Dominic

The bedroom felt like a comforting sanctuary until Belmont entered with a deep sigh. For once, he had followed me—something I usually wished for after an argument—but this time, I would have preferred to be left alone.

He hated Anthony with all his heart. That was why I had been pulling away from him more and more and gravitating closer to Clock. I knew he was torn; they had been brothers for hundreds of years, and I remembered the hug and the tears in New Orleans. Anthony was loved, and we just needed to reach him.

"If it were Théodor, you'd do the same," I threw at him. For some reason, I still felt the need to justify myself.

"I know," he sighed.

I threw myself back on the bed, lying on my back with my legs dangling over the edge and my hands behind my head. "I have to give us a chance."

"Haven't you already?" he muttered, though I could hear the uncertainty in his voice.

For years, I had tried to accept being second in Belmont's life. First, it was Clocksworth, and then Conor would always have the largest part of his heart. To my surprise, I realized I no longer needed to compete. Seeing him so uncertain and jealous only irritated me. 

"No, Belmont, not enough."

"I'm just scared," he mumbled softly, sitting down beside me, making the mattress sink under his weight.

"Of what?"

"That you'll stay with him and Magnus and..."

"Magnus has moved on; he's with someone new," I interrupted.

"I didn't mean romantically," he mumbled even quieter.

I turned my head to glance up at him, sitting there with his head bowed and his eyes sad. My fingertips reached up toward his jaw; his skin had always been unnaturally smooth. "What did you mean, then?" I asked gently.

"You always sacrifice yourself for everyone else, Dominic," he whispered. "If you go to him, it has to be because you want to be with him, not for anyone else's sake."

Belmont knew me far too well, and I groaned internally. But he didn't need to worry—my plan was much more selfish than he thought."Our marriage is worth one last chance, Bel," I whispered, brushing my thumb over his name tattooed on my hand. "I can't give up."

He nodded slightly before leaning down to kiss my cheek. "We're still here, no matter what happens, Nic. You can always come back. With or without him."

Inside the office, Anthony sat in an armchair so tall that it blocked all the sunlight streaming through the windows behind him. Despite the rays shining directly into the room, the vampire remained cloaked in darkness. Beside him stood two men in suits, as motionless as sentinels, and I couldn't help but chuckle at his dramatic flair.

"Dominic," he greeted calmly, looking up at me before his eyes shifted to Clocksworth, who had stopped near the door.

"Anthony," I replied, giving him a nod before stepping forward to open the cigar box that was always in its usual spot on the desk. 

Without asking, I picked out a cigar and began peeling off its clear plastic wrapping. Leaning over the desk with a furrowed brow, I waited patiently for him to light it. He studied me intently before retrieving a lighter from his jacket pocket, leaning forward so I could reach the open flame.

"You surprise me," he remarked briefly.

I nodded slightly and moved around the desk to sit on it, letting my legs dangle beside him. "Can we talk?"

Anthony glanced toward Clock. "Is he your torturer now?" he asked amusedly, letting his hand drift up along my thigh. His touch sent my emotions spiraling, and I struggled to appear unaffected.

"He's mine in many ways, Anthony," I replied with a soft smile, playing the part Theo and I had planned. "But I don't need him to do any torturing for me. I prefer to handle that kind of dirty work myself," I added, spinning the wedding ring he wore on his pinky finger.

"I never thought you'd sink so low," Anthony chuckled, glancing toward Clock, who was quick to respond.

"I never thought you'd choose anything over Dominic, my friend. You looked happy in New Orleans."

"And now?" Anthony challenged, his tone sharp.

"And now you look as miserable as you did when you were hiding from the world, mon frère."

He sighed, gesturing for the guards to leave, even as his other hand crept up to my waist. I took a long drag from the cigar before turning and handing it to Clock, who accepted it with a smile. "Could we have a few minutes alone?"

Clock nodded, but before leaving, he stepped closer, running his fingers sensually through my hair and kissing my neck. "I'll be just outside," he whispered softly in my ear. 

I managed a wry glance at him before he left. We were treading dangerous waters, but I needed to know if there was still any trace of feeling in that dead heart of his. My proof was right in front of me—Anthony's gaze was dark, his fingers digging into my muscles.

"Why are you here?" he growled, pulling his hand away and leaning back into the armchair.

"Because I miss you," I whispered, holding his gaze. "And because I've heard what you're up to."

"So, you're not satisfied with your two lovers," he chuckled, raising an eyebrow. "You know I'm not one for sharing."

I smiled faintly and rose from the desk. "I know."

"Then you're here because you want to come back?"

I licked my lips and extended a hand, letting my fingertips lightly trace along his jaw and down to his chin. "On one condition," I murmured, lowering my gaze. "I want you to stop killing them."

"Why?" he asked curiously, studying my face."Because I can't stand watching your humanity slipping away. And soon, he won't be there anymore."

"Who?"

"The man I fell in love with. Soon, there will only be the vampire left, and I miss that other side of you, A. I miss you," I replied, my voice breaking with a quiet sob.

"You miss an illusion," he said softly, standing up. His hands moved to my neck, and his lips brushed my forehead. "An illusion of someone you wish I were."

I sighed heavily. "What are you trying to achieve, A? What do you want?"

"I'm trying to build a better Paris for everyone."

"By killing innocents?" I snapped, shaking my head. "You're no better than the Magistrate!"

He raised a surprised eyebrow. "I don't know what foolish rumors you've heard, Dominic, but I haven't killed anyone yet!" 

The blood froze in my veins as realization dawned. It was a trap. The sorcerers needed a way into the castle, and we had opened the gates for them.

My heart stopped. "Belmont!" Anthony looked at me, confused, as I rushed to the door and flung it open, shouting down toward the entrance. "Théodor! It was a trap... damn it, they've got Belmont!" 

Anthony enveloped me in his arms, and suddenly, we were whisked away from his office in a cloud of smoke. The world around us flashed by in an instant, as though time had stopped where we were while racing ahead everywhere else. It felt like being in the eye of a hurricane, eerily still amidst a chaos of motion.

I clung to my consciousness like a lifeline, steadying myself against the swirling storm around us. Relief flooded through me when I sensed Clocksworth's seething anger drawing nearer. His emotions rippled outwards like waves on water: frustration, worry, and unbridled hatred. 

A knot of concern twisted in my gut as well, but years of losses had trained me to shut off my heart in moments like this. In that way, I was more like Anthony than Clocksworth—Anthony was calculated and systematic, while Clocksworth acted on impulse and emotion.

I forced myself to summon a calm, detached demeanor, suppressing the tumult of emotions roiling within me over Belmont. Damn our naivety. Roch had stood as their witness, and I had seen him with my own eyes, heard him recount Anthony's massacre.

"Magic," my husband murmured softly into my ear, pulling me closer against his chest. "He was likely enchanted."

"You're reading my thoughts."

"You're like an open book, mon chéri. Your emotions spill out in waves," he replied.

"Will you help us?" I whispered hesitantly, almost pleadingly, as I rested my cheek against his hard, cool chest and tightened my arms around him. The sensation was familiar, achingly so, and I hadn't realized how much I'd missed it.

"I'm here, aren't I?" he answered, pressing a kiss to my forehead.

"How quickly do you think they can take the castle?"

"That depends on what we're up against," he muttered, irritation creeping into his voice as he began to slow down, stopping some distance from the castle. Not long after, Clocksworth caught up to us in his car and strode toward us. We stood in silence, surveying the castle from a concealed spot beyond the guards' line of sight and the perimeter of magic.

"They've set up a shield. Can you feel it?" Anthony asked, glancing down at me.

When I shook my head, he took my hand, and immediately, the air in front of us seemed to vibrate. "Magic," I muttered tiredly. "How do we get through it?"

"You can't," came a growl from the shadows as Conor emerged from the forest, his eyes blazing with fury. "I woke up out here and have been trying to get in ever since."

I met his anxious gaze, and without thinking, my hand slipped into his, our fingers intertwining. "He's alive," I assured him, but he only nodded in response, doubt shadowing his expression.

"For now," he growled through gritted teeth, struggling visibly to keep himself from doing something reckless.

Meanwhile, Anthony had wandered a short distance away to make a phone call. I bit my lip as I watched him, and as if Clocksworth could sense my thoughts, he placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "He's on our side, Nic. You can trust him."

"For the moment, perhaps," I sighed, sorrow weighing down my voice. "But that's a far cry from forever."

"Best to live in the moment, sweetheart," Conor muttered, pulling me into his embrace. "Planning for the future doesn't seem very fitting right now."

I rolled my eyes, giving him a small nod and a faint smile. "I promise, Conor. You and Belmont will be on a plane back to Noxwood soon, living happily ever after." 

Our eyes locked for a long moment, and in the depths of the wolf's gaze, I saw his doubt and fear. He was far from home and surrounded by French-speaking vampires.

Clocksworth let out a heavy sigh, glancing between us before looking toward Anthony. "If you help me save Belmont, I'll help you get your husband back," he said softly. 

What I didn't notice was the other vampire returning from his phone call, hearing Clocksworth's words, which seemed to be meant more for him than for me. Nor did I see the way Anthony's hard gaze softened or the subtle nod he gave to his former master of torture.

"Magnus and Camille are on their way," Anthony reassured us. "They can break through the magic, but you'll have to be patient."

I groaned internally, my imagination running wild with thoughts of what horrors awaited us inside: vampires turning into Les Griffes, bloodbaths, and death. My heart ached, knowing that even with help on the way, we might not make it in time.

"What do you think they're doing in there?" I whispered, releasing Conor to turn toward Anthony.

"Finishing what they started," he replied coldly. "You've gathered the majority of the vampire population under one roof."

"To protect them!" Clocksworth roared, visibly struggling against the instinct to charge the castle and tear everyone inside to shreds.

"I know," the prince responded calmly. "It was very noble of you. But in the end, you served them up on a platter to the Magistrate."

"If they kill everyone—" I began, but my words were cut short as the air shimmered and Magnus stepped out of a golden portal, a dark-haired witch by his side.

"Their goal isn't to kill them," Magnus said grimly, his gaze sweeping over us. "Anton leads a radical faction and no longer serves the Magistrate."

"Then what's their goal?" Anthony sneered, folding his arms across his chest.

"The same thing they did to me," Magnus replied. "They aim to use their magic to turn all vampires back into humans."