Chapter 141: Chapter 141

Together ROYCE.

“Fucker!” Alejandro growls as he goes over to the door. “Where the fuck have you been?” 6 “Sorry Dad,” Dante says as Alejandro embraces him. I’m not so sure if he’s angry or relieved to see him as he slaps him on his back. 1 He greets all his family, teasing Delsanra that she looks beautiful. There’s an inside joke there as everyone but Rayhan laughs, instead he raises his eyebrows at his younger cousin. 16 He walks over to the bed, and I look at Skyla, who is sleeping, the image of her fighting with everything she has raw on my mind.

“I’m proud of you, My Audacious Lioness…” he murmurs, crouching down beside the bed and kisses her forehead before he tilts his head. to Intriguing that he calls her a lioness, think a lioness is linked to Bastet. Was it a coincidence? 10 I don’t think anything is a coincidence with this man. He brushes her hair back before he glances at me.

3 “Things are looking good.” He says before he turns and looks at everyone in the room. ” Apophis is breaking divine laws which is not going to work in his favour. He may think he’s getting a foothold on earth, but if and when he is defeated, he will lose the favour of many…” 1 He drops to the ground, leaning against the bed, his arm resting on the cushion as he plays with Skyla’s hair from his position on the floor. 1 “Do you know about Chris?” Rayhan asks him quietly.

Dante looks up. There’s an innocence in his eyes for a moment, before it changes from curiosity to worry. “What about him?”

His parents exchange looks as Leo looks away.

“He doesn’t fucking know all.” He mutters as Dante slips on some sunglasses that Kiara passes him, giving him a gentle smile. 3 “He’s dead,” Azura says, her eyes glistening as she looks at Dante. This time directly, that’s something I noticed when he was greeting them. None of them really looked into his eyes properly. 3 His heart rate quickens, and his face changes to regret, which he masks pretty fast, and he stands up looking at Rayhan.

“I’m so sorry, I didn’t know.” He says quietly.

Rayhan shakes his head. “It’s fine, you just got back.”

“Where is Raihana?” Dante asks, now concern clear in his voice.

“Right here.”

I glance at the door to see her standing there. Her eyes are red, and without makeup, she looks far more vulnerable than the woman I had first met. Her hair is plaited with strands framing her face.

She tries to smile at him, her eyes glittering with tears, and he closes the gap between them, pulling her into his arms. His heart is racing as he kisses the top of her head. 1 “I didn’t know. I’m sorry.” He murmurs.

The tension in the room is intense and I can’t even imagine what she must be going through, to lose the person you love so deeply that there is no purpose to life without them… I wouldn’t be able to survive.

“He’s gone… I wish you were here.” She murmurs quietly.

“I know… I didn’t see this.” His voice is full of regret and guilt that he’s desperately trying to hide. 1 He holds himself responsible for a lot, that much I can see as if he is at fault for what happened.

If anything, it’s my fault. Apophis’ issue is with Helios, namely the Solaris people. Us… I know regardless of who he was after, the Rossis and their family would be the first in line, as Chris was… I wish I could change that.

She’s young. She had her life ahead of her.

“I know things are beyond hard right now, but I truly believe that one day you will be rewarded with something even better.” 21 Dante’s whisper is loud in the silence, resonating like a promise to hold dear. The thundering hearts of those in the room are like the rhythm of a drum to accompany his words.

Words that could be taken in many ways, but only he truly knew what they meant.

She looks up at him, hurt in her eyes. “What can be better than Chris? I lost my world… This is a feeling I’d not wish on my enemy…

I understand Mom now.” 10 Dante simply nods and gives her a small smile before placing a soft kiss on her forehead.

“You are fighters.” 2 She takes a deep breath as she pulls away. ”

So tell me, how do we end this? I want revenge and I don’t care for any laws. When I find the one who killed my man, I will kill them.” She says, trying to steady her shaky voice.

A promise that I’m certain she’ll fulfil. 4 And I agree with her. 1 Rayhan puts his arms around her, hugging her tightly. She leans against his chest, as Delsanra wraps her arms around her from behind, resting her head against Raihana’s shoulder. 2 “Alright, let’s get our plan laid out, it’s time to channel the gods…” Leo says raising his brows, he isn’t one to believe in this stuff that much is clear. But if this is what’s going to help, I’m all for it and he’s doing his best to accept it too. 2 “Right, so this is what we’re going to do…” I begin as I reluctantly let go of Skyla’s hand.

Kiara walks over to the bed and sits down on it, taking Skyla’s hand and giving me a gentle smile. 1 A promise that she’ll take care of Skyla while we handle what’s needed…

Mom had remained with Kiara in Skyla’s room when we moved to a different room and began planning, and Azura and Phoenix. had joined us, with the little one playing happily on the floor. It’s obvious she was a night baby.

Leo may act like he doesn’t give a fuck about things, but the way he was planning, talking and at the same time playing with his daughter was something pleasant to witness. It made me wonder if one day, when all of this was over, if me and Sky would have that… just not for several years.

Raihana had remained and despite her mental state, she had given a lot of input, even when broken-

hearted she was remaining strong.

There was an understanding between the Westwoods and Rossis and the way they respected one another’s opinions, took them into account, and gave their own advice was impressive to observe. 1 It wasn’t about who gave the best idea or had the smartest plan, but how it could all work together, combined. That was something I haven’t really seen in life. Dad always taught us to see life as a competition, a survival where only the strongest make it.

Halfway through the night Marcel, Kataleya and Liam joined us too. 3 Delsanra and Raihana had already begun researching crystals and runes associated with Bastet and were planning on engraving these markings to do with Bastet around the mansion. For now, there was no point in moving to the Arden mansion without causing suspicion.

Two hours later, we have our plan set.

Everyone knows what they’re doing and despite everyone yawning away, we’re all feeling pretty confident.

“So, let’s get some fucking sleep. I’m calling for a council meeting tomorrow at noon. We have enough shit to prove that Aleric cannot fucking walk free. Today was his second night there.” Alejandro says, smoking his cigarette as he tries not to fall asleep.

“It’s already morning,” Dante says, stretching. “I don’t really think I’m sleepy.”

“Yeah… you should babysit your cousin then,” Azura suggests, pointing at her daughter, who is blowing bubbles with her saliva and is incredibly fascinated by it.

Dante smiles, lifting her up. “Cousin or niece? I see her as a Rossi, so niece, it is.” He says, answering his own question.

Azura rolls her eyes as Leo smirks.

“She looks like a Westwood.” 1 “Hmm? I don’t see it… maybe the eyes… I’m afraid Rossi trumps Westwood.” He says, making Azura shove him. “Alright, I’m going to try to get some sleep. I’m going to take you up on babysitting someday.” 1 “I never offered,” Dante remarks with a smirk.

Azura sticks her tongue out at him before she picks Phoenix up from the floor where she was rolling around and leaves the room.

Leo follows her as Dante gets up too.

“We should get to bed too. Come on.”

Delsanra says to Raihana as she stands up and holds out her hand to her. From the way they talked, I could tell they were close, just as their mates had been. At least she’ll have them.

Delsanra glances at Rayhan who gives her a small nod. He’s hurting too, but he’s remaining strong for his family.

The two women are about to leave the room when Raihana’s phone rings at the same. time as Alejandro’s beeps.

I look between them, getting up from where I had been sitting on the floor.

“What is it?” Raihana asks, answering the call.

“There’s been a serpent attack to the west of the coven, on our grounds! Several witches are dead, Serafina.” Raihana looks up sharply as Alejandro passes his phone to Dante, a deep frown on his face, Dante frowns, passing it to me after reading it. It’s a similar message, reporting the killing. Seven dead in one night… five of which were witches. 3 “How and when?” Raihana asks sharply.

“Just now, and I hope you know what this means, Serafina?”

“What?” Raihana asks icily.

“It means that one of the suspects was free on the night this happened. So that surely means something!”

“Oh please! There’s no proof he has anything to do with Apophis. At this rate, I feel the witches want the Solaris King gone too.” She says coldly, “You are not thinking clearly, Serafina!”

“I lost my mate! I AM thinking clearly! I want the killer dead! I want this over, but I am not blaming the innocent!” Raihana snarls.

Delsanra takes the phone from her. ”

Delsanra here. It seems far too coincidental to me, and as witches, we should be more aware of the manipulation that might be happening…”

“This is not up for discussion. If The Solaris King, Alpha Royce Jonathan Arden, does not hand himself in within the next twelve hours. Things will take an ugly turn.” The Woman warns.

Delsanra’s eyes flash red as Alejandro motions for her to give him the phone.

“The King wishes to talk to you.” She says, holding it out to him.

“Alejandro. Let’s get this shit clear. I’m the fucking King and I’ll fucking decide who will and who will not be fucking walking free.

There’s a council meeting in about seven fucking hours. There’s enough proof there to prove Royce Arden’s innocence, and we will clear that shit up at the meeting later.” He cuts the call. “I fucking hate that woman.”

Raihana nods her agreement, about to speak when Leo appears at the door, his heart thundering, and before he even speaks, I know he has bad news.

“It’s gone, the fucking video, any other bits we had fucking gathered, everything. That shit just disappeared.” Leo says coldly, his eyes blazing steel blue. “Royce. Check Sky’s phone. Do you still have her recording?” 1 My heart races as I take her phone from my pocket and unlock it. Searching for it, I realise it’s…

gone…

What the hell….

I go to her sent emails only to see that there’s no sign of me ever forwarding it to Leo.

“There’s nothing,” I say quietly. A tense silence falls in the room, and I look at Leo who looks pissed. “It doesn’t matter, we go to Plan B. We’re doing this my way, I’m done with all the deception and damn lies.”7 “All in favour, raise your hands,” Dante says.

I glance around at those in the room as everyone motions their agreement to the plan.

If this council meeting doesn’t go as planned, then the moment Aleric is released from the witches, he’ll walk straight into our trap.

There will not be any more setbacks, even if we hit a slight stumble in the road, it will not stop us. 1 Because the light will always conquer the darkness. 5