PEONY CRIMSON'S POV"Miss?" The call echoed through like a scream beneath the water. Despite knowing that the call was from Fey, my eyes stubbornly resisted opening, opting instead to stay hidden in the uncomfortable depths of darkness. I wasn't sure if this was a dream, if I was awake, or if I was still alive, everything blurred in a stomach-turning obscurity.A gentle touch graced my shoulder. "Miss, it's about time you woke up,” Fey's voice grew sharper and more distinct. I gained control over my limbs even though every movement I made was excruciating."Just a moment," I groaned, my voice echoing like the raspy whispers of the desert wind.Another touch. I jolted awake, but my body anchored to the mattress. My eyes widened as Fey's figure came into view, her innocent eyes filled with a mixture of panic "Miss! Are you alright?" she asked, quickly pulling back the covers. The sight of my physique seemed to hold the key to my constant exhaustion and weariness. It was as if all th
PEONY CRIMSON'S POVThe hours slipped through my fingers, evading my attempts to keep track. I was lost in the depths of the subconscious realm that brought me together with Emily. The wolf dropped to the ground with her gaze averted from mine.Her ears were flattened, and her tail was tucked between her legs. I found her in that state, and she emitted whimpers that stirred a deep pity within me."Emily." I sidled up to her, my voice filled with anticipation. I reached out, my fingers rubbing against her soft, silky gray coat. She remained perfectly still."Emily, look at me!""Leave me alone." She let out a whimper. Two paws on top of her muzzle."I can't; you know that. I'm stuck here until... my body finds its consciousness." I didn't know why I had to explain that when we both knew it.A dry wind caressed the meadow, calling for a boisterous rustle to break the stillness. Emily's physical appearance appeared unscathed, while her pride lay shattered and in ruins. I couldn't blame h
XAVIER ASHERIUS' POVTwo days ago.Peony's sweet floral scent vanished quickly as a blinding magic light enveloped my surroundings. Peony's figure and her worried gaze gradually faded from sight into tiny flickers. My hands balled into tight fists until my knuckles turned white.In the blink of an eye, I found myself standing on the dusty floor of a dimly lit basement in an abandoned building. Lazarus, with his ruby eyes, stood three feet away from me.“You arrived earlier than I had anticipated.” With a stride toward the door, Lazarus remarked, "I expected you to arrive at dawn at the earliest."As I was about to follow him, I suddenly caught a whiff of a foul scent of black blood, which stung my nose. I followed a trail and discovered a vampire who was restrained in a chair.There was a big hole in his left chest, from which thick black blood gushed like a spring. At the same time, a lifeless heart, which should have been inside, was now resting on the floor next to the chair.The v
XAVIER ASHERIUS'S POVAfter a long night, the darkness transformed into a radiant morning. Lazarus called his assistant to bathe the triplets, dress them in their finest clothes, and prepare breakfast for them.I made the most of this moment by choosing to sit with them and eat together. Xander's disapproving snarl passed me by, but what did I care? Upon seeing his shitty face, the triplets could have easily gone into panic. Sparkling with enthusiasm and hope, their clear, round eyes looked at me."Really? We're going to meet Mama." Jasmine beamed. The youngest was much more adorable than in the picture; she even had round cheeks like her mother."Yes, but we need to wait a few more hours. So please finish your food," I said as I poured milk into three glasses. I explained everything they needed to know in simple language. To my credit, they believed me right away."Do you remember how you ended up in that cave?" I asked gently.Rose, Jasmine, and Violet stopped eating their turkey s
PEONY CRIMSON'S POVThe airway to my lungs closed up. I had a momentary lapse in breathing technique. It seemed like a tube in my arm was sucking my blood away from my body rather than delivering it.At the moment when my eyes locked on the pair of blood-red eyes in the doorway, I felt every single bullet of terror flying back at me. Xavier caught a glimpse of me to understand and he was quick to shield me from his brother's gaze. As the door slammed shut, they vanished.I put a hand on my chest, feeling every pulse racing as if it were about to explode. My eyes didn’t deceive me. Xander's figure was real, and he stared at me with a faint smirk at the corner of his lips.He was here.He was here. In a place I thought was safe.He was freaking here. Ready to throw me into nightmares I'd never want to experience again. I felt a dull ache in my brain all of a sudden.The door opened once more before the confusion and panic whipped up into a maelstrom that sucked me under. My heart skippe
PEONY CRIMSON'S POVIn an instant, both Xavier and Lazarus were in plain sight. Perhaps the vampire was brought in on short notice because Xavier didn't say he was coming with the team. Lazarus's pale face betrayed his annoyance. However, I should not have been considering that.Lazarus came to check on my triplets and only needed a few minutes. His brow was wrinkled as if he were trying to find the missing piece of a puzzle. Anxiously, I waited. Xavier put his right hand on my chest and squeezed."I didn't find anything suspicious as you claimed." Lazarus claimed, "But it is a bit confusing why they were asleep all this time."Lazarus stepped back, thought for a moment, then added, "It could be that they are so because of the waves of fatigue that only take hold when they feel calm. Well, I don't blame them for got cozy in my apartment."I ignored the vampire's self-confidence statement."So, what should I do? If this keeps up, they might starve, lose more energy, and so on!" My voic
PEONY CRIMSON’S POV"Does Xavier have breakfast here, or does he eat in the dining room with the others?" I asked Fey when she entered the room carrying the trolley with the breakfast menu.As she placed all the food on the table in front of me, she shook her head in confusion."It's been a while since I saw the Alpha. Would you like me to tell him you want him here?” She offered.I glanced at the empty side of the sofa, then made a fake smile. "No, I'm fine. Thank you."I had two major things on my mind, pulling me in different directions. They completely consumed me and threw my senses out of whack. The toast I ate was as bland as cardboard. The cranberry juice has also turned sour.The clock on the wall struck nine, but Xavier was nowhere to be seen. He might have been sleeping in the next room, and I could have gone to check on him. That's all it was... There was a voice inside me that prevented me from moving forward. Especially after dropping a bomb last night.I had lied to Xav
PEONY CRIMSON'S POV "That's what I thought," Xander replied to my silence.I had a strong urge to slam the door in Xander's face, preventing him from seeing my daughters.But whether it was the influence of my mating bond or Emily's emotional distress clouding my judgment, I chose to remain in my current position. Xander's presence was larger than life.Once upon a time, I’d welcomed his every breath, his voice, and his figure with nothing but happiness. Once upon a time, he was my rock, so I was determined not to disappoint him, even if it meant breaking my own heart."Go away, Xander."I let out a quiet sigh but mustered the courage to meet his gaze head-on. The mating bond was nothing if the two soul owners had already rejected each other."Being here is a waste of your time. I'm warning you again; I won't just hand over my triplets to you."The old me couldn't talk back to him. The old me was the symbol of obedience he wanted.But I wasn't her anymore.Xander's intense stare ran