*~Hazel’s POV~*
"Oh, I’ve heard the gist about my "mighty mate." The first natural-born Crescent. The miracle. But let’s get sothing straight. Whether we’re equals in power... or I’m a little stronger than you the math isn’t in your favor." He smiled.
"Because I’m not just a werewolf anymore.I’m a vampire. And not just any wolf—a royal-blooded one.."
"So you might want to calm all that alpha energy down, baby boy." I smirked
"Versa," I whispered.
And just like that, lHis body responded instantly. I’d mortared him from the inside outhis bones, his very structure, now under my command. His stomach cracked sharply, and he doubled over.
"What are you doing?" he hissed through clenched teeth.
I smiled darkly. "Cracking you from the inside." A gush of blood spurted from his nose. His face contorted in pain, his hands clutching at his ribs.
" I may not be strong enough yet to pull off high-quality spells like Aurora, but..." I tilted my head, watching him falter, "at least I can still do this."
And then..boom. He collapsed face-first onto the ground. I stepped over him like he was nothing. My babies were still sound asleep, cradled tightly in my arms as I moved toward the door.
But then..he was there again. In front of . Just standing there—like nothing had happened. His bones hadn’t snapped back, and yet he was upright, defiant. His eyes glowed.
" Did you forget," he muttered, narrowing his eyes , "the part where I said I’m a vampire?" He said stepping closer.
"Now... go. Back. Inside," he growled.
But then sothing strange happened. My body... shifted. My foot moved without my command. My grip tightened on the babies. I blinked, confused.
And before I knew it—I was walking back inside. What the hell? I didn’t choose to do that. My heart started racing. My thoughts scrambled. My breath caught in my throat.
Was it... was it him? Was I being compelled?
I found myself walking back into the hut. Step by step. Helplessly. And the mont I crossed the threshold, my body froze.
"Good girl. That’s more like it," Cyrius muttered smugly.
I clenched my jaw.
"You seem to forget," he continued, eyes glinting, "I told you I’m a vampire now too. I didn’t even realize I could compel soone—until you. Turns out, all I have to do is look you in the eyes." He smirked. "Pretty cool, huh?"
Damn it. He really did compel . My own body used against .
"But why?" I whispered, my voice trembling with fury. "Why are you keeping here? Why not let go? Why force to stay?"
He leaned against the doorway with a casual arrogance that made my skin crawl. "Because I’m starting a family, Hazel. With you. And your ’real’ family?" He scoffed. "They think we’re all dead. You, , the twins. Gone."
"They’ll co looking—"
"No, they won’t," he cut in sharply. "By now, they’ll believe you went rogue or insane. Maybe they’ll think soone kidnapped you. But they will not find us. No one will track here."
His voice dropped to a low, final whisper. "You’re stuck with . Here. Forever." I felt my heart race, the weight of those words sinking like stones into my chest.
"You’ll be by my side," he continued, "and when I return to New Orleans and take my place as king... you’ll be my queen. And those precious little babies you’re holding?" He smiled coldly. "They’ll be my heirs."
"They’re not your babies!" I snapped, my voice sharp and raw.
He stepped closer. "Oh, but they are. They made a vampire, Hazel. They’re linked to now. They listen to . They protect . They help . Your babies... are mine."
"Don’t say that," I growled, rage pulsing behind my eyes.
Sothing inside —dark, furious, feral..threatened to rise. My fingers twitched. My vision blurred for a second.
But I stopped myself. Not here. Not now. I can’t lose control. Not while I’m still holding them.
"Control yourself, Hazel," he said, mockingly. "That’s what I thought. Wouldn’t want to wake the babies now, would you? Heather gets headaches when her sleep is disturbed." I stared at him. The bile rose in my throat.
"Heather?" I echoed slowly. "You nad my baby?"
"That’s what she is. Heather. And the boy..well, I’m still thinking. But it’ll co to ."
"That is not her na," I snapped. "I haven’t nad her yet."
"Well I’ve nad her for us...Don’t want to stress my darling mate." He smirked flashing his perfect set of teeth.
"You monster!" I blurred out.
He tilted his head, almost pitying. "Why are you doing like this? Why are you playing the victim? You act like I’m the villain." I looked him dead in the eyes.
"Because you are."
"? A villain?" he repeated with a grin, eyes dancing with madness. "You’re really brilliant for blaming the person who got you pregnant in the first place. But don’t worry, Hazel—I’m here to fix it."
He took a step closer, his voice dropping to a disturbing calm. "So tell , which death do you think is appropriate for Cayden and Caspian? I’ve already decided—I’m killing Caspian."
My stomach twisted.
"Hmm," he went on thoughtfully, "I’m still debating should I dagger him? Or just send him straight to hell along with Cayden?"
"What?" I choked out.
"Yeah, I an... which one do you prefer? I know it won’t be Cayden. You have to pick Caspian. Since he’s both our favorites," he added with a sick smile. "So maybe we won’t kill him. We’ll just dagger him, put him in a coffin, and leave him there...forever. Let him rot."
He paused, tilting his head at . "But Cayden? Oh, we’re definitely killing him."
I didn’t speak. I couldn’t. My jaw locked. I just shot him a furious glare.
"Don’t look at like that," he said sharply. "I know you despise him too."
He stepped closer, his words turning venomous.
"First, he knocked you up...got you pregnant. Stole your youth. Made you a mother before you even knew who you really were. Isn’t that... pathetic? This is supposed to be your pri, Hazel. Your era. The ti your beauty was supposed to shine. And instead, you’re here..rocking babies."
I tightened my grip on the twins, my entire body stiff with silent fury.
"These babies," I whispered, "are the best thing that’s ever happened to ."
He scoffed. "Best thing? Oh, co off it. Sure, having kids is... sweet. But look who you had them with. You don’t even like Cayden. We both know that. You know what he is. What he’s done. There’s a monster inside that man, and you know it. And guess what, Hazel? There’s going to be a little piece of that monster in each of your babies."
I turned my face away, breathing hard.
"But I’ll fix that," he whispered. "I’ll erase him from your life. I’ll make sure these children grow up looking nothing like him. They’ll be us."
"Leave alone," I breathed. "Let go. Please."
He laughed, low and bitter. "I’m never letting you go. Never. You’re mine. You’ll stay by my side. You’ll watch rise. I’ll build a kingdom for you, Hazel. One where you’ll never have to see their faces again."
He stepped even closer. I could see the madness in his eyes now. Pure. Deliberate. Obsessive.
"Just the thought of you being with my brothers...touching you, holding you, trapping you in that damned high house it sickens ," he snarled. "You don’t belong to them. You belong to . You deserve to be free, Hazel. Worshipped. Crowned."
His voice softened to a whisper.
"And the only one worthy of doing that... is ."
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