Shannon’s POVThe tension in the castle was palpable as news of Debbie’s escape spread like wildfire. Robin wasted no time in taking action, assigning guards to stay with me and Michael round the clock.I appreciated the extra protection, but it also served as a constant reminder of the danger that lurked just beyond walls of the castle.As I watched the guards take up their posts outside our door, I couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that settled over me like a heavy blanket.Debbie was a cunning enemy, capable of unimaginable cruelty, and I knew that she wouldn’t hesitate to come for me or my son given the chance.Ricky, ever the militarily active brother, took charge of forming an elite squad to comb the city in search of Debbie. His determination was evident in every move he made, and I couldn't help but feel a surge of pride in his unwavering commitment to keeping us safe.“We’ll find her, Shannon,” Ricky assured me, his voice brimming with confidence. “And when we do, we’ll ma

Shannon’s POVIn the quietness of my peaceful dreams, Debbie suddenly appeared before me once again, her presence disrupting the peace in my subconscious mind.My heart raced as I braced myself for what she might say, but to my surprise, her voice held a note of sincerity as she spoke.“Shannon, listen to me,” Debbie began, her tone soft yet urgent. “I had nothing to do with the attempt on your son’s life. Someone else is trying to hurt you, and you need to be careful.”I felt a surge of confusion coursing through me as I struggled to understand her words. Could it be true? Was there really someone else out there, lurking in the shadows, waiting to strike at my family?The next morning, I found myself recounting the events of my dream to Ricky, hoping that he would listen to reason and consider the possibility that Debbie might be innocent. But he brushed off my concerns with a dismissive wave of his hand, his mind already made up.“Shannon, we’ve been over this,” Ricky said, his voic

Jules’ POVSitting alone at the bar in the castle living room, I poured myself a drink and gulped it down in seconds. I then grabbed the bottle and poured another one and just stared at it.I had woken up that morning thinking about Shannon, and even though Dora laid by my side, she did nothing to distract me from my thoughts. That wasn’t any surprising, I didn’t love her, I didn’t even find her attractive, but somehow she had found a way to trap me.Deciding I couldn’t take the pain anymore, I quickly drained the half full glass and dropped it on the counter with a tap, then stood up and headed upstairs, straight towards Shannon’s quarters.As I stood outside Shannon’s door, my heart pounded in my chest with anticipation and guilt. I knew I shouldn’t be here, knew I was only making things harder for both of us. But the ache in my chest, the longing for her touch, was too strong to ignore.Taking a deep breath, I knocked softly on the door, my hand trembling slightly. Moments later, S

Jules’ POVThe next morning, as Ricky and I prepared to leave the castle to continue our investigation, chaos erupted in the courtyard. My heart skipped a beat as I caught sight of billowing clouds of smoke rising from the left wing of the castle.“Ricky, look!” I exclaimed, my voice filled with an urgency as I pointed towards the smoke. “We need to do something!”Panic spread through the crowd as people scrambled to escape the blaze, and I felt a dread knotting in the pit of my stomach. Ricky’s expression mirrored my own alarm as we rushed towards the source of the fire.As we drew closer, smoke filled our nostrils, choking us with intensity. Panic surged through my veins as I realized that the fire was fast consuming everything in its path, on the left wing of the mansion.“We have to get everyone out!” Ricky shouted, his voice barely audible over the crackling flames. Without hesitation, we sprang into action, alerting the guards and rallying the residents of the castle to safety.

Jules’ POVAfter hearing everything about what Dora had done, with Ricky and Cole convinced that Shannon was telling the truth, I stood there frozen. I knew quite well that Dora had blackmailed me into leaving Shannon and being with her, and I didn’t have a choice so I had folded.But now with this, everything made much sense now. I couldn’t remember how I ended up in Dora’s bed that night, but with Shannon’s story, I remembered the party, but after that, everything went dark. It was true what Dora had done to me, I admitted to myself, and now that everyone was aware, I need to get to the bottom of this.As Shannon prepared to cast the spell on Ellie, her determination palpable, I couldn’t shake the feeling of unease in my insides. I knew that using the spell again would only weaken her further, leaving her vulnerable to whatever dangers lay ahead.“Shannon, wait,” I interjected, stepping forward to place a hand on her arm, my voice urgent. “You can’t do this. Using the spell again wi