Selene’s POV~
Elarliya did not stop.
Even with my father’s claws digging into her neck, even with his fangs bared inches from her throat, she smiled up at him like this was so twisted ga she was enjoying far too much.
"My Maximus," she purred softly, tilting her head. "You were always so handso when you were angry. So strong...so easy to provoke."
My stomach twisted in revulsion.
He snarled, a sound so deep and broken it shook the ground beneath us. "Say one more word," he warned hoarsely. "One more, and I will end you."
She laughed.
A light, mocking laugh that scraped against my ears like knives.
"Oh, don’t look at like that," she said sweetly. "I’m only speaking the truth. Your precious mate was nothing but a beggar. A slut. A woman who survived only because she spread her legs for anyone who would spare her a coin."
My father scread.
It was not a roar this ti. It was a shattered scream ripped straight from his soul, filled with grief, rage, and madness all tangled together as one.
"SHUT UP!" he bellowed, his claws slamming into the stone so hard it cracked beneath the force. "You know nothing about her. NOTHING!"
Elarliya’s eyes glead.
"She had no status," she continued calmly. "No na worth rembering. No honor. She lived in filth and died the sa way. And sohow, from that filth, she gave birth to this child."
Her gaze flicked to . Disgust filled her expression.
"She should be grateful I raised the girl at all."
My father’s body shook violently.
"You took her," he growled, voice breaking. "You took my mate’s child and twisted her life. You poisoned her mind. You used her."
"And?" Elarliya shrugged lightly. "She lived, didn’t she? Better than she ever would have with a dead whore for a mother and a broken mate for a father."
That was it.
Sothing inside him snapped.
My father grabbed her by the throat and slamd her against the wall, lifting her clear off the ground. His eyes were glowing now, wild and unhinged, tears streaking down his face as his voice shattered.
"You will not speak her na again," he roared. "You will not stain her mory with your filth. She was kind. She was gentle. She was brave. She was my mate."
Elarliya gasped, but she was still smiling.
"She begged," she wheezed. "Begged once. She cried when she realized I would outlive her. Cried knowing I would keep you."
His grip tightened.
"You are lying."
"Oh, am I?" she whispered. "She knew she was nothing. She knew she could never stand beside you. That’s why she hid. That’s why she died."
"LIAR!" he scread, slamming her back again as cracks spread across the wall. "She died because of monsters like you."
I could barely breathe.
The poison burned through my veins, but the pain in my chest was worse. Hearing her speak about my mother like that made sothing dark rise inside , sothing violent and unforgiving.
Elarliya laughed softly, blood trailing from her lips.
"Look at you," she mocked him. "Still clinging to a dead woman who opened her legs to survive. She gave you nothing but sha."
My father’s voice dropped suddenly.
"She gave a daughter."
His eyes flicked to , filled with agony and fierce love.
"And that is sothing you will never understand."
Elarliya smiled at him mockingly, even as my father’s grip bruised her skin and his claws dug into the stone beside her head. She did not fear him. Instead, she slowly lifted her hand and traced her fingers along his cheek, wiping away his tears like she owned them.
"Maximus," she whispered softly, almost lovingly. "Why are you always chasing after her? She was nothing but a whore."
My stomach churned violently.
She leaned closer, her eyes shining with obsession. "Look at . I preserved myself only for you. Only you. Can’t you see the love in my eyes? Can’t you feel how much I want you?"
I felt like vomiting.
My father’s eyes did not soften. They burned brighter, darker, filled with such raw hatred that even the air around him trembled. His body shook, not with desire, but with the effort it took not to strangle her on the spot.
"Get your hands off ," he growled, his voice hoarse. "You disgust ."
She froze.
For a brief second, sothing like disbelief flickered across her face. Then she laughed loudly, full of mockery.
"You’re so pathetic, Maximus," she sneered. "I’ve done everything to win your affection. Everything. But if you won’t listen willingly, then I’ll just have to use force."
My heart scread in warning.
Sothing was very wrong.
"Father...!" I tried to shout.
But it was too late.
My father’s bloodshot eyes suddenly went blank. His body stiffened, then collapsed heavily to the ground as if all strength had been ripped from him at once.
"No!" I scread.
Elarliya crouched beside him, gently stroking his hair as if he were sleeping peacefully. "Rest now, my dear," she murmured sweetly. "When you wake up, you’ll see only . Love only . Rember only ."
She ran her hand through his hair possessively, then turned to look at .
Her smile was pure cruelty.
"Kill her," she ordered calmly, addressing the wolves around us. "Tear out her eyes. Scatter her body parts in different directions. I don’t even want her to have a grave."
The wolves snarled in approval.
She turned away from then, dragging my unconscious father with her, leaving him under guard while the others closed in. Horror paralyzed completely.
I tried to move. But I couldn’t.
My body was numb. My vision blurred so badly that even their shapes sared together. My mind spun uselessly, the poison burning through like ice in my veins.
"Father..." I whispered weakly, reaching out. "Father..."
My fingers fell limp against the stone.
I tried to heal myself. I tried to call my magic. Nothing responded. My witch powers were completely sealed, crushed under the poison ant specifically for .
So this was it.
Was this really my end?
Tears slipped from my eyes as realization crushed . She had always known. About my mother. About everything. She had planned it all, worked with the council, and manipulated every step of my life.
My mother’s lifeless eyes flashed before .
"I’m sorry," I whispered brokenly. "I’m useless... I failed you."
A massive wolf lunged toward , jaws wide, saliva dripping from its fangs.
I closed my eyes and waited for death.
Reviews
All reviews (0)