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
CAMILLE'S POVSuddenly, the music stopped. The room fell silent, the abrupt end to our dance jarring. Dimitri and I turned to the record player and saw a strange woman standing there, removing the pin from the wheel. Her presence was so unexpected that it felt like a punch to the gut.Dimitri immediately stepped in front of me, shielding me with his body. “Who the fuck are you?” he demanded, his voice a low growl.The woman chuckled, a sound that sent chills down my spine. “You’re the protective one, aren’t you?” she said, her tone mocking. “Relax. I’m not here to harm anyone. Unless, of course, my hand is forced.”I tried to peer around Dimitri, my heart pounding. Something about her seemed familiar, and then it hit me. The pale white hair, the sharp features—“Abigail?” I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper.The woman smirked, fixing her hair. “I might have my youth and all, but it’s still rude not to call your grandmother by her proper title.”My breath caught in my throat. “
DIMITRI'S POVOnce Abigail vanished and the contents of the box were revealed, I put a call through to the first sentinel guard.The guards stationed outside of my quarters had been given an early break because I wanted to spend time with Camille. Never did I imagine Abigail De'Crescent would waltz in uninvited.In seconds, five stern-faced sentinel guards, followed by Neal, entered the room."What the fuck happened?" Neal asked.I simply pointed to the box while I held Camille, who was still shaken up by what she had seen.Neal wasted no time in going for the box. I heard him gag when he realized who was inside of it."Is that not the witch?" he asked with hollow eyes as he shut the lid of the box.Neal instructed a sentinel to retrieve the grisly package."The first sentinel guard told me that it came from Abigail?"I gave Neal "the" look, and he immediately fell silent, turning his sights to Camille."This dropped when we lifted the box," the sentinel who grabbed the box said, hand
DIMITRI'S POVNeal gave me "the look," pure, undiluted terror."Is that some kind of joke?" He chuckled."Do I look like I am joking, Neal?" I retorted, my voice unwavering.Neal's eyes darted around the room, as if searching for an escape from the harsh reality I had just laid before him. "You can't be serious. Visiting Abigail is suicidal. What can you really do? At least Camille stands a chance to actually do something if the situation calls for it.""I've already made up my mind," I said, turning towards the door. But Neal stepped in front of me, blocking my path."What is this really about, Dimitri?" he demanded, his voice laced with frustration and concern.I took a deep breath, the weight of my words pressing down on my chest. "I'm tired, Neal. I'm tired of seeing Camille go on and on battling her own family. I just want her to forget and fucking live for once."Neal's eyes softened, but his stance remained firm. "And do you think she'll be able to forget and live if you die? B
CAMILLE'S POV I took a deep breath as the massive ornate doors of the Lycaon Church slowly creaked open. My heart was pounding like crazy - this was such a huge moment. As the doors parted, a sliver of light spilled in, and I stepped forward, the delicate lace veil over my head obscuring my vision and hiding the intense emotions I felt from the hundreds of eyes watching me enter. The air inside was cool and thick with the sweet smell of incense. I could hear the rustle of fancy silk dresses and reverent whispers as everyone turned to watch me walk down the aisle. Soft, beautiful piano music began playing, a serene piece I had chosen myself to start off this grand ceremony. As I made my way up the gold carpet that seemed to glow like a path of light before me, the veil cast everything in a sort of ethereal, dreamy haze. I could feel the intricate embroidery on my exquisite gown as my fingers brushed against the fabric - it was an actual work of art, adorned with symbols of our histo
CAMILLE'S POV"No..." Eva shuddered when the weight of her sentence finally settled in. "No..."She ran towards my feet and knelt, her eyes wide with desperation. "I know what you want, Camille," she pleaded, her voice cracking. "You want me to beg for all the horrible things I've done. And I understand now, I do. I'm sorry for being so cruel. But two wrongs don't make it right. This is inhumane! A collar is a for a dog.""A troubled dog." I corrected as I knelt down to meet her gaze."I'm only being a good sister, Eva," I said softly. "You were raised wrong by your mother, Adele. Despite everything, I didn't think you deserved to suffer for something your mother and my grandmother had a hand in creating. So this is your chance at a new beginning, Eva. Be good."Eva's face twisted in disgust. I watched her muster the courage to do it. At first, fearing that the collar would catch on to her nefarious intentions if she tried to spit on my face. The second the collar caught a whiff of he
EVA'S POV (THREE DAYS AFTER THE EVENTS OF RAVENFORD)Three days of pure torture had passed. There was no clean drinking water, bath, or even a basin to wash my face or hair. The guards were rough whenever they could be, and I had only been given a decent meal once. So, panic seized me when I heard keys rattling in the lock of my cell, and the door creaked open.I looked up and saw three guards approaching. With each step they took, I shrunk back further."You can't kill me. I haven't been tried yet. I'm innocent."One of the guards stepped forward and slapped me hard across the face. I dropped to the floor, shuddering from the impact."You whiny bitch! You kill one of our own and try to harm our prince, and you have the audacity to call yourself innocent. You have no idea how much every one of us is fighting not to take your life and be done with it." Through gritted teeth, I managed to speak, "I am Eva Dumont, future Luna of the Lily of the Valley pack, and a cursed beast like you
DIMITRI'S POVI turned away from the Deltas, my mind already buzzing with plans. Their eyes followed me, filled with a mix of worry and resolve. They knew what we were up against and grasped the dangers. This was no time to hesitate."Follow me," I commanded, heading toward my chambers. The guards moved with me, their steps precise and silent, a result of years of training. The atmosphere was thick with the seriousness of our mission.Once inside my bedroom, I went straight to the dressing table and grabbed my phone. I dialed quickly, the familiar number bringing a brief sense of comfort in the chaos. Ginger answered almost at once."Ginger, it's me again. Back to business. I have three men with me, so the spell needs to be done twice."There was a short pause before Ginger's calm, reassuring voice came through. "No problem, Dimitri. I can manage that."I set the phone down on a dresser and turned to the first sentinel guard. "Step into the rune. Ginger, start the spell."The guard an
CAMILLE'S POV The necrotic green glow exploded out of me, shattering the windows and shaking the very core of the building. The door I had transmuted into a wall disintegrated completely. The light consumed everything, and when it finally died, my eyes struggled to adjust to the debris and the afterimage of that sickly glow. My breath came in short gasps, and I blinked rapidly, trying to make sense of the scene before me. Amid the wreckage, I saw Abigail not far from where I stood. She lay on the floor, her eyes wide and filled with shock. A tremor ran through me as I wondered if the spell had worked. Had I failed? Abigail’s movements drew my attention. She stared at her hands, her expression one of bewilderment. Then, her gaze shifted to the ceiling. The rune I had drawn to seal her magic was now fractured, broken by the cracks that laced the ceiling. Fucking hell! She rose to her feet, power radiating from her as she turned to face me. “I gave you the opportunity to touch a r
CAMILLE'S POV The space around me seemed to thrum with the weight of Asmodeus's words. "The rune is known as the Sigil of Perdition," he said, his voice low and measured. "It is an ancient power, capable of manipulating the fabric of reality in ways that no ordinary spell can." I felt a shiver run down my spine as I emboldened myself to ask the question that mattered the most. "But, will it work?" Asmodeus's gaze met mine. It looked like he was almost disappointed that I would ask. "Well, I hope so," he replied. "What I am gambling on is your raw strength, Camille. You are much stronger than Abigail. I felt it when you awakened. The demon blood that runs through your veins is not recessive like it was with Bo." I frowned, not fully understanding. "What do you mean by that?" Before he could answer, a bright light assaulted my eyes, turning my vision completely white. Panic tugged through me as I tried to blink away the blinding light. My senses felt dulled, as if I were suspen
DIMITRI'S POVI awoke with a start, finding myself on the cold, hard floor. The chill sent shivers through my body. Blinking rapidly, I struggled to shake off the haze of unconsciousness. As my vision cleared, I noticed intricate rune drawings on the floor beside me, softly glowing in the dim light. My heart sank as I recognized the teleportation sigil. Beside it lay Neal, motionless, his chest rising and falling in shallow breaths.That could only mean one thing. Camille had knocked him out cold, too, and gone to Abigail alone.An admission that heavy made my skin crawl.“No, no, no,” I muttered, my body starting to tremble. “Camille, what have you done?” I approached the rune, my steps heavy and reluctant, each one echoing my growing dread.Without wasting time, I turned and opened the door, my mind racing. I needed help, and I needed it fast. I hurried down the hallway, my thoughts a chaotic swirl of worry and rage. I was angry at Neal, and more importantly, I was angry at myself.
CAMILLE'S POVI tried to keep my eyes open, but I was unable to, and my whole world turned dark.When I blinked my eyes open, I found myself in a blank white space. I turned around, seeing no exit and no door. I looked down at my body and noticed it phasing in and out, looking whole one second and translucent the other second. I whispered, "Where am I?"A voice whispered from behind me, "You've lasted longer than I expected."I turned to face the voice and saw a handsome, pale-skinned man, shirtless, with what looked like liquid darkness covering his body from his hips downward. He had horns that curled back from his forehead.I recognized him from the memory of Abigail. He was the demon Abigail mentioned was her mate. "Asmodeus," I whispered."In the flesh," he retorted.I took a step back, uncomfortable and unsure of what this meant. Was I in hell? What had I done to deserve hell?"Why am I here? Why are you here?"Asmodeus replied, "You are here because you are tethering between l
CAMILLE'S POVHearing her sound so callous of people's lives reminded me of someone. It reminded me of Eva. In fact, they were more alike than I would love to admit. Vindictive. Myopic and downright cruel.I forced myself to stand. It was hard, but I could manage. My body had started to heal itself. "The Galdinas suffered for a sin they had no idea of. They had no idea what they did to deserve such a fate, but they still suffered because you were spiteful of your father? Do you know what that did to me and my son?" I demanded, my voice rising with every word. "Do you know what that did to my mate?"It was clear that Abigail didn't give two shits about my pain. As long as the Galdinas were involved, she seemed perfectly capable of blocking out her empathy if any still even remained. But seeing no remorse on Abigail's face set my blood on fire. I charged at her and swung with all my might, knowing damn well this was a fight I couldn't win but not caring regardless. She easily dodged