Page 26

H.A.Z.E

I thought I killed my pawn before I had the chance to truly exploit her existence, but now, perhaps not.

He has his second mate—or maybe not second. From the lack of surprise on everyone's faces, they seem to be falling in his lap like candy. But this weak and innocent little wolf, gasping and crying in pain on her knees as her so-called mate turns his back on her, seems like my perfect pawn.

Because, despite the nonchalance and the coldness he displayed, I saw it. Smelled it— weakness. I wouldn't be a Nightwalker if I didn't exploit it, and this little wolf would be a perfect pawn in my plans.

Once the men leave, Reece races towards the girl and drops to her knees for her, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I-It h-hurts," the girl— Alissa— cries.

Mia follows Reece, her white dress dragging behind her as she perches low and takes Alissa's hand between hers and chants softly beneath her breath. A soft glow envelops them, like a flicker of moonlight breaking through trees. It isn’t just any light, though; it’s silver, warm and alive.

The magic buzzes around the room, thickening the air with a sweet and almost intoxicating energy as Alissa stares in awe at the sight.

I tilt my head, watching the three figures carefully. No one was surprised when he rejected her, but I found it odd.

Riot is a predator. That much is fact, and it doesn't matter who you are; predators with power and position have never rejected their females. Their soulmates. Their equals. Their Queens.

Mia smiles warmly down at the girl. "That should help."

"W-What did you do, y-your Eminence?" Alissa stutters, and I can already guess what she had done.

"I healed your bond," she assures Alissa, but Alissa simply frowns, and Mia seems to realise. "Riot can be stubborn. This is just his little act of rebellion against the Gods, similar to a child throwing a tantrum."

"Mia," Reece warns, wearing an equally similar disapproving frown.

Mia simply ignores her. I, on the other hand, smile.

This could be good. There's no greater bond than a mate bond, and from the few bonds I've seen, it's rare. Riot can’t ignore it forever; soon, his cold heart will beat only for her. Alissa.

Reece leads Alissa towards the exit, and the two of them walk past us. I expected Mia to follow along, but she stops beside me wearing a scowl I'm sure I'll see a lot. "You're not welcome to join us."

I raise a brow. "Am I not the human's bodyguard?"

"I'll take care of Reece while she's here," Mia scoffs, "so go back to your prison and stay there."

"And the Gods have approved of this little side quest of yours, have they?" I smile, knowing damn well they haven't.

Mia grits her teeth, cerulean eyes swirling. She walks away, and I'm about to follow, only to meet grey eyes watching me curiously. "Why are you angry at the Gods?"

"Because they're useless."

Eden narrows his eyes, throwing me a disapproving frown. "They won't like that you said that."

"I certainly hope so, Baby Flame," I muse as he shakes his head. I follow after Mia and Eden, who is a step behind me.

We enter the kitchen. Reece is handing Alissa a glass of water, and I immediately rummage through the cabinets and grab a bottle of vodka and a glass.

I take a seat at the end of the island beside the kid; unfortunately, and from the nasty side eye, I know my seating choice annoys him as well. I pour myself a good amount when a soft voice whispers, "Why doesn't he want me?"

Right as I'm about to open my mouth to answer, a small hand comes down on my mouth. I glare at the kid; the kid glares back.

This little brat — just wait until I ship you off to your father.

Reece answers, taking Alissa's hand. "It's not for any reason you think, Alissa. Riot has been through a lot, and I know it's no excuse, but… he simply has no interest in being happy."

"A-And… you're all okay with that?" Alissa asks carefully as I slap the kid's hand away from my mouth and take a sip of my drink.

"Of course not," Mia intervenes and turns to Reece with hard eyes. "Right, Reece?"

"Don't look at me like that, Mia." I hold my glass out to Eden. He looks between my drink and me, and I raise an encouraging brow towards it. A spark of curiosity flickers in his grey eyes. "We tried everything, and then Leila— Absolutely not! "

My drink is snatched away, and I turn to look at a furious Reece. I smile innocently. "What?"

"That is not okay!" she hisses with narrowed eyes, then turns to Eden. "And you should know better, Eden."

"Relax, it was a joke," I grumble, snatching my drink back and swallowing the rest of the liquid. "Child curiosity is fun to play with."

"Sorry," the kid murmurs, looking down at his lap with red cheeks. Reece stares at him, her angry expression melting away at the sight of her son.

She leans over and kisses the top of his head. "I know, baby."

"As we were saying." Mia sighs, and I glance back at Alissa, her green eyes wide and staring right at me. I watch her carefully as I pour myself another glass. "We want Riot to be happy, but he spends his time hunting Nightwalkers." Or enslaving them. "He can't live his life like that."

This mate of his is different. She looks at me with fear in her eyes, but she doesn't seem to know what I am yet. I smile at her, and she glances away hesitantly. "You think I-I c-can change that?"

"We know you can heal him," Mia corrects, "and that's all we want."

"But not at the cost of your life and your happiness, Alissa," Reece jumps in. "That's important. I know Riot, and I know rejecting you hurt him. Of course it hurts him. But he's the best, most considerate man I know. And if he rejected you, it's because he wants you to be happy."

"Just not with him," she whispers numbly.

"You don't know that," Mia begins, placing a hand on Alissa's shoulder.

"You can make him happy, Alissa. If you stay, you can both be happy.

It won't be easy, and there'll be lots of tears, but I truly believe the Gods want him to heal, and I think you can be that for him. You can help him to love again."

Reece chooses to remain silent, her hands tied together on the island. She's clearly conflicted between sparing Alissa the heartbreak and leaning into the chance to help the Saviour move on from Leila.

"Y-You want me to stay?" Alissa stiffens, turning her gaze to me.

"Of course, I think it'll help the both of you," Reece adds. Alissa's cautious gaze peels away from me reluctantly.

"I-I'll give it a chance," she whispers, "and despite what creatures have said, I have hope, too. I guess I can try to convince him to accept our bond."

"Just like that?" I intervene, taking another sip from my drink. "He rejects you, not even privately, and leaves you to pick up the pieces. And you want to give him a second chance, not even five minutes after he broke your pitiful little heart?"

Riot isn't going to love this pathetic, weak little creature before me. He needs someone strong, someone who isn't afraid to bite back at him, someone he can call an equal. If I have to be the villain to mould her into his perfect Queen, I will.

And after... After, I'll kill her, too.

"I-I owe it to myself to try," Alissa whispers back, hands clenched tightly around her glass. "I-I want to be happy, too. My mate just happens to be someone who doesn't; I'll change his mind. He'll realise we can be perfect for each other."

"Perfection is an illusion, not to mention fucking boring," I groan, staring at the dark amber liquid inside my bottle. "And do you want to know something?"

"Haze…" Mia and Reece warn as if they could stop me.

"He a predator—the Grand Arbiter. Do you honestly think happiness is enough to appease a creature of chaos and blood? If you want him to accept you…" I lift my gaze to hers and smirk. From the stiffening of her posture, I know she sees my golden eyes. "You'll have to do a lot more than just stay ."

"Y-Y-You're a-a…" Alissa can't seem to finish as she stumbles out of her chair. I watch her, every muscle in her body trembling, her breath coming in quick, shallow gasps. Her wide eyes flicker, full of panic. She’s afraid, so much so that the fear seems to twist her, distorting her very essence.

Her body convulses, a violent tremor rippling beneath her skin as if something inside her fights to be free.

The flesh of her arms tightens, stretched taut by unseen forces, while bones groan and snap, reshaping with agonizing slowness.

A strangled gasp leaves her lips—a sound caught between a whimper and a scream.

She turns to me, her green eyes wide, pleading, before her body succumbs to the inevitable.

Fur erupts from her skin in waves, silken white streaked with pale pink, shimmering like dusk-kissed snow.

Her fingers curl inward, nails stretching into sharp, hooked claws.

Her teeth lengthen into wicked points, and her breath comes in ragged, shuddering gasps.

Four tails, sleek and ethereal, unfurl behind her, twitching with pain and uncertainty.

A fox living amongst wolves— interesting.

My gaze tightens at her tails, watching closely. I've never seen a fox with four tails before.

Fear radiates from her, thick as smoke, her wild gaze darting frantically around the room.

Reece yanks Eden back as Alissa bolts, her trembling form vanishing through the widening doorway—one that seemed to reshape itself just for her, guiding her straight to her mate.

"You seem to be enjoying yourself!" Mia snaps, storming right up to me.

"I am," I muse, "things are finally getting interesting."

Mia rolls her eyes and races after the frightened wolf—no , fox. Reece simply stares at me with Eden in her arms, the guilt in her eyes evident. "Don't hurt her too, Haze." Her words are low and weak when she begs, "Please."

"I'll let you in on a secret, but only because you begged so pretty." I slam back the rest of my drink and stare blankly at Reece. "I didn't know I was holding her heart until it was in my hands."