Page 139 of Red's Beast

At least, I fell in love, even if it is with the big bad wolf.

Lucian

Lily lies lifeless in my arms. I break down sobbing as I hold her and stroke her long blonde hair from her face. Natalia has just arrived, but seems clueless about what has happened.

“You did good, Lucian. Now, we may live in peace. Not only have you freed yourself from the curse, but you have broken mine and my sister’s from long ago.”

“Peace? You think that I want peace after this? Peace for me is seeing your head on a spike and then I’ll go to be with her.”

She seems to have come to her senses and looks at me with a new sense of understanding. “What?”

I turn around, my eyes focusing on her. “How dare you make me harm her. She is my mate, something to be treasured, and you made me hurt her.”

She laughs, but then her eyes land on my throat. “It all seems so trivial now. You’re alive and she’s gone. It looks like the bite didn’t do anything for you. If it worked, you’d be dead by now.”

Emmeline coughs. “Natalia, I can’t keep them all at bay much longer.”

Natalia turns and shrugs. “Hold them as long as you can. If you die, so be it.”

Emmeline’s eyes widen before she regains her composure. If Natalia thought Emmeline will just do as she says, I guess she is going to learn the hard way. “After all we’ve been through and I’ve done for you, you want to cast me aside like I’m trash. Who cares if I die? That’s really your response? Oh, sister. While you lived amongst the humans and sent me to the realm, I have grown more powerful than you can imagine. Are you sure you want to play this game?”

Natalia just laughs and waves her hand in the air. “Go on. Free them and see who they attack first. You were always the weaker one.”

They turn on each other. Emmeline releases the magic holding my family, Corbin, and Lillian's grandmother, so she can counter Natalia.

Grandmother rushes over and drops to her knees beside us. She reaches out, her hand trembling as she strokes her hair. “This was never supposed to happen. My poor sweet Lillian.”

My parents rush over, my mother leaning over my shoulder. “Is this your sweet mate you told us about?”

“This is her. I wish you could have met her.” My voice becomes softer. We were supposed to be together and live out our lives once the curse was broken, but instead, I’m sitting here holding her lifeless body as the witches duel it out in front of me.

A stray magic tendril reaches out, caressing my back. As I turn to look over my shoulder, I see Natalia dueling with Emmeline with one hand and looking behind her at me, using her other hand. This woman knows no bounds.

“I want her dead. Both of them. Ma, please watch over my mate.”

Suddenly, her eyes focus on my neck and tears form. “You exchanged bites.”

“I didn’t know why she asked me to bite her, but I did and now I understand. It was in hopes I would wake up from the spell Natalia had me under. She was determined to free me, even if it cost her life to do so. It won’t be in vain.”

I rise to my feet and say my goodbyes because once this is finished, I will join my Lily wherever she is.

Without her, there is no life after.

I step forward, preparing myself for what is coming. Natalia and Emmeline both turn their attention to me.

“Oh, does the puppy want to play?” Emmeline asks sweetly, her magic receding into her hands. “Is it our death you seek?”

Natalia smiles. “It looks like I need to wipe your mind again. Then you’ll be mine forever.”

“Why are you so set on having me by your side? If she had taken me as a mate, then maybe she could have given you a drop of her blood to free yourselves. Did you ever think of just asking to be set free?” A low growl escapes as I take one imposing step forward, uncaring that I’m still naked. “None of what you have done makes sense. Do you ever think of how you cast your curses before you do it?”

“You are mine because of what Liam did all those years ago. He should have never rejected me. So what? Your fated mate died. You can take another,” she says calmly.

Grandmother laughs behind me as the witches stop using their magic and look at her.

“I think you have it twisted, Natalia. You gave Lucian a certain condition that affects the curses. He has to take a mate and then kill you and your bonded coven mate or you can use blood from our family line that ends curses. That is the part you left out, but the blood in our family never replaces a fated mate bond. You have doomed yourself.”

Her eyes widen, and I know then she hasn’t thought it through.

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