Salvatore shook his head. “Forget about them. They’ve been gone too long to be a threat.”
His words didn’t reassure me. My mind raced with all the possibilities and dangers that could arise if my enemies returned. “But what if they come back stronger than before?”
Salvatore’s expression hardened as he leaned forward, his voice low and powerful. “Don’t underestimate me or what I’ve given you. Remember who made you a Timeborne and how easily I can crush and kill you.”
His words lingered in my mind, and my head ached with confusion and fear. He claimed to have created me as a Timeborne, but that went against everything my ex-husband had taught me with his wild theories about solar eclipses. Despite my doubts, I couldn’t contradict Salvatore; his power was beyond anything I had ever witnessed, and I didn’t want to risk facing his terrifying wrath. But deep down, the question burned within me—Did this enigmatic and manipulative being create me? Or was there something darker and more sinister at play?
I shook my head, my attention captured by the thoughts of Zara and Lazarus. I remembered the horrifying sensation of icy scales slithering up my legs, making me freeze in terror. Dozens of snakes had coiled around me, summoned by Lazarus, trapping me in a suffocating embrace. I had wanted to scream, but my lips were sealed shut as the serpents pressed against my face, their heads seeking entry into my mouth.
And Zara… I shuddered as I recalled our first meeting. I had stepped into a stream, and something caught my foot and held me tight. Twigs and debris tangled around my ankle. I couldn’t untie the knot in my shoelaces, and my shoe was stuck between two rocks and branches. It was her doing… the demoness Zara. I thought I would die in that icy stream. And then she proceeded to taunt and torment me, letting me know she had me in her sights from that day forward.
A sheen of icy sweat covered my body at the recollections. I loathed and feared Zara and Lazarus.
“You know I have eyes and ears everywhere,” Salvatore said, a sly grin creeping across his face. “I would know if Zara or Lazarus were lurking nearby.”
I straightened up. “Why are you telling me this now?”
Salvatore chuckled and placed a hand on my shoulder.
“Because I don’t want you to be afraid, my beautiful serpent,” he said softly. “Zara and Lazarus may think they have the upper hand, but they are weaker than me. I still hold all the strings in this game.”
His words sent shivers down my spine as I gazed into his intense, piercing eyes.
He rose from his seat and extended a hand toward me.
“We’re so close to victory, my love,” he whispered with conviction, pulling me to stand before him. “I can feel it in my bones.”
With that, he drew me in for a passionate kiss that was powerful and full of emotion. He cupped my face with his hands, his fingers entwining in my hair as he deepened the kiss.
My whole being felt electrified, as if every cell in my body was awakening for the first time. We lingered in the kiss, my body heated and wet with desire. I couldn’t remember the last time I had been kissed so passionately. It was as if the world around us had ceased to exist, leaving only the two of us entwined in our own little bubble of sadistic bliss.
Eventually, we broke apart, and he rested his forehead against mine, his breaths coming out in uneven puffs. “It’s been too long since we’ve satisfied our passion, my love.”
I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face.
“I agree,” I replied, feeling bold and uninhibited.
When Salvatore had taken me under his wing, I’d been drawn into a world of darkness and seduction. His every touch ignited a fire within me, and we’d become passionate lovers, consumed by each other’s desires. But as the years had passed, he’d pulled away from me, drawn to another woman who bore him three sons. They were being groomed to become the next Lords of Shadows while I remained on the outskirts of his life. Yet, in those rare moments when he would return to my bed, I couldn’t resist him. My body craved his touch, even as my heart longed for something more.
A warm sense of approval washed over me, like a comforting embrace, as I sensed my father’s gaze fixed on Salvatore and me. A subtle thrill tingled through my being, lifting the hairs on my arms in a silent dance of contentment. As I stealthily glanced at him, his eyes held a proud glint, like jewels glistening in the sun. We both knew that keeping Salvatore happy was our ultimate goal, our duty. Every move we made, every word we spoke, was carefully calculated to please him and maintain his favor. It was a delicate dance we were all too familiar with now. Our lives revolved around pleasing Salvatore.
Yet, as Salvatore’s lips captured mine again, I knew I was caught in a dangerous game with no way out but surrendering to his will.
“Olivia and Roman have the sun dagger,” Father said, interrupting the moment. “They are actively searching for the moon blade. Now that you are back, Alina, you will be the one who finds the moon dagger. Once you have both knives in your possession, you will kill Roman and Olivia and the rest of the people she loves.”
A surge of power coursed through me, igniting a fiery determination. After all this time, our plans were finally coming to fruition.
I looked at Salvatore with a fierce expression. “My love, I will make you proud. We have waited so long for this moment.”
I tightened my hold on the hilt of my dagger.
Salvatore’s piercing gaze turned dark and predatory as he lunged forward, his hand snaking out to grab my throat. His fingers were like steel, digging into my skin with a force that made me gasp for air.
“You will succeed, my beautiful serpent,” he hissed. “You will be unstoppable...but follow the plan precisely and keep your emotions in check. One wrong move could ruin everything.”
He leaned closer, his hot breath tickling my ear. “Make Olivia believe your story. Play the role of the devoted mother who has finally been reunited with her daughter. Be patient with her, and above all, do not reveal your true nature to her.”
His grip tightened on my throat. “Once you possess both blades, then you may unleash your wrath. But not a moment sooner than that.”
