Chapter 112
Chapter 112
PRIMUS ALEXANDER’S POV
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The cave walls pulsed with heat, the kind that rose from my own body. Every exhale hissed, steam clouding in the damp air.
I braced my palm against the rock, claws formed, scales shedding off my shoulders in strips and wings flapping wildly. They hit the ground with a metallic sound, sparking as if even my cast–offs held fire.
This place was mine—the only place I could breathe without feeling the weight of crowns, Elders, or her eyes on me.
But even here, even now, Aquamarine lingered like a thorn in my blood.
The way she sat yesterday, stiff, silent, letting us cut her down without saying a single word. The way she looked at Fiona when I announced at the meeting that she would serve as an Elder–in–waiting. The way she cowered when they started questioning her abilities to lead anything pack.
I should’ve defended her. I should’ve stopped them.
But the truth?
I didn’t. I couldn’t.
Instead, I did worse. I joined them. Because I need to break her. To break her to the point that she would hate me enough- enough for everything to reset.
And it was already working. I could feel it, her wolf drifting away from me faster. The feeling is terrible, painful, but it must be done.
At least, I did well by stopping myself from going to our room to wash her for three days. She didn’t show any sign of fear after she saw the wound either.
That much gave me some peace, though fleeting.
The Elders were right in one thing–she had not given me a child yet. Why is that? We’ve had more than enough sex in the past for it to happen. So what’s the delay now?
Why isn’t she pregnant yet? Not even a freaking sign of pregnancy. Is she really barren like Fiona claimed?
Eating her children in-?
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Chapter 112
“No,” I rumbled.
That’s just stupid.
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And it’s even more stupid I even let that thought slip into my mind when I took her first.
I slammed my tail into the wall. The stone cracked, dust raining from above. My dragon snarled inside me, pacing, restless.
The heat broke.
My breathing steadied. Slowly, painfully, I pulled myself back until the scales retracted into skin, leaving me bare, drenched, my chest heaving like a beast just chained. The smell of smoke clung to my hair, my skin burned from the effort of holding myself together.
I definitely need another cave. A bigger one.
And I need a stronger portal with a different location for my release.
When I stepped out into the air, Levi was already outside, waiting. Bags under his eyes, hair wild and of course still had that cold look in his eyes.
Has he found out about what I did to Fiona? A stupid move but it was needed.
“Alexander.” His voice carried urgency, his posture too rigid.
“What is it?” My tone came out low, dangerous.
Levi hesitated–something he rarely did. Then: “It’s Esmeralda’s chambers.”
I froze. “What about them?”
“I went in,” he said quickly, “Aside from the dark magic issues, there is another problem.”
A growl tore out of me before I could stop it. “What’s the problem?” The words spat like fire from my tongue.
But Levi wasn’t finished. His expression darkened. “It’s about the Book of Ashes.”
My blood turned to stone.
“Read to confirm,” His hand slipped into his cloak and he pulled out a folded note.
I took it. The handwriting was jagged, old, almost clawed into the page.
I read it once. Then again. The words felt like fire licking up my veins.
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Chapter 112
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Whoever dares to read from the Book of Ashes shall exchange a soul for its knowledge.
The letters feed on breath, the pages feed on blood. The one who touches, dies.
A curse?
I knew what it meant. I knew where Levi was heading.
I folded it tight and let the paper crumple in my fist. My claws itched to tear it apart. “She hasn’t touched it for a while. She can’t read anyway.”
Levi didn’t look convinced. His jaw ticked. “Are you sure about that?”
My head snapped to him. “What do you mean?”
“You’ve been keeping her close,” Levi said slowly. “She may not read, but she can trace. You said she has written things before. If she’s been near that book… if you’ve let her trace anything-”
“She’s scared of it, Levi. Since the day she dreamt it burned in her hands, she hasn’t touched it since.”
Levi’s eyes narrowed. His gaze was steady, too steady, digging into me as if trying to peel back layers I didn’t want touched. “Alexander… are you certain? You said she’s always curious and since she’s closer to Clifford now she might have used it to get her mind off you.”
My jaw clenched so tight I thought my teeth might crack.
Clifford.
He’s been too close to her lately, but it’s for the best. That’s what I keep telling myself.
“No, I trust her. She wouldn’t drag someone else into it and I made sure she dropped it.” I replied, my voice harsher than I intended.
“You said she dreamed it burned her hands… What if that wasn’t a dream? What if it were the Book reaching for her? For revenge on you.”
My chest went still.
Because I hadn’t told him everything.
I hadn’t told anyone.
The way she woke screaming, skin too hot, palms blistered as though she’d held fire. The way it healed by morning, as if the Book had marked her and then spared her.
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Chapter 112
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No ordinary curse left scars only to crase them.
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“Alex!” Levi’s voice snapped me back. His eyes locked on mine, sharp, unflinching. “What if it’s like the Core Fang. And if she’s bound… then Gwen’s curse-”
My face twisted in disgust and my blood boiled as that name echoed in my mind.
Gwen.
The freaking unforgiving witch who cursed me. Under no circumstances must she get her filthy hands on my mate.
I bit on my tongue and gritted my teeth as everything was starting to click.
Could she be the shapeshifter?
Was that why she wanted Aquamarine dead so that she wouldn’t break the curse?
Maybe, just maybe, she’s the one who has been trying to kill her since the first day, aside from Gaia.
But somehow, the Goddess wasn’t fair enough to Aquamarine or me.
Why would she make her able to touch that book? I thought I would be relieved when I found
my mate.
But no, because of my past and my foolish mistakes, I might be the one who kills her.
“What if you get it and consume the book before she touches it again?” Levi broke the silence. “You’re the only one immune to curses and spells. Except one.”
That would make sense.
But Gwen wouldn’t stop there.
Fuck!
How would I stay close to Aquamarine to protect her from Gwen and still stay away from her to prevent her from transforming into a dragon?
The thought sliced through me like a knife. I could already picture her skin tearing, scales forcing themselves out, her screams echoing into the walls of the castle.
Her body breaking because of me.
I want her safe. I want her untouched. I want her mine.
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Chapter 112
But every path I take leads to the same damn end–her suffering.
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And if Levi is right… If the Book of Ashes has already touched her… then she’s already walking on the edge of death.
And I might be the one who pushes her over.
AD
