Masuk~CASSIANMy old scars… my old sin—everything crashed into me like heavy rain.I became cold, listening to Nyra’s words replay in reverse as my mind weighed them with the memories I hoped to forget.No.“I can't do it, Nyra,” I blurted, unable to imagine it. “There has to be—”“Cassian, you don't understand. We don't have a choice!” Nyra yelled and moved away from me.She moved to her drawer and pulled out something before returning to me.“Cassian,” she said, holding a small silver knife. “You need to end it now.”Every nerve within me flared. The scene in the deepest pit of my mind flashed and my bones shattered.My heart was racing so fast, yet I refused to panic. I gently took the knife from her hand and dropped it.“What are you doing?” she shrieked, moving to grab it again.But before she could, I grabbed her in place, my mind burning like it had undergone an explosion.“Cassian—” Not letting her say more, I kissed her.I didn't know what to say to her… or to myself. All I knew w
~CASSIANAs I stood there wondering about how I could trap Dylan, my emotions suddenly changed from systematic planning to… worry.I tried to think it through, wondering where it came from. But the more I thought, the more it changed.Suddenly it wasn't just worry, but anxiety.It started subtly at first, and I couldn't even deny that the distraction helped to keep my mind away from the worry I had from Dylan.I became drawn to this new emotion and within seconds, I had redirected my steps back to the hallway that led to our rooms.But just as I reached my door, I felt the shift again.This time it was clear and intense. My heart started hammering hard and my hands shook.It wasn’t just anxiety and some type of panic. It was also fear.An immense fear that shook my bones along with every organ I possessed.But what unsettled me more was the fact that I could somehow tell that the emotions I felt weren't mine.It was like a double-edged sword that sliced through my heart, yet never tru
~NYRABy the time Rylan was done cleaning me up, he carried me once again to the bedroom where he dressed me.“Nyra, the breakfast bell will be rung any second now,” he said as he moved around the room returning my things back in place.His own clothes were clinging to his skin from the wetness, but he didn't mind. He was more focused on putting my space in order.When he finished, he stopped in front of me and took my hand with a small smile carved on his handsome face.“Nyra, you’ll have to join everyone at the breakfast table as usual or Father might— he might suspect something is up.”I knew this was the tradition. But I was barely even worried about that. My mind was still stuck in my own dilemma because if I didn't do something about that, being late for breakfast would be the least of our problems.But I nodded in agreement anyway.“Good,” Rylan beamed. “I’ll go change too and come get you, okay?”Again, his sweetness cut a portion of my black confused heart, but I nodded.“Oka
~NYRALyon— “I went to him too!” I gasped, unable to believe the memory that glued itself to my head. It was one thing to go crazy and hurt all those people. But Lyon…“It could have been anyone… any one else…” I whimpered, turning to face Rylan who still held me close.“You don't have to think about anything, Nyra… please, it's over now. Let it go, please,” he said, but I shook my head.“You don't understand…” I breathed. “Rylan… of all the people in the realm, why did it have to be him? I almost killed him.”The confusion on his face morphed into something dark. “Nyra…” he flinched and I heard the fear in his voice.He was scared of me… He couldn't—“Oh gods…” I cried, my tears falling in buckets at the realization.If Rylan could be this scared, then what about Lyon? How would he handle what I did to him?And Sylver… Cassian…Their names kept replaying in my mind alongside the gruesome things I did. The blood, the screams… everything blended into a constant vision I could no longe
~CASSIANThat smile on Nyra— or what became of Nyra that night couldn't leave my head.It kept replaying over and over like a cursed drama. And each time, my heart leapt with fear.I couldn't put a finger on it. But I knew it meant something. Her vampire side wasn't just some mindless bloodsucker. It was deeper.And I couldn't help but feel some sort of connection between that side of her and Dylan's presence in our house.Those threats he spat out… they couldn't have been a coincidence.I just couldn't figure out how it would all work out in the end. But I couldn't give up. My entire family and Nyra's sanity probably depended on that.I kept thinking through the whole situation the whole night. Even after putting Nyra to sleep and leaving her in Rylan’s care, I just couldn't sleep myself.I stayed awake all night trying to come up with the answer to that connection. But every direction I processed brought me back to one loose end…Danielle.She was definitely a link that joined the m
~NYRAHis lips crashed over ours, sucking and licking away like I was his desert.I wanted to scream, to push him away… but my knees weakened and my wrists felt powerless.The man moved the kisses to my neck, leaving a wet path of sweet nothings until he found my pulse point.“Hmm… you still smell so good…” he let out, his voice hoarse with lust.My mind blinked in confusion but I barely had time to think as sharp pain instantly shot through my neck!“Ahhh!” I cried out as his fangs sank deeper into my neck.But once again, the outer me welcomed the pain. And soon, rather than scream for help… she moaned.“Ohhh… yes…” she pushed our body further into him, melting deeper into his dangerous warmth as the man kept drinking.“Hmmm… your blood-orange scent grows stronger every time… it gets sweeter and more intoxicating…” he growled, licking around the opening he made with his fangs.The movements of his tongue sent sweet electric waves through my body and even the inner me could not resi







