though—the conflict, the confusion, the pain in her eyes. She wasn’t unaffected. She felt it, too. But her body was betraying her. She hated me. I could see it in every movement, in every cold, calculating glance she sent my way.I swallowed the anger rising in my throat, my chest tightening. “Damn it,” I muttered under my breath, pushing away from her.I needed to control myself. I couldn’t let her see how much it had affected me. My wolf was
KEILAH I let out a frustrated sigh and flopped back onto the bed, staring at the ceiling. My choice? Was it really?If I didn’t do this, Ralph’s wolf would never get back to him, and he’d slowly waste away. But why should I care? Why did it have to be me who saved him?A bitter laugh escaped me.I hated him. I wanted to hate him. But deep down, a part of me still ached at the thought of him suffering.Closing my eyes, I whispered, “Damn it.”I let out a tired sigh and got up, smoothing the sheets on Damien’s bed. It was a small act, but it kept my hands busy—kept my mind from spiraling. Once the bed was neat, I headed out and into my room to clean up. As I stepped inside, my lips twitched in amusement. Garbie was curled up on my bed, sleeping soundly. A quiet laugh escaped me. “I remember her saying she's a vampire who doesn't get tired,” I murmured to myself. “But look at her, sleeping like a peaceful tired toddler.” Shaking my head, I grabbed some clothes and headed to the
KEILAH I stirred, my body heavy with exhaustion. Even as I drifted toward wakefulness, the weight of last night pressed down on me. My mind felt sluggish, tangled in the strange events that had unfolded. With a quiet sigh, I turned over, reaching instinctively for Damien—only to feel empty sheets beneath my fingertips. My eyes snapped open. The spot beside me was cold. He had been gone for a while. I sat up slowly, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. My head still ached from the restless night. No matter how much I tried to push it away, the same question haunted me. What the hell happened to me last night?A sudden knock at the door made me jolt. My heart pounded as my mind instantly jumped to the worst possibility—Ralph. I swallowed hard, my fingers tightening around the blanket. I wasn’t in the mood for a fight, not after the night I’d had. If he saw me here, in Damien’s room, I already knew the argument that would follow. Then, a sharp wave of irritation hit me. Why am
DAMIEN Marina groaned as she sat up, clutching her head. Her fingers trembled as she reached for her dagger, the runes on its blade glowing faintly. “That wasn’t supposed to happen,” she muttered, her voice laced with both frustration and awe.Everyone scrambled to their feet, their eyes wide with alarm. “That surge… it wasn’t just residual magic. Something is on the other side.”Seth cursed under his breath, rubbing his shoulder where he had landed hard against the ground. “If we weren’t the ones stopping it, then who the hell is keeping it open?”I exhaled sharply, wiping the dust from my face. “We need to regroup. Marina, can you try again?”She hesitated, her gaze locked onto the swirling vortex. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea. If something is resisting me, then it’s either aware of us… or it’s trying to come through.”A deep, resonant sound echoed from the portal, like the groan of an ancient beast waking from slumber. The air vibrated with raw energy, and I felt the unmist
DAMIEN The morning was still draped in darkness when I woke, my body stiff from exhaustion, yet my mind alert. I sat up on the edge of the bed, rubbing a hand down my face before glancing to my side.Keilah was still asleep, her breathing soft and steady, her lips slightly parted as she let out the occasional quiet snore. My gaze traced over her, from the delicate curve of her face to the way the blanket draped over her form. She looked peaceful—so different from how she had been last night, trembling and bleeding in my arms.My jaw tightened as I remembered. My fingers curled into the sheets as frustration rippled through me. I had almost lost her, and to what? A vampire I didn’t even know. That fact alone made my blood boil. Someone had taken her, hurt her, and forced her to do something I still didn't understand. But I would find out. I had to.My thoughts drifted back to last night, to the way I had craved her so damn badly, only to suddenly lose all interest. It wasn’t normal. A