Page 252 of Shifting Hearts 1
“Blaze! Where are the others?” Cassandra shouted, desperation cracking her voice.
“They’re where they belong!” Morgan’s words slammed into the walls, soaked in hatred, echoing back at us.
“What did you do?” Cassandra demanded.
“Why?” Morgan pressed again, eyes locked on Sonia, ignoring everything else.
Sonia’s voice was soft, unwavering. “It was the only way I could free you. I’m sorry it didn’t work.”
I froze. Bravery like that. Fighting until the very end. Sonia was a force.
Morgan’s head tilted, a tight nod.
“Don’t do this, please,” I begged, standing inches from her, heart in my throat.
“How did you know?” Sonia asked, voice trembling.
“I’m not sure you’ll like the answer,” Morgan said, gaze burning into Sonia’s. “You want to know? It was your secret lover, Sonia.”
“How—”
“How, how?” she mocked, voice high-pitched, sharp. “Do you even know why Cass wants wolves, Sonia? I doubt it. You’re just another lackey.” She tapped a finger against her temple, slow, deliberate.
“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.
