Chapter 174
Amica
After dinner, I feel so exhausted I can barely keep my eyes open. I excuse myself and head straight to bed while Deckard stays behind for a strategy meeting with Bernard and Leonard about how we’re going to reclaim Blackcastle.
I should be at that meeting–I know I should—but sleep pulls me under, heavy and irresistible. Deckard promises to fill me in later, and that’s the last thing I remember before crashing onto the bed.
I don’t even hear him come in.
But then–like a whisper slicing through a dream–I hear a voice. Cold. Accusing.
“So when do you plan on telling me about your little escapade with Darrah?”
The words pierce through my sleep like ice water.
“Did you also plan on never telling me the two of you were a couple?” His voice is tight. “How could you keep something that important from me?” My eyes flutter open, the weight of sleep still heavy in my limbs. I see him standing there, staring at me like a stranger.
“Deckard?” I whisper.
He doesn’t move. His jaw is clenched so tight that I can see the muscle twitch.
“It’s messed up that I had to hear it from someone else, Amica.”
“We only spent two nights together, under the constant watch of a witch–what time did I even have?” I say, sitting up now, trying to meet his eyes. “So you were never going to tell me what transpired between the both of you?” he demands, eyes narrowed.
“Transpired? What are you talking about?” I ask, voice sharper than I intend. “Nothing transpired! He wanted me–for reasons I still don’t understand–and he needed me to reject you as my mate so he could bond with me. But I escaped before that could happen,” I explain, my voice growing firm.
He scoffs.
“Hmm, so he just let you be for over a month? Didn’t touch you? Didn’t force himself on you?” His voice drips with jealousy. “I know how powerful
he is…”
“Oh, yes he did…”
Before I can finish, his fist crashes through the wall. The sound of cracking wood echoes through the room.
“I knew it!” he snarls,
“Wait!” I scramble off the bed and wrap my arms around him from behind. I can still feel the fury radiating off his body, but I hold tighter.
“You didn’t hear the rest of it,” I say quickly, pressing my cheek against his back. “Darrh tried to claim me but it was impossible for him. My blood…. it burned him,”
“What?” he turns to me, his expression shifting–he looks more interested now, hanging on to my every word,
“He couldn’t claim me without me rejecting you first,” I explain softly, “at least that’s what his sorcerer said. That’s why I escaped from that place. Even though we all thought you were dead… there was no way I could reject you.”
He pauses, eyes locked on mine. His voice lowers, tender now.
“Hmm… tell me, how did my death make you feel?”
“Like a dead woman,” I whisper.
He takes my hands gently and kisses them, his lips warm against my skin.
“Sorry to let you down,” he murmurs, “but I’ll live a century more with you, my love.”
1 giggle and pull him in for a kiss.
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pter 174
The next day we leave Bernard’s mansion. He prepares a private chopper for us, ready to fly us straight to Pennywise.
I’ve never been on a private plane before. I can barely sit still from excitement. It’s an eighty–minute flight, and when we soar above a lush tropical island–the most beautiful one I’ve ever seen–I gasp. Right at the heart of it stands an exotic beach house, gleaming in the sun like something out of a dream.
To my surprise, the airplane lands directly on the beach. Deckard jumps out of the chopper first, then reaches for my hand, helping me down gently.
The wind is wild, thrashing my hair around, and the rotor noise is deafening. Deckard leads me away from the chaos, his hand firmly gripping mine as we walk toward the beach house. Leonard and Freya follow behind quietly. We turn for one last wave and bid farewell to Bernard.
“Welcome to Pennywise,” Bernard says with a small smile, his voice full of pride. “One of our many properties.”
“I can’t wait to show you around,” Deckard adds, watching my face light up.
I’m completely lost in the beauty of the place. The serenity swallows me whole, and all I can do is marvel.
It would have been so easy for Deckard and me to fall in love all over again in a place like this–just the two of us, no war, no witches, no threats.
Tall coconut trees sway in the breeze, heavy with ripe fruit. The ocean water glistens, as clear as truth. The sand beneath my feet is warm and bone- white, scattered with the most delicate seashells and smooth pebbles.
Deckard takes me by the hand again and begins showing me around the beach house–a stunning structure of glass, wood, and stone, blending perfectly into the landscape like it was born from the island itself.
And for the first time in a long while, I feel like maybe… just maybe, peace is possible.
The wind is wild, and the noise from the chopper is almost unbearable. Deckard leads me away from the chaos, his hand firmly around mine as we walk toward the beach house. Leonard and Freya follow behind us. We finally turn back to bid farewell to Bernard.
“Welcome to Pennywise–one of our many properties,” Bernard says with a slight smile on his face.
“I can’t wait to show you around,” Deckard adds, glancing at me with soft eyes.
I’m completely captivated by the beauty and serenity of this place. All I can do is stand there and marvel.
It would have been so easy for Deckard and me to fall in love if we were alone here–just the two of us, wrapped in this peaceful paradise.
Tall coconut trees sway above us, heavy with fruit. The ocean sparkles like polished glass, clear and endless. The sand is warm beneath my feet, bone–white and scattered with the most beautiful seashells and smooth, glistening pebbles.
-an elegant space with wide windows, open air, and the smell of salt and
Deckard takes my hand again and leads me through the beach house- sunlight everywhere.
“This,” he says, pausing in the middle of the hallway, “this is the moment I fell in love with you. This is where I imagined us together–just the two of us. Waking up next to each other, cooking breakfast and dinner together… forgetting the outside world for a while.”
My heart flutters. Here, surrounded by waves and wind, it finally feels possible.
“Well, it didn’t work out then, but it’s working out now. This is perfect, my Alpha…” I whisper, pressing a kiss to his chin. He giggles–a genuine, boyish sound–and his smile stretches from his eyes to his lips, soft and radiant.
Once we step into the beach house, Deckard gives me a quick tour, then leads me to our bedroom. The space is airy and elegant, sunlight spilling through open windows, the ocean breeze gently stirring the curtains.
“Relax here, or take a stroll around the island while I head into the city with Leonard,” he says. “There are only a few servants here, but they’ll attend to whatever you need.” He kisses me on the forehead and leaves,
I take a shower, letting the warm water wash over me, then change into one of the many beach outfits already prepared for me–light, flowing, perfect for the salty air.
As I step outside toward the beach, lost in the scent of the sea and the lull of the waves, I suddenly stumble–nearly bumping into someone.
“Oops, sorry!” I say, startled. I hadn’t even seen her there. It’s like she appeared out of nowhere.
Freya
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pter 174
She stands before me, eye ved like daggers, lips curled in a smirk.
use you didn’t see me,” she says coldly. “It’s the same way you won’t see it coming when I finally yank Deckard out of your hands.”
She doesn’t blink Doesn’t move. Just stands there, seething beneath the surface like a storm waiting to break.
“What? What the hell is wrong with you?” 1 demand, shock and anger mixing in my voice.
“You heard me right, Lama. Your title is temporary, I hope you know that,” she retorts coolly, a sly glimmer in her eyes.
I scoff. “Look, I’ve dealt with your kind before. Trust me, you’re nothing but an ordinary nuisance.”
Her hips curl into a creepy smile. “Trust me, you haven’t dealt with my kind before!”
She steps closer, her gaze locked onto mine. “You, Alpha, didn’t want to leave me alone with you just a few days ago. But now, here we are–just the two of us alone. I wonder, what changed now?”
I feel my pulse quicken and my jaw set tight. “The Alpha knows I’m more than capable of protecting myself against a witch like you. Listen–if anything happens to me, there will be grave consequences,” I growl, stepping even closer until I’m almost in her personal space. “But if I get my hands on you right now, nothing will be able to stop me. The maids and guards here will assist, and I’ll toss your body into the ocean. Nobody in these parts knows you, so no one will even look for you!”
Even as I threaten her, I know deep down that she’s no ordinary witch–a blood witch, dangerous and unpredictable.
“Hmm. quite brave of you,” she sneers. “You do know I’m a witch, right?”
“And you do know I’m the Luna of Lunas, right?” I shoot back, my anger spilling over like boiling water.
She tilts her head, watching me like a predator sizing up prey. “Alright then, Luna of Lunas,” she hisses.
The die is cast. We’ll see who has the last laugh between us. I’ve tried to deal with you in a civil manner, but you’ve refused. You really think everything is about to be rosy from here on out? If I were you, I’d leave this place while I still could. Forget all about Deckard, because the future is a lot bumpier than you can imagine.”
I smile sweetly, but every word I speak is laced with venom.
“Well, it’s a good thing I love bumpy rides. My alpha can testify. In fact, I’m sure you’ve heard how excited I get during such rides. If you listen well enough tonight, you might hear it too.”
I give her a final look, a smirk tugging at my lips, and walk away–leaving her standing there…
I hate her.
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