Chapter 13
1021 Words
Chapter 13
AVALINE
Lucerion's eyes lit up with interest as he looked up at Zirael and spoke, with a smug look on his face like he was teasing Zirael.
"The ones where they're going to parade eligible females in front of you, trying to gain your attention or hope you would screw one of them and get them pregnant so they can hold a child over your head. How delightfully primitive."
"Indeed," Zirael agreed, though his tone suggested he found the entire concept distasteful as he rolled his eyes before speaking. "Though I suspect Monroe has ulterior motives for the invitation."
I felt a chill run down my spine as I remembered my conversation with Alpha Monroe. He had been interested in the possibility of sending me to Hidden Haven, of using me as a diplomatic offering to strengthen the alliance between our packs. If Zirael was planning to attend the mating ceremonies himself, it meant my fate might be decided sooner than I had anticipated.
"Can we go now?" Aida asked in a small voice, her eyes shifting between the two dangerous creatures as she was looking uncomfortable and worried about my safety, her hands clenching tight on her dress. "I want to go home, Mummy."
The word "Mummy" seemed to catch Lucerion's attention as he stiffened for a moment and turned to face me. He looked between us with renewed interest, his pale eyes gleaming with curiosity as he seemed to be eagerly connecting the dots here.
"She calls you mother," he observed, looking at me from head to toe as he added. "But you said she wasn't your biological daughter. How intriguing, and how false. I never picked you as someone who would lie blatantly to a vampire's face much less a God."
"I raised her," I said simply, although I was beginning to get scared and I knew that they might be able to smell it on me despite the suppressants on my body.
"Biology doesn't matter when it comes to love or adoption. I am the only caretaker in her life. It's normal for her to see me as a mother figure in her eyes."
Something flickered across Zirael's face at my words – an emotion too quick to identify. But before he could respond, Lucerion was moving beneath me, his hands coming up to grip my waist as I almost yelped, my face burning red with embarrassment because I felt I was being treated like a child.
"Well, this has been entertaining," he said, his voice carrying a note of amusement. "But I think it's time we let you go home to your pack."
With casual ease, he lifted me off him and set me on my feet. I stumbled slightly, my legs shaking from the adrenaline and fear, but I managed to stay upright and not fall flat on my ass. As soon as I was able to move without falling, I rushed to Aida's side, pulling her into my arms and checking her for injuries.
"Are you hurt?" I whispered, my hands running over her small body as I searched for any sign of harm or bruise that Lucerion might have left on her during his 'play'.
"No, Mummy," she said, clinging to me tightly as well, her body getting slack with relief seeing that I was unharmed as well. "He didn't hurt me. He just scared me."
I looked up to find both creatures watching our reunion with expressions I couldn't quite read. Zirael's face was impassive, but there was something in his eyes that might have been approval or curiosity. Lucerion, on the other hand, was grinning like he had just witnessed the most amusing thing in the world.
"You should be more careful," Zirael said, his voice carrying a note of warning as he continued speaking in that dry unattached tone of his that made me feel like I was an insect underneath him.
"These woods are dangerous for humans to be walking alone and without safety precautions. There are things far worse than vampires lurking in the shadows."
"We'll be more careful," I promised, backing away slowly while keeping Aida pressed against my side.
"See that you are," he replied. "And give my regards to Alpha Monroe. Tell him we'll be arriving tomorrow evening for the ceremonies."
Tomorrow evening. That was the night before my eighteenth birthday, the night when everything would change. I nodded quickly, not trusting my voice, and began to retreat from the clearing.
"Oh, and human," Lucerion called after me, his voice filled with laughter. "You fight well for a mortal. I look forward to seeing you again."
The words sent a chill through me, but I didn't stop to respond. I scooped Aida up in my arms and ran through the forest as fast as my legs could carry me, not slowing down until we reached the safety of the pack house.
As I held her close, feeling her small heart beating against my chest, I made another silent vow. Whatever happened tomorrow, whatever the future held, I would never let anyone hurt her again. Not the brothers, not Solaya, not vampires or Lycan Kings or anyone else who might threaten her safety.
She was mine to protect, and I would die before I failed her again.
But first, I had to survive the next two days. I had to face Zirael at the mating ceremonies, had to navigate whatever political games Alpha Monroe was playing, and had to do it all while keeping my true nature hidden.
The suppressants in my system felt like a lifeline and a curse all at once. They would protect me from discovery, but they were also slowly poisoning me. Elder Mira had warned me that using them for more than a week could kill me, and I was already approaching that limit.
But I was going to keep on using it. There would have to be something I can do, maybe detox myself before I was being sold and then reapply. But whatever it took to save the life of my daughter, I was willing to pay.
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