Chapter 114
Chapter 114
LUNA AQUAMARINE’S POV
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Alexander slammed the chamber door shut with his shoulder, still dragging me by the wrist. My skin burned under his grip, his claws just short of breaking the skin. He threw me forward, and I stumbled against the bed.
His eyes locked on it.
“What did I tell you about that book?” he growled.
“I remember but I,” I tried again, shame and panic tangling my words. “I wasn’t-”
“You weren’t what? Hiding it? Sneaking it? Waiting until I leave to feed yourself more of its filth?” He finally snapped.
My lips quivered. “What’s that supposed to mean? Are you calling me a thief all over again? When did I ever steal from you?”
“If you keep touching what doesn’t belong to you, Aqua, you won’t survive the consequences,” he warned.
My heart pounded so hard it hurt. “So what? You’ll kill me the way you killed those maids!? Or hit me the way you did to Elder Lorenzo?”
“I’ll do far worse,” his voice was cold, a deadly promise that made my stomach twist.
My heart skipped a beat and a cold pit formed in my stomach.
He was serious.
He has never threatened to kill me before. But now, all because of a book, he wants to.
His gaze flicked to me, sharp as knives. “And Clifford.”
I blinked, my brows creasing. “W–what about him?” I asked, my voice thin and unsteady.
“You went outside the walls with him without my permission.” His jaw flexed, the cords in his neck straining with every word.
Anger bubbled in my chest, breaking through the fear. “Why do you care? I don’t ask you who you meet when you go out, so just leave me alone! Unlike you, he’s concerned about my injury and got herbs-”
“Herbs,” he spat, like the word itself was filth. “What stupid excuse is that? Herbs, my foot!”
Anger flashed hot through my fear, sharp enough to make my voice rise. “You’re the one who is stupid!” I shouted, my hands trembling around the book.
I had no idea why I said that but I couldn’t take it back.
“Put it down,” he snarled, his fangs flashing. “I can’t believe how foolish you are to even take it out after I
8:26 Fri, Sep 12
Chapter 114
warned you severally,”
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I couldn’t move. My fingers refused to obey, frozen between fear of him and fear of the truth the Book carried.
The silence stretched too long, and I saw it happen–something ugly shifting in his expression, as if by holding onto the Book, I had chosen it over him.
He stepped closer, the metallic tang of blood heavy in the air. His voice dropped, calm but laced with venom. “You’d rather hold on to that thing rather than me?”
My chest heaved, words scraping out in a whisper. “Yes,” I breathed, my voice breaking. “The same way you chose someone else. But I don’t care anymore–I don’t care if it burns me in my sleep anymore. I’d rather let it burn me to death than let you take it away from me.”
That was a lie and a truth.
I needed it, especially now that Clifford read about my birthmark. I need to know my true identity. I need to know my truth.
Why I look the way I look. Why I change the way I change. Why I can touch the book, dream of weird things and even attract walking disasters.
But Alexander would never understand. Not like the way Clifford does.
Why? Because I’ve never heard him talk about his past, his kind or himself.
His eyes widened, fury flashing through them, but before he could take a step forward, a sharp knock rattled the door.
I didn’t need to see. I could smell his scent before he even knocked.
Clifford.
Alexander’s head turned slowly, nostrils flaring, the shift rippling beneath his skin. He didn’t need to ask already knew.
–
he
“Clifford.” The way he called his name sent shivers down my spine.
Before I could think, my body moved on its own. I rushed to the door and backed it. Trying to shield the man behind it.
“No!” My voice cracked. “Leave him out of this, Alexander. This is between you and me.”
His eyes burned into mine. “You defend him again? In my chambers? With that book still in your hand?”
I couldn’t answer. My throat locked.
“You’re risking lives for it,” he pressed, each word like a blade. “Yours. Clifford’s. And anyone else foolish enough to touch that book. Don’t think I didn’t notice the way you leapt to shield him earlier. Or how drained he looked.”
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Chapter 114
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“Don’t act like you care,” I shot back, my voice raw. “Besides, anyone would do the same after seeing what Lorenzo and you did.”
“I didn’t expect less from you,” he muttered, eyes narrowing. “You still think Clifford is normal, don’t you?”
“He’s more normal than you,” I snapped, my gaze hard. “More normal than anyone in this cursed pack.”
Alexander’s lips twitched – a cruel, humourless almost–smile.
“From the moment I stepped into the gate, people have been giving me strange looks,” I hissed, words tumbling before I could stop them. “Almost as if they want to kill-”
“That’s because you stink,” he cut in, his voice sharp as a whip.
The words slammed into me. For a second I couldn’t breathe. My mouth fell open but nothing came out.
I stink?
Shame washed over me in a sick wave.
I wanted to scream that it wasn’t true, that he was lying just to crush me, but the doubt had already sunk its
claws in.
Did I? Did they all notice it?
Was it because of the wound that was already drying up?
Was that why the stares followed me everywhere, why I felt like an intruder in every hall of this castle?
I hated him.
Everything about him. How could he keep breaking me with few words and still stand there looking untouchable.
How long has he thought I stunk? What other…. disgusting things has he thought about me?
“Tell me this,” His words brought me out of my thoughts. “How long?”
I tried to blink away tears, “How long… what?”
“The bleeding. Your period.” His face twisted in disgust. “How long does it last?”
My voice came out small. “Three days.”
“Three days,” he said slowly, dangerously soft, “three days wasted. That’s five days wasted–yet no news.”
The words struck like claws. I couldn’t breathe.
“Do you even know what the Elders say?” His voice dropped. “They wonder if you can give me one at all. They wonder if I’ve bound myself to a pretty little leech who takes but gives nothing in return.”
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Chapter 114
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My chest ached, fury bubbling through the cracks of my shame. “You think I don’t want a child?” I shot back, tears burning my eyes. “You think I haven’t prayed for it?”
He sneered. “Prayers won’t give me an heir. The Goddess won’t give you one.”
I choked. Because part of me was terrified he might be right. It was as though the Goddess had forsaken me entirely.
He leaned closer one last time, “Time is ticking, Aquamarine. Don’t make me coronate another mate, because trust me, I’m just a snap away from doing it. And officially tag you as a barren woman.”
“Or man, as rumours say.”
With that, he grabbed the bag and left the room.
