Chapter 53
Smoke still lingered in the shattered café, curling in tendrils through the broken glass and overturned tables. The scent of blood, adrenaline, and scorched magic iching to the air like a storm that refused to pass.
Francesco cradled me protectively, crouched beside a fallen table as Audrey and the pack warriors moved in tight formation around us. The last of the rogues were being subdued–some unconscious, others too injured to move. The head warrior Francesco brought, a towering Lycan named Darlo moved like a force of nature. His Blade flashed silver under the amber lights, his growls echoing like thunder. No rogue stood a chance under his feral
anslaught
But even as order returned, my instincts scrdamed that something wasn’t right
It was too easy.
And then….he arrived.
A gust of windswept into the cafe as the front door creaked open, and with it came the presence hadn’t sensed until it was too late. Every wamnor in the room turned to face the newcomer, wrapons drawn, growls building in their chests.
He wore a long dark cloak, hood up, his face partially veiled in shadows–but his aura was unmistakable. It wasn’t just power. It was personal.
Francesco froze
His grip on me tightened ever so slightly as his eyes widened–not in fear, but disbelief.
“Luca?” he breathed, voice low and strangled.
The man stepped into the light with a cruel, knowing smile. “Long time no see…Francesco
For a moment, no one moved. Even Dario hesitated, his blade poised mid–air.
Hooked up at Francesco, whose expression had turned to stone. His golden eyes—always so steady–now flickered like a fire close to losing control Rage. Pain. Memories too old and too sharp to dull.
“You’re supposed to be dead,” Francesco said quietly, voice heavy with the weight of betrayal.
“Dead?” Luca laughed, a bitter, hollow sound. “Oh no, fratello. You only let me for dead. There’s a difference.”
Audrey’s eyes darted to Francesco. “You know him?”
“I did,” Francesco muttered. “Once.”
Luca stepped forward, and I saw the madness in his eyes. “I was the head of your warriors. Your right hand. Your brother by bond, remember? Until you chose your title over me. Until you left me in the ruins of the Eastern Borderlands while you chased your precious diplomacy, just because they said your going to be the king, the Lycan king”
“That was a war zone,” Francesco growled. “You choose war and allied with rogues and killing innocent people”
“Lies“Luca’s voice cut through the “You forgot the the moment your throne called. But I didn’t forget you, Alpha, because know i am better than you, always, Ideleat you once… by sending a woman witch… Your AnastasiaTM
He look surprise when Luca laugh like a devil
Then he pulled something from beneath his cloak–a small, silver–capped syringe. The same kind that had been used on me.
“Now, I could beat you again,” he said, holding it up. “This isn’t meant for her. It never was. You were always the target, Francesco. You… and everything you love.”
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Chapter 53
With inhuman speed, Luca builed the syringe straight at Francesco,
“No” cried out, but Francesco reacted last.
with one swift motion, he slapped the syringe away, sending it flying toward the floor. But instead of shattering harmlessly, it exploded mid–air with a sodden pulse of violent, green light.
BOOM
The shockwave knocked over tables and sent a few warriors stumbling Acloud of thick, dark vapor histed into the room like a serpent uncoiling
“Francesco!” I cried, struggling in his arms as he recoiled. His body jerked once–twice–and then he began to cough. Harsh. Deep. Each convulsion wracked his broad frame.
“Run, my sweet Alpha,” Luca sneered, tunsing on his heel. “I’ll be seeing you again”
And like a shadow slipping through smoke, he vanished out the broken door and into the night.
“GET HIM” Audrey screamed, and Dario was already moving, hot on his heels, several warriors in tow. But I knew–deep down–I knew Luca wouldn’t be caught. Not now. Not yet
My attention snapped back to Francesco. He was on his knees now, one hand braced on the floor, the other still holding me tightly as if letting go would shatter him
“Francesco,” I whispered, cupping |
his face. “Talk to me. Please…
His pupils were dilating fast, the golden irises flickering between wolf and man. His breathing was erratic.
“L.. I’m fine,” he gasped. But he wasn’t. Not even close.
Audrey knelt beside us. “That wasn’t a normal toxin. El, help me get him up. We need to get him out of here.”
“No…” Francesco tried to protest, but he couldn’t stay upright. His legs buckled again.
And that’s when I felt it.
Not through sight or sound–but through our bond.
Something was attacking him from the inside.
Dark. Corrosive. Cold.
Polson… laced with dark magic.
The moment I touched his chest, I felt it creeping along his veins like tendrils of shadow, fighting his woll, trying to suppress the Alpha within him. It wasn’t meant to kill him last, it was meant to unravel him,
Tears welled in my eyes.
“No. No. No…” What should I do?
Anastasia, help me…
“He needs to get back to the estate,” Audrey snapped. “NOW I’ll signal the second team. We’re not sale here.”
Awarrior arrived at her side. “Backup’s five minutes away.”
“Too long,” she growled. “We go now.”
Chapter 53
within moments, Francesco was lifted into the back of the SUV, Felimbed in with him, refusing to leave his side. His body trembled in my ama, what slicking his brow, breath growing shallow
“Stay with me.” I whispered, stroking his hair. “Don’t you dare leave me. Not now, Not ever.”
His eyes fluttered open briefly.
“EL…don’t cry
“You’re poisoned, idiot,” I snapped, voice cracking “Tm allowed to try”
A weak chuckle escaped his lips. “Still beautiful… when you’re mad.”
Then he passed out.
“GO!” Audrey shouted at the driver, slamming the door. “Take us home!”
The SUV roared down the road, headlights slicing through the night. I didn’t let go of him the entire ride, not even when we reached the estate and the medical team swarmed us, I was ushered out only when Darin himself, covered in cuts and burns, pulled me back with strong but gentle hands.
“You need to let them help him, he said firmly.
“I can help too,” I insisted. “Please.”
His gaze softened. “You already are. Just stay close.”
Inodded, trembling.
The healers worked for hours.
They cut away his shirt, revealing the burn where the syringe had exploded near his ribs. Black veins spread from the point of impact like poison hy Magical runes glowed faintly over the mark
“Dark alchemy,” one of the healer muttered. “This isn’t just poison, it’s like a cursa,
The lead healer, an older woman named Mother Lira, stepped forward. “She’s right. We can slow it down. But not move it. We need help from a powerful wizard”
“Who?” I demanded.
“We don’t know” Lira said grimly. “The one who created this curse. Only they–or someone bound to them–can undo it.”
A deadly silence followed.
fists clenched
So this wasn’t just an attack. It was a declaration. A message carved in venom and fire.
They hadn’t just come for me. They’d come for Francesco,
Because I mattered to him.
Because he mattered to them.
That night, I sat at his bedside long after everyone else had leht. His body was still, his breathing shallow. The monitors flickered softly beside him, tracking the faint shythm of a warrior brought low
But not broken
73年
Chapter 53
Not yet.
“I’m not losing you.” I whispered, brushing a damp lock of hair from his brow “I don’t care what poison they used. I don’t care how powerful Luca is. B find a way to save you.”
And in the stillness, a whisper echoed in my mind.
Not my own
Not Mika
But…
hers.
Anastasia
‘Find my old book about Potion and Herbs”
“What does that mean?” asked aloud. “Where?”
But no answer came
Only the rustle of wind outside the window… and the sound of Francesco’s breathing.
Book?
Which mean the old library?
Without hesitation, I ran toward the place where I had first sensed Anastasia’s essence, clinging to the hope that i’d find something–anything–that.
could help
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