CAMILLE'S POV"It is time, Camille." A familiar voice bellowed."Time for what?" I asked, turning in the direction of the voice. I couldn't exactly make out the figure. But I recognized the voice of my wolf, and I could make out its silhouette from where I stood. "You recently told me you didn't want to shut me out anymore. You said you wanted to share our pains and desires. I know you better than anyone else because we are one and the same, Camille. You feel grief from Neal's death, and you desire to kill Eva. I can help." This was my mind. This was my wolf's domain. An unsettling negative energy consumed me, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right."We must be reborn together," my wolf continued. "It's the only way to bring Neal back and save the others in danger."While I accepted her as part of me, her words bothered me deeply because it felt dishonest. "Can we even do that?""Why not?" The voice retorted. My gaze shifted to the space around us, and I took
CAMILLE'S POV Eva chuckled when she made eye contact with me. I saw the malice in her eyes grow, and she spat in my face. My finely tuned senses could almost taste the iron in the blood. "You have finally shown your true colors," she told me. The manipulation was really never going to end because there was no way she believed she was right in this scenario. Eva laughed again. "Nice horns. You look like the demon that you were meant to be. No more of that nice girl bullcrap." I proceeded to wipe the blood off my face. Hearing her whine like she was the victim again made me lift her by the hair and wack the behind of her head into the tree again. It wasn't enough. My hand dropped, and I grasped her neck, pulling her closer to my face. "You made me this way," I whispered, the grip around her throat tightening. "And I am fine with it because I get to see you suffer." My hands tightened even more, and I watched her struggle to breathe. The first few seconds of her pretending like
SPECIAL CHAPTER NINE: NEAL GALDINAAUTHOR'S NOTE: Special chapters serve to shed light on the perspectives of minor characters, providing insight into their roles in the unfolding narrative.I was fading fast. The pain ripped through my body with every strained breath. Dimitri and Camille's voices rang out, desperate for me to hang on, to stay awake. But the darkness closed in, blurring their panicked faces.Was this it? Was I about to find out what the big mystery was all about? I'd always figured myself for hell after what my ancestors did - that whole thing with killing off the Mad God's lover. Tough break, but what could you do?My eyelids grew heavy. Too heavy to keep open any longer. I let them slide shut as the blackness fully took over. Then - nothing. Just...nothing. No pain, no fear, no thoughts even. A pure blank void.How long did that nothing last? Impossible to say. But then, just as quickly, my eyes snapped back open. I squinted against a blinding white light that se
CAMILLE'S POVNeal's grip on my wrist was iron, a lifeline, and a shackle all at once. "Camille, this isn't you," he said. His eyes pleading and earnest while they searched mine for the woman he once knew.My heart wavered, a storm of emotions threatening to tear me apart. "Exactly, Camille doesn't hurt people. But I will," I spat, trying to shake him off. His grip only tightened."Please, Neal, stop trying to stop me," I hissed, my voice cracking. The wolf inside snarled, eager to break free and finish what we had started.Neal's expression softened, though his resolve remained. "I won't let you do this, Camille. Not like this." His voice was steady, even as he struggled to restrain me.Without warning, I summoned the ancient magic coursing through my veins. Roots erupted from the ground, wrapping around Neal's legs and arms, pulling him away from me. He struggled, eyes wide in shock. "Camille!""We need to do this, Neal. For justice," I said, my voice cold as I turned to Eva, who l
CAMILLE'S POV I sprinted back to the cabin with a fragile heart that raced with terror. While I had been caught up in all that anger, I didn't stop to think about Collins and his curse. It was already past midnight. The twins were now of age, and that meant the curse had come into the picture. The moonlight cast an eerie glow on the dislodged roof, serving as a stark reminder of the chaos that had unfolded.When I reached the cabin door, I hesitated, my breath forming wisps in the chilly night air as I stared at the space where a door was supposed to be.There was something around the house. Tentatively, my fingers reached out and encountered an invisible barrier—a crackling, palpable field of magic energy seemingly meant to either protect or imprison. It was as if my body and soul knew what to do. With a determined breath, I focused all my willpower and energy and ordered the barrier to shatter. I felt it give way, the energy dissipating like fragile glass, leaving me standing
SPECIAL CHAPTER TEN: OPHELIA COTTONWOODAUTHOR'S NOTE: Special chapters serve to shed light on the perspectives of minor characters, providing insight into their roles in the unfolding narrative.The silence in my house was heavy as I folded my last dress and placed it in the box. Each piece of clothing held memories, but they felt distant now. The box was full, and I closed it with a sense of finality. I lifted it, its weight grounding me, and carried it to the corner of the room.Placing it down gently, I stepped back and took in my surroundings. This was the last time I would see this place.I turned and waltzed out to the backyard garden. The early morning light cast long shadows on the greens. My eyes settled on the upturned ground. It looked so peaceful, like it could be just another part of the garden. But I knew what lay beneath. "I'll be coming soon, Alaric," I whispered, my voice barely audible. The words hung in the air: a promise and a farewell.Then I felt that famili
SPECIAL CHAPTER ELEVEN: ABIGAIL AUTHOR'S NOTE: Special chapters serve to shed light on the perspectives of minor characters, providing insight into their roles in the unfolding narrative.In the dimly lit expanse of my bedroom, I meticulously completed the intricate summoning circle as the surrounding candles flickered.The ancient symbols, drawn with a mixture of my blood and black ink, seemed to pulse with a life of their own. I took a deep breath, steadying my nerves. Ophelia had said something that disturbed my peace. It could as well be the ramblings of a woman close to death. But I knew better than to dismiss things.I spoke the incantation, my voice firm and clear. The air grew thick with power, and the circle began to glow. The temperature dropped, and I could see my breath in the cold air. In the center of the circle, a figure began to form, his presence dark and imposing."Asmodeus," I called, my voice steady despite the racing of my heart. "You summoned me. Is it one
CAMILLE'S POV I jolted awake to the sound of Collins crying out in his sleep. His small body was shaking violently, tangled in the sheets as he fought against whatever nightmares were haunting him. My heart ached seeing him like this. I reached out and gently shook his shoulder. “Collins, sweetheart, wake up. It’s okay. Mommy’s here.” His eyes flew open, wide with fear. For a moment, he looked disoriented, then he threw himself into my arms, sobbing. I held him close, rubbing soothing circles on his back. “It’s okay, baby. You’re fine now. It was just a bad dream. You’re safe.” He clung to me, his small body trembling. “Mommy, the bad men... they were coming for me,” he whimpered. I kissed the top of his head, trying to keep my own tears at bay. “No one’s going to hurt you, Collins. You’re safe. We’re all safe.” The door creaked open, and Dimitri stepped in, his eyes full of joy. I was reminded of the birthday celebration he wanted to throw, but seeing Collins in this state made