Lahat ng Kabanata ng Charlotte: Fated to the White Dragon: Kabanata 51 - Kabanata 60

(Evelyn’s POV) I stand rooted to the spot, my eyes widening as the scene before me sinks in. For a split second, I think perhaps I’ve misread the situation. Maybe it's a trick of the light, or a fleeting hallucination. But no. There she is. Lottie, my best friend. Arms wrapped shamelessly around Ruiz, as though she owns him, as though she’s entitled to drape herself over him like that. And after swearing on the heavens, with all that wide-eyed innocence, that nothing was going on between them. Now here she is, clinging to him like nothing else matters. My heart shatters in a million pieces. Lottie’s never been a whore, which makes this far worse. Is all this just a performance to infuriate me? A calculated plan designed purely to rip me open, to strip away whatever dignity I’ve got left? A mix of emotions surge within me. Rage, shock, and above all, that suffocating blow of betrayal. I bite down hard on my lower lip, the bitter taste of hurt mixed with blood stings my tongue.

(Charlotte’s POV) I'm sitting stiff in the passenger seat, with my arms folded, as I stare at the blur of buildings and traffic sliding past the window. Damon’s got both hands on the wheel, his jaw is locked, and his eyes are fixed dead ahead on the road, like I’m not even here. We’ve not said a single word to each other since Evelyn clocked us in the hospital, arm in arm and lost in our breaths. I tried to explain to her that it was Damon who came at me. I also tried to apologise even if she didn't believe me. But I'll be honest, there's no one in her shoes who wouldn't be fuming at the sight of their best friend and their crush making out. I sigh deeply, burying my face in my hands as I realize I might be losing my best friend again. Worse off, Damon doesn't even care. He just never does. Still… it’s not just Evelyn's look that’s haunting me, but it’s the way it felt as her blue eyes tore through mine with that hurt expression on her face. Like she saw straight through me. Like

"Shhh, it’s dangerous here, Druiss," Alan whispers, his voice is ragged, like he's been screaming nonstop. For a moment, I see him as he was when we first met: his nonchalant and dull self. But now, he’s frail, fading, as if the darkness itself is leeching the life out of him.Then the black all around us begins to thin slowly, pulling back like smoke blown off by a gentle breeze. New sounds creep into my ears. I hear low whimperings, muffled cries and I catch choked breaths, coughs so dry they scrape my insides. And this intense heat prickles against my skin, crawling up my arms and neck until I can barely breathe. I curl into myself.The space shapes itself before me as I glance around to get the view. It's an enormous metal cage, stretching higher than I thought a ceiling could go in all my twenty-six years. The roof’s a jungle of rusted bars and chains and some weird objects hanging above, thick as tree trunks, all locked down tight. And there’s more, something invisible, like

(Cameron’s POV) Christ, my head’s a bloody mess. I can’t believe I shagged Evelyn while picturing Charlotte beneath me. What the fuck was that? Was I that pent up, that desperate for her? The guilt's killing me, but underneath it all I still feel the raw burn of lust for Charlotte. Her scent’s lodged at the back of my throat, and clawing at it. I stand there with my fingers clenched round a can of juice, as I stare blankly at the vending machine. My mind’s a whirlpool of thoughts, dragging me through every disaster of the last few days. First, it was Jupiter, then Carlstone. And now Ogothr’s vanished. They were responsible for the serial murders everywhere, which was according to plan. And someone's out there neutralising them, undoing every move we've made. But who on earth could it be? Who's even strong enough to oppose us, when we've got a number of powerful Dragons at our side? Fuck, they just had to make work harder for me, since I was supposed to be in charge of el

(Orlstyne’s POV) Hmm… seems Father’s hunch was right after all — Paesnia’s crawling with all kinds of scum these days. Little rats poking their heads out where they shouldn’t. “Falkon, I’m sorry about that…” Evelyn mumbles, her voice barely audible. I lift my eyes to her, more out of politeness than curiosity. “Cam’s not usually like that. He must be stressed about the cases.” “Cases?” I ask, arching a brow, as I keep my tone casual and unbothered. She’s fidgeting with her fingers again, twisting them over and over like she’s tryna wring the nerves out of her hands. “He’s a… y’know, a cop.” I lean back in my chair with my arms folded loosely. A Variant playing at being a copper, now that’s rich. I let out a short breath filled with half amusement and half boredom. There are bigger things on my mind than her little pet officer. “He’s like a brother to me,” she adds quickly, as if that means something. I give her a faint shrug. Didn’t ask. Don’t care, but... “A brother, eh?