Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 21 - Chapitre 30

“You could kill them,” he said.“I could,” I agreed. “But I won’t.”That scared him more than rage ever could.We reached the holding wing. The place smelled wrong. Cold metal. Old blood. Chemicals meant to erase instincts.I stopped walking.Lucian followed my gaze. “You feel her.”“Yes.”“She was here.”“She’s alive.”That word hit my chest hard. Alive.Lucian swallowed. “How do you know?”“Because I would know if she wasn’t.”We moved faster. Cells lined the walls. Some are empty. Some broken from the inside. Some with scratches that told stories no one wanted to hear.I touched one door.My voice broke. “She fought.”Lucian’s jaw tightened. “She always does.”I heard it then. Footsteps running away. Not guards.I chased the sound. Lucian didn’t argue. He never tried to lead when I was like this. He followed.The exit burst open ahead.We didn’t slow down.We didn’t stop until the night swallowed the compound behind us.Then I froze.A car waited near the edge of the road. Engine r

My heart pounded. Sera had protected Damon even while bleeding. Even while trapped.“She loves him,” I whispered.Lucian said quietly, “Love makes people brave.”“And stupid,” I added.Lucian didn’t argue.I folded the note carefully and slipped it away.Lucian asked, “What else aren’t you telling me?”I hesitated.Then I told him the truth. “If Damon finds out, he’ll hunt Adrian without thinking.”“And if he doesn’t?”“He’ll still hunt him,” I said. “But blind.”Lucian nodded slowly. “So we carry this alone.”“For now.”A sound echoed.Footsteps.Slow. Deliberate.Lucian moved slightly in front of me. “He knows we’re here.”“I know.”A voice followed. Smooth. Familiar. Cruel.“You always did move like prey pretending to be a hunter.”My spine went rigid.Adrian stepped into view.He smiled like we were old friends meeting by chance.“Aria,” he said warmly. “You look… stronger.”Lucian’s voice was cold. “Step away.”Adrian laughed. “Still loyal. I admire that.”Then he shifted.And my

My heart pounded. “That isn’t fair.”“I know.”“You can’t put that on me.”“I’m not,” he said. “I’m warning myself.”“From what?”“From wanting.”Silence stretched.“Do you want me?” I asked quietly.His eyes locked onto mine. “Yes.”The honesty stunned me.“And you?” he asked.I hesitated.He saw it. “You don’t have to”“I do,” I said. “I want you too.”His breath caught.“But,” I added, “that doesn’t mean I’m yours.”“I wouldn’t ask you to be.”“I don’t belong to anyone.”He smiled softly. “That’s why I admire you.”I brushed my thumb over his hand. “You scare me.”“Good.”“You could break my heart.”“So could you,” he said.I swallowed. “I already have one torn in two.”“Damon,” he said.“Yes.”Lucian’s jaw tightened. “Does he know you’re here?”“No.”“He’ll come.”“I know.”“And when he does?”I didn’t answer.Lucian leaned closer. His voice dropped. “He doesn’t deserve you.”“That’s not your call.”“No,” he agreed. “It’s yours.”The door slammed open.The sound cracked the moment

The message came in silence. No warning, just the words that burned through my chest.I read the council’s demand three times before I let it sink in. Hand over Aria, or Sera will die.I threw the device across the room. It clattered against the wall, but the words stayed with me, sharp and heavy. My fingers trembled. Rage. Fear. All tangled together.Lucian stepped closer, his jaw tight. “They know.”I glared at him. “Of course they know. Everyone knows everything about me now.”“They know about the baby,” he said quietly. “The council has been watching, waiting.”I froze. The thought made my stomach twist. Not a soul could know. Not Damon, not Lucian, not even Sera. And now, the council did.“How could they?” I began, but Lucian cut me off.“They have spies everywhere,” he said. “Your father’s enemies. Damon’s enemies. My enemies. They’ve been tracking the bloodlines. Your bloodline. The child.”I clutched my stomach. Protecting it became urgent, instinctual. “They can’t get to him.

The healer’s hands trembled as she held the vial of my blood. I already knew what she would say, but I was still unprepared for the weight of it.“I need you to be completely honest with me,” the healer whispered, her voice tight, almost afraid of the answer. “Nothing can be hidden here.”I nodded, swallowing hard. “I’m ready,” I said, though my hands shook. My stomach twisted, and I placed a hand protectively over it. “Tell me.”She dipped a small, silver needle into my vein, drawing blood. Lucian stood behind me, tense. His eyes never left mine, fierce, silent. Damon paced a few steps away, his jaw tight, as though the simple act of watching me bleed was unbearable.“You’re carrying…” The healer hesitated, swallowing. “An Alpha heir.”The words hit me like a hammer. My eyes widened, pulse racing. “An Alpha… heir?” My voice shook. “You mean… my child?”“Yes,” the healer said, her eyes grave. “Not just any child. This one carries… immense power. I’ve never seen blood like this. It res