Chapter 144
Chapter 144
Valencia’s POV
However, things took a turn, and Kereska had a premonition of her sister betraying her.
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She had dreamed of her sister’s treachery before it even happened. A vision–one so vivid it left her breathless, warning her . of what was to come. Knowing this, she had taken precautions. She had hidden a key, a way to free herself from the chains.
that bound her.
Yet, she did nothing to stop her.
Because this was a test.
A test for Valyria.
The sister she had trusted most. The one who had stood beside her through centuries of rule.
And Valyria had failed.
When Kereska escaped the dungeons and stood before her treacherous sister, the flames still roaring as Valyria stood within, she did not show mercy.
“Valyria, oh Valyria… You were my most trusted one. And yet, you didn’t hesitate to plunge a dagger into my back.”
With those words, she uttered a curse upon her sister and all of her descendants. A punishment for betraying her own blood.
From that moment on, the Valyrian bloodline was doomed. Forever marked as the cursed lineage of dragons–fated to suffer. Doomed to bear cursed children. Doomed to be unable to use magic or shift. Destined to live miserable lives and die excruciating deaths.
One moment of greed had condemned an entire bloodline to agony.
I frowned, tapping my fingers against the aged parchment of the book. That hardly seemed fair.
If Kereska was revered as a goddess among dragons, then why curse an entire bloodline instead of just punishing the one who wronged her? How was that justice?
And another thing… the fire. The Sun Goddess’s flames weren’t supposed to harm dragons. That was why Kereska had initially agreed to stand within the fire. If Valyria was of the royal lineage aswell, how did she burn?
Something didn’t add up.
It felt like every time I found an answer, ten more questions unraveled before me.
By the time I finished reading, the afternoon had bled into early evening. Sunlight spilled through the towering windows of the library, casting golden streaks across the floor. I glanced up and found Seven still hunched over his work, dark circles prominent under his eyes as he furiously scribbled notes.
“Hey,” I called, shutting the book. “That’s enough for now. You look like shit.”
Seven lifted his head, blinking slowly as if resurfacing from deep thought. Then, despite his exhaustion, he smirked. “You always say I look pretty, though.”
I let out a breathy laugh. “Yeah, you’re still pretty. But you also look like shit.”
He chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck.
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Chapter 144
“Come on,” I said, standing. “Let’s go see if Marcy is back yet.”
He got up to clear the table.
Seven hesitated for a second before softly clearing his throat. “Miss Valencia?”
I turned back to him. “Hmm?”
His lips parted, his voice quieter now. “Thank you.”
I knew why he was thanking me.
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He did this sometimes–thanked me out of nowhere, as if he were still processing the fact that he was safe. That he was here, alive, free.
That he had a family.
A home.
But he wouldn’t realize that this was all new to me too. That I sometimes became afraid that I would wake up one day and find myself still Jaxon’s mate, still the Luna of the Wolfe pack, still someone unloved and irredeemable.
I felt a familiar lump form in my throat, but I swallowed it down and forced a smile. “No. Thank you for becoming part of my family.”
For giving me the chance to redeem myself.
But I left that last part unsaid.
Seven didn’t reply, only giving me a small, grateful smile before stacking his papers and following me out.
I decided to check on Dante on the second floor while Seven headed back to his room.
As I made my way through the halls, I noticed a group of three guards hurrying toward one of the meeting rooms, their expressions tight with urgency. My steps faltered.
Something was wrong.
I stopped one of them. “What’s going on?”
One guard turned to me, his face grim. “Sir Joseph brought someone in. A woman. She stabbed herself.”
My breath caught in my throat.
A woman?
I didn’t wait for further explanation. I followed them.
The moment I pushed open the meeting room doors, my eyes landed on her.
As expected.
Lilliana Kay.
She stood in the corner, her back pressed against the wall, a blade gripped in her bloodstained hands. She was breathing heavily, her gaze wild as she pointed the weapon at the guards circling her.
Dante stood a few feet away, arms crossed, watching her impassively.
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Chapter 144
My eyes flicked down to the dark stain spreading across the fabric of her dress. She had stabbed herself at the waist The wound wasn’t fatal–yet–but she was losing blood fast.
I turned to Dante. “Shouldn’t you stop her?
His gaze shifted to me, his expression softening slightly. Without a word, he reached for my hand and brought it to his lips, pressing a brief kiss against my knuckles.
I almost laughed.
This really wasn’t the time for that.
“She’ll live,” he said flatly, releasing my hand. Let her struggle
I nodded, trusting him. But still, I couldn’t help but be surprised at how quickly they had found her.
Dante must have seen through my thoughts because he said, “She’s been living in Velhaven since Tatiana’s death. We kept track of her in case she ran her mouth. Finding her was easy”
Before I could respond, Lilliana’s gaze snapped to mine. Her breath hitched.
“Young Miss!” she suddenly cried, her voice desperate. “Please, help me! These people–they’ll kill me!”
I tilted my head, watching her carefully.
She looked… different. Weaker. The once polished and proper maid was now a tangled mess, her hair disheveled, blood staining her lips.
Ah.
She still thought I was the same naive, desperate girl who used to beg for affection.
I smiled. “Don’t worry. You’ll live. I’ll make sure of that.”
Her eyes widened further, darting between me and Dante. Then, something shifted in her expression.
Anger.
“You…” She sneered, voice dripping with venom. “Mistress was right. The blood of a traitor runs in your veins, you disgusting
wench!”
The room went deathly silent.
Before I could react, Lilliana was wrenched off her feet and slammed into the wall.
A sickening crack echoed through the room.
She let out a strangled scream, her body spasming violently as blood oozed from her nose, mouth, and eyes.
My stomach twisted. I whipped around-
Dante.
His eyes were burning.
One of his hands was raised, fingers curled as if gripping something invisible.
He was crushing her.
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Chapter 144
“Dante-”
“One more word,” his voice was deadly calm, “and I’ll make you wish for death.”
His hand clenched into a fist.
Lilliana let out a final, blood–curdling scream before her body collapsed onto the floor.
The room exploded into chaos.
The guards scrambled, some rushing toward her, others taking cautious steps back. I could hear their frantic whispers, feel the weight of their nervous glances.
But I couldn’t take my eyes off Dante.
His breathing was heavy, his shoulders tense, his entire body radiating barely–contained fury.
I swallowed.
Jaift
