Chapter 132: Ancient One's Demands
**Avery**
Our group consists of James, Clint, Conner, Cassius, Draven, Rory, and me are doing perimeter checks in Talos. I miss Naga, and I can’t stop those thoughts from flooding my mind. I had thought that coming to Talos and accepting James as my mate would have led me to Altima, but instead, it is one issue after another. My group moves in sync, our footsteps crunching over the frost-kissed ground. The forest around us is silent, save for the occasional rustle of leaves, but the tension is palpable. New Year’s Eve is approaching, with it, the weight of decisions that could alter our lives forever.
I glance at James, his broad shoulders squared, his green eyes scanning the horizon. He motions me over. “Avery…” he starts.
I look at his eyes, “If this is about what we discussed earlier, don’t say anything. My mind is made up.” Earlier, I’d confided in him about my plan to return to Naga at the start of the new year. I need to finish my schooling, to reclaim a piece of the life I’d left behind. He’d nodded, his expression unreadable, but I’d seen the flicker of concern in his eyes. Now, as we walk, I feel his gaze on me, steady and probing, as if he’s trying to decipher my thoughts.
“We should be done here,” Cassius says, his voice low and commanding. He’s always the one to take charge, his confidence unshakable. But today, even he seems on edge, his blue eyes darting between the shadows.
Before anyone can respond, the air shifts. It’s subtle at first—a chill that has nothing to do with the weather. Then, he’s there. The Ancient One. His presence is like a knife slicing through the silence, his dark eyes gleaming with an otherworldly hunger.
“You should have been expecting me, Avery,” he says, his voice smooth as silk, yet laced with danger. His gaze sweeps over us, lingering on each of us in turn. “The price is higher this time. But I know where Cora is. I know how you want revenge for what she has done to your lives.” He looks at all of us, “Each of you has suffered at her hands in some way. Pay my price, and revenge will be yours.”
My heart skips a beat. Cora. The name hangs in the air like a promise and a threat. We’ve been searching for her for months, and the Ancient One’s knowledge is our only lead. But his demands… they’ve always been scandalous, and this time, I can sense they’ll be worse. The Trio had issues with the price I paid when I met the Ancient One, but I would pay it again and again to free those people.
“What do you want?” James steps forward, his tone icy. He’s the most powerful dragon shifter among us, and yet, even he seems wary of the Ancient One’s presence.
The Ancient One smiles, a slow, predatory curve of his lips. “A night. With all of you.”
The words hit me like a punch to the gut. My breath catches, and I feel the heat rise to my cheeks. Around me, the others stiffen, their reactions a mix of shock and anger. If torture is pleasure until I relent, then I can handle it, at least I think I can. But my mates, I am unsure. They are no virgins to sex, but I don’t know if they could handle his demands.
“You’re out of your mind,” Clint growls, his fists clenching at his sides. “You made me lose trust in my mate. Do you think I would allow it to happen again?”
“Am I crazy?” The Ancient One’s eyes narrow, and for a moment, I see something in them—a desperation that belies his calm exterior. “You want Cora dead, don’t you? Or are you willing to let her remain free, while you are a pawn in someone else’s game?” What could the Ancient One gain from us if we would yield? He is free of his prison, granted he is in his wolflike form, but he is free. What could he want more than that?
The silence that follows is deafening. I glance at the others, searching for a reaction. Cassius stands tall, his jaw set, his blue eyes cold. Conner is more reserved, his expression unreadable, but I know him well enough to see the tension in his shoulders. Draven, ever the enigma, watches the Ancient One with a calculating gaze. Rory shifts nervously, her thin frame trembling, her submissive nature clashing with the boldness she usually tries to project.
James steps closer to me, his hand brushing mine in a silent gesture of support. “What exactly are you asking for?” he asks, his voice steady despite the undercurrent of fury I can feel emanating from him.
The Ancient One’s smirk widens as he takes a step forward, his presence overwhelming. “A night of submission. All of you. To me. In whatever way I choose.”
My stomach churns. Submission. The word itself is a challenge, a test of our limits. I’ve submitted before—to James, to Clint, to Conner, Cassius, and to the Ancient One, a strigoi whose motives are as dark as his eyes. He went easy on us the first time and promised a higher price. He is right, I should have known he would have found us sooner or later.
“And if we refuse?” Clint asks, his voice tight.
The Ancient One’s gaze flickers to him, cold and unyielding. “Then Cora remains alive and gains power to kill some or most of you.”
The choice hangs between us, heavy and unbearable. I look at James, searching for guidance, but his expression is unreadable. He’s the king, but even he can’t make this decision alone. “We need to talk,” I say, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me. I won’t lose any of them. I will do anything, but will they? Can they?
The Ancient One nods, his smirk never faltering. “Take your time. But remember, the clock is ticking. And my patience is not infinite.” With that, he vanishes, leaving us alone with the weight of his demand.
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