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
HUSTLE’S POVThe four of us Milly, Tasha, Maureen and I sat huddled together on the bed, sighing in unison, each lost in our own thoughts but connected by a single dilemma: whether or not we should head upstairs to check on King Draven and Keilah. “I can’t believe we’re actually doing this,” Maureen muttered, breaking the silence. “How did we even agree to come to the human world just to keep an eye on King Draven and his woman?”“Not just keeping an eye on them,” I added with a wry smile. “We’re also supposed to stop them from sharing a room. Like that’s even going to work.”“I’ll go and make up an excuse to get Keilah to join us,” Tasha said, heading toward the door. We all watched her in silence, none of us daring to speak. Just as she reached for the handle, she stopped abruptly, letting out a heavy sigh. “I don’t even have a heartbeat, but I can feel it racing,” she muttered, turning back to face us. “I can’t do this.”I stood up, brushing off the tension in the room. “Let’s ad
DAMIEN I’ve been pacing back and forth for what feels like hours, the frustration clawing at me with every step. Keilah is gone, and I know it’s either that damned witch’s doing or she disappeared on her own. Wherever she is, only God knows. Tracking her this time won’t be easy—it’s going to be a hell of a lot harder.I’ve tried countless times to use my vampire powers to vanish through the air, but every attempt was futile. The barrier was impenetrable, which meant only one thing—that witch had secured the entire house with it.If I catch him, I swear I’ll kill him.And after what felt like an eternity, the sun finally rose. I let out a frustrated sigh and smashed the door open. Of course, I passed right through—meaning the barrier had broken. The cars were still parked where they had been, but then—that scent. A familiar, lingering trace of a werewolf.I tensed, my senses sharpening. There was movement, and out stepped the alpha from the bar last night.“Hello there,” he said, st
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
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
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
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
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
KEILAHI searched his face, trying to understand what was going through his mind, but his expression was unreadable. The silence stretched between us, thick and tense. "Damien," I finally spoke, my voice softer than I intended. "Are you okay?" His eyes flickered slightly, but he still didn’t move, didn’t speak. I swallowed hard. "Garbie told me about the fight… You and Ralph…"Before I could say anything else, Damien reached for me. His strong arms wrapped around me, pulling me flush against his chest. The sudden warmth of his body against mine sent a shiver through me. His grip was firm—possessive, even—but after a few seconds, I felt the tension in his body slowly ease. I closed my eyes, letting out a quiet breath as I melted into him. My arms lifted on their own, wrapping around his back, holding onto him just as he held onto me. For a good while, neither of us spoke. The silence between us wasn’t uncomfortable. It was… grounding. Like we both needed this moment to re
KEILAH I barely had a second to react before the vampire’s hands slammed onto my shoulders, forcing me down. My knees knocked against the cold, hard coffin with a painful crack, sending a sharp jolt up my legs.“Ah—” I gasped, but the sound was cut off as the vampire crouched down beside me, his fingers gripping my chin in a bruising hold as he forced my face toward the corpse. The stench of death filled my nostrils, thick and suffocating. My stomach churned violently, my head spinning from the overwhelming scent.I tried to turn away, but his grip only tightened, pressing my face closer until I could see the shrivelled veins beneath the dead vampire’s translucent skin. My breath hitched, panic clawing at my throat.“I—” I swallowed thickly, my vision blurring. “I can’t breathe,” I rasped. “I—I need a minute.”The vampire holding me sighed, irritated. “This will not work,” he muttered, then suddenly released me.I fell backwards, my hands catching me just in time before I hit the gro
RALPH I stood frozen, my body rigid as I stared at the space where Keilah had disappeared. The cold night air did nothing to cool the fire burning in my chest—the anger, the pain, the unbearable weight of her words pressing down on me like a boulder I couldn't shake off. In the corner of my eye, my wolf paced restlessly, muscles taut, ears pinned back, tail flicking in agitation. It wanted me to go after her. To bring her back. To fix this—whatever this was. I exhaled sharply through my nose, my fists clenching. That power… the energy that had surged from her and sent me stumbling back—it wasn’t just any magic. It was light magic. But how? Where did she get it from? My jaw tightened. Has Damien done something to her? The thought alone made my blood boil, but even that wasn’t what rattled me the most. No, it was her words."Have you ever even loved me, Ralph?" My throat burned. Had she really questioned my love for her? I let out a dry, humorless chuckle, but it fel
KEILAH Ralph’s grip on my wrist tightened slightly as he pulled me away, but my mind wasn’t on him—it was on Damien.I made the mistake of looking back.He stood frozen in place, his expression unreadable, but I could feel the weight of his gaze. Like he was looking straight through me like I had just proven something he had been dreading all along.My heart twisted painfully.But I forced myself to turn away.Ralph led me outside the cold night before stopping abruptly. He finally let go of my wrist but didn’t step back. His presence was overwhelming, his scent heavy with frustration, his body rigid with tension.I let out a slow breath, trying to keep my emotions in check. “What's wrong with you Ralph? What do you want?” I asked, my voice calm, but irritation simmered just beneath the surface.His jaw clenched, and his eyes darkened.“Whatever you have with Damien, end it,” he said, his voice sharp and unwavering. “I don’t want to see you with him. You only belong to me.”I stiffen