(Cara's P.O.V)
Melida understood but she understood just a bit too much, a bit too late and the anger she previously harbored dissipated like weak smoke at her realization.
I barely held myself together, the other four presences in the room calling for my attention.
Give them power enough to fool them but never enough to lose yourself.
But it was already too late for me. I'd lost myself to them.
It was fickle, but I'd hoped. I'd hoped something would have changed. Anything. But it didn't happen.
"I feel like we're again being left out of something significant that just occurred." Arion chuckled but it was hollow.
Xander took a step back, his eyes no longer blazing but dulled. Muted. "Choose. Make a decision, Cara. Which one of us will you be using for your further nefarious plans, hmm? Because you sure as hell can't have us all."
Lucien gave a jerky nod of affirmation.
But who'd tell them that I'd once had them all indeed?
A soft, hollow chuckle escaped my lips.
They wanted a decision? They wanted me to choose?
Then good thing, I'd already done that.
My decision was made and so was my choice.
Theirs wouldn't matter after this.
I raised my chin and embraced it. Embraced the truth they didn't know and the one that the raven haired woman had unraveled just now.
The tension was palpable and everyone was coiled taunt, muscles stiff.
Emotion clogged my throat but that wasn't how I survived this world. Ever.
I looked away again and the male caging me had his lips pulled up showing teeth and eyes narrowed. And I was sure they had questions but sadly they weren't in the state to ask.
My eyes jumped from the captive hold of powerful male in front of me to the one behind him whose amber eyes should've frozen anyone looking into them. Lucien looked like an icy fortress, closing himself up from the bitter strikes of the world.
But I merely skipped ahead to stare into those that made me burn. Arion's eyes were shattered, hope dwindling in those stormy eyes but I moved on.
I let my eyes lock onto his in the end.
Because I knew. None of them did.
His lips curled up in pure malice and dark intent.
Lips I'd last felt on mine, just recently.
Fangs flashed in a grin.
Fangs that had just been embedded in my neck, drinking my blood.
And when the wisps of smoke coiled around him, the others straightened up, feeling the power but not ready to take their eyes off of me.
He did them the favor when he spoke himself, attracting attention like bees to nectar.
"That was interesting." Eyes I couldn't recognize anymore looked into mine, an internal battle raging on.
Unimpressed, I cocked my head to the side indolently.
Slowly, everyone turned their attention from me to Damien, the Vampire Prince with darkened black eyes. "So cute how you're all fighting amongst yourselves."
"So cowardly of you considering how you're hiding." I mocked back.
He didn't like my retort if the tick in his jaw said anything.
"What the...." Murmurs from everyone mixed together, power swirled around us and swords were unsheathed.
"Damien...." Lucien cautiously stepped forward.
His grin widened, "You're still so good at strategizing. When did you find out, Carelea?"
Ah, he used my real name.
Melida and Micah straightened, recognizing the threat while I cast a quick spell so nothing that happened in this room would affect the ones outside.
I shrugged as if I couldn't give a damn. Whereas in truth I'd worked on this issue since I arrived here. And once I'd seen Damien again, it pained me each time when I saw his eyes darken and his soul dampen.
"It's been a while, Killian."
Everyone's hackles rose, eyes flying between us but I couldn't afford losing attention.
The son of Lucifer hummed, "I'm disappointed that it took you so much time." Then he leaned forward as if sharing a secret, "But then I realized why you waited so long. Britt's doing good work."
Of course she was.
This was a spell her bloodline cast on Damien and no one but her could thus undo it. To think that it'd been three hundred years since Kesla plotted and allied with Killian so thoroughly that she slowly made him complacent through the use of dark blood magic made me shudder on the inside.
It wasn't hard to figure out and once Britt did accept to fueling the magic so that Killian's soul could use Damien as a vessel until he could manage to manifest into a body himself confirmed all my doubts.
I gave her everything she needed to undo the spell.
And the last strike was my blood. Killian would take the bait because a taste of my blood would strengthen him further and I had to risk it.
But at the same time it would be what tied Britt's spell on the vodoo doll of Damien to the actual human. Plus, Damien wouldn't be able to resist the call of the SoulBond and my blood. That's why he had to drink from me.
Each kiss was calculated.
And I knew Xander would catch us.
In order to avoid a confrontation with Killian on my own where there would be a change of being overpowered, I decided to strike a few marks in one go. Damien would be taken care of and I'd have support from the room full of supernaturals in case something wen wrong.
"The Witch Queen hm? Such powerful spells you use. So many counter-measures in place to hide who you are." He chuckled, his face indiscernible, just moving darkness and misty whites swirling in them.
I narrowed my eyes, my power escaping and forming a shield around everyone. "I thought you had enough self-respect to not resort to such petty methods. Or is it because you're too weak?""
"Weak. Such a funny word when associated with the two of us, no?" He chuckled cruelly and I hated how the eyes and the chiseled face I had to look at was Damien's. "Since when did I have care for things like self-respect and honor, Carelea?" He mocked, "But then you already knew. It's commendable how you've played this game of strategies. You're still better than Kesla."
Damien's eyes were entirely black now and he was half in the air, floating and releasing a pungent demonic, Sulphur scent.
"I loathe you."
"You're so weak though. Don't entertain ideas of a win." He ignored my caustic remark and chuckled. Midnight black hair whipped in the wind and just like that I knew Arion had wrapped invisible shackles around Damien's body. "Your circle despises you. You kept them in the dark for their benefit, no? But oh look, you'll be the one to pay the price. Just. Like. Last. Time."
"What the fuck is happening?" He grit out and Xander's claws came out just as Melida stepped away.
I allowed my power to seep out and I lit up, a faint glow surrounded me as I cast the final spell and Britt mind-linked me.
'It's done.'
Killian prepared to speak again, everyone ready and on their toes in case of something going amiss but then he stopped short.
Killian gasped and the dark mist surrounding us reduced. "What the--" Then his eyes met mine, blue peeking through, "Oh, I see. Sneaky little witch."
He knew the spell tethering him to Damien's body as a vessel was unraveled and soon he wouldn't be able to control Damien who had been none the wiser of what had been happening each time Killian took control.
My way of dealing with Katherine and Cecilia was deliberate at the Mating Ceremony Ball. Because there, Killian was spying. I knew because after the SoulBond, Damien couldn't bear to touch anyone except for me. But that day he was indulging many women and instead of drinking his favorite wine or blood, he was having black liquor.
And Black Liquor can only be consumed by those who have demonic powers or blood.
Of course, Damien hadn't known. And if Killian knew, he wouldn't have made such a mistake.
But aside from kissing a woman who had black liquor, I'd also had his food specially dripped in the same. All of it confirmed my doubts but I couldn't let it be seen that I knew Killian was using Damien at times.
His power was weakening and since it was merely a part of his soul that was residing in Damien's body temporarily, he couldn't do much. The spell was unraveling and he was at a disadvantage.
"Well, I'll leave then. But not without a parting gift." He smirked as he coughed out blood. The struggle between Damien and the overpowering presence of Killian had already commenced.
I kept myself from reacting, hoping I was right.
No, I had to be right. It wouldn't be for nothing and I, for one, knew that.
The favor regarding Damien that I'd asked Britt for was done, the spell unraveled after two months of work.
Killian's part of the soul detached until we could see dark shadows encompassing the Vampire Prince. But with another last shadowy look that promised me he would conquer me, Killian vanished into thin air with only tendrils of dark smoke floating around.
An unconscious Damien dropped like a sack of potatoes from mid air and even though Lucien ached to rush over, he was still being cautious and held back. He stirred slightly, groaning as his eyes fluttered open and those shockingly electric blue eyes of his locked onto my silver streaked jade ones.
It all happened so fast, in such a rush that there was no time to process anything for anyone.
And then I felt them before they appeared.
Micah cursed, watching how the room filled and the demons swept their hungry gazes over us.
The males were no more centered on me but what had just happened, eyes frantic as their feelings surged through me.
Anger. Surprise. Caution. Even fear. Worry. Betrayal. Utter confusion.
I intended to stop it. They weren't mine but....I couldn't.
As they formed a circle around me, I kept myself from scoffing at the irony. Instinct and conscious effort were apparently disagreeing with these males who wanted to shatter me unknowingly.
But not for long, I'd make sure of it.
Melida sucked in a sharp breath at the appearance of the demons. They were still low-tier.
Damien struggled to sit up, his head must have been swimming. But my blood was running through his veins now and there was no way he wouldn't regain energy soon. He'd eventually be fine. Britt made sure of it.
I looked around languidly, ignoring the tense environment that had just increased tenfold, when added to it was confusion.
I wasn't in the mood for this.
So I let it out, just a tendril and a smirk.
Gasps echoed around me when I felt the weight on my back and knew what they were so fascinated at seeing. But I paid them no mind.
My work here was done, I had to take the next steps in the plan now. It didn't matter if they knew or not.
Power whipped around us, portals opening and sending the demons right back to where they came from. Some of them slayed with spears of light in the process. A slight dizziness overcame me for a split second at having using such an overwhelming amount of power for the first time since my return, keeping up the many different spells.
Two minutes later, the room was empty and devoid of any other being but the ones that were here initially.
My guys were frozen, eyes a mix of such swirls that I was afraid of being caught up in them so they could drag me down and drown me in themselves.
Healing me, fixing me and then breaking me, tearing me. Only they had that power. My guys did.
But that's right.
They weren't my guys anymore.
They never even knew they were.
I only turned around, not bothering to answer any unspoken questions because this was just the start except underneath all that anger rolling off of them, all that ache seeping through......there was something else I couldn't afford to sift through and feel.
"What..." His voice croaked, but all their eyes seared their invisible touches on my retreating figure yet I didn't stop until--
"Who are you?" Damien breathed out and I stilled.
Oh, if only someone could tell you.
I tipped my head back, tilting my chin to look at them through hooded eyes and sliding onyx hair.
They all thought I was probably the lost witch queen.
They'd be wrong, of course.
That was Britt.
Should I answer them? No. Not that I exactly can.
I chuckled softly, the sound almost melodic but there was an empty feel to it I knew they wouldn't recognize.
So I gave them an answer that would leave them even more confused.
Because I'd already made my decision.
I wouldn't let it happen again. Never again.
No more falling in love and letting them in. I stayed with them as long as my plans needed to be fulfilled. Now, I could do it all on my own.
Sometimes, we had to lie to ourselves for the better.
Once had been enough and a war was coming.
"The Queen who's gathering her army."
•○•
AN~
Why, hello, my dear readers.
I hope this Epilogue was slightly enjoyable at the very least. I'm kind of really afraid that I rushed things here but I hope it wasn't too bad.
I know there's still a lot of mystery left but that's because the third book will clarify everything hehe. I need to keep everyone on their toes after all. This book was a bit of a mess with typos and stuff because last year was really hard on me and I didn't have a laptop either so that made things worse.
Any idea who Cara actually is? Or what?
How was the surprise about Damien being kinda posessed by Killian?
What do you think about the spell preventing the men from remembering things about Cara?
Oh and her real full name is Carelea hehe.
I'm very very grateful for each of you that stayed and out up with my irregular posting schedule. I sincerely apologize. But this book is over right as I start a new chapter of my life and enter college.
I've obviously hot the 3rd book planned but I have yet to make its cover or write the blurb and I think I'll slowly work on it and put it out next year so you'll have to bear a bit more lol.
I'm not sure if the story seems boring by now or you're all wondering how they'll reconcile and what Cara's true past is. The love story has just begun and so has war prep because yes Killian is back for good.
But what exactly happened in the past? For that you need book 3. Till then, you're free to binge read the 2 books and give me theories hehe.
Remember how in book 1 that sentence, "The Queen is gathering her army." Was ominously used so many times? Here's the final answer!
Thank you for your loving votes, comments and dms. I appreciate them so so much. Thank you for staying with me, really. I hope to not let you guys down and bring an amazing story to the table next year.
Until then, do check put my other works and stay tuned because next month....
Next month I'll be publishing my new book "Can You Feel It?"
It's a forbidden romance, unfeeling Mafia spy x FBI Agent, neighbors, workplace romance. Tons of mystery, flirting and Angst. I hope you'll give it a chance and like it.
See you in the next book then!
Take care everyone, I'm forever grateful to each reader <3
~Skyler