All Chapters of Tainted Desires; Demons. Darkness. Damnation : Chapter 151 - Chapter 160

The sun was barely awake when the knock came.Three sharp raps — controlled, deliberate. The kind that meant Kane Salvatore himself was on the other side.Leo stirred, blinking against the soft light filtering through the curtains. Rem was already half up, sliding from the bed, the scars across his back catching the light. His movements were fluid but tense — he knew that kind of knock.When the door opened, Kane didn’t step in immediately. He stood there a moment, eyes sweeping over them both, expression carved from stone.“Get dressed,” he said. “Now.”Rem and Leo exchanged a quick look — not fear, exactly, but understanding. When Kane summoned, you came ready. Within minutes they were downstairs in Kane’s private study, where the air carried the smell of old leather, ink, and control.Kane was seated behind his desk, elbows resting on the dark mahogany surface, tattoos hidden beneath a pressed black shirt. He didn’t look up as they entered — just motioned with a single finger for t

The witch doctor returned three nights later, unannounced — as always. The guards had tried to stop her at the gates, but her reputation alone sent shivers down their spines. No one wanted to be responsible for denying her entry.She walked through the mansion like she owned it, the beads around her wrist clinking softly, her gaze sharp and knowing. The staff avoided her eyes; even the chandeliers seemed to flicker as she passed.Kane sat in his office, poring over ledgers that he hadn’t really been reading. The vines beneath his skin were restless again, a slow pulse crawling up his arm, faintly visible through his shirt. When the witch doctor entered, she didn’t knock.“Still fighting your shadows, boy?” she said, closing the door behind her.Kane didn’t look up. “You’re late.”“I come when the curse calls,” she replied, her voice low. “And tonight, it screams.”Her eyes dropped to his arm, where the vines twisted like living things under his skin. “You’ve been resisting it. Good. B

The room was thick with silence. The machines beside Kane beeped softly, a fragile rhythm against the tension that strangled the air.Kareen sat by his bedside, her eyes swollen, her fingers trembling as she held his hand.The blood transfusion had stabilized him, but no one dared to move or speak. Even the witch doctor stood still in the corner, murmuring quiet blessings under her breath.Vincent paced at the far end of the room, guilt and confusion twisting his face. Matteo and Lucien stood near the door, watchful, like sentinels waiting for a verdict that might never come.Kane’s eyelids fluttered open. His breathing steadied, and for a long time, he said nothing. His gaze drifted slowly across the room until it found Kareen.Her eyes softened. “My son…”He stared at her. Not with anger, but disbelief. His voice was hoarse when it came.“You gave me blood.”Kareen nodded, tears spilling freely. “It was already yours to begin with.”The room went still again.Kane turned his head

The days bled into weeks.The mansion’s training grounds became Lyra’s second skin — sweat, grit, and bruises etched into her like devotion marks. Zarah, her instructor, was relentless but not cruel. She watched Lyra closely, always saying little, always noticing more than she admitted.Every morning started with combat drills, target practice, and endurance runs that left Lyra’s lungs screaming. At first, she hid her fatigue well. But now, even Zarah could see the cracks forming.One afternoon, the sky threatened rain. The air was heavy with the smell of iron and damp earth. Lyra was sparring with another trainee, faster and stronger, her body sluggish from the weight she carried, not just in her belly, but in her soul.A blow landed hard to her ribs. She stumbled, gasping, pain flaring white behind her eyes.“Focus!” Zarah barked.Lyra straightened, spat blood to the ground, and nodded. Again.She swung — blocked — ducked — struck — until her knuckles tore open against her opponent’

Kane was standing silent, hands behind his back, his expression carved from stone, the quiet before a storm. Matteo rubbed his forehead, tense, while Kareen tried to steady Mason, whose breathing had become erratic.Suddenly, the doors burst open.Everyone turned.Zahra, Lyra’s martial arts instructor, stood at the entrance, still in her training uniform, breathing heavily. Her dark eyes darted around the room before fixing on Kane.“Please,” she began softly, her tone urgent yet measured. “You need to find her, quickly. She’s not in the condition to be outside fending for herself.”Lucien’s head snapped toward her. “What the hell are you saying?”Zahra hesitated. “I… can’t say more, Don Kane, but—”Lucien slammed his hands on the table. “Enough with riddles! We don’t have time for your cryptic nonsense, speak!”The room went dead silent.Zahra swallowed hard, then looked around before meeting Kane’s eyes. “Lyra is pregnant.”Every breath in the room seemed to stop.Kareen covered