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The Here and Now
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Love that Kills The Summer Estate
The mountains rose in the view, emerging from the carpet of colorful leaves. The road snaked up as we got closer to the estate. Suddenly, the woods became scattered, and my eyes were drawn to the huge rock on the side of the road. "Wait in the car," Ash said as he pulled over, stopping the car in front of the stone. I noticed him take a signet ring from his jacket pocket and put it on the little finger of his left hand. The ring looked like it was made entirely of a smooth black stone. "What is it?" I asked, pointing at the signet. Ash smirked, bringing his hand with the ring closer toward me. "This is the proof that these lands belong to me. This is the Malachious Ring." I smiled nervously. "This might be a stupid question, but what do you need it for?" "You'll see." Ash winked at me and got out of the car. He stepped toward the rock. He fisted his hand and pressed the ring's smooth surface against the large stone. As soon as he did, the stone resonated, sending a wave of vibrat
Love that Kills Test
I put on a lemon cotton dress with short sleeves and a flared skirt. Then I slid my feet into kitten heels and went downstairs to join Ash and Baltazar in the salon. I found them laughing and drinking whiskey. It was nice to see Ash relax. He looked so different from how I saw him in his office in the Malachious Residence. As soon as I entered the room, Baltazar's gaze turned toward me, and his lips slowly twisted upward."Someone's just turned into a stunning woman," he commented, clearly appreciating my looks."Why thank you," I replied, giving him a bright smile as I headed toward the kitchen island.Ash narrowed his eyes at me. "Are you trying to impress him or make me jealous?"I grinned, teasingly tangling my finger around the strand of my hair. "Would it be a bad thing if I said that it's both?"Baltazar burst into laughter and placed his hand on Ash's shoulder. "I'm beginning to understand why you've changed your mind, my boy.""Changed his mind about what?" I questioned, look
Love that Kills My Peace
"Wine or whiskey?" Ash offered the right cure for my heart-crushing anxiety."Wine," I replied, folding my arms around my waist and sitting on the salon's sofa.He swiftly uncorked an old-looking bottle and filled my glass with a rich red liquid. He handed me the wine, then quickly refilled his whiskey glass, and joined me on the sofa. "How's your hand?" He looked at the cut, which was now almost completely healed."It's fine," I repeated for the fifth time, and each time, I found Ash's concern more annoying. "Baltazar called me a cursed child," I told Ash, carefully watching his reaction to my words. "Do you know what that means? Because as soon as he smelled my blood, he started looking at me as if I was about to turn into a monster." Frustration grew within me. I knew what I saw in Baltazar's eyes: disgust and a heated rush of hatred. It no longer mattered who I was. WHAT I was overshadowed everything else.Ash sighed and took a sip from his glass. "Baltazar is a good man, but he i
Love that Kills Their Target
Ash shielded me from the wolves, pushing me back into the corridor. "Baltazar, walk away and take your wolves with you before I take it as an act of treason," Ash hissed, his nails turning into sharp blades."Ashtar, I am here because I'm loyal," the old wolf claimed, lowering his head."Loyal to who?!" Ash growled."To your family!" Baltazar roared but then bowed and took a deep breath. "Give her to us; that's all we want. You know that it has to be done, and either we do it or the King's men will. At least we can grant her a seemingly painless death."I clamped my hand over my mouth. The fear, the anger, the confusion—all those emotions violently rose inside me, and I had to restrain them before they burst out in a scream that was already building in my throat.Ash glanced at me over his shoulder and quickly returned his gaze to Baltazar. "She is NOT a threat!" He stood on the threshold, blocking the way into the house as he spread his arms, armed with sharp claws.There was a momen
Love that Kills Escape
"Nala! Nala, can you hear me?!" The familiar voice was breaking through the blur of distorted sounds. A light slap on my cheek brought back the feeling of heaviness in my body. Other senses returned at once, hitting me with an overwhelming dose of pain.The ache came from everywhere, as if I had managed to strain every muscle in my body and put all my nerves on fire. A ragged exhale left me, and I forced myself to open my eyes, processing my position and surroundings. My legs were lying on the ground, and I couldn't move them. My upper body hung limply, supported by Ash's arms as he knelt next to me. His chest rattled with shallow breaths while his filled-with-concern eyes studied me. His fingers squeezed my arms as if he were urging my reaction."What… happened?" I rasped."You killed them, Nala," he said softly before glancing around. I followed his line of sight and saw burned, still-smoking bodies lying on the ground wherever I looked. Ash and I were the only ones alive. I gasped,
Love that Kills The Only Way
After some time, I could finally walk without Ash's help. I was regenerating faster than before, although I was still a little lightheaded and walked rather wobbly on my feet. Ash constantly asked me how I felt, even though it was his condition that I was more worried about. Some of his wounds were still bleeding, and that was one of the things that made me anxious. What if Baltazar knew about the tunnels? What if we encountered his warriors again? If that happened, I would have to rely on Ash's strength, but how could I do that if he wasn't even properly healing?! I had yet to fully understand and control my inner power, and my fighting skills hardly allowed me to fight against the weaker wolves. My energy could be enough for a single blast that could take down several wolves, but then what? I tried to stay positive, hoping that Calvel and others would come to our aid, but I couldn't stop the panic from rising. "Why are your wounds not healing?" I asked softly. Ash sighed and gave
Love that Kills Heartache
I drifted into nothingness. I didn't know how long I was lying on the ground, unconscious. The screech of metal grinding against the stone was the first sound to pull me toward the land of the living. It made my body jerk, or so I thought because I was certain I couldn't move on my own. The feel of a pair of strong arms wrapping around me and lifting me came a moment later. I sensed the unique scent of the summer storm heavily mixed with the coppery smell of blood."Thank you for your gift, angel mine." Ash's voice vibrated through my skin. Then his lips touched my forehead, and for the first time, I felt that my skin was colder than his.I couldn't move. I couldn't even open my eyes. I couldn't utter a word. All I could do was hear and feel... and everything I felt was overwhelming.Ash's grip on my body tightened as he started walking, carrying me. I didn't see what was happening. I merely felt the movement, my body shifting at the pace of energetic steps."Fucking hell!" I heard Ca
Love that Kills Resolution
A few servants saw me as I walked back to my chamber, but they simply passed me by. I felt as if something had changed. Except for a few, no one here treated me with the utmost respect, but they had never openly shown their hostility either. Now I saw their lips curve downward as they sent me glances filled with disdain and sometimes... pity. That only helped my anxieties grow stronger.I wondered if any of those servants were going to inform Ash about my midnight stroll. I was almost certain that someone would. I hoped that it would make him come to my room and ask about it. I expected him to come as soon as I returned to my chamber, but that didn't happen…I started finding it frighteningly disturbing. No one checked up on me. Neither Ash, Amanda, nor Calvel came to see if I was still alive as if it no longer mattered. Not even Hunter stayed around my room for my safety; no guards did. Thinking about it caused another crack in my aching heart because it only made everything I heard
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