Page 117 of Shifting Hearts

“Their minds… they work like a network,” she curled her lip, venom in every word. “Doesn’t matter if they’re part of the pack or not. Your little wolf boy didn’t tell you that?”

Sonia shook her head.

Cassandra’s grin widened. “You can take comfort knowing he died swiftly. Pathetic little thing, no match for me. Why on earth would you betray your coven for a worthless wolf? You’re a disgrace, Sonia. A disgrace to vampires.”

“No! No! No!” Sonia’s scream ripped through the room. She tried to reach her subjects, to regain control. I hated it, every second of her torment twisting into entertainment for Cassandra.

Cackling, Cassandra leaned into the chaos, psychotic joy spilling from her. I should’ve killed her when I had the chance. I should’ve known this life would be nothing but this.

“You should’ve told him to go fuck himself,” she spat. “Instead, you offered yourself up like some little vampslut.”

“Fuck you! I was his true mate, Natasha!” Sonia roared back.

“You know what that means. You had your reasons for wanting this life, but it wasn’t to become this psycho killer who jumps at Cassandra’s every whim.

You once had someone too, someone you loved enough to give up your human life for. She’s trying to make you forget.”

I stared, jaw tight, as the truth hit like a blade. Morgan’s eyes flicked toward Sonia, hesitation battling something darker inside her.

“Listen to her, please. Make it stop. She’s telling you the truth, Morgan,” I pleaded, voice rough, almost breaking.

“Enough!” Cassandra snapped, and I felt pure hatred coil in my chest. I can’t wait for this ends. I’ll hunt her. Steven. I’ll make them pay, slowly.

Natasha’s kick slammed into Sonia’s stomach, and she skidded across the floor.

“I’m here of my own free will!”

“No, you’re not. She’s doing this to you, Morgan!” I shouted, desperation tearing through me.

“Just kill her, Blaze!” Cassandra screamed.

“How sure are you of that?” Sonia didn’t give up.

She was still reaching, still fighting. “You don’t remember anything before you woke up as this…

monster. You hated this coven. The only reason you came here was because you wanted to become a vampire.

Why, Natasha? You said it was the only way.

The only way for what? Just remember, damn it! ”

Morgan’s patience was thinning, but Sonia didn’t stop.

“Cassandra is the reason you can’t remember!

” Sonia shouted. “Those scars on your back? She ordered you beaten in public. Put those scars there herself. When you woke after the change, she spun that bullshit story about the wolves and threatened us with death if we ever spoke the truth. Cassandra hated you. She despised you. She planned to kill you!”

“Lies! Blaze, kill her now!” Cassandra wailed, and I laughed. The panic, the cracks in her voice, the sheer fear of truth being spoken aloud, it was glorious. Morgan wasn’t that stupid.

Cassandra lunged toward Morgan, cupping her face.

“I promise you, none of this is true. I found you two miles from here, back torn open, blood everywhere. Your heartbeat was faint, almost gone. I nursed you. You were my star Nightling. I love you with everything I am.” She cooed, dripping fake affection.

Sonia snorted, laughter sharp and cruel.

Disgust churned in my gut. Some monsters never break. Cassandra was one of them.

“I used to be so scared of you, Cassandra,” Sonia said, voice cold, voice steady, saying all the things I felt. “But you’re just pathetic. Your lover should’ve made sure you were dead.”

My head snapped toward Sonia. She wasn’t holding back. She was leaving everything exposed.

Cassandra’s eyes narrowed, fury flickering across her face. The truth Morgan had whispered to me, her obsession with me, blazed in her glare. She stalked toward Sonia, fingers curling into her hair.

“I told you before,” Cassandra hissed, teeth clenched, “stop interfering in things you know nothing about.”

“I know one thing: he hated you. What did you do?” Sonia forced a mocking laugh, daring her.

Cassandra’s hand came down with brutal precision, striking Sonia’s face.

I watched Morgan, frozen, staring into nothing. Her paranoia was a cage, and it was closing.

“What is she talking about? Hated you? What did you do?” Morgan asked, voice trembling.

“Yes, yes,” I muttered, bitter amusement curling in my chest. “You’re asking the right questions.”

“All lies,” Cassandra snapped. “Just another wedge. She’s trying to make us hate each other.” She surged toward Morgan, touching her face, feigning tenderness.

I grunted, rage and helplessness coiling tight.

“Don’t let her do this to us, baby. I love you.”

Bibi and Babilon were preparing, syringes of Stravain in hand. Ready to tear Sonia apart.

“You want Bibi and Babs to do this? Just say the word, baby.” Cassandra’s voice was poison, velvet-wrapped.

“Morgan, please,” I begged, tears streaking my cheeks. This was my last thread of hope, hope for her, hope for us.

“No,” she snapped.

A tear ran down my cheek. It was over. She was right, I could never love a monster like her.

Cassandra prattled on theatrically. The words didn’t matter. I’d seen her perform this act countless times, dangling hope before snatching it away. I wanted to leave, to escape the cruelty.

Then came the cackle, pure venom.

“You should’ve killed yourself the moment that wolf kissed you.”

“Love comes in all forms, Natasha. She doesn’t love you,” Sonia pressed, still trying. “Remember why you’re doing this.”

“I had no reason!” Morgan yelled. A sliver of truth cut through her scream. This was meaningless now, empty.

Cassandra read the last message Sonia had sent Ricci, dragging her through every detail of his death. She punched a number into the phone, and I heard it dial.

“Darius.”

I closed my eyes. He knew her, knew what she looked like, knew she killed his daughter. Darius was relentless, cunning. A predator in every sense.

“Your daughter has something to confess,” Natasha’s voice cut through, calm, almost serene. Not a hint of the monster I knew.

I covered my ears, already knowing how this would end, and turned my back on Sonia.

My shoulders trembled as her muffled screams slipped through anyway. The sound carved into me, relentless.

This was the last. There was no fixing us. No patching the irreparable.

I watched Sonia burn. Ash drifting in the air where she had been. Her screams were gone, silent and permanent.

Darius would never stop hunting Morgan. Never stop wanting her dead.

And she was right. She had enemies on every side. I had loved ones I could never protect.

I wanted it all to stop. I begged it too. But then Morgan screamed.

I turned back. Flames clung to her, twisting over her skin like living fire.

Maybe killing Sonia had been her undoing.