Killian's hands flew up to his throat in a frantic, instinctive motion. His fingers clawed desperately, trying to pry off the unseen, malevolent force that was gradually crushing his windpipe. His eyes bulged in their sockets, looking wild with terror as his face rapidly took on a deeply alarming shade. Harsh, ragged wheezes were the only sounds he could force out. Each one sounded more labored than the last while his body suddenly rose from his seat and was suspended several feet in the air by the same power. A black miasma began swirling around Killian's struggling form. Tendrils of mist coiled tightly around his limbs and torso, restraining him while they sapped away his strength. The lavish dining room had fallen into a shocked, breathless hush. Every eye was fixed in stunned horror on the dreadful scene playing out before them. Crystal glasses trembled on the table, their contents rippling furiously as if in sympathy with Killian's plight. The adorned chandeliers sway
In the short time she had been immersed in this strange new world as Knox's wife, she had quickly learned that he was not a man to be trifled with, especially when it came to matters concerning her. His possessiveness and claims of ownership over her were utterly unshakable. Any perceived slight or threat to his prized possession would be met with swift, brutal punishment. Yes, Killian had an infamous knack for always getting on everyone's last nerve with his crude jokes and lecherous comments. His sharp tongue and complete lack of filter had landed him in hot water more times than anyone could count. But beneath that abrasive exterior, he also possessed an undeniably likable charm and warmth that could lighten up even the darkest of moods with his bright smile and boisterous laugh. For all his obnoxious flaws, it was hard not to be fond of the loud-mouthed jackass. His vibrant personality simply drew people in, like a human embodiment of sunshine cutting through the glo
Enzo's commanding presence instantly drew every eye in the room, including those of President Bolting and his daughter Serena. An oppressive hush fell over the gathered crowd as all attention became focused on the imposing figure before them. He wasn't alone though - accompanying him was the equally intimidating Meredith. Her statuesque frame exuded the same untamed aura of raw power and danger that seemed to swirl around Enzo like a force field. Enzo lifted one of his massive hands as he prepared to unleash the full brunt of his own supernatural powers to shatter Knox's grip over Killian. But something totally unexpected and inexplicable happened. A strange, shimmering golden glow began to emit from Killian's body, spreading rapidly across his skin until it exploded outward in a blinding bright light. The force of the blast was a volcanic, deafening boom of released energy that reverberated like rolling thunder, shaking the very foundation of the building. It was
Walter's heart swelled with pride at his wife’s steadfast devotion. He never thought she would agree to elope with him without hesitation, leaving behind a life of luxury. However, that pride rapidly disintegrated into constant fear and desperation as they struggled to start fresh away from their hometown. With no financial resources left after Walter's family disowned him, they were forced to begin from scratch in a new city where no one knew their names.And start from scratch they did - scraping by on what little money Walter could make from taking whatever menial jobs he could find. Waiting tables, cleaning toilets, hauling boxes... it didn't matter how demeaning the work was as long as it paid enough to keep a roof over their heads and some food on the table.Elizabeth, who had never worked a day in her life, tried her best to adapt. She took up mending clothes for the neighbors and sold homemade jams at the local market. She did everything to contribute to their meager inc
President Bolting's gaze remained transfixed on Enzo without blinking even for a second as a myriad of emotions played across his features. The lines etched deep around his eyes and mouth seemed to deepen as memories from years past flooded back, overwhelming him with their intensity. Part of him felt an immense surge of gratitude toward this mysterious, powerful man who had quite literally saved his family all those years ago when they were at their most desperate and vulnerable. If not for Enzo's timely intervention, who knows what terrible fate may have befallen his beloved wife and their two unborn children? The thought sent a chill down President Bolting's spine even now. He could still vividly recall the crushing despair and hopelessness that had consumed him back then, when it seemed all was lost. And then Enzo had appeared like some dark guardian angel, offering salvation when he had all but given up hope.Yet another part of the President felt a creeping sense of tre
Killian’s eyes were wide and glistening as though on the verge of tears."You and your father are making me want to shed a tear, sister-in-law," he crooned, addressing Serena directly now. "To have a love as pure and beautiful as that? It makes this poor fool's heart ache with longing!" His gaze flickered over to Knox and his upper lip curled back in a mocking sneer. "If only I could find a love like that instead of being constantly threatened by this raging, egomaniacal, knuckle-dragging Neanderthal. But guess what, I finally defeated him today. Hahaha!” He threw his hands over his waist theatrically. “Tell me, sister-in-law, how do you put up with him? Does he even know how to string two words together that aren't grunts or threats?"The sheer audacity and stupidity of Killian's taunts left everyone in disbelief. After nearly being strangled to death at Knox's hands just moments ago, he should have been on his hands and knees thanking whatever deities he could name for the m
The three masters, Knox, Seven and Killian all knew the news wasn’t going to be anything good the moment Dimitri urged Knox to see it. And true to their instincts, it was worse than they had assumed. The faces of the renowned Judge Grayson, and Serena were plastered across the screen with a ticker below blaring in urgent red text: "SCANDAL ROCKS DELANEY MURDER CASE: SEX, LIES, AND JUDICIAL CORRUPTION.""This is Diane Sawyer reporting to you live from Star City with breaking news in the Delaney murder case. It appears the judge at the center of the controversy is none other than Judge Grayson, one of the most respected legal minds in the country." A perfectly coiffed blonde anchorwoman with a dazzling white smile spoke in a tone of excitement and her eyes were dazzling from the excitement of revealing such a scandalous news. She turned to her smirking, salt-and-pepper haired co-anchor seated next to her, barely able to contain her excitement. "Stuart, the allegations here are si
"This is... this is outrageous!" Serena finally sputtered with fury. "How can they just broadcast these lies without any proof?"Knox reached out and placed a reassuring hand on her arm. His touch was cool against her flushed skin. "Calm yourself, my dear," her dad murmured soothingly. "This is merely the opening salvo in what I fear will be a protracted battle. We must keep our wits about us."The news then cut to a panel of pompous-looking legal experts in expensive suits, angrily debating and shouting over each other about whether Judge Grayson should be immediately disbarred and Serena charged with a litany of crimes based on the flimsy circumstantial evidence presented so far. It was a full-blown media circus unlike anything seen before, with each pundit trying to outdo the other with more inflammatory rhetoric."This is a clear case of judicial misconduct!" one red-faced man bellowed, pounding his fist on the table. "Judge Grayson must be stripped of his position immediat
Only the monsters remained a seemingly endless horde that would continue to ravage and destroy until the entire world was little more than a barren, lifeless husk. Knox could not, would not, allow that to happen. Not after everything, not after the unfathomable sacrifices that had already been made in the pursuit of preventing such a future from coming to pass. Too much had been lost, too many lives extinguished in the fires of this onslaught. Darkness swirled around him and began coiling outwards to merge with the torrential downpour. The vortex rapidly expanded, growing in size and ferocity until it became an all-consuming maw ready to devour everything in its path. The earth itself seemed to tremble by the vortex of annihilation taking form, as if the very world were protesting the profane nature of the forces being brought to bear. The air itself seemed to warp and twist, reality buckling under the strain of the immense power being channeled. Each bolt of lightning tha
Knox simply remained there for long, excruciating moments, taking in the sight of her serene repose as if etching every line and curve into his tortured memory so he wouldn't lose even the tiniest detail.Suddenly, Serena's body was engulfed in a dazzling burst of light, with glowing tendrils extending outward to encircle Knox's form. He pulled the light within, absorbing it as if he were a hole eating the stars. It was the portion of his soul he had given Serena in both their past lives and this current one, now being reclaimed after her death. Then Knox rose to his feet with fluidity, seemingly defying the rules of gravity once the last remnants of that magnificent essence were sucked back into his form."Let us never meet again!" he intoned, his voice a discordant rasp that held no trace of anything remotely human. The words carried such weight, such profundity of power that the trembling maid instantly crumpled motionlessly to the floor. Her mind simply could not withstand the
Tears burned hot in Meredith's eyes at the brutal truth of Enzo's words. She had failed - failed utterly to protect Knox, failed to prevent this future from becoming their new reality. Deep in her soul, she could feel the ancient spirits of Queen Minerva and Princess Myra weeping bitter tears of sorrow and regret. Their sacred bloodline, their eternal legacy was now irrevocably tainted by this unraveling of fate.A choked sound somewhere between a sob and a bitter peal of laughter escaped her lips when Sahar's severed head came rolling to a stop at her feet with her dead eyes still holding a mocking glint of triumph even in death. The twisted wench had achieved her ultimate goal - to bring about the utter ruination of their legacy, the destruction of every last Cavalieri-Delgaard dynasty. All around them, the battle raged on with no end in sight, the air thick with the sights, sounds and smells of death. Killian's towering Lycan form, battered and bleeding from a thousand savage
The sight of everyone she loved fighting for their very existence against such overwhelming odds...it was a blade twisting in Meredith's heart.A searing agony lanced through her and she knew Enzo was injured. It was the effect of a mate bond whether fated or chosen. She stumbled, gasping for air as she clutched at her chest. The pain was almost beyond endurance… like a molten lance of agony that threatened to bring her to her knees. Tears burned in her eyes and her sight blurred as the true gravity of their situation hit her like a battering ram. Any wound inflicted by these abominations was fatal. Their claws, fangs, and very essence were imbued with a poison that corrupted all it touched.“Is there no way?” Her mind reeled like ashes on the wind as another spasm of anguish gripped her in its merciless talons. “Is there no way to save them all? To avert this future I've foreseen?”Her body trembled violently and her legs threatened to give out beneath her as she watched her love
Meredith drew on her newly regained powers and unleashed a torrent of energy at the beasts. The demons recoiled, shrieking in fury and anguish as magic seared their rotting flesh. The stench of burning meat filled the air, mingling with the miasma that clung to the creatures.Meredith maintained the onslaught, driving them back through the shattered doorway with relentless determination.Next, she sealed the room with an impenetrable barrier when the last of the abominations stumbled back into the hall, wailing in pain and wrath.She turned to face the trembling girl. "Stay here if you wish to live, child," Meredith instructed. "This madness needs to cease, and soon, before it swallows us all."Then she swept from the chamber and out into the chaos that had engulfed the estate's once-clean halls. The hallway ahead was a nightmare come true, with claw marks on the walls, bloody paintings, and the crushed bodies of fallen defenders strewn over the floor like discarded objects.Meredi
Meredith's heart thundered against her ribcage as she paced the length of Knox and Serena's bedroom suite. Her footfalls echoed with a hollow resonance that belied the emptiness gnawing at her very soul.The incessant rattling and banging against the thick oak door grew more insistent with each passing moment in a cacophony of destruction that served as a reminder of the hellish forces laying siege to their home. Beyond that rapidly crumbling barrier, chaos ruled in an unholy storm of violence that threatened to devour all Meredith held dear.Shrieks of unimaginable agony intermingled with roars. Each haunting wail, each guttural bellow, sent a fresh wave of anguish coursing through Meredith's immortal frame. How many had already fallen? The question burned in her mind like acid, eating away at what little composure she managed to maintain. How many brave warriors, loyal protectors of the estate had lost their lives under the claws of these abominations? The faces of those she had
"I'm the only woman alive now who can give you an heir, bear you children to carry on your bloodline..." Her words were a hushed whisper. "I am your rightful mate at long last. We were always meant to be together as one, you and I. Two halves of the same whole."She sniffled again as a fresh wave of tears spilled forth. "You should have accepted my request earlier, when I simply wanted to enjoy one night with my betrothed...to bask in the warmth of your embrace, as is my right as your—"Her words died on her lips when Knox suddenly closed the distance and wrapped his hand around her slender throat in a grip, wrenching her forward until her feet left the ground. Then he slammed her head back against the stone wall with brutal force to crack her skull. Sirona let out a pained, wheezing laugh as she stared up at him with wild, unfocused eyes. A thin trickle of crimson seeped from the corner of her mouth, tracing a macabre path down her chin."You...you wouldn't dare..." she choked out
Knox felt as if the entire world had collapsed around him, with a devastating blast of despair and despair threatening to break what little remained of his damaged psyche into a million shattered fragments. The sheer, all-consuming agony that had lanced through him was unlike anything he'd ever experienced before. It that it defied description… as though every nerve ending in his immortal body had been set ablaze and doused in acid simultaneously.The air became heavy and oppressive as the full impact of what had happened started to sink in, and the cold stone of the dungeon walls seemed to close in around him.Knox simply couldn't - no, he utterly refused with every fiber of his being to accept the cruel reality that his worst fears had been realized in the most brutal and decisive way imaginable. Serena. His beautiful, precious mate...the very radiant light in his darkness...she was gone. Why? The question kept coming back to him, echoing through the vast emptiness of his head, e
The huge double doors to the dungeon at one of Knox's estates slid open, revealing his towering figure. An oppressive air accompanied him, making it feel as if the very atmosphere held its breath in his presence. Dark tendrils like mist swirled around him, and his eyes that was always cold, blazed with a fury that made them appear even icier than usual. His mind was still reeling from the hateful words Serena had hurled at him in the car earlier, and in a moment of desperation, he had teleported himself here.Knox despised himself for losing control and slapping Serena in a moment of anger. He couldn’t forgive himself, especially when the thought crossed his mind that perhaps Sirona had found a way to bypass his restraint meant to keep her in check, and had gotten into Serena’s mind. More than half of him believed the venomous words Serena had spoken weren't hers but were instead Sirona’s doing. This belief drove him to the dungeon, determined to confirm his theory.His eyes lan