Alpha Darius’s POV
I had already prepared for the ritual when my men dragged the struggling demon girl into the heart of my territory.
I stood waiting in the clearing, the ritual circle already prepared. The ground was painted in blood and ash, runes etched deep into the earth, each stroke humming with power. Torches blazed around us, throwing long shadows across the trees. The others stood behind me, chanting low, their voices rising and falling like the beat of a war drum.
At last, they pushed her to her knees inside the circle. She fought like a wild thing.
“Remove the gag,” I commanded.
One of the men hesitated but obeyed. The moment her mouth was free, she spat toward me, missing by inches.
“You’ll regret this,” she hissed, her voice sharp as broken glass. “Karren will—”
“Your
