Chapter Six

AURELIA'S POV

“No!” I yelled. “I'm not going with either of you. Fight all you want but I'm not going with either of you.”

They both stopped but the tension in the air remained charged like the atmosphere before a violent storm. I could feel it. 

Anyone with half a brain could sense it. 

Djurek stood to my left, a lazy, sleepy look on his face as though he hadn’t a care in the world. His eyes, however, betrayed him—they were locked on Dante, full of quiet menace. A predator waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

Dante, on the other hand, was all fire and barely-contained fury. His fists clenched at his sides, his eyes practically burning holes into Djurek’s chest. 

I knew exactly where this was headed and I knew it wouldn't end well. 

“I see you haven’t learned your place yet, Dante. Still going about being the savior of the world?” Djurek said lazily, his tone mocking. 

I shot a look at Dante, pleading with him silently to keep his composure, but I could see the rage darkening his gaze. His jaw was clenched so tight I could practically hear his teeth grinding. 

“You’d better shut your mouth before I do it for you,” Dante growled, his voice low and dangerous.

Djurek chuckled, the sound low and infuriating. “I'd like to see that happen, pet.”

Enough!!!

I stepped between them, planting myself firmly in the middle, forcing both of them to focus on me instead of each other. that I wouldn’t let this spiral into violence. Not again. 

“Stop this,” I said, my voice steady, though I could feel the heat of their gazes burning into me. “I won’t be the reason for another fight.”

Dante’s eyes softened as he looked at me, but the tension in his body didn’t ease. 

“Aurelia, step aside. This doesn’t concern you.”

Like hell it didn’t. 

Djurek's smirk grew wider, his voice taunting. “Oh, but it does, doesn’t it? Don't let's fool ourselves, Dante. I paid for a slave and I'm going home with a slave.” 

The steel in his voice showed he meant his words.

“I’m not some prize to be won,” I snapped, unable to stop myself. 

His eyes flickered with amusement. “Aren’t you, though?”

Dante took a step forward, a warning growl rumbling in his chest. “Keep talking, Djurek. I’m begging you. It wouldn't be my head rolling on the floor.”

Djurek blinked, then he threw his head back and laughed, the sound a loud echo that bounced off the walls. It infuriated Dante more.

I could feel the situation spiraling, slipping out of my control. I had to do something, had to stop this before it got any worse. Before they did something that couldn’t be undone.

Neither of them was listening to me. I could see it in their eyes—this was going to end in bloodshed unless I made them stop.

My heart pounded in my chest as I reached for one of the guard’s daggers and pulled it from the hilt. The movement was swift. Before either of them could react, I held the blade to my throat.

The shock on their faces was almost satisfying.

“If either of you so much as raises a hand, I’ll do it,” I said, my voice cold and steady. The blade pressed against my skin. “I swear to you, I’ll end it all right here if you don’t stop.”

Dante froze, his eyes wide with disbelief. “Put that down. Please,”

Djurek, cocked his head to the side, eyes glinting with a dark humor. “I do enjoy a good drama every now and then,” he said with a lazy smile. “Do it. The show should be worth my money.”

“Bastard,” I hissed, pressing the blade a fraction closer, just enough to feel the sting. “I’m done with this.”

The silence that followed was suffocating, their eyes trained on me, waiting for my next move. 

“I won’t let either of you treat me like a prize to be possessed,” I said, my voice trembling with the weight of the truth. “If you want to destroy each other, do it without me.”

“Do it,” taunted Djurek again, his eyes dark.

“Don't!” said Dante, a slight tremble in his voice. “Don't listen to him! Don't play games!”

“I’m not,” I whispered, and I meant it. In that moment, I was ready. Ready to do whatever it took to keep the blood from spilling.

I didn't know who would come out victorious between them if they fought or if they fought and they both died. The repercussions would be dire for me. Every Alpha in the world would hunt me down — the girl who caused the death of two Alphas— and I couldn't keep running.

Dante took a cautious step toward me, his voice soft, pleading. “Aurelia, don’t. Please.”

“I’ll put it down when you both leave,” I said firmly. “Until then, this stays where it is.”

Djurek let out a low laugh, shaking his head as if the entire situation was amusing. “You’ve got guts, I’ll give you that. But don’t think for a second that this changes anything.”

“It changes everything,” I snapped, the finality in my voice hanging in the air between us.

For a moment, neither of them moved. The tension was unbearable, like standing on the edge of a cliff.

Dante sighed, then turned to Djurek. “Please, let her come with me,” he pleaded with a defeated voice. “We'll work something out.”

“No.”

At the sound of the word, I didn't hesitate. With a flick of my wrist, the dagger sliced neatly from one side to another and I crumbled onto the floor.

****

I opened my eyes blearily and saw two figures peering down at me. I raised my hand and felt my neck.

No wound. No blood.

“What happened?” I asked, my voice creaky.

Dante grinded his jaw. For some reason, he looked angry. He motioned to Djurek and said, “He brought you back.”

Tears sprang into my eyes. “No. You had no right!” That had been my one shot at true freedom and he had taken it away from me.

Djurek leaned away from me and turned to Dante. “You can have her now. Whenever I need her, she'll come to me.”

At that, he turned and left with his men, leaving Dante and I staring after his back.

“What did he mean by that?” I asked, my voice hoarse.

“When he saved you with his powers, a part of you bonded with him and it means he'll have access to you whenever he wants to.”

The tears roll down my eyes at his words. What sort of hell had I flung myself into?