Chapter88
‘This is supposed to be the vampire king? Yiselda. I’m not handing Nina over to that monster,’,
Alec pauses, stares at Magnus, and snarls his fangs. Magnus’ wolf teeth expand, and he growls in response.
‘Now is not the time for a snarl off,’ Yişelda says to Aléc and Magnus. Alec drops his eyes to Nina lying weak in the arms of Magnus. His expression softens, and he reaches out to touch Nina, but Magnus steps aside and pulls me closer to his chest. ‘It burns, I gasp, biting my lip and forcing it to bleed. My skin feels as though it is on fire. I open my eyes and tilt my head to see Alec looking at me longingly. His skin is red and covered with blisters, and I can see blisters forming on my arms. As I weep, the pain becomes unbearable.
‘It’s okay, my darling, Magnus replies as he prepares to remove the blanket he’s using to hold me.
Alec, you must stand aside so we can place her in the cell with you, Yiselda commands. Alec moves to the cell’s rear, where he can’t be seen. ‘There is a spell in place at the entrance of his cell. Do you see the line of salt here?” she asks Magnus.
Magnus nods.
‘Do not break the line. Place Nina over it and then step back immediately. Yiselda unlocks the door, and it creaks as she pulls it open. Magnus hesitantly stands at the entrance, his hands tremble as he is about to give me to the person he loathes, the very one he doesn’t want me near, my second mate. Removing the blanket, he ignores the burn that heats his flesh and gently lays me on the other side of the line. A tear falls from his eye and lands on my cheek. My hand touches his cheek. ‘I love you, Magnus,’ I say. ‘I love you too, Nina,’ he says and steps back. Yiselda closes the cell door and locks it just as Alec swoops in like a flash of light and snatches Nina up, returning to the shadows of his cell swiftly. The moment Alec swooped me up, the burning pain immediately subsided and was replaced with sweet, warm tingles. Alec cradles me in the corner. His back turned to the cell bars. As he caresses my face, I can see his skin is healing. I cup my hand over Alec’s, and he pulls me closer to him. We gaze into each other’s eyes. His aren’t his usual light brown but primarily black. I can see he is straining himself from doing something, but I’m not sure of what. Our lips draw closer to one another, the blood from my lip drips down my chin, and his eyes momentarily light up. And I realise he wants blood, my blood, and is fighting himself from taking it. I smash my lips onto his and kiss him fiercely as he savours every drop of blood from my lips. He tenderly grips and sucks onto my bottom, bleeding lip with his as we eventually separate, not wanting it to finish.
As I instinctively submit to Alec, my head tilts up. On my unmarked side, his teeth skim across my nape. The tingling sensation that floods through my body cause me to gasp. His teeth suddenly sink in, and he moans from the sensation of drinking my blood. He withdraws his teeth and looks endearingly into my eyes. Raising my hand to his face, I gently wipe the blood drips from Alec’s lips.
‘My, Luna, my darling, my Queen, he says.
Reaper caws and looks pleased that Alec has become my second mate.
‘Alec,’ I say and wrap my arms around him. We spend some time in a loving embrace before Alec licks the puncture marks he made on my neck. My body arches, and I gasp at the thrilling feeling that soars through my body.
Magnus had walked over to the Shadow Reapers before we had kissed as he couldn’t bear to watch us. Usually, a mate would feel horrendous pain when the other mate became intimate with another person. He thought it was odd he felt no physical pain, just jealousy.
We kiss passionately again, and when we part, I notice my skin has completely healed along with Alec’s. Magnus storms over to the bars.
That’s enough, now give me back, my mate,’ he scowls.
Magnus,’ I say, standing up. Alec grabs me and holds me to his chest.
“She is my blood same,’ Alec says firmly.
They glare at one another. ‘Alec, it’s okay Magnus is my mate, and I need to go back to him,’
Alec cups my face with both of his hands ‘When will you be back’ he asks.
Tomontow,’ I say Alec looks at Magnus for confirmation. He squeezes the bars. ‘Nina is my soul mate. She is my whole world in Bringing her back here each day keeps her allve, then so be it,’ he growls, clearly not pleased with the concept but also knowing he
has no other choice for the time being
Asl approach the cell door, Alec immediately spins me around and kisses me gently one final time before I see him again Magnus is emitting a deep growi. Yiselda unlocks the door, and I gently walk over the line to leave the cell. Magnus quickly throws his arms around me and kisses my temple and the opposite side of my neck, nuzzling into my nape. Alec is the one who lets out a deep grow this time
Im sorry, I say to Magnus as I look at him.
Is not your fault. It had to be done, Magnus replies softly, attempting to mask his pain
“Let’s go home and spend some time together. Just you and me,’ I say
He nods and grabs my hand in his as he leads me out of the dungeon. We enter the portal and spend the afternoon swimming at Shadow Crest Lake and climbing the most prominent trees we can locate, just as we did as kids
We dont spend a single moment apart till we return to Pandora’s Box the next day
Knowing how to access the dungeon, I don’t wait for Yiselda
T’ll wait here at the entrance,’ Magnus frowns, not wanting to see me near Alec,
1 cup his face and kiss his lips. ‘I’ll be back soon,’ I say.
I take the key hanging on the far wall, unlock the cell, and step over the salt line. Before I see Alec, he has already swept me off my fect and smothering my face in kisses.
‘Alec,’ I giggle
T’ve missed you,’ he says.
missed you too,’ I say
We kiss, and he strokes my face with his thumb. I wish I could take you somewhere wonderful, like for a picnic on a mountain top or a dance beneath the stars, he says thoughtfully.
1 wish I could just get you out of this dungeon, I sigh. “Did you really set those creatures onto the humans all those years ago? | ask.
Alec looks away for a moment, then nods his head with regret.
Can you tell me what happened? Can you tell me about Juniper?’ I ask.
It might be easier if I show you instead,” he says.
im confused until he shuts his eyes and hovers his hands slightly over each side of my head. Then, a ball of light appears and blinds me When I open my eyes, I’m no longer in the dungeon but travelling along a cobblestone path in a village. There are individuals on horses everywhere and ladies on foot holding shoals over their heads and baskets packed with bread and fruit
A beautiful young woman runs into me shouts, Sorry, and keeps running. I chase after her as she rushes up the road and into a little cottage dwelling Sorry, Im late grandma she apologises,
Juniper will you ever be on time says her grandmother
Juniper laughs. Probably never Grandina, she says I raise my head over the window sill to peer through it
un per stuffs a loof of tread and a couple or small bottles into the basket. They look just like pollons
You need to buy along, juniper and get these healing potions to the Hillsbury home if you go now, you will be home before dark ! dom na more creatures of the night capturing you
Dreatus eft r
eally ca
n
you’ve had too much run.’ Junaper smiles
Peps, une tout le
more people were found dead thus morning with those markings on their neck. You can never be too
, diniere
mediately to be homme before nightfall Juniper repbes, kissing her grandmother on the
11 becaus, gran temple
even
con bun us at the state Sa who knows what these creatures of the might
per remember we may be weitches, y ore capable of doing to us, she worties
I feel the same trepidation as Juniper does at her grandmother’s words.
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