Chapter 47
The cave loomed before us, a gaping maw in the side of the mountain, swallowing what little moonlight reached its depths. The air was thick with the stench of death, decay, and something darker. My heart pounded in my chest as Jeremiah, my father, and I stood at the entrance with a group of warriors. Helena was to our right, her blade glinting with confidence, while the rest of the men waited outside, ready to strike down any banshee that escaped.
Jeremiah’s voice broke through the tense silence. “Alexander’s men will stay outside,” he ordered sharply. “They’ll handle any that try to flee.”
I glanced at him, confused. “Why only my father’s men?”
His jaw tightened, but he didn’t meet my eyes. “Trust me,” he said curtly.
Something about his tone made unease coil in my stomach, but now wasn’t the time to question him.
We stepped into the cave, torches lighting the way. The flickering flames cast shadows that danced on the jagged walls, turning the place into a nightmare. The further we walked, the louder the sounds became—inhuman whispers, guttural snarls, the scrape of claws against stone.
Helena unsheathed her dagger. “Here we go,” she muttered.
It happened in an instant. The shadows moved, and suddenly, the banshees were upon us. Their piercing shrieks echoed in the cavern, making my ears ring.
“Hold the line!” my father barked, his voice commanding as he plunged his sword into the first banshee that lunged at him.
Jeremiah was a blur of motion beside me, his blade slicing through a creature’s neck with brutal precision. I raised my sword, narrowly blocking the clawed hand of another banshee before driving the blade into its chest.
Chaos erupted around us. The creatures came in waves, their pale, grotesque forms twisting in the dim light. My breaths came in gasps as I fought, my muscles screaming with the effort. But even as I struck them down, more appeared, their shrieks growing louder and more disorienting.
“Astrid!” Helena’s voice cut through the din as she drove her dagger into a banshee’s skull. “You know what to do!”
I froze, my grip tightening on my sword. She was right. This was my moment. But doubt crept in like a poison. What if I failed? What if my scream wasn’t enough?
“Astrid!” my father called, his voice filled with urgency. “You’ve got this. We believe in you!”
I looked at him, my chest tightening. He stood firm, his sword gleaming with blood, his eyes filled with a confidence I didn’t feel.
I nodded, swallowing my fear. Taking a deep breath, I let out the loudest, most powerful scream I could muster.
The effect was immediate. The banshees shrieked in agony, clutching their heads as their bodies convulsed. Their black veins burst, spraying dark ichor across the cave walls.
Helena laughed triumphantly as one creature collapsed at her feet, writhing in pain. “That’s it, Astrid!”
Jeremiah’s voice was sharp. “Fall back! Now!”
He lit four torches, their flames roaring to life. He handed two to my father and the others to the warriors closest to us. Without hesitation, they hurled the flaming torches into the depths of the cave. Oil had been poured earlier, and the fire spread like a living thing, engulfing everything in its path.
The banshees screamed, their shrieks mingling with the roar of the flames. The heat was intense, driving us back toward the entrance as the fire consumed the cave.
One by one, the creatures fell, their bodies writhing before crumbling to ash. Some tried to escape, but the warriors outside were ready, cutting them down before they could flee.
I stopped screaming, my throat raw, but a smile spread across my face. “We did it,” I said, turning to Jeremiah. “We actually did it.”
But his expression wasn’t one of victory. His eyes were locked on my father, his jaw clenched, and in his hand was a gleaming dagger.
Time seemed to slow as he pointed the blade at my father’s back.
“This is all your fault,” Jeremiah growled, his voice low and venomous.
My father turned, his expression hardening. “What are you talking about?”
Jeremiah’s hands trembled, but his gaze didn’t waver. “You brought monsters into this world because you made enemies everywhere you went. You killed my parents and made me an orphan. I know what you really are ,a monster. You deserve to perish with the rest of the monsters.”
“Jeremiah!” I cried, stepping between them.
My father’s hand gripped my arm, trying to pull me back. “Astrid, move”
"No I will not move,"I stood firm. “If you want to kill him, you’ll have to kill me first.”
Jeremiah’s eyes widened, the dagger in his grip. “Astrid, don’t do this get out of the way.”
I took a step closer, my voice trembling but resolute. “I know what was done in the past was wrong, but this is my father. He will always be my father. He’s trying. And he’s my family. I won’t let you take him away—not from me, not from my mother, and not from my unborn brother.”
His jaw clenched “Astrid…”he warned me one more time.
“If you kill him,” I continued, my voice breaking, “you’ll destroy me, too.”
For a moment, he didn’t move. Then, slowly, he lowered the dagger.
“You should leave,” he said, his voice hoarse. “Take your father, your mother, your entire family, and go. Leave my land. Because no matter how hard I try, I’ll never be able to forget what you’ve done—what he has done.”
“Jeremiah—”
“Go,” he said sharply, turning away from me. “Just go.”
I reached out, but he stepped back, his shoulders tense.
And then he walked away, disappearing into the shadows of the forest.
My heart shattered into a thousand pieces. He was my mate, I was his Fate. We were bound by something deeper than love, but now that bond felt like a chain around my soul, dragging me into an abyss of pain.
Tears streamed down my face as I turned to my father. His expression was a mixture of relief and regret. “I’m sorry,” he said quietly.
I shook my head, unable to speak.
As we left the burning cave behind, the flames casting long shadows across the ground, I looked back one last time, hoping to see him. But Jeremiah was gone.
I was his fate he wouldn't be able to get rid of me that fast. I wiped a stray tear off my left cheek. I would be back he was still my mate,he would have to kill me to get rid of me.
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