“As ready as I can be,” I reply, pulling her into my arms. *** Verena “As ready as I can be,” he says before pulling me into his arms. The warmth of Niklaus’s embrace calms the flutter of nerves in my stomach, a comforting reassurance amidst the whirlwind of preparation for the Claiming Ceremony.
Verena This is it. I’m walking down an aisle just like a normal wedding. The only difference is I am wearing a golden ceremonial dress and the tiny fact that there are loads of powerful people here; people who I’m glad are on our side. When I was with Lucan, I heard rumors about Dante Rios, Liam
Verena Niklaus turns to me, his eyes searching mine. He pulls me close, his touch reassuring. “Are you ready, Verena?” His voice is gentle, a contrast to the strength of his arms around me. I nod, feeling the flutter of nerves in my stomach. “Yes, I’m ready.” The words are a whisper, borne of a co
“Ow! Niklaus, that hurt—” My words cut off as I feel him lift his head, the mood abruptly shifting. I look down, and my breath catches in my throat. His eyes, usually a blue so light it borders on stormy gray, are now an abyssal black, void of the warmth I know. My heart hammers in my chest, fear
“Precisely,” Peter laughs when I take too long to answer. “And now you no longer have a choice, Verena. Watch as I destroy everything you love, starting with Niklaus.” The threat hangs in the air, heavy and suffocating. Niklaus, still standing silently, his eyes void of the man I know, is a puppet
Niklaus“...please…. Niklaus… out of…”The words, fragmented, broken and spaced, floated through Niklaus’ mind as he looked at everything and nothing. That voice sounded so familiar, but how could that be when it feels like he’s been forever trapped in the darkness?“Fight him…”Fight him? Fight who
Nothing comes back, and the silence in my mind is as terrifying as the darkness around me.Desperation claws at me, and I wrack my brain for any detail, any word Peter had thrown at me with his taunting sneer. Then it hits me, one line echoing louder than the rest: “Calling to him won’t help, he has
VerenaIn the murky depths of unconsciousness, I’m drifting, floating through a haze of pain and despair. But suddenly, there’s a shift, a lightening, as if I’m surfacing from deep waters. I blink open my eyes, not to the grim basement, but to a realm that gleams with a soft, pearlescent light. Bef