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32. Strings of Control

Author: MissGreen
last update Last Updated: 2025-10-19 21:55:33

There was no way to hide it anymore. Trying to hide that paper from Alexei was pointless. He had a keen eye; lying to him would be useless.

I didn't answer right away. My brain scrambled for an excuse, anything to keep Alexei from getting suspicious.

A grade sheet? No, Bastorin didn't use such things. This wasn't the kind of academy that measured success through numbers.

"Anna? Why are you quiet?" Alexei stood at the edge of my bed.

His sharp, cold gaze sent chills racing down my spine. He looked like a predator, a vampire ready to devour me at any moment, and it felt like he could drain the very life out of me.

"I—I..." I swallowed hard.

Just then, there was a soft knock at the door. Alexei and I both turned toward the sound. Isolde stood in the doorway, holding a book to her chest. Her sudden appearance felt like divine intervention, and I could have shouted, "Thank God!"

When Isolde saw Alexei in our room, her face turned pale, and worry flickered in her eyes.

"Mr. Alexei," she mur
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  • Tied to the Ruthless Three   142. Polite Smiles, Hidden Blades

    I took a deep breath and stepped into the Nightshade meeting room—this time, as a recognized division leader. I, Anastasia Lancroft, am the youngest division head in Nightshade’s history. And a woman.That was what Katerina was most proud of: making me her protégé. I had met her expectations, not only with sweat, but with blood. And I would not let any of this go to waste.Once, I hadn’t wanted to be part of Nightshade. I hadn’t even felt worthy of it. But now, I was beginning to understand what Father had felt. When you sit in a position of power, it isn’t just the authority you hold. There’s something far more critical—protecting it, and carrying the responsibility properly.All eyes turned to me as I walked past the rows of chairs. Many nodded respectfully, but I kept my gaze forward, fixed on Katerina. Even she couldn’t hide the pride in her eyes.I took my seat beside her, and only then did I notice that Vlad was present as well. To my surprise, he gave me a polite nod, paired w

  • Tied to the Ruthless Three   141. When Justice Refuses to Die

    Bastorin looked like a vampire castle, shrouded in darkness when we arrived at the gates. A mix of bitterness and sadness churned in my chest. The gate itself hung half-open, loose on its hinges.I went straight inside, stripping away any sentimental thoughts. I wasn’t here to reminisce; I was here to look for evidence that Alexei might have hidden here. I, the twins, and Dimitri entered through the front door, which stood wide open. A soft gust of wind brushed past us, sending chills down my spine. We moved down the corridor toward the library.Once inside, I felt a flicker of relief. The books weren’t completely trashed. Everything looked… normal.“So why are we even here?” Nathaniel complained under his breath.“Be quiet.” I shot him an annoyed look. “Would you rather check the shooting range basement? Or maybe the chapel? Who knows, there could be a secret room there.”“Typical,” I muttered quietly.I jogged to the very last shelf, the one labeled with books starting with the let

  • Tied to the Ruthless Three   140. The Last Resting Place of Loyalty

    The headstone was nameless and neglected, pressed close to other graves that shared the same fate. I took a deep breath as I cleared away the tall grass, then placed a bouquet of flowers there. My God, I never imagined it would come to this.“I’m sorry I came so late, Yuri,” I whispered softly.I imagined Yuri standing there beside me, keeping me company with that faint smile of his. I always remembered Yuri’s smile—stiff, but sincere. He had remained loyal to Alexei until the very end.“I will avenge you and Alexei, too,” I said, my hand clenching into a fist. “Your sacrifices will not be in vain. I swear it. I won’t rest until Vlad ends up in my hands.”I still had not entirely accepted that Alexei and Yuri were gone. Mainly because Alexei’s body had never been found. That made it hurt even more.There was no grave, no marker to show where Alexei made his final rest. Alexei would be remembered by the vast ocean, the place where he had wandered endlessly.“Oh, God,” I sobbed quietly.

  • Tied to the Ruthless Three   139. The Day the Lie Ended

    “Gabriel! Dimitri!!” I screamed at the top of my lungs.I just—I never thought the two of them would—oh my God. This isn’t happening, right? This isn’t what I think it is… right?Gabriel slowly opened his eyes and blinked. “Anna?” he called hoarsely, still half-asleep.“Are you sleeping with Dimitri?” I asked flatly.Gabriel immediately turned his head and then jolted upright. He screamed, completely hysterical, and kicked Dimitri so hard he rolled off the bed and onto the floor.“Fuck, Dimitri! Why are you sleeping in my room?!” Gabriel yelled.Gabriel stood up on the mattress and jumped down toward Dimitri. They started fighting, cursing at each other, and I just stood there, frozen in confusion. I’d just come home, and this was my welcome?“Anna...”The voice came with arms wrapping around me from behind. Instinct took over. I bent forward and threw him to the floor.“Nate?” I gasped in shock.I hurried to help Nathaniel up as he groaned in pain. Guilt hit me instantly. I was alw

  • Tied to the Ruthless Three   138. Four Years Past

    I quickly pulled out my hair tie, and the tension on my scalp finally eased. My hair fell loose, as free as I was as I walked out of this building. The sound of my boots echoed like a heartbeat as I headed toward the door. On the way, I passed several Nightshade members rushing inside. They gave me quick nods before moving on with their orders.This was mission—honestly, I’d lost count—in the last four years. The final mission. I’d been in the field, and now it was time to take the throne as division leader. As that moment drew closer, something emotional churned inside my chest.I approached Tisha and Isolde, who were already waiting by the car. Tisha sat on the hood, smoking. Isolde lounged in the driver’s seat with a lollipop in her mouth. The contrast was ironic.“All clear?” Tisha asked. I nodded and slid into the car. I needed some sleep. This mission had left me exhausted; most of them did.But because this was emphasized as the last one, the adrenaline hit harder than usual.

  • Tied to the Ruthless Three   137. The Beginning of My Isolation

    Katerina’s residence came into view at the end of the road as the car turned in. This was the second time I had come to her estate, two visits under very different circumstances.I stepped out as soon as Katerina ordered me to, and we walked side by side inside. Once inside, Katerina moved ahead toward her study. However, she paused, then turned back to me.“Get some rest, Anna. A room has been prepared for you. After lunch, we’ll be leaving,” she said.I froze. Leaving? Where were we going?As if she knew exactly what I was thinking, Katerina cleared her throat softly. “You won’t be trained here. I have a special place prepared for you, somewhere you can focus better. With selected people.”Selected people. Okay… that sounded a little unsettling.I simply nodded and thanked her, then followed the maid who was ready to escort me to my room. As we walked through the corridor, countless thoughts swirled through my mind.Once inside the room, I immediately called Gabriel. He did not pick

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