NARRATORGabrielle started coughing loudly, feeling that Quinn wouldn’t be able to hold back much longer and would rush in to rescue her at any moment.“She will never forgive you… sir… her brother… he’s my mate… the man standing out there,” she played the only card she thought could save her life.She could only hope it would work.Zarek stared at her for what felt like an eternity.Suddenly, a deep, cynical laugh escaped his lips, sending an even greater chill down her spine; his sharp fangs gleamed with his murderous aura.“I'll give you one last chance because right now, I can't afford to divide my strength into so many parts. But if you fail me again, Gabrielle, you know I have plenty of ways to kill you without her ever finding out, right?”“We will get her back, sir,” she assured him, though not entirely convinced. What else could she say?She collapsed onto the ground, coughing violently, feeling like her lungs would burst.She had rarely found herself in such a weakened state

NARRATORAs long as she remained his hostage, Zarek wouldn’t attack.After all, all these tricks to control the castle were the only thing he could actually do—he was still imprisoned in the most hidden and dangerous dungeon.Out of nowhere, Dante's sensitive ears picked up the whistle of air and the murderous magic heading straight for him.Every instinct screamed at him to drop to the ground, and he obeyed.He threw himself onto the cold iron floor of the bridge, holding Celine tightly in his arms as she trembled, her teeth chattering, her eyes shut tight and brimming with moisture.“If you keep pushing her like this, you'll turn her into an idiot before you can even use her to blackmail Zarek,” he said, standing up and leaving Celine leaning against a corner of the bridge, away from the dark shadows and close to him.“I’d rather fry her brain than let you be the one to benefit from her,” Merkall spat blood to the side, the scent of it thick in the air.A lot of his people had to sa

NARRATOR"AAAHHH!""What’s happening?!""The ceiling is going to collapse!""Everyone, get out! Get out of the aqueduct!"Screams echoed from all directions, whether they were vampires or sorcerers—it didn’t matter.As the walls trembled and stones rained down from above, everyone scrambled desperately to find an exit.Someone was shaking the very foundations of the old aqueduct from above.In the midst of the darkness and the collapsing narrow tunnels, it didn’t matter if they were friend or foe. They trampled over each other’s heads, summoning their powers to escape the crushing death looming over them.The shock was even greater when, upon reaching the stream’s exit, they were met by an army of Lycans waiting in the forest.The survivors of the previous battle were exhausted and mostly wounded, while these elite werewolves stood at their peak, hungry for blood."TEAR ALL THE REBELS APART!"The Lycan King's roar ignited the battlefield spirit.A deafening thunderclap struck from the

NARRATORClutching her chest, Laila forced her tired, wounded legs to keep moving. A trail of blood marked her path, but she didn’t stop—not even to heal herself.She’d rather face a Lycan and die quickly than stay here in this cursed place.The mist began to rise between the graves as if it had a life of its own, swirling around her legs like ghostly hands trying to grab hold of her.Laila ran, terrified—she had never felt such fear in her life. As she passed under the weeping willow, its branches suddenly thrashed in the strong wind."Ahhh! Let me go! Let me go!" she screamed frantically as the green vines coiled around her neck, arms, and legs, strangling and restraining her.She fought like a madwoman, yanking at the branches and clawing at the ones choking her neck, trying desperately to break free.Her feet stumbled backward, wet hair clinging to her eyes, and she swore she saw shadows and red eyes in her blurred vision.She pulled back with all her strength, thinking she had es

NARRATORThe darkness, swirling like dust carried by the wind, stretched out like a hand, gently caressing the tears on her cheek.“Come to me, love, don’t be afraid. Move forward, Celine,” she thought she heard, and at last, she took the first step, then the second, and the third—finally stepping into the territory under the vampire prince's control.Always clinging to her like a parasite, Merkall followed closely, ensuring his spell remained active within Celine at all times.Zarek might be powerful, but he had seized his greatest weakness.They walked down a narrow, dark hallway.Celine’s vampiric eyes worked at their fullest capacity, scanning her surroundings.She had killed her supposed mate with her own hands and hadn’t cared in the slightest.When the sorcerer’s command had invaded her mind, she simply couldn’t resist it, just like when he told Dante he had to enter the castle alone. It was as if she were screaming inside her own head, begging her body to respond, yet it only

NARRATORAs Gabrielle’s feet crossed the threshold of the door, her entire body underwent a profound transformation.Her simple, mud-stained clothes morphed into an exquisite red gown, like the ones she used to wear when she was the sovereign and ruler of the throne.Her long black hair cascaded down her back, gleaming, and the bandage on her beautiful face disappeared, revealing her expressive, stern blue eyes fixed firmly ahead.She was the perfect image of her past self at its finest, and although Gabrielle knew it was all part of Zarek's illusion, she silently thanked him for the gesture.When Celine saw Gabrielle, her thoughts immediately went to her brother; no matter how confused she was, she would never forget Quinn.“He's fine, don't worry,” Gabrielle glanced at her for a brief second while passing by, managing to slip that message into her tormented mind.Zarek hadn’t allowed Quinn to advance beyond a certain point, and despite his frustration, he had no choice but to trust

NARRATORAs Merkall stretched out his arm and began to read the runes beneath him, his knowledge as a sorcerer came into play.Suddenly, as the words fell from his lips, the chains wrapped around Zarek’s body began to move like venomous serpents, slithering across the spirit of his form.The bindings slipped from Gabrielle’s hand and began to glow, coiling tightly around Merkall’s extended wrist. He felt like the king of the universe.Every vein in his body pulsed with ecstasy, and adrenaline surged through him, fueling his desires and delight.“Oh, yes... fuck,” he nearly had an orgasm, closing his eyes in sheer pleasure as he seized control of that ancient and powerful magic—chains forged by the Goddess herself to bind such a dangerous and untamable being.When Merkall opened his eyes, breathing heavily with sparks still flickering in his pupils, his new servant stood before him.“Show me your army, Zarek. Show me why you were so feared!” he commanded arrogantly.Now he was the mast

NARRATOR"How do you sign a deal you can't even read, you idiot? Are you a Selenia, a descendant of my royal bloodline?"Zarek mocked him, tightening his grip around Merkall's throat, the blood already seeping down his strong arm and dripping onto the floor."What a shame you can't kill me and truly claim ownership of the castle and the army. Tsk, tsk... Should I have your daughter executed by the very man who was once your enemy?""I don’t think so..." Merkall suddenly laughed, while behind Zarek, two hands rose, clutching a sharp dagger ready to strike.Merkall was hurled forcefully into a corner of the balcony, and below, the excited commotion of the undead creatures grew louder once more.Zarek turned swiftly, and the dagger’s tip landed right against his heart, just above his shirt."Tell me, Celine, what choice will you make? Will you kill me, or will you finally accept me as your mate in your heart?" His voice was cold, harsher than ever before.Celine’s trembling hands gripped

NARRATORThe vampiric persona of Celine moved forward eagerly, leaning over the prince’s body as he welcomed her with open arms, cradling her against his chest.Their mouths merged sensually, tongues caressing, exploring beyond their lips, intertwining and exchanging their passion with half-closed eyes lost in pleasure.Zarek gripped her waist, pulling her to straddle his lap, threading his fingers through her soft hair and pushing her head forward to deepen the kiss, to drown himself in the ocean of her lips.They touched each other's heated skin, filling the darkness with wet and lascivious sounds, moans escaping Camilla's lips as her mate's fangs grazed delicately along her jawline, licking her neck with lust.His strong, masculine hands gripped her hips, forcing her to grind against him, the friction between their clothes driving them insane.Zarek’s hard, throbbing member pulsed hot between her parted thighs, sending a delicious shiver to her wet core.She wanted him inside her,

FLASHBACK FROM ZAREK'S PASTZAREK:"Please, tell me you didn’t poop again," I look into her bright little eyes, and all that comes out of her tiny mouth are bubbles of saliva.I lift her into my arms and cautiously sniff her diaper."Phew, I thought it was my turn again. Hold it in until your dad gets here, okay? Your uncle only likes you when you smell like a clean little baby," I cradle her in my arms and start pacing with her.I can't help but smile; she's so adorable and reminds me so much of my sister when she was little."Dad has to deal with the poop, the sleepless nights, and in the future, fighting off suitors," Roger walks into the room, huffing, and I hand him his little daughter."Well, mom had to carry her for nine months and give birth to her. Isn't that enough?""Yeah, sure, always defending your sister. She’s not as saintly as you think, she...""AAAAHHH!"Suddenly, a scream cuts through our conversation, and I rush to the adjoining room; that scream was my sister’s."