26. Chapter 26

Chapter 26

Samara

" H ere goes nothing," I murmured as I looked around the thick forest surrounding me. The place was quiet and dark, making the whirlpool of thoughts and questions in my head seem even louder. The pounding had returned, if only a little more bearable now, but I was sure it was just a matter of time before I needed something extra to stay focused. I only hoped that ‘extra' thing was in the form of a spell that the oldest, most powerful witch in the world could conjure.

A sound on my left made me freeze. I sent a sliver of magic out to find what was stalking me. According to Paula's surveillance, a large portion of the shifters that had been expelled from the city had settled in these parts. I knew from Regina that this was Roman's territory, even if technically, everything was under his butler's name. I had to admit it was a smart move since now, aside from the magical wards around the place, he had another layer of protection. Magic couldn't stop a vampire, but they needed to be invited into a house by its owner, so this way, his lair was protected from all manners of supernatural creatures.

My eyes landed on the fox that peeked from behind one of the trees, studying me with dark, curious eyes. For a moment, I thought it was Regina's familiar, but then I remembered how she screamed when the creature died. I had never felt such anguish and pain in her voice before .

I shook my head to get rid of any thoughts of her and resumed my walk.

I had expected there to be more people around, considering the large number of shifters that lived in the city, but I had only sensed a few, as I evaded them from afar.

A soft orange glow emanated from the ward surrounding the heart of Roman's property when my magic brushed over it, but there was no further reaction. Nothing was going to happen when I crossed it either, as long as I held no ill intent, except that Roman would know exactly where and who was entering his lands.

I could only hope he wouldn't kill me on sight because, short of dying, setting Mathias loose on the world was the worst thing that could happen today.

Rolling my shoulders back, I tried to disperse any hesitation from my mind. This was my only option and as much as it pained me, I had to admit that my hatred for the Ancient one might have been… a little misplaced.

Considering everything I had witnessed Regina do while playing the role of the benevolent Head Witch that only thought about the good of her Coven… I was starting to question what I was told about Celeste. But most importantly, I trusted my family, my real family.

I might not have seen them for over ten years, but I refused to believe they had changed that much. The family I knew was warm, good, and fair. If they were willing to tie themselves to her, to wear her mark for everyone to see, and put their lives in danger for her… then she couldn't be the irredeemable monster everyone painted her to be.

An icy chill crawled down my spine when I passed through the ward.

‘There is no going back now,' I told myself as I continued to walk toward the mansion that I could faintly feel with the help of my magic. The moment I was close enough to see patches of the giant black building through the trees, I let go of my powers. I didn't want to appear threatening, and they wouldn't work on a vampire, anyway.

The house had an old-fashioned feel to it, and all those dark stones and panels, large windows, and intricate decorations made it look oddly elegant in its somber beauty. The spacious yard with gravel and a giant fountain in the middle left no space for hiding, especially with all the light spilling from the windows and the garden lamps set up meticulously around the path.

The second I stepped away from the treeline, I raised my hands in surrender .

I barely had time to blink between the opening of the front door and the moment a set of icy-cold fingers wrapped around my throat. I had purposely chosen to come here during the night so he would feel in control, but I was starting to regret that.

Pain exploded at the back of my head when he slammed me against one of the trees, squeezing my windpipe until I was sure it was going to snap. I kicked with my feet in search of the ground, but he was holding me too high to reach it.

"Give me one reason why I shouldn't kill you right now." Roman bared his fangs at me, his eyes flashing bright red. Fear coiled in my gut as I watched the monster emerge, evoking memories of Regina's warnings about the undead.

I distantly realized I was trembling, but I fought to find my voice.

"I…" I started, but I didn't have enough air to speak. Even as his hold loosened a fraction, my head continued to spin, the words coming jumbled and barely articulate. "If I die… a male witch… set free… the world..."

Roman blinked several times like he couldn't understand what I was saying, then suddenly, his eyes narrowed. He slammed me against the tree again, his fingers digging into my throat until the skin broke under his nails. Panic filled my chest, fear like I had never felt before squeezing my heart. I hit his hand in desperation, trying to get him to release me. I couldn't die here, not yet, not before doing something.

Roman didn't budge.

"I'm not… lying!" I rasped, tears stinging my eyes. "Please… help… me!"

His face was so close, all I could see was red. I closed my eyes, letting out a desperate whimper as I whispered a prayer to the Hallowed Goddess to protect my family from what was to come. Time seemed to slow while I waited for the blow when suddenly, Roman snarled and dropped me.

My feet buckled and I crashed to the ground, gasping for air.

"If you're lying to me, death would be a mercy you will not be granted," he said, and despite the even tone of his voice, I knew he meant it. His eyes were calm, if guarded, but what surprised me the most was that he didn't look shocked at all.

Every supernatural creature in the world knew the danger a male witch posed. Even vampires were not immune to their power. So why wasn't he more bothered?

"I'm not… lying," I whispered hoarsely. Roman just cocked his head to the side.

The cobblestones dug into my knees, but I ignored the pain as I pushed myself up.

"Chester," Roman said without tearing his gaze away from me, and it was then that I realized we were no longer alone. An elderly man in an impeccable suit was standing by the stairs of the mansion, watching us with his brows creased. "Restraints, please." When the human didn't move right away, the vampire added sharply, "Now."

The man muttered a quick ‘Yes, Master!' and rushed back into the house, leaving us alone again. I didn't like the sound of that, especially because we both knew regular iron couldn't hold a witch, but I didn't object. Roman studied me from head to toe before casually straightening his suit and dusting his shoulder.

"You have until he gets back to tell me why you're really here."

I licked my lips. It was a big mansion, and he was old, so he couldn't be very fast. Still…

Roman cleared his throat.

"I… I need the Ancient One's help," I said, forcing the words out with effort. "The bond is too draining, and he's too strong. I-I-I don't know what to do."

Roman's eyes narrowed, but he didn't ask about the bond like I expected him to. Instead, a sour smile appeared on his mouth, making one of his fangs protrude over his pale lips.

"Let me guess. Your precious Coven doesn't know about him?" He crossed his arms, shifting his weight to one of his long legs. "Or they do and they are after you, so you have nowhere else to go?" When I didn't reply, he huffed a breath. "Funny how your friends turn on you when you become inconvenient, isn't it?"

"I'd be dead if they knew," I muttered.

‘Or maybe Mathias would kill them all,' I thought to myself.

"Where is he?" Roman asked, eyes darting to the trees around us.

"Not here, don't worry. I have him… confined. For now," I said in a pathetically small voice. Roman scoffed, but returned his attention to me. "We have this bond that allows me to control him somewhat, but it's draining. I'll…" I licked my lips again, glancing hopefully toward the house. "I'll explain everything if you take me to her."

Roman remained unmoved, waiting. I gritted my teeth before I snapped at him that I didn't need him, only her, but I held back. If I had observed one thing properly, it was that the vampire was very protective of Celeste, so until he deemed me safe, he wasn't going to let me anywhere near her. I doubted he even told her I was here .

I swallowed the bitter lump in my throat. "Mathias, that's his name, was previously tied by a bond of sorts to Regina." I studied his face, not even blinking to make sure I didn't miss his reaction, but he was as still as a statue. "When she died, the bond transferred to me—her successor. So now I can order him to do, or not to do, things…" Mathias' face flashed before my eyes, the pain and struggle as he tried to resist my commands. "...and he must obey or… suffer. The problem is," I paused again, biting on the inside of my cheek as I fought to get the words out. "I'm not strong enough to handle the consequences of those orders. Just being tied to him is draining me mentally and physically. So I…" My voice broke, and I took a deep breath, blinking away the last of my tears before I continued. "I need help. Her help. She has lived longer than anyone and knows things, even the Coven of Sacred Knowledge doesn't. If anyone can help me, it's her."

He continued to stare, his face so perfectly blank that I wanted to scream in frustration.

"I…" I took another deep breath. "I'm begging you. Let me speak to her. I'd do anything she asks. I just want to…"

The sound of hurried steps came from the house and I looked over his shoulder, expecting to see the old man coming back. What I didn't expect was to find Lily… running down the stairs with a blanket wrapped around her shoulders. Her eyes were full of awe and her mouth hung wide open as she took a few hesitant steps toward me. A dark-skinned woman with long brown hair appeared just behind her, rushing after my sister just as she swayed unsteadily.

"Lily, stay back. She is dangerous," Roman warned. She barely looked at him as she tried to get closer to me, but he barred her way with his arm. "Go back to your room. Now." When she didn't obey, he turned to the other woman, snarling in frustration. "I thought you said she shouldn't move. Why didn't you stop her?"

The dark-skinned woman, a shifter if my senses were correct, threw her hands in the air.

"She saw you two from the window and fled. What do you expect me to do, tie her up?"

Roman opened his mouth, and I was sure he was going to say yes when Lily put a hand on his arm. She looked so pale, so fragile, and yet she didn't even flinch when he turned his cold eyes to her. Instead, it was he who closed his mouth, a feeling akin to worry warming up his gaze. I was so stunned by it, I almost didn't catch Lily's soft words.

"My sister won't hurt me."

The vampire's head snapped toward me so abruptly, I gulped at the shock on his face. Lily used her chance to duck under his arm and hug me, almost dragging me to the ground when her knees buckled. I caught her just in time, keeping her up while I pulled back to look at her smiling face. There were dark circles under her eyes, with dots of pale green marring her skin. I wanted to ask what happened to her, but the tears that started streaming down her cheeks made all of my questions disappear.

"You really are alive," she hiccuped, hugging me again. "I thought… back then… I was imagining… but it's you… Violet…"

Something in my chest shattered, pushing through the wall of pain and filling the hollowness that had been there for years. My eyes started to burn so I squeezed them shut, hugging her tighter.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, digging my fingers into her back. I wanted to tell her so many things, I wanted to make her understand that I never wanted to leave and become… this. Yet all I could say was, "I'm so sorry!"

More voices echoed through the yard, so I peeked over Lily's shoulder. My eyes landed on a blonde woman and a man that stood on the top of the stairs, their faces twisted with concern and fear, and I sucked in a sharp breath. Neither of them moved closer until a small boy rushed past, a large dog barking on his heels.

My vision blurred, and it wasn't from tears this time. I found myself standing in a small, brightly lit corridor, looking left and right as if I didn't know where to go. After another moment of hesitation, I headed to the living room, opening my mouth to ask if anyone was there when something exploded in my face. It took me a second to realize it was a rain of confetti, most of which stuck to my hair, but then all my attention fell on the three people standing in front of me with the brightest of smiles.

"Happy birthday, dear!" the woman chirped, holding a huge violet cake in one hand while rubbing the edge of her eye with the other. "Gosh, time flies so fast! I can't believe you're already fourteen!"

"Happy birthday, Violet!" the younger girl screamed, throwing her arms around me and squeezing me tightly. We both laughed, staring at each other for a second, before she caught my hand and pulled me toward the others. The man leaned down to kiss my forehead and nudged me to the cake .

"Go on, make a wish," Lily urged while he lit the candles on the top.

It was so clear , their faces, their features, even their touch. It was all so real.

Turning to the cake. I stared at the flickering flame, finally making my wish.

My feet buckled, and I fell to my ass, with Lily crashing on top of me. Before I could even groan, someone lifted her off. The sound of shouting and running footsteps disoriented me for a moment, so when I looked up, I was surprised to find my parents standing at my feet and gawking. My mother had one hand over her mouth, the other resting over her heart. My father had completely frozen, like he always did when he was shocked.

Something blossomed in my chest... relief... No, not relief, but something stronger, something I hadn't felt in years.

Joy.

The emotion knocked the air out of me, making my tears fall no matter how hard I tried to stop them. I could barely hear Lily speak through the ringing in my ears.

"She's real," Lily said from where she was kneeling beside me, the dark-skinned woman holding her shoulders to keep her from falling again. "I wanted to tell you, but I had no proof…"

"Violet?" my mother sobbed from behind her hand. "How can this be? We saw—"

She let out another heart-wrenching sob before falling to her knees and hesitantly reaching toward me. I caught her trembling fingers, and she sobbed again, yanking me into her embrace so hard, I almost toppled her down. A pair of big, strong arms caught us both, hugging us even tighter.

The lump disappeared, and I sniveled, their voices silencing the pounding in my head.

"My little girl. My lovely little girl," my mother kept whispering between sobs. I could feel my father's arms and Lily's on me, caressing me, patting me, stroking my hair. I leaned into them, soaking the warmth and the love I had been craving even before realizing what was missing from me.

My family. My home.

After what felt like just a second, they released me. Each of them was still touching me—holding my hand, my cheek, my shoulder—like they wanted to make sure I wouldn't disappear.

"Who is that and why are you all crying?" a small voice asked and we turned to look at the little boy standing beside Roman and watching us curiously. His giant dog rubbed against his feet, breathing heavily with his tongue out, and when it peered up at Roman, it inched closer to the child.

"Come here, sweetie." My mother wiped her eyes, motioning for the boy. When he allowed her to drag him to our side, he studied me with narrowed eyes. "This is Violet. She is your older sister. Say hi."

The boy looked me over from head to toe and I held my breath as I awaited his response.

"Didn't you say that she died and went to Heaven?" he asked, glancing at each of our parents. "Is she an angel? Do angels exist?" He turned to Roman, but then faced me again even before receiving the vampire's reply. "Well?"

"I'm… not an angel," I croaked. Clearing my throat, I added. "It's a long story, but I promise to tell you everything." I caught Lily's eyes, and she gave me an encouraging nod. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I turned to Roman, waiting for his final word. It wasn't until he stepped closer that I noticed the old man had returned and the vampire was holding something in his hands.

"As charming as this reunion is, I still don't trust you," he said, receiving a glare from my mother. He ignored that with ease. "So if you wish to stay and tell us that long story, you'll put those on."

He lifted the two unlinked cuffs he was holding with one finger, swinging them around like they were pretty jewelry and not an item that would steal my magic and leave me at his mercy.

"And if I don't?" I asked, and he stopped, letting them hang limply from his finger instead.

"Then we can have this conversation in my dungeon." He eyed my parents pointedly, and I felt my heart drop.

"What about the bond? What if they sever—"

"They will not," Roman said without a hint of hesitation. "If they can't sever a soulbond or a matebond, they can't sever the one you've inherited."

"This is barbaric!" My father stood up, turning to face Roman like he was ready to fight. The vampire gave him an exasperated look.

"I care about your safety, not your permission, Kevin," Roman said sharply. "You got your daughter back two minutes ago. I've known the person she was before tonight for almost ten years." Hesitation passed through my father's face and he glanced at me as if expecting me to tell him what to do. "She puts them on or she leaves my land. The choice is hers."

"She is not an animal! You can't—"

"Dad," I called out and to my surprise, the word didn't sound strange to my ears. "He's right. He has every reason not to trust me." Slipping my hands away from my mother and my sister, I got to my feet. Once I was standing in front of Roman, I offered him my wrists, not even looking down as he adjusted the cuffs on them.

My magic drained all at once. The sky swirled and nausea made my throat burn. A set of cold fingers steadied me, and despite the urge to pull away, I made myself stay still even as he leaned closer.

"I don't care who your biological or adoptive family is and I don't care if you live or die," he whispered, just loud enough for me to hear. "This is my home. If you want our help or protection, you follow my rules. Am I clear?"

I swallowed hard, pushing my disdain deep, deep down.

"Yes," I replied, and he released me, giving me a wide smile that didn't touch his eyes.

"Splendid. Now let's get inside." He turned sideways, motioning toward the mansion in invitation. "I'm sure everyone is dying to hear this long, long story of yours."