KEILAH “What do you mean by that? Why does it want to stay here?” I asked, confused. Why would Ralph’s wolf refuse to leave when Ralph himself might be searching for it? I sighed. “Why do I even care about him reuniting with his wolf?” But then again, his wolf is a part of him. He must feel incomplete without it. Helping him reunite with his wolf—it’s the least I can do, right?I didn’t catch what Damien was saying because I was too lost in my own thoughts. My focus snapped back when he brushed past me, heading upstairs. His eyes moved as if tracking something unseen, and I knew he was following Ralph’s wolf.I followed him closely, noticing the tension in his jaw. He clearly wasn’t thrilled about this, but he was doing it because I asked. When he reached my room, he stopped abruptly, his gaze narrowing at the wall.“What is it doing?” I asked, following his line of sight.“It disappeared through the wall,” he replied.I stepped in front of him, my breath catching as I looked up. Hol
KEILAH The hum of the car engine filled the silence between us. Outside, the landscape rolled by in an endless blur—twisting roads, shadowed hills, and darkening skies that stretched on and on. It was the kind of silence that felt heavy with unspoken words and the weight of secrets neither of us wanted to touch yet.Damien sat in the driver’s seat, his tall, broad frame looking perfectly at ease. One hand gripped the wheel with an easy firmness, the other resting against his knee. His face, illuminated faintly by the glow of the dashboard lights, was carved from stone—sharp angles, impassive features, and those eyes. Even though they were fixed on the road, I knew they missed nothing.I shifted in my seat for what felt like the hundredth time, unable to get comfortable. Ever since I got in the car with Damien, my neck burned with an irritating itch—a deep stinging sensation that I couldn’t ignore. I scratched at the spot absentmindedly, fingers brushing over the mark. It wasn't the
KEILAH The woman’s voice cut through the thick silence again, cold and deliberate. “Aren’t you starving? Isn’t that what got you where you’re not supposed to be?” I stood there, utterly flabbergasted, my mind racing to catch up with her words. Shock, confusion, frustration—all of it churned within me, but what I was most aware of was the pounding of my heart and the irritation of Damien’s mark. It itched, stinging in a way I couldn’t ignore.The woman’s eyes never left me, her gaze unwavering as she spoke again. “Come, get something to eat before I change my mind. As for your friends, they’ll be fine that way.” She motioned lazily toward the group, who stood frozen. “Now, come.” I stayed rooted to the spot, uncertain of what to do. The group surrounded me, still and stiff, their protective postures making it feel impossible to move without brushing against one of them. It was like they were keeping me trapped in place, yet I had no idea how to get out of this. The woman’s expre
DAMIEN I glanced down at the damn rock, now sealed tight, its magic flickering out like a light being abruptly cut off at night, leaving entire neighbourhoods in darkness. And just like that, I was left in the dark, too. The only thing it confirmed was that the witch I’d been tracking was somewhere in this town. The question was, where do I begin?I looked up at the chaotic bar in front of me. Stepping inside, I immediately felt it—an overwhelming surge of energy in the air. I pushed through the crowd, the noise of the bar buzzing in my ears, the thick scent of alcohol and sweat hanging heavy in the air. Magic crackled all around me, a low hum that made my skin crawl. She was close. I could feel it. Whoever this witch was, I was getting closer to her. But then a shadow loomed in front of me, broad and blocking the way. The guy was taller than me, and built like a brick wall. I could already sense it—the weight of his presence, the raw power he radiated. "Vampires aren't welcome h
DAMIEN I stared at him for a moment, my mind racing to make sense of the situation. The man didn’t flinch under my gaze, his eyes unwavering as if he were the one in control here, which was the truth. This was his territory. "You’re looking for the witch, I assume?" he said, his voice smooth, almost mocking in its calmness.I narrowed my eyes. "I thought witches were women," I muttered, more to myself than to him.He chuckled a low sound that seemed to carry some hidden meaning. "Assumptions can be dangerous," he said, his grin never faltering. "Not all magic wears the shape you expect."I wasn’t sure if I was more confused or intrigued. My focus sharpened, sensing something ancient, powerful, and completely unyielding about him. He might not be the witch I was expecting, but he knew something—something I needed to know."Who are you?" I demanded, my voice firm, though I couldn’t shake the unsettling feeling in my gut.He tilted his head, considering me for a long moment, before rep
KEILAH The moment the lighting magic struck me, it felt like I had been hit by a train made of pure energy. My body flew backwards, colliding with the ground with a force that knocked the breath clean out of me. A ringing filled my ears as I struggled to process what had just happened, my body trembling violently from the impact. For a moment, I couldn’t tell up from down, the world around me spinning in a dizzying haze of cold and pain. When I finally managed to open my eyes, the first thing I saw was Damien rushing toward me, his face contorted with fury and worry. "Keilah!" he shouted, dropping to his knees beside me. His hands hovered over me, as if unsure where to touch, his panic barely restrained. "I’m... fine," I croaked, though my body screamed otherwise. My vision blurred as I tried to sit up, only for Damien’s hands to firmly press me back down. The memory of the short man standing in the doorway flickered in my mind, his sharp, hostile eyes burning into me. I turn
KEILAH I stared at him, my heart hammering in my chest. Surely, I’d misheard him. Surely, he hadn’t just said— “My price is your uterus,” the man repeated, as though it were the most natural thing in the world. His calmness made it even more unsettling. My mouth opened and closed, words failing me. The room seemed to tilt for a moment, and I grabbed the back of a chair to steady myself. “You can’t be serious,” I finally managed, my voice cracking. “Oh, I’m very serious,” he said, turning fully toward me now. His piercing eyes locked onto mine, unrelenting. “What I want is not negotiable. You came to me, seeking warmth, seeking help for him.” He gestured vaguely toward the door, where I imagined Damien still standing, pacing and waiting for me. “This is the price.” “Why?” The question slipped out before I could stop it. “Why would you ask for something so... so horrifying?” The man’s lips curved into a faint, humourless smile. “Because you’ll pay it if you’re desperate enoug
DAMIENBefore I could finish, Keilah moved faster than I anticipated, rising on her toes and slapping her hand over my mouth. The action caught me so off guard that I froze, my glare snapping at her. “I’m so tired,” she said with a laugh so awkward it almost made me cringe. “Let’s just get some sleep.” What the hell was she doing? I stared down at her, her hand still pressed against my mouth, as I tried to piece together this sudden display of... whatever this was supposed to be. I pulled her hand away firmly, my brows furrowing. “Keilah,” I started, but before I could say more, the short man’s voice interrupted. “Do you guys have a problem?” he asked, his beady eyes flicking between us. Keilah’s response was immediate, her tone overly bright. “Not really!” she chirped, then she leaned closer, her voice barely a whisper. “I'll explain.” Explain? About what? Her words were quiet, but there was a weight in them that kept me from outright brushing her off. I studied her for
DAMIEN For a moment, the world went still. The sound of the wind, the pulse of magic from the portal, the chaos of everything else—it all faded. There was only her. I didn’t know what I was expecting, but the warmth that surged through me, the pull I felt toward her, was unlike anything I’d ever experienced. It wasn’t guilt. It wasn’t pity. It was something deeper, something terrifyingly real. Keilah froze against me, her body stiff and unyielding, as if she were trying to process what had just happened. For a split second, I wondered if I’d made a mistake—if I’d crossed a line I couldn’t uncross. But then, she moved. Her lips softened against mine, and I felt her fingers clutching at the fabric of my shirt. The hesitant energy melted into something deeper, something neither of us seemed prepared for but couldn’t resist. The kiss was messy, filled with all the tension, confusion, and frustration that had built between us for so long. It wasn’t perfect, but it was real. Th
DAMIEN Your girlfriend is mad. Aren’t you going to follow her?" Marina asked, her tone grating on my nerves."Are you enjoying this?" I snapped."It’s not like I am," she replied, crossing her arms. "But it’s the truth. She’s really mad."I ignored her and turned to the dwarf. "Did you know she was fae? Did you use that to your advantage when you asked for her… uterus?"The dwarf nodded, unfazed. "I did. And I used it for what I needed.""And what exactly did you need it for?" I demanded my voice tight with anger."That," he said coolly, "is none of your business.""It is my business," I growled through clenched teeth. "It’s absolutely my business.""Alright, I get it," he said, cutting me off. "It’s your business because she’s your girlfriend. But she agreed to it. She gave it willingly as payment for us to help you. And she’ll still do the job you originally wanted her mother to do. He said, gesturing to Marina. Isn’t that why you’re keeping us here?"Marina interjected before I co
KEILAH I locked eyes with Damien, trying to see if there was even the faintest hint of a joke in his expression, but his face was as stiff as stone. My stomach twisted painfully. “You’re joking, right?” I asked, my voice tight, almost pleading. “I’m not, Keilah.” His tone was calm, and measured. “It’s time I let you go.” My mind reeled, the words hitting me like a slap. “What the hell are you saying? It’s been barely a few days since you told me I couldn’t leave your side. Now you’re saying this? What happened?” “I told you, vampires aren’t trustworthy,” Marina interjected smugly from the corner. I snapped my head toward her, glaring. “You shut up. I’m not talking to you.” She raised her hands in mock surrender, a smirk playing on her lips as she leaned back in her chair. I barely spared her another glance, but my gaze briefly flicked to the short witch sitting silently nearby, watching the exchange as if he didn’t have a care in the world. I turned back to Damien, frus
KEILAH “Get me out of here,” I said, my voice trembling as I clung onto him. The cold seemed to seep into my bones, the chill of the night biting against my skin. “Please, just take me anywhere that’s not Ralph’s pack house. I don’t care where.”Damien’s lips pressed into a thin line, his eyes scanning me as though searching for something. But he said nothing. Without a word, he took off. When we finally broke through the air, Damien’s car came into view. I blinked, momentarily disoriented, as the passenger door opened and a familiar figure stepped out.“Allan?” I breathed, my voice barely above a whisper.But I couldn’t muster the energy to feel the excitement I should've. My emotions were a tangled mess, and my body felt like it was running on fumes. “Allan, get in the back,” Damien ordered without so much as glancing at him. Allan looked between us but obeyed, sliding into the backseat without protest.Damien opened the passenger door and gestured for me to get in. “Keilah.” His
KEILAH I clung to Damien as if letting go would shatter me into pieces I could never put back together. My sobs tore through me, loud and messy, but I didn’t care. I couldn’t stop. The weight of everything—the pain, the secrets—came crashing down all at once, spilling out of me like a dam that had finally given way.His arms wrapped around me, solid and unyielding, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I felt safe. Truly safe. The kind of safety that came not from being protected but from knowing, deep down, that someone understood me without judgment.I buried my face against his chest, the familiar scent of him grounding me even as my world spiralled. “I missed you,” I whispered again, my voice breaking.Damien didn’t say anything right away. His hand slid up my back, his touch firm yet soothing, as if silently promising me that he wasn’t going anywhere. I needed that promise right now. I needed him to be here, solid and real, to hold me together while I fell apart.The
DAMIEN His words hit me like a punch to the gut, freezing me in place. My breath came in sharp, controlled bursts, my gaze snapping to the unconscious figure sprawled on the floor. I didn’t want to believe him. It had to be another trick, another lie. The bastard was desperate, and desperate men said anything to save their skin.But something about the way he said it—the crack in his voice, the way his eyes darted between me and her—made me pause.“What did you just say?” I demanded, my voice like the edge of a blade. My magic pulsed around me, still coiled and ready to strike, but now held in check by a thread of restraint.The dwarf swallowed hard, his throat bobbing as he pointed a trembling finger at her. “She’s the one. Jessica's daughter. I swear it.”“Why the hell didn’t you tell me this last night?” My voice was low, dangerous. “You knew where the witch’s daughter was, and you said otherwise.” The dwarf hesitated, his eyes flickering with guilt or maybe calculation. “I had
DAMIENI pried her hands off me and fixed her with a hard stare. "What do you mean? Are you talking about Keilah?" "Yes," she replied, her tone sharp. "I’m talking about her. She’s where she belongs—with her wolf mate. You two aren't supposed to stick together." Her words set my blood on fire. I grabbed her by the hair, yanked her up, and pinned her against the wall. My voice was a low growl as I demanded, "How do you know Keilah went to Ralph?" She glared at me, her grey eyes glowing ominously. I froze. A fae.This bitch was fae. I let her go abruptly, stepping back. She straightened her clothes with deliberate calm and turned her gaze on me. "I can take you to the witch you’re looking for," she said coolly. I narrowed my eyes. "How do you know where he is?" She smirked. "Didn't you just figure out what I am?" "Then lead the way. What are you waiting for?" I barked. She tilted her head, her smirk fading. "I will, but only after you promise me one thing—you will sta
KEILAH I didn’t know what was happening, but suddenly, every painful memory came rushing back like a movie set on fast-forward, playing at twice the speed, each scene more unbearable than the last. It started with the first time I came to the pack house, where Ralph subjected me to unspeakable physical and mental torment. The memory shifted to where I was being attacked by his pack members—wolves whose hatred burned through me as they clawed and struck, their growls echoing in my ears. They nearly killed me that day, leaving me broken and bleeding, barely able to crawl away. Then came Zac. The memory hit like a punch to the gut—just as his fist had, that horrible day, slamming into my stomach, causing me to miscarry my child. I felt the agony all over again, the sharp, ripping pain in my stomach as I crumpled to the ground. The painful flashbacks kept coming, each one more heartbreaking than the last—our endless fights, and misunderstandings that we couldn't resolve. And then… the
KEILAH My eyes fluttered open slowly, the haze of sleep still clouding my mind. A heavy, unfamiliar weight pressed down on my chest as I blinked, the world around me coming into focus. For a brief moment, I thought I was still with Damien, safe in the warmth of his presence. But then… I saw him.Ralph.My breath hitched, my body freezing as my gaze locked on his. Ralph. The one person I’d sworn never to face again. The one who… no. I couldn’t think about it. But the memories came anyway, crashing over me like a violent storm. His betrayal, the pain, the utter devastation that had shattered me into pieces I thought I’d never be able to put back together.For the first time since being with Damien, all those buried emotions clawed their way to the surface, sharp and suffocating. My throat tightened as if invisible hands were squeezing the air out of me. It had to be a dream. Maybe Damien had some sort of side effect—sharing a bed with a vampire king like him could mess with my head, ri