Page 198 of Halfblood Deceived

Luna’s eyes brimmed with tears, but she squared her shoulders. “I wish to stay with my chosen family, Lady Davashkov.” She zeroed her eyes on her father and mother. “They are no family of mine. Not anymore. Never again.” Her voice broke, but she meant every word.

Aella felt her honesty down to her bones. She squeezed her hand a bit tighter.

Luna returned the squeeze.

Kamilla hummed, turning her attention to the pack’s leader, Luna’s father. “You heard her.”

“You can’t tell me what to do, Davashkov,” the male growled. “You are nothing to me. No one. I will take that ungrateful bitch with me and make her obey me! Get the fuck out of my way, you meddling vampire whore.” He shoved Kamilla.

The vampire princess remained as immobile as a marble statue.

“Oh, shit!” at least thirty different people chorused. Aella included.

Kamilla grabbed Luna’s father by the neck and lifted him off the floor as if he were weightless.

His mate, and the werewolf whom Aella believed was his son, tried to lunge for Kamilla, but Zeydan and Andreas stood in their way.

Luna gasped.

The werewolf male snarled and tried to pry Kamilla’s hand off him, but it was a futile attempt. His face turned an unbecoming shade of purple.

“Listen carefully,” Kamilla said, voice loaded with predatory warning. “You are not taking Luna. You and your pack of brutes will be escorted out of my club and out of my city right fucking now. And if you ever dare to come back, if you dare try to abduct Luna, I will drag your pathetic arse to the court and put you in a tiny cell for decades. Are we fucking clear?”

The male gritted his teeth so hard Aella thought he might break them, but nodded.

Kamilla released him.

He fell to the floor, coughing, but stood fast, huffing like a bull. “Your deviant reign won’t last forever, Kamilla Davashkov. And I hope to be there to see you fall.”

“Keep hoping,” Kamilla said. “Vaz, Jordan, Reese, Rod, and Carina, please escort them out.”

“With pleasure, Lady Davashkov,” Vaz said.

The others bowed their heads and herded the frozen and huffing werewolves out.

Luna’s mother tugged her arm free of Reese’s grip and looked over her shoulder at her daughter. “You are a disappointment. I wish I’d never birthed you.”

Luna flinched. Her pain was so strong that Aella could feel it like a stab to her own heart.

“Move,” Reese ordered, pushing Luna’s mother forward, their jaw ticking.

Kamilla arched a brow at the snoopy patrons, hands on her hips. Everyone turned away, looking sheepish. A snap of her fingers later, the DJ turned up the music.

Aella exhaled with relief.

Kam slid her gaze toward Andreas, and then Zeydan. “I have some matters to attend to here that cannot wait. Would you please make sure they cross the border?”

“Of course,” Zeydan said.

Andreas smirked as if Kamilla had given him a present. “It’ll be fun.” He trailed after Reese.

Zeydan met Aella’s eyes and granted her one of his half smiles. Her breath caught even as she returned it, or hoped she did and wasn’t grimacing. She was missing him already.

That’s what you get for avoiding him, you idiot; she scolded herself.

Zeydan gave her a parting nod before following Andreas and the others outside.

Ethan turned to face Luna. He cupped her face gently in his hands. “Are you alright, Mooncake?”

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