VALERIA"Valeria, what are we going to do? You can't give that psychopath what he wants, we...""Quinn, honestly, I can't promise that all of this will turn out fine, but I'll do everything in my power to save you," I murmured, keeping it vague due to the enemy's proximity.And because, quite frankly, I had no idea how to unlock the spell on those collars—I was going in blind, relying on the magic my mother left behind to protect me."Your Majesty, we're the only ones left," I looked back, shaking off my clothes, and was somewhat satisfied to see that only half of the vampires had survived.Some of them even had wounds—no one could leave this place alive."Good, I thought fewer would make it, so we're not doing too bad," he replied, as if talking about animals and not his own people.I don't even know why they keep following that bastard—probably out of fear, I suppose."It's time, princess. Let's go. You, keep a close eye on your little friends," he ordered, walking toward me. I clen

VALERIAThe Vampire King didn’t desire Umbros’s power.I had always wondered how he could be so foolish as to want to control such immense evil, but his eyes were set on this power—the combined magic of the Selenias that sealed this space.If I took it from here, Umbros would find a way to break free.I hesitated, my fingers just inches from the red light.“Take it! Take it, Valeria, or I’ll tear those werewolves' throats out with my bare hands! I SWEAR I’LL KILL THEM, TAKE IT NOW, TAKE IT!” he screamed like a madman, and I even heard the splashing of blood.He dared to step into the lagoon, his ambition for power was that overwhelming.“Touch it, Valeria, just touch it,” the voice of my old magic echoed in my mind, and finally, I stretched on my tiptoes to sink my fingers into the cold crimson stone.Memories flashed through my mind like lightning.A powerful woman sitting on her golden throne, blue eyes, long black hair. Her happiness made my heart swell as I watched her gently care

VALERIAMy heart was hanging by a thread, shocked, but I couldn’t just sit and watch Aldric fight to the death against the Vampire King. I had to act—I had my own power too.I pushed myself up from the ground; fainting was a luxury I couldn’t afford. I had to save my friends—we all had to get out of here."I am strong, I am strong, I am strong."I repeated it in my mind over and over as I stood and lunged at the vampires already battling Quinn and Celine.Their powers were restricted by those horrible collars, and fighting against so many elite vampires wasn’t easy.Gathering all the speed I could muster, I went straight for the first one's head, my nails sharpening into deadly claws, and a murderous hiss escaped my lips.“Aw, damn it! Watch out for the Selenia!” one of them shouted to the others, barely dodging my claws that tore through his chest, sending blood gushing out.The scent of slaughter ignited my violent instincts. I couldn’t take on the Vampire King—not in my current sta

VALERIAI started patting down my clothes—this couldn’t be happening. I couldn’t have lost it during the fight, or worse, when I recklessly chased after those vampires.I looked around the ground in desperation, and then I saw it, a few feet away from where I stood.The heart no longer had the shape of a ruby; it had melted into a dark pool, the same color as the lagoon—concentrated, powerful blood.I pushed myself up with trembling legs, battered and on the brink of collapse, holding on purely through adrenaline and the will to survive.I knelt before that blood and begged—something I had never done before—watching my mate fight like a beast against our enemy, trying to keep him from reaching us."Please, my ancestors, I beg you, Juno, mother, please. Gabrielle, I summon you, powerful Selenia, help me in this moment of need, help me!"The words poured from my heart as tears and drops of my blood fell onto the small pool forming before me.The calm surface began to bubble, as if simme

VAMPIRE KINGSo I got up, barely able to breathe, and screaming like a madman, I lunged at her with my claws and fangs bared.She lunged at me too. We fought like we did in the past, only this time it was to the death—no more games.My attacks aimed for her throat, her eyes, her chest, her weak spots. But she just dodged and dodged, toying with me like a pet, leading me exactly where she wanted me.Suddenly, her hand grabbed my head, her claws digging in so deep that I thought she’d crush my brain into pulp.Furious and desperate, I struck at her chest, trying to wound her—but it didn’t even faze her.Her beautiful, cruel face came closer, filled with hatred and resentment."Don’t think it’ll be that easy, Kael. As long as I live—and this time I plan to live for a very long time—you will always be by my side. Isn’t that what you wanted? Didn’t you crave my blood and power?"Her vicious words froze me. Her claws sank deeper and deeper into my skull, and the pain brought me to my knees.