Page 67 of Dark Fate

"Well, well…the two love—"

His jab is cut short asRhyland's fist becomes an impromptu introduction toLucian's face, promptly sending him on a one-way trip to the dirt. I cringe and hold my hands up to my face.Lucianhad it coming, though.

"You fucking prick. You just had to be an ass and do the unthinkable."RhylandreprimandsLucian.

Lucianstaggers up from the dirt and the force ofRhyland's punch, lifting a hand to dab at the trickle of blood from the corner of his mouth. Despite the stinging blow, his signature smirk remains firmly in place as he straightens to face his irate brother.

"Okay, I'll admit," he draws out the words with a dramatic wince, "That one stung a little. But was the sucker punch really necessary?"Lucianarches an inquisitive brow atRhyland's thunderous expression. "It was just a harmless prank—no need to get your fangs in a twist, bro."

"Are you shitting me right now,Lucian? You see all this as one big fucking joke, huh?"Rhylandshoots back, pissed off.

Lucian's smirk takes on a more taunting edge as he jerks his chin toward me. "Although I can't blame you for being a tad... overprotective of your preciousangel's innocence after that little venom slip-up."Luciantsks mockingly. "My bad for giving her such deliciously naughty dreams. You're right; I really should learn some restraint."

"You worthless fuck."Rhyland's gaze turns wild, the beast within unleashed as he hurls himself forward.

Lucianswings back atRhyland, landing a solid punch to his face, and then it's just chaos. They're nothing but a blur of motion before us, fighting it out like a couple of unleashed wild animals.

Before I can take the next breath,Erikhas pulled his signature move, zipping up beside me so fast it's like he teleported. My hair is a testament to his supernatural entrance, fluttering in the gust he's left in his wake.

"Jesus,Erik," I blurt out, trying to tame the wild strands. "How about a heads-up next time, huh? Give a lady a fair warning?"

"My apologies, Little Huntress. What's going on?"

I exhale a drawn-out breath, then lay it all out—the wild saga:Lucian's venom overload, the wild dream,Rhyland's green-eyed monster moment.Erikis standing there, gobsmacked, taking in the full soap-opera-worthy recount.

"You permittedLucianto drink directly from you?" His voice carries a trace of mirth. "It astonishes me thatRhylandwould consent to such an act.Lucianhas a notorious penchant for stirring the shit pot."

"No doubt about that," I say, head bobbing in firm agreement. As the fury of fists and vampire speed unfurls before me, I start to suggest, "Should we—"

ButErikquickly shuts that down, interjecting a decisive "Nope." His word lands like a full stop, and we're clearly sideline spectators to this supernatural scuffle for now. "These two are no strangers to clashing; it's best to let them work through it.Lucian's error in judgment was grave, andRhyland's reaction is entirely justified in my eyes."

Standing there, nodding silently withErik's words still hanging between us, I can't tear my eyes away from the ferocious ballet of their brawl.Rhylandthrows punches like sledgehammers, butLucian's no slouch—dodging and weaving, he lands some sharp jabs in return.

Then, what seems like an eternity passes, and there's a change in the tide.Rhyland, with the ferocity of his age-old Viking roots, secures the upper hand—grabbing hold ofLucianin a way that's sure to sing soprano.

There's a moment of absolute stillness beforeRhyland's deep and commanding voice cuts through: "Do you yield, little brother?"

Lucianshakes his head, andRhylandreleases him. "Good, now fucking apologize to me andDani," he says, pointing in my direction. "And don't you ever fucking do something so goddamn sleazy to my mate. She was helping you, you son of a bitch!"

It's as if the entire camp has come to a standstill, everyone's gaze glued to the drama unfolding. For a moment, the world narrows to the spectacle of the two vampire brothers locked in their fierce and personal battle. It's a scene drawing the collective breath of onlookers, all waiting to see the outcome of this intense familial showdown.

Lucian's usual bravado seems to deflate somewhat as he turns his gaze toward me, his expression sobering. "Alright, alright, I'm genuinely sorry this time—no jokes," he says, raising his hands placatingly. He meets my eyes directly, his own holding an uncharacteristically sincere look. "It was stupid of me to pull that stunt, I'll admit it. Forgive me, please?"

The air around me is practically electric with anticipation, every pair of eyes fixed on me as I weigh the gravity of the moment.Rhyland's gaze burns with an intensity that's hard to read, holding still amid chaos like the eye of a storm. AndLucian, brought to his knees—quite literally—is looking up at me with a mixture of contrition and hope, awaiting my verdict like a man on trial.

"Yes, I forgive you," the words fall from my lips, smoothing over the jagged edge of the tension that's encased us all like a suffocating blanket.

Rhylandapproaches me, and I reach out to hold his hand, feeling the tightness of his muscles beneath my fingers. But as I gently squeeze his hand, I can feel them start to loosen, like a knot slowly unraveling.

"He's lucky I didn't give him the ultimate death for that," he growls, his voice low and menacing in my mind. "And you... I wouldn't have forgiven the shit; I would've made him beg!"

"Oh, come on,Rhyland! You whooped his ass. I think he gets the idea," I venture, frustration lacing my tone with playful reproach.

It's a blend of challenge and disbelief, hoping to coax him away from any lingering anger he might be harboring toward me for offeringLucianforgiveness. The underlying message is clear: Let's move on from this, shall we?

Rhylandreaches back through our bond, his thoughts tinged with a stubborn edge. "Yeah, but the fucker doesn't deserve your forgiveness."

I throw my hands up in exasperation, letting out a huff of frustration that's half sigh, half growl. "It'sLucian!" I exclaim, my voice rising in pitch. "Honestly, do I even need to elaborate? He's your brother—You know how he is!"

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