---- "T'm not going to lock you away anymore, not as long as you obey me and understand that Zarek is mine.
I decide if I want to share him with you or not, and that goes for both of you," I warned.
I don't know why, but somehow I feel jealous of my other selves.
Mia growled at her, she hissed dangerously, and I could sense that this union wasn't going welltwo dominant beings, two powerful forces inside me.
Thope my mate can help me with this.
Iplaced a hand on my head; it ached slightly.
"As long as you don't lock me away again, I won't make it difficult for you.
I just want to be with our mate, I only want to help you, Celine...
thats all I've ever wanted." Theard her voice and remained silent, accepting that it was the pure truth.
My Alpha wolf side had always dominated, while Camilla was always hidden.
But my vampire powers had saved my ass more than once.
"Mfa, calm down already." "T don't like it." "She helped us, whatever the reason.
You couldnt handle the spell, so shut up and deal with it!" I roared at her in frustration.
She growled softly but then calmed down.
Iwas tired of fighting against myself.
Just then, there was a knock on the door, and I tensed.
I inhaled the air and relaxed at that comforting scent.
I walked quickly and turned the handle.
---- CELINE Iscanned the warm and elegant room with my eyes.
Heavy burgundy curtains covered the large windows, and only the crackling fire from a beautiful golden fireplace beside the bed cast light into the chamber.
Ilooked up at the ceiling, decorated with paintings of men and women in the forest, with two massive golden chandeliers adorned with crystal embellishments and unlit candles.
Everything here was so exotic and beautifully ancient, just like its owner.
Isat up and observed the soft white robe draped over my body.
Someone had changed me, and I knew very well it was himhe wouldn't have let anyone else do it.
I bit my lower lip, countless thoughts running through my mind as I placed my bare feet on the plush dark carpet.
My steps led me straight to a large standing mirror in front of the massive bed with white sheets.
Ilooked at my reflection and remembered everything that had happened, all my actions, and how I had even tried to kill my mate with that dagger.
"Come out already, don't act shy now," I felt her lingering in a corner of my mind, while Mia, already standing, growled at her threateningly.
Her bloody aura immediately invaded my senses, the irises of my eyes shifted to crimson, but I was the one in control of my own body, and this time, my vampiric transformation didnt fully take over.
---- "Your mate asked for your hand.
He asked me for permission to claim you as his mate," I was shocked to hear what Zarek had done.
It was an ancient tradition when male mates sought permission from the father to claim their mate.
"Now I know exactly what answer to give him." I bit my trembling lower lip, overwhelmed with emotions swirling in my chest.
"Come here, my crybaby, let me hold you one last time before youre covered in warning marks and your dark prince wants to rip my throat out for touching you." "Tf he dares threaten you, I'll cut off his bits," I joked, throwing myself into his embrace, feeling nostalgia and all the love I had for him that would never change.
In my stormy world, Quinn was always the reliable lifeline that kept me afloat.
sek That night, we were invited to dinner in the castle's grand dining hall under candlelight.
When I stepped out of the bathroom, I was surprised to see a beautiful turquoise dress laid on the bed, along with high leather boots and even accessories.
---- "Celine!" "Brother," I let him embrace me tightly, almost suffocating me.
I hugged him back as if I hadn't seen him in ages.
After a few seconds, he let me go and began examining me from head to toe while scolding me.
"Tleave you alone for a few days, and look how you end up.
Are you okay? Did that arrogant vampire hurt you? Don't be afraid just because he's powerfulif he forced you into anything..." "Shhh," I covered his mouth and pulled him inside.
I could feel itZarek was listening to every single insult.
Nothing escaped him in this palace.
"He didn't do anything to me.
I'm fine, Quinn," I assured him, even turning around so he could check, trying to smile a little.
"If anything, your sister almost took him down," I said, running a finger across my neck in a death gesture.
"And thats a joke now?" He raised an eyebrow, always the grumpy one.
Your mind..." "Well, pfft, you see, I'm fine," I rolled my eyes, pretending, but my chest warmed at his concern.
Where's Gabrielle? What happened with the rebellion? What has been going on? Everything was chaos." Then we sat down on the comfortable sofas in front of the fire.
Quinn told me how our people had defeated the rogue vampires and warlocks, and then those terrifying undead rose to hunt down the ---- survivors and secure the territory.
"Aldric left right after the battle to return to the camp because he was worried about Valeria.
He'll bring her tomorrow; we all need to sit down and talk," he looked at me with complicated eyes.
"Celine, you know your mate is practically the ruler of the entire realm now, right? That makes you..." We'll talk about it later, okay? I don't even want to think about what they'll propose to me...
we ll figure it out later," I interrupted, not wanting to complicate my life any further right now.
"Do you like him? He's a vampire.
Do you feel comfortable with him?" "Yes," I answered, lowering my head and looking at my knees, feeling my ears burn.
"I never thought I could accept a vampire as my mate, but he...
he makes me feel different.
He...
makes me not feel so...
strange." Icouldnt bring myself to look into my brother's eyes, feeling like an ungrateful traitor.
He always protected me, sacrificed everything for me, and now here I was, confessing that I always felt out of place in his world.
Suddenly, a gentle touch fell on my hair, smoothing it softly.
I swallowed the lump in my throatthose were the hands that always healed my wounds, that fed me, the hands that protected me with claws and blood.
"Then I'm happy, my little Celine.
Your brother can finally be at peace and tell Mom that he entrusted you to a strong man who respects and loves you, who can make you happy as you deserve." "Brother..." I lifted my head, unable to control the tears spilling from my eyes.
He just smiled at me with that warm expression he always had.