Mag-log in*Demarion's point of view*"My mother... what was she like?" Demarion asked quietly.His fingers moved slowly through my hair, brushing the strands back as if he could lose himself in the softness of them. Every gentle touch sent a warm shiver across my skin."She was sweet," I answered honestly. "Kind too. And really beautiful."A faint smile touched his lips, though it did not quite reach his eyes. "And I already know what kind of man my father was," he muttered, his voice turning colder.I let out a soft breath. "Yeah... he definitely could've been a better person. Better manners too."That earned a quiet laugh from both of us. The sound faded into the room, leaving behind a peaceful silence that wrapped around us for a few seconds.Then Demarion spoke again. "Babe, this whole game is getting dangerous." His hand slowed in my hair. "There are traitors inside our walls, and Patricia still refuses to tell us who the others are. I don't like this. Feels like we're standing in the dark
*Adele's point of view*"I would retort, but it is honestly beneath me to drop down to your level," I said, my voice calm despite the storm brewing in my chest. I stared at the man before me, refusing to show even a flicker of fear. "I do not care why you are here. I am telling you to leave my space right now and go in peace, or else.""Or else what?" he asked. A mocking smile tugged at his lips. The man mocking me was, twistedly enough, my own father-in-law."Or die," I said. I kept my tone flat, leaving no room for negotiation."Die?" He let out a dry, hollow laugh and shrugged his shoulders. "But darling, I am already dead. You cannot kill me a second time.""That is true," I countered, leaning forward so he could see the cold certainty in my eyes. "But I can hurt you badly enough to make your very spirit fade away into nothing, just like you did to my brother."His smile vanished, replaced by a dark, dangerous look. "Well, in that case, what are you waiting for?"The moment the wo
*Adele's point of view*I stayed curled over Elias’s body for what felt like forever with my forehead pressed against his cold chest while quiet sobs continued shaking through me. My throat burned from crying so much, and every breath dragged painfully through my clogged nose.Then I felt a soft tap against my shoulder. My body stiffened instantly. I slowly lifted my head, wiping weakly at my wet cheeks before looking up. Then my breath caught in my throat the second I saw her.A tall woman stood beside me, so beautiful it almost did not seem real. Her long raven-black hair flowed around her like dark silk, moving gently in the cold wind. Her face looked so much like Serenity’s that my chest tightened painfully at the sight of her. But she looked younger and softer. Forcing myself to my feet, I quickly stepped away from her, putting distance between us. My heart pounded wildly against my ribs as I stared at her with caution.“Don’t be afraid, dear,” she said gently. “I’m not here to h
*Adele's point of view *Cold. Hollow. Empty. Weightless. Numb. Weak. Every one of those words described exactly how I felt. My eyes refused to open no matter how hard I tried. My lungs barely worked, dragging in weak little breaths my body desperately needed. My throat burned with dryness, rough like sandpaper, and when I tried to speak, nothing came out. I wasn't alive. I knew I wasn't. Yet deep down, something told me there was no way I could have died that easily.So what was this?"Adele..."The whisper brushed against my cheek like cold wind. It was soft, gentle and motherly. The tone wrapped around my name in the same comforting way Serenity used to speak to me. But this was not Serenity. I knew it wasn't.My heart suddenly jerked hard inside my chest. "Wh... who's there?"My voice came out weak and shaky, echoing into endless silence. The sound of my own voice made panic rise inside me, but the fast pounding of my heart gave me a tiny bit of hope. Maybe I wasn't dead after all
*Demarion's point of view*Time seemed to stop.Adele gasped sharply against the floor. Her body stiffened violently before her heartbeat slowed so loudly I could almost hear it myself. Blood trickled from the tiny puncture wound. Dark veins spread beneath her skin like poison racing through her body.Her face twisted in pain, her jaw locked tight, and her breathing turned rough and broken. Then her body suddenly went limp. Fear slammed into me so hard I could barely think. I dropped to my knees and pulled Adele into my arms immediately.“Adele!” I shouted desperately. “Baby, look at me!”Her skin was already burning hot. Sweat covered her forehead as her breathing became weaker by the second. Across the room, Patricia smiled. Yeah, she actually smiled and the sight filled me with pure rage.Kade and James grabbed her violently and dragged her away while she struggled and laughed like a mad woman.My hands shook as I brushed Adele’s damp hair away from her face. “Cindy!” I roared, pan
*Demarion's point of view*The second the door closed behind them, I turned Adele to face me. Her eyes were still clouded with guilt.I pressed a kiss against her forehead.She sighed shakily. “I honestly don’t know what happened,” she admitted softly. “I would never normally attack her like that.”“It doesn’t matter,” I murmured. “You’re a mother terrified for her child. I can’t completely blame you for that.”I tilted my head slightly, smirking despite the tension.“And honestly? That was sexy as hell.”Adele immediately laughed in disbelief. “Oh no,” she said while pushing lightly against my chest. “I know that look. Get your mind out of the gutter.”She slapped my arm lightly.I grinned and pulled her back against me anyway.“Come on,” I whispered near her ear. “We’re alone. It won’t take long.”I kissed the side of her neck slowly, enjoying the shiver that ran through her body.“I am literally going to fight you,” she warned, though I could feel her struggling not to smile.The s
*Adele's point of view* We stayed like that for several long seconds. Neither of us saying anything. Just making eye contact and breathing unevenly.The silence stretched, thick and heavy. It felt like the air itself was watching us. I did not know what was running through his mind, but I forced m
*Demarion's point of view* Adele stood frozen in front of me.She did not move. She barely breathed. Her eyes stayed locked on mine, wide and unsure, like a cornered deer that did not know which way to run.The sight of her made my chest tighten.I hated it.I looked down at her and felt it again,
*Demarion's point of view* Adele came down the stairs, and the sound of her heels tapping against the steps reached my ears before I even saw her.I pulled back from Serena the moment I heard it.My eyes lifted.And there she was.Adele.For one second, the world slowed. Her body went rigid on the
*Adele's point of view* "How long do we have to wait for this signal?" I muttered impatiently."Just a few more seconds," James whispered, his eyes scanning the clearing ahead.And just as he said that, a figure walked toward the forest.He stopped only a few yards from where we were hidden. His b







