Chapter 35: War Unleashing

DANICA

Hugo and I weren’t human. Yet, we shared the same fervor that humans have for each other. The same chemical craving for release, fueled by lust and love.

He kissed every inch of my body. Perhaps it was the fear of never experiencing this again that drove him. My nails dug into his back, leaving marks I wished wouldn’t fade so quickly.

The feel of my teeth on his shoulder only made him moan in pleasure. I held back my own cries of passion as our bodies intertwined.

A man and a woman, lost in a dance that was as sinful as it was beautiful. Our breaths grew ragged as our bodies moved in rhythm.

My back arched, seeking him, and he pulled me closer, as if there was anywhere else I could possibly want to be. For a moment, everything else ceased to exist.

All I could think about was him and me, and how to get closer, feel more, kiss him deeper. His moans were music to my ears, knowing I was the one causing his ecstasy.

A simple small-town girl making a devil surrender in pleasure. I was a mess, too. Tugging at the sheets, clutching at anything within reach.

That’s what happens when a man knows how to touch a woman. How to make her feel beautiful. How to ignite her passion.

And then, a release that shattered us both. A moment of silence as we stared at each other, wondering if we had made a mistake.

Because we had experienced something we craved more of. There was nothing casual about what we had done. If things were simpler, if we were both fully human, maybe it would have been.

But now, it was utterly bizarre. We drove to Creed’s meeting in silence. It was an odd sensation.

We were together, yet it felt like we were miles apart. He was in my thoughts, and I had no doubt I was in his. I felt freer, closer to him.

But one question lingered… What if it was a mistake? A beautiful, glorious mistake. We couldn’t make this a habit…

We couldn’t repeat what had happened in my room. I didn’t want to be the reason for his exile… I didn’t even want to entertain the thought that something so beautiful could be so wrong.

Afterward, we lay there, holding each other in silence until it was time to leave. Not a word passed between us.

What could we say? Everything we wanted to express had been conveyed without words, and everything we needed to say was too painful to voice.

The harsh reality of our actions hung in the air. We arrived at Creed’s house to the sound of cheers.

It reminded me of the time they had captured a werewolf, a memory I didn’t want to revisit. I glanced at Hugo, who looked as bewildered as I felt.

We walked in to find Creed had laid out an array of weapons—bolts, guns, daggers. I spotted Daisy and approached her, Hugo trailing behind me.

“What’s going on?” I asked, unable to make sense of the overlapping conversations.

“They’re preparing for war,” she replied, her worry barely concealed.

“War?” Hugo asked, his attention now fully on Daisy.

“Tomorrow night, they’re taking everyone and everything they can,” she explained, her face etched with distaste.

“They’re all willing to risk their lives for proof. They plan to venture deep into the forest and hunt until they find something. It’s serious now.”

I turned to Hugo. “What does this mean for the mythical? Can they just gather evidence like that?” I asked.

“Yes… I can warn them, but it won’t be enough. There’s too little time to alert everyone nearby about what could happen.

“If they encounter anyone, they’ll likely get themselves killed or, worse, find the evidence they need. If they find something convincing, people will start raiding the forests.

“The sky’s magic is weakening, and more people are stumbling into these territories,” he explained.

“What happens to those who stumble upon them?” Daisy asked.

He gave her a look that suggested she was asking something foolish. “There’s no such thing as a dumb question, but this one comes close. The only solution is to kill them,” he stated, his tone casual, as if death was a trivial matter to him.

Daisy was visibly shaken by his words, but she tried to hide it. She wasn’t accustomed to such casual talk of death.

“What’s our strategy?” Daisy asked Hugo, who responded with a narrowed gaze.

“We don’t have a strategy.” He gestured between himself and me. “Danica and I will come up with something, but there’s no room for humans in this.

“You don’t need to involve yourself. It’s best to stay out of harm’s way if war breaks out,” Hugo said, walking away from us, phone in hand. “We have a problem…,” were his parting words.

Creed approached us next. “Ladies, will you be joining us?” he asked, his face lit up with excitement.

I had thought him to be a good man, but his eagerness to cause such harm seemed cruel. This was the happiest I had ever seen him. He usually wore a perpetual frown.

“Of course, there’s no obligation. Even moral support would mean a lot to us,” he added.

I glanced at Daisy. “We’ll consider it,” I told Creed.

“And you?” Creed turned to address someone behind us—it was Hugo.

“You can count on me!” Hugo declared, his voice strong, but his expression troubled.

As Creed walked away, I watched Hugo, noting his discomfort. The meeting proceeded as usual, except for the undercurrent of impending conflict.

It was as if they were thirsting for blood. I couldn’t understand why. What harm had the mythical creatures done to humans?

As the meeting neared its conclusion, a searing pain erupted in my chest. I took the opportunity to slip away from the crowd, seeking refuge in an empty room.

The pain was manageable, but it made me wince. I had no idea what was happening. I gripped the table by the window, my other hand pressing against my chest in a futile attempt to alleviate the pain.

I felt as if my mind was shutting down, a sense of dread washing over me about what was to come.