“As far as Cassius heals and doesn’t turn into a monster, I will agree to any condition you want.”
“Are you sure? You have this bad habit of going back on your words.”
A sigh of resignation left my lips. “I have understood that I can’t fight my fate, Andres. I won’t go back on my words this time.”
His expression turned serious, and he pulled out a small vial from his pocket. “This is the antidote for the poison. Cassius will be out of danger once he takes this.”
“What about the bite?”
“I will help you reverse the spell once you swear your allegiance to me in front of the council.”
My fingers had just brushed across the cool glass of the vial when a voice pierced through the meadow, “Miraya! Wait!”
Startled, I dropped my hand again; my gaze snapped in the direction of the sound. I caught a glimpse of a man running towards us. My heart almost stopped beating when I realized that it was Alpha Azrael.
He came to a halt a few feet away from us and gasped. “Don’t give that potion to Cassius! It will kill him.”
“What nonsense! Why would I want to kill him when Miraya has agreed to my proposal?”
Alpha Azarel shook his head and gulped, “I know I behaved poorly that day, Miraya. But, I never wanted to hurt you.” His eyes narrowed and he glared at Andres, “Don’t trust this prick. He wants to kill Cassius.”
Alpha Azrael drew closer as he continued talking in a labored voice. “I was here for a stroll when I heard him talk to you. I went back and had my servants identify the witch who poisoned him.” He held out another bottle. “I have acquired this antidote straight from her.”
Andres’ eyes turned bloodshot and his fingers balled into tight fists. “There is no way he could have identified the witch who helped me. I think he wants to take advantage of the situation and avenge his failure.”
My gaze drifted from Lord Andres to Alpha Azarel. One was the man who killed my parents and made my life a living hell. The other was the one who had abused me and killed my mate.
Who was I supposed to trust in this race against time?
My heart went numb, and I staggered. A strange sense of helplessness entwined its vines around me. My knees buckled, and I dropped to the ground.
Cassius and Andres held out the vials toward me. “We will leave it to you, Miraya. Decide whom you want to trust.”
“Why will she trust any of you morons when she has a better choice?” A husky voice sounded as a third vial appeared before my eyes.
My head snapped up in shock and I gasped, “Cassius? What are you doing here?”
His lips curved in a smile and he crouched to reach the same level as me. “I am here to give you a third choice.” His gaze hardened as they drifted from Andres to Azrael. “I won’t let anyone control you, Miraya.”
My stomach clenched uneasily. “What are you going to do, Cassius?”
He raised his hand and placed it on my cheek, his eyes brimming with emotions. “I will drink the liquid in the third vial.”
“W… what exactly does the vial contain?”
He kissed the corner of my lips and before I could ask any other questions, he snapped the lip of the vial and swallowed its contents.
“I love you, Miraya. More than any….” his words trailed off and his body went limp in my arms. I sat there stunned, his stiff body weighing heavy on my heart and soul.
The numbness grew from the core of my heart until it reached every pore in my body. Then it transformed into a sense of deep anguish that magnified with each passing moment. It grew and grew, shattering every inch of my heart and shredding every part of my soul. The congestion in my chest exploded in the form of a cry that shook the ground and pierced through the skies. “Cassius!!!!”
***
“Hera! I am here to ask if you have any last wishes?” A shrill sound dragged me out of my memories.
A long, suffering sigh left my lips as my eyes drifted around the special cell created for me. Tears stung my eyes, but I blinked them away.
“What is it?” I snapped, composing my expression to show utter disdain.
“I came here to ask if you had any last wishes.”
I stretched my arms mindlessly, “There is a lot of time left for my execution. I will let you know if there is anything.”
The woman shifted from one foot to another. Keeping her gaze fixed on the ground, she stuttered, “Actually… umm… People are getting restless that you will escape. So, The Lycan King has pushed back the date of execution. It’s been pre-poned to tomorrow morning. You will have to tell me if you have any last wishes right now.”
My lips curved in a dry smile and I scoffed, “I don’t think your Lycan King can honor anyone’s wishes. So, just leave….”
She raised her head and her lips parted, but she held back her words. Nodding lightly, she left.
I stretched out my legs and shifted to a more comfortable position. I had avenged my boyfriend’s death by killing both Lord Andres and Alpha Azarel. Even if they killed me tomorrow, I won’t have too many regrets.