KEILAH After cleaning off the dirt, I changed into a pair of clean, soft clothes, savouring the feeling of being less grimy. With my face now washed and the stinging ointment doing its work, I looked less like someone who had gone through hell and more like myself, even if bruised and battered. I took a deep breath, trying to shake off the last remnants of the strange encounter with Damien.When I walked back into the living room, I found him still sitting on the couch, his head leaning back against the wall, eyes closed. His large frame made the couch look comically small, as though it was built for a child, not a man—or rather, not a vampire—of his size. He looked... tired. Drained, almost. His skin seemed paler than usual, almost as if he hadn’t fed in a while.Do vampires even get tired? Or dehydrated?Whatever it was, I didn’t want to disturb him. I walked past quietly and headed into the kitchen. The tension in the air still lingered, but I could at least make myself useful whi
KEILAH I barely had time to think. One moment, Damien was still. The next, he was a blur of motion, his eyes wild and locked on Cora like a predator cornering its prey. Without a second thought, I moved—my body acting on pure instinct, faster than I thought possible.Before I even realised it, I had thrown myself in front of Cora, shielding her from Damien’s imminent attack. The instant I put myself between them, I felt it—sharp, excruciating pain tearing through my neck as Damien's fangs sank deep into my skin. The pain was like fire, white-hot, and searing, ripping through my nerves. I gasped, the shock of it taking the air from my lungs as I stumbled forward against him. His grip tightened, his arms suddenly around me, pulling me closer as his fangs dug deeper, the raw hunger driving him. “D-Damien!” I choked out, my voice strained and barely a whisper.For a moment, it was as though he didn’t hear me. His need, his hunger, was too strong—too primal for words to reach him. The r
DAMIEN'S POVI leaned back in the cold, stone chair of the tower, letting the silence settle around me. The air was thick with the scent of iron—blood. Lord Seth stood a few feet away, watching me closely, his sharp gaze never wavering. His presence, as always, was unsettling. He had been the one I left in charge, the one who maintained order in my absence. Yet now, he stood there, arms crossed, questions heavy in the air.“What is going on, Draven?” Seth’s voice broke through the quiet, laced with suspicion. His eyes narrowed as he studied me, then flicked to the wooden bowl of blood I held in my hands. “Who’s that girl you brought here? I smelled your venom in her. Who is she?”I didn’t answer right away, staring down into the bowl of blood. The liquid was dark, rich, and inviting. With a swift movement, I brought the bowl to my lips and drank deeply, the blood sliding down my throat in a satisfying, warm rush. I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand, savouring the way it still fu
DAMIEN Keilah's eyes flared with fury, her entire body trembling as she spoke through clenched teeth. "Take me back to my home, and I don't ever want to see you again—ever." Her voice was sharp, filled with a venomous edge. Before I could say anything, she turned and started walking away, her movements sharp and rigid, like every step was fueled by her anger. I reached out, catching her hand to stop her and explain myself. “Keilah, wait—”She whirled around, her hand flying, and before I could react, the sting of her slap snapped my head to the side. “Don’t you fucking touch me,” she hissed, her eyes dark with rage.I let go of her, raising my hands in surrender. “Fine,” I said, my voice calm. She then turned on her heels again. I took a deep breath, trying to keep my voice steady. "That kiss meant nothing, if that’s what made you angry. I wasn’t trying to—” I paused, “I just wanted to see something.”She stopped in her tracks, her eyes narrowing into dangerous slits. Then, in a ru
KEILAH I watched as Damien stormed out, the air around him tense and charged. The other creep of a guy followed close behind, and I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. I hated how scared I felt, how that brief moment when Damien grabbed my arm, turning on a monstrous face, still made my skin crawl. I’d stood my ground, put on a brave face—but now that he was gone, all that courage crumbled. My knees wobbled, and before I could regain my balance, they buckled, causing me to stumble and collapse onto my haunches.I tried to catch my breath, but it felt like my chest was tightening, the fear and anger all building up like a knot inside me. Garbie rushed toward me, her eyes wide with concern, and for a split second, I thought about letting her help. But the second she reached for me, I jolted back, shouting, "Get away from me!"She stepped back, startled, her eyes full of shock. "I'm sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you—I just want to help.""Help?" I snapped, my voice trembling wi
KEILAH Her words felt like a punch to my gut. “The Underworld Kingdom?” I repeated, my voice barely above a whisper. My mind raced, trying to process what that meant. The name itself sent chills down my spine, and I had to fight the urge to shiver. “So… this means I'm in a different realm?”Garbie nodded, her eyes meeting mine. “Yes. This is where our kind resides, away from the human world. It’s safer for us here.”I looked around the room, suddenly feeling like the walls were closing in. Everything had felt strange from the beginning, but knowing I wasn’t even in the human world made it worse. “So, I’m stuck here? In the Underworld?”She hesitated before nodding slowly. “For now, yes.”My chest tightened, and I had to take a deep breath to steady myself. “And there’s no way back?”Garbie’s face softened. “It’s not that simple. The passage between the human world and the Underworld is guarded. Only those with permission from King Draven or a high-ranking vampire, which is my dad, ca
KEILAH "Are you happy now?" I muttered, my voice laced with frustration even though it was for my own good. He didn’t respond. Instead, he turned and walked a few steps away before sitting down on a wooden stool in the corner of the room. His cold, intense gaze locked onto me, and he said nothing for a long moment. The silence was suffocating. I let out a long, exasperated breath, the tension in the air unbearable. My eyes bore into him as I sat upright, still bundled under the covers, my voice laced with irritation. "Can you now tell me why you brought me here? Garbie told me there's no way back to the human world and that the only person who can take me back is—" “Me,” Damien interrupted, his voice sharp. His eyes remained fixed on mine, unwavering. “Me, and Seth.” I blinked, caught off guard by the interruption. "But—" “You can’t go back now,” he continued, his voice low but firm. “It’s too dangerous for you out there.” “Where exactly do you mean?” I shot back, narrowing m
DAMIEN I heard the door slam shut behind her.I didn’t need to look up to know it was Keilah. Her scent, sweet and earthy, lingered in the air. She must have caught a glimpse of me just as I was pulling on my clothes. A small, amused smile tugged at the corner of my mouth, but I didn’t dwell on it. I wasn’t the type to get embarrassed or flustered easily.I continued dressing without so much as a pause, pulling on a black shirt and then buttoning it up with measured precision. My mind was elsewhere. Keilah’s reaction was amusing and annoying, but it wasn’t surprising. She was still adapting to my world, and there were many things she didn’t understand—yet.As I finished getting dressed, I allowed my thoughts to wander, calculating my next move. The truth was, I had every intention of keeping her safe, but her stubbornness made it... challenging. The constant questions, the distrust—it all boiled down to one thing: Keilah didn’t belong here, not yet. And I wasn’t ready to let her go e
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