BLOOD OF THE FIRST

CHAPTER 20

The excitement from the contest had finally died down, but that didn’t stop the chaos inside my head as it was only getting started. I sat alone in the quiet quarters the Lycans had, thanks to whatever my Lord had done, generously given to us, staring blankly at the wall, thinking aloud about everything that happened at the arena. The entire contest ended in a complete chaos after the show, but my mind kept drifting back to those two mysterious fighters who had shown up out of nowhere dressed in white.

There was something off about them. The weremage among them had an incredible, undeniable strength, but that wasn’t even what shook me the most. It was how I felt some sort of connection to her. The most important thing, the thing that had my heart beating madly against my ribs, was the girl she came with.

I was certain it was Freya.

I did g recognize her at first with the veil covering half her face, even though I shoukd have known that those eyes were unmistakably familiar, but I saw it all immediately the veil came undone. For a brief moment, a wave of intense happiness washed over me at the thought of Freya being alive. She had, jjst like me, survived the facility. I knew she was always a fighter. I knew she was strong enough to survive. She was out there. But at the center of that joy came a wave of sheer panic. Freya was in deep danger.

I had been hearing rumors flying around the Lycans, and although I wasn't completely certain as to what to believe, but everything is falling into place. Word everywhere was that a girl fitting Freya's description had actually released the Demon Wolf from his cage. Logically, it sounded absurd—everyone knew Xander was trapped by ancient relics—but Rob wasn't the type of man to let anything pass him by. He was at the top of the rumors, and he was already hunting for Freya just to be on the safe side.

If Rob found her before I did, no saying what woukd happen. I knew I had to get closer to him. He is the only direct link to Freya, and staying close to the center of power was the only way I could shield her.

Luckily, my Lord, Lord Tay, had been able to buy us some time, allowing us to reside at the Lycans' territory. This is a big opportunity for me to bring my plans into play.

Lord Tay didn't really care about Rob's tyrannical character; he just wanted to be on the good side of whoever was holding the ultimate power at the moment, and Rob clearly held all the cards right now. In return for my loyalty, Lord Tay had promised to help me take revenge on the Lacansters for what they did to us.

But right now, looking at the bigger picture, my priorities had completely changed. Revenge could wait. Freya couldn't. I realized that if I wanted to protect her from Rob and the rest of this cruel world, I needed to climb the power ladder myself. I needed to become in force In the dynasty

I would do whatever it takes. No turning back.

With that firm determination in my mind, I stood up, straightened my outfit, and walked straight toward Rob’s private chambers. I was really glad to find him completely alone. The last thing I need was to be in the presence of that desperate, insecure weremage that was always glued to his side like a lost puppy was nowhere to be found.

This was my shot. Ive to play it well.

I pushed the door open and stepped inside without knocking. Rob looked up from his desk, his eyes narrowing as he studied me curiously.

Being my usual self, I didn't waste time with pleasantries or formal bows. Ive been through so much and no longer fear anybody. I walked right up to him and outrightly challenged him.

"What is it that you want?" I asked, my voice ringing clearly through the room.

Rob was visibly taken aback by my bluntness. No one spoke to him like that anymore; everyone usually cowered and trembled in his presence. He leaned back in his chair, a dark amusement flickering in his eyes, but he answered me regardless.

"I want it all, Eva," he said, his voice dropping dangerously. "I want to be feared. I want to reign over every single clan. I want a dynasty that is untouchable."

I smirked, stepping closer to his desk. "Then you might want to consider being me on.”

He burst into a wild, mocking laugh at my statement. He shook his head, looking at me like I was completely delusional, but there was a spark of intrigue in his eyes that he couldn't hide no matter how he pretends. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. "And why, tell me, would you think I’d want to consider that?"

Being a master at studying people, I looked straight into his soul. I had been watching him for months. I read him like an open book, and told him exactly what he was.

"You don't want people who kiss up to you, Rob. You're already bored of them," I said confidently. "You want someone who is just as ambitious as you are. Someone who is greedy, who looks at the world and wants it all. You want someone who has the nerve to challenge you, to push you, not just nod at every word you say. You need someone who will actually fight for you because they want power just as much as you do."

He froze then. He was genuinely surprised and visibly taken aback by how accurately I had analyzed his person. For a few long moments, the room was dead silent, and something shifted drastically in his expression. The amusement was gone, replaced by a calculating sharpness.

He had already seen what I could do in the arena. He knew I was highly skilled, but now he was looking for something else. He was staring intensely into my eyes, trying to read my face to see if I was hiding a secondary agenda.

We engaged in an intense eye-locking battle, neither of us willing to blink or back down. After what felt like an eternity, he finally broke the silence, his voice flat and serious.

"What do you hope to gain from this, Eva?"

Instead of answering with words right away, I took a step back and opened my hands wide.

I unleashed my magic, creating a unique, swirling orb around my body that left Rob completely stunned. I didn't just summon one element; I combined all the energies at once. The wind began to howl around the room, whipping my hair across my face; flames of fire danced along the outer rim of the sphere; bright lightning bolts crackled and snapped through the air; pieces of vines levitated from the ground, and vaporized water swirled in perfect harmony with the rest.

Rob’s eyes widened in shock, and he involuntarily moved back in fear, his hand gripping the edge of his chair. He had never seen a weremage manipulate all elements simultaneously like this. That is power!

When I spoke, my voice carried an immense weight that vibrated through the room. "I want power, Rob. I want to never be helpless again. My magic currently is deserving of a higher status than just being a regular clan mage. I need you to give me that platform, and you need me if you want to actually win. We need each other."

Slowly, I pulled my energies back, and the air inside the room calmed down, the floating vines dropping harmlessly to the floor. He took a moment to compose himself before he cleared his throat.

"I already have a weremage, Eva," he told me, testing to see how I respond.

I tilted my head and questioned him with a mocking smile. "If she is enough, why are you giving me an audience right now? Why have you been completely fascinated with me from the very first moment I spoke up in the meeting?"

Rob silently stared at me for a second, and then he laughed wildly, a genuine sound of appreciation.

He stood up and pointed toward the door. "You are very dangerous. Go. I will summon you again when the time is right."

I didn't flinch. I turned toward the door, but stopped halfway to look back over my shoulder. "Don't take too long, Lord Rob. I don't like being kept waiting."

With my head held high and a victorious smile on my face, I walked out of his chambers. But my hapiness was short-lived. The moment I turned into the corridor, I ran straight into Rhea.

She was standing there, her face twisted into an incredibly angry look at the sight of me coming out of Rob’s room.

I had noticed her behavior from our very first encounter. I knew she absolutely hated my gut, and she desperately didn't want me anywhere near Rob. But looking at her right now, I also saw the desperate, pathetic need to please him at all costs. She was terrified of losing her position, and I decided right then to use that exact insecurity to my advantage.

I paused in front of her, crossing my arms, and gave her a pitying look to provoke her. "You should be very careful, Rhea. If you don't step up your game, you might just find yourself discarded for someone better."

That comment completely pushed her over the edge. With her face flushed with rage, she yelled out, launching her magic forward to attack and fight me. But she was sloppy. She was completely exhausted from the contest, and her movements were terribly uncoordinated.

I dodged her strike easily, stepped into her space, and used a swift burst of my combined energy to overpower her. Within seconds, I had her pinned against the corridor wall, her magic fizzling out uselessly.

I leaned in close, looking at her panting, sweaty , angry face, and decided to lecture her. "Magic isn't supposed to wear you down like this, Rhea. You're drawing it wrong, and it’s consuming you. The faster you get your s**t together and learn how to handle your own power, the better it will be for you."

I released her roughly, leaving her standing there alone, trembling with anger and humiliation against the wall. I didn't wait for her response; I just turned around and walked away, my footsteps echoing down the hall.

As I made my way back to my quarters, I took a deep breath and mentally prepared myself for war. I was absolutely certain that a vengeful girl like Rhea would not make this path easy for me, but fortunately, I was ready to burn down whatever stood in my way.