All Chapters of THE POSSESSIVE BLOODLINE : Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

Chapter 71The drive up was nothing but the hum of the tires and the occasional cough from the engine whenever Dominic pressed the gas too hard. The city grew smaller in the rearview mirror, its lights blurring into the kind of glow you only appreciate when you’re far enough to forget its noise.When they finally reached the top, the rest house waited — small, wooden, the kind that smelled faintly of pine and rain-soaked beams. It sat on the edge of the mountain, the city sprawled beneath them like a glittering map.Dominic cut the engine, glanced at them once, then stepped out.“I’ll give you two… space,” he said, the pause deliberate. Then he shut the door and disappeared down the aisle, his heavy boots crunching against the gravel until the sound was gone.Inside, the air was still. The kind of still that made you hyper-aware of your own breathing.Jewel stood near the window, her arms crossed loosely, eyes tracing the constellations of city lights below. Jace lingered by the door,

Chapter 73JaxonThe night had settled heavy over the mountain, the city lights sprawled far below like someone had spilled a bag of diamonds.Rick was already half-gone, slouched in the deck chair with a bottle dangling from his hand. He’d been talking for the last twenty minutes, though “talking” might be generous — it was more like spilling his thoughts out in broken lines, jumping from one story to another.“…and then, man, I swear—she had this look—” He laughed at his own words, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “Like… like she wanted me to…” He trailed off, squinting at the bottle before taking another gulp.I just leaned against the railing, letting him run out of steam. Rick drunk wasn’t new — Rick drunk and talking nonsense that could get him killed? That was the part I was watching for.The door creaked open behind us. I didn’t have to look to know who it was — Jewel’s footsteps had this sharp, steady rhythm, like she was trying to walk off the weight of something.

Chapter 75JaxonThe trail narrowed after the overlook, the trees closing in again, their branches knitting together overhead. The sunlight thinned to patches, shifting across the dirt path as the wind stirred.Jace stayed in front, his hands brushing against the tall grass at the edges. Rick trailed somewhere in the middle, humming to himself like he was just trying to distract from how out of breath he was.I let my pace slow, and so did Jewel. Before long, there was just enough space between us and the others that their voices blurred into the wind.“You like it up here?” I asked quietly.She glanced at me, her expression unreadable at first. “It’s… different. Feels like the noise can’t reach you here.”“That’s the point,” I said.For a moment, we just listened to the wind threading through the branches. The air smelled cleaner here, sharper.“You seemed quiet this morning,” I added.Her gaze flicked back to where Jace was walking ahead, then returned to me. “I’m thinking.”“Danger

Chapter 77JewelIt started as a faint tightness in my chest. I thought it was just from sitting too long, my ankle throbbing with each beat of my heart. But then the air seemed to get heavier. Thicker.I shifted upright, trying to shake it off.No. Not now.My breaths turned shallow, faster. A familiar panic crawled up my spine. I knew the feeling too well — the dry rasp, the way my ribs felt like they were shrinking inward.“Jace…” My voice barely made it past my lips. “I—”He was across the room in two steps, crouching in front of me. “What is it?”I clutched at my chest. “Asthma… no inhaler…”Something flickered in his eyes — fear, but hard-pressed under control. “Rick!” he barked, and the sound rattled through the wooden walls.Footsteps thudded. Rick appeared, Jaxon right behind him, both of them instantly alert.“Where is it?” Rick demanded.“I don’t—” I wheezed, shaking my head. “I didn’t bring—”“Damn it,” Jaxon muttered, already sprinting out the door.Jace’s hand was at the

Chapter 79Jewel The water went down wrong.One second, I was just sipping because Rick insisted, the next it was burning up my throat and forcing me into a coughing fit that made my chest ache all over again.“Shit—” I managed between coughs, doubling forward.“Hey, easy.”Jace’s hand was suddenly there, firm and warm on my back, patting in slow, steady rhythm. He stayed close, close enough that I could feel the heat from his body even through my shirt.Rick hovered in front of me, looking like he couldn’t decide whether to take the glass or panic, but Jace’s voice cut through.“She’s fine. ”The low calm in his tone was ridiculous—like he had the right to sound that sure of me.I tried to glare up at him but my eyes were watering too much to manage it. He was watching me like he was tracking every breath, every twitch of my hand.The coughing finally eased, but the weight of his palm didn’t move. It stayed, heavy and grounding, like he wasn’t ready to let go yet.New feeling. It w