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Chapter 177
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Violets and Ash Chapter 178
Violet’s P.O.V.The mood of the crowd hovered somewhere between excited and worried that all hell had officially broken loose.It had. They knew it, I knew it, and most importantly, the two shirtless men gearing up to fight one another to the death knew it.What the crowd didn’t know was how different those two men were, despite the fact that their raven hair, muscular builds, and eyes of polished obsidian, rendered them nearly identical. They had no idea that the fate of their people hinged on who would win tonight.It was hard to believe that just one hour ago, the younger of the two men had been curled around me in bed, whispering words sweeter than I’d ever known in my ear. With the scent of me on his lips and flesh, he stepped into the arena constructed on Xavier’s property.Where his hands had caressed me, squeezing gently as they coaxed every bit of pleasure from my body, they would now be used to kill.What had been even more unbelievable wasn’t the fact that Sylvia said nothi
Violets and Ash Chapter 179
Violet’s P.O.V.The once silent crowd erupted in deafening cheers. Arms flailed as voices floated towards the heavens. A full moon etched in silver looked down on us all, as though the Goddess herself had stood witness. They were still oblivious to what had just happened, not knowing that the woman who stood fifty feet to my left singlehandedly prevented the death of their old Alpha.Hael stood from his father’s body and looked my way, his feet planted in the bloodied sand. Through the roaring of the crowd, I caught glimpses of his swollen face.I wanted to tell you. Keeping this from you was the hardest thing I’d ever done, I thought to myself.Regardless of the torture Xavier had put him through, murdering him would’ve sent Hael spiraling headfirst into the same darkness that festered within his soul. I couldn’t stand by and watch as he was thrown back into the clutches of the monster his father taught him to be.Even if he hated me for it, I had to do something.Unfortunately, ther
Violets and Ash Chapter 180
Violet’s P.O.V.“Mom…” Mykelle’s voice was weak, torn in two though I wasn’t sure why. “You said we weren’t going to kill her.”“Shut up, stupid girl. Let me handle this before you ruin things any further.”Those venomous words had been hurled towards her own daughter, who took each one unflinchingly. I couldn’t think of a time when my mother had raised her voice to me in anything other than love and playfulness. This glimpse into Mykelle’s life was something I could’ve gone an eternity without.I didn’t want to know why she was the way she was—I didn’t want to understand.“You should’ve taken the chance when you had it, because now—now the only place you’re going to rule is the grave I have you buried in.” Imani tutted, the barrel of the gun dancing in front of my face.Mykelle eyes bounced between the two of us, straddling some invisible line between the person she was, and the one her mother wanted her to be. Her words were stronger this time, the fear encasing them growing thinner
Violets and Ash Chapter 181
Violet’s P.O.V.The medic stitching his chest flinched as he growled but resumed threading the needle through his flesh again and again. “You saved me though.” He ground out, “You made me realize that what I want does matter, and that I have every right to reach out and take it. Cole is supposed to be that for her, but she’s too fucking heartless to see it.”I shook my head in denial, a strange lump in my throat reserved for Mykelle alone.“It’s not that she’s heartless…Cole just came too late. It’s up to her to save herself now, and we need to give her the chance to do it. She deserves it, and so does Cole. Imani isn’t around to dictate her life anymore.”Hael’s shoulders dropped, and I knew it wasn’t because the medic had finished stitching up his chest. He stared up at me with eyes of unfathomable cruelty, ones that held warmth only when they fell upon my face. I basked in those flames, taking pride in knowing they lived and breathed for me alone.That was okay with me. If I needed
Violets and Ash Chapter 182
Violet’s P.O.V.I followed Hael up the winding staircase of polished marble, down the hall of stern looking portraits, to a door as plain as all the others in the house.Inside was a neatly made bed, an ordinary dresser, a tall mirror, and two doors I assumed led to the closet and bathroom. There was nothing that alluded to anyone having ever lived in here, which made it all the more surprising when Hael closed the door behind us and said, “This was my bedroom growing up.”I would’ve let my eyes roam the space, but there wasn’t much to look at. “Did he have it cleaned out when you left?”Hael shook his head, “No, it’s always looked like this.” Shadows danced in his eyes. “I don’t have good memories of this place. The basement was where he trained me. This bedroom was nothing more than a holding cell in between lessons.”Pain stole my breath away. Never would I be able to understand what Hael had gone through, and how irrevocably it changed him. I couldn’t help but wonder if like Mykel
Violets and Ash Chapter 183
Violet’s P.O.V.I could’ve spent the rest of the night in Hael’s arms, but fate had other plans.That being said, I couldn’t particularly complain when we opened the door to find Norma’s smiling face beaming up at us. There was a knowing glint in her eyes that I willfully ignored, and thankfully she didn’t feel the need to comment.“Norma, what are you doing here? I thought you’d be back at Sylvia’s.” I said, leaning against the doorframe. Hael appeared from the bathroom, dressed in clean, blood-free clothes.“Hah! You think I’d miss that one fightin’ his old man? Not a chance. Had to see for myself that you’re alright.” Her eyes crinkled at the corners as she scanned Hael’s form. “You good, kid?”Hael slithered up behind me. I didn’t need to turn to feel his presence lurking over my shoulder. Now that the bond was complete, it felt like a tether binding us together.“I’ve had worse injuries.” Norma’s lips fell at his confession.She grimaced, “And your arm?”Hael lifted the limb his
Violets and Ash Chapter 184
Violet’s P.O.V.I let Hael take the lead, my stomach a mess of knots that quickly began to rise in my throat.We walked through the doors, into the visitors center where a plethora of rounded tables sat. Marcel stood off to the side, tipping his head at the two of us. I paused to catch my breath when I saw her.Memories, so many memories, swirled in my head. The past rose up, a great tidal wave of emotion, slamming into me from behind. It was real—everything I remembered was real.She sat at one of the tables, her hands folded, and eyes locked somewhere in the distance. When we neared, she craned her head in our direction. My heart jolted, but it wasn’t me she locked eyes with.“Oh, Xavier! I was so worried about you.” With hurried movements, she rushed over to Hael. “What are you doing in a place like this.”A faraway look lived and breathed in her gaze, as though she too were swept away by memories. Trapped in the past, where only fragments of the present remained. She reached for H
Violets and Ash Chapter 185
Hael’s P.O.V.An hour had passed since I said goodbye to my father.Violet sat curled up on the sofa at my newly acquired house, wrapped in my arms where I knew she’d always be safe. A comfortable silence settled over us both. The kind of silence where words were no longer needed.As she stared into the flames licking up the brick walls of the fireplace, I thought about her earlier words, and the estate I had once called my home.The memories ran deep here, flowing through my veins like a poison designed to kill. Tonight I had taken the first step towards ridding myself of it, and I couldn’t help but wonder if demolishing this house would be the cure I needed.Amusement warmed my chest as I thought of all the things Violet might do should she have her own home to decorate and design. We’d have a state-of-the-art kitchen, packed with everything she could ever want or need.I’d listen from the shadows while she baked, humming to herself as she always did. While the cookies and cakes sat
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