#Chapter 59 - Reunited By War

Adam’s POV

Before I knew it, the small abandoned mining town of Belfast has grown into a lavish feeding ground for me. It was interesting watching the royal guards of Hastings scramble about trying to find out what was happening to their people–they were too stupid to see that the threat was right at their doorstep.

I watched guards escort people to their homes as they found the bodies I hung from a streetlamp after I drained them of their blood. Their frustrated expressions brought happiness to me.

I looked up at the castle and smiled. “Your walls will not keep you from me for long.”

As I made my way back to my estate in Belfast after a day of scouting and feeding, I was surprised to see two familiar figures standing right at my door.

The red-coated wolf had shifted back to his human form. When his green eyes looked at me, he quickly averted his gaze in a fit of shame.

The other was a tall man in royal attire. His crimson red knee-length coat with gold embroidery stood out like an ugly thumb.

I approached the two and greeted them coldly.

“Dylan.” I looked at the curly blonde-haired man before me.

“Robert.” I spat at my brother.

“Trust me, brother. I loathe being in your presence just as much.” Robert rolled his eyes. “Unfortunately, duty calls and father told me to come here.”

I looked to Devin who had stopped just a few feet behind our guests. I nodded for him to go back to business as usual and reluctantly, he left.

I motioned for Dylan and Robert to enter the estate so we could talk in private. I closed and locked the door behind them after they entered.

“Let’s skip the pleasantries, despite there being absolutely none. What are you doing here, Robert?” The more I looked at him, the more annoyed I became.

“Father sent me to investigate the disappearances and deaths occurring at Hastings. From the looks of it, you’ve made a home here,” Robert’s voice laced with disgust. “So, I don’t play dumb with me. I’m sure you’ve heard about all that’s been happening. If anything, you’ve probably had a hand in it somehow.”

I held up my hand. “Unless you have evidence to try me–which you don’t–I suggest keeping your baseless accusations wrapped around that snake tongue of yours.”

Before Robert could retaliate, I turned to Dylan.

The poor little dog avoided my gaze. He reeked of guilt and shame.

“You come crawling back to me after you and your men failed at taking out the Headmistress of the Leonard family.” I pointed a finger at the boy.

“Your Highness, I–”

I took a step towards him. “And what of my fiancee, hm? Eloise? Still in the arms of my enemy when I explicitly told you to keep an eye on her! She’s not even in Noah anymore!”

“Well, it’s just–”

I had had enough of his incompetence! I crossed the remaining few feet between us and I wrapped my hands around his neck. It was satisfying to see the life drain from his eyes.

“All you needed to do was keep Eloise on your radar! Just keep tabs on my fiancee! Was that really so hard?!” I taunted Dylan as I choked him.

“You care about that blasted Wisdom witch than your own family!” Robert roared. “I don’t understand how father thinks you’ll come around.”

“He thought some part of you valued your family but you choose to chase a werewolf’s whore!” Robert’s voice was laced with hatred.

My head snapped back to look at Robert. A wicked grin formed across my lips when I saw his expression run cold.

“Y-your eye… The markings on your neck… Those deaths…”

“Spit it out, Robert.” I laughed maniacally.

“You’re a monster! Your own kind! You’ve been feeding off of them!”

“Would you look at that! Aren’t you a smart one, huh, Robert?”

The sound of bones splitting and cracking echoed throughout the manor as I snapped Dylan’s neck. I dropped his corpse to the ground and ran after Robert who was trying to escape.

Robert used to be the fastest of my siblings but now it was no longer the case.

I sprinted forward and flung myself onto Robert’s back. I then reeled his head back to expose his neck and sunk my fangs into his skin. His screams filled the air around us as I drained him of his life essence.

Eloise’s POV

It had been two days since Liam came to the castle to warn me and my family about Douglas’s planned attack on my home. As I got ready for the day, my body started to shake knowing that the biggest battle of my entire life was going to happen tomorrow.

Not to mention the fact that Xavier wasn’t going to be by my side.

I let out a sigh as I pulled a lavender tunic over my head. I can’t keep relying on him to save me time and time again.

If my family has any hope of surviving the attack and rebuilding themselves afterward, we have to find the strength to stand up for ourselves and no longer rely on other people. Regardless of how challenging it’ll be, I know we can do it…

After I got dressed, I walked out onto the balcony and breathed in the fresh air as I looked down at the city before me. I wondered if this was the last time I’d ever see this place…

It was then that I noticed a figure who sat atop a white horse marching for my city’s gate. Behind the figure was a sea of soldiers all bearing a familiar family crest.

Trumpets blared throughout the city as the crier of Witches Land ran up the roads and stopped at the courtyards of the castle. “Lord Xavier Leonard has arrived!”

A wave of emotions hit my heart all at once and at that moment, it was like my mind had forgotten everything about we had broken up. As if on autopilot, my feet raced out of the castle and down the road to see him.

When we met, he and his army were halfway up the path to the castle. They all stopped when they saw me.

To Xavier’s left, Adrian sat on top of his brown horse. He bowed his head and smiled at me.

To Xavier’s right, was someone I hadn’t recognized. I wondered if it was Captain Oliver. Regardless, he fisted his hand over his heart and nodded his head.

When I looked up at Xavier, he gave me a small and warm smile. He hopped off his horse and looked down at me. His eyes were kind and sincere as if he was trying to tell me something without actually speaking.

It was at that moment I knew what my heart wanted.

I got on the tips of my toes and wrapped my arms around his broad shoulders. Then, I pressed my lips against his.

Tasting and feeling Xavier was like I was at home. In that moment, nothing felt conflicting. My heart slowed and began to beat with his.

Xavier’s lips tilted into a smile as he lifted me off my feet and sat me on top of his horse. He got on behind me and pulled me close to him as we all made the journey up to the castle.

I looked up at him as we rode. I admired the sharpness of his jaw, the smoothness of his face, and his bright golden eyes that shined in the sunlight.

“Xavier… What are you doing here?”

“Happy to see me?” His smile was playful.

“And surprised,” I smiled.

“Well, a scout delivered the message about Douglas’s plans to attack the Witches Land tomorrow. It was then that I realized something.”

“What did you come to realize?”

Xavier looked down on me with a serious but soft expression. “I’ve treated you unfairly because of your family name, despite how you’ve been nothing but a good wife to me.”

Xavier’s hand caressed my cheek as I leaned into his touch. “It doesn’t matter to me that you’re a Wisdom or that you’ve built your walls high against me. I knew that I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if anything happened to you.”

When we got to the castle, Xavier got off of his horse and helped me down. He held me in his arms. “You are my everything, Eloise. I don’t want to lose you.”

“I burned the pamphlet. I had no intentions of going through with it. I know it’s hard to trust me but that’s why I’m here. I want to prove myself loyal to you, Eloise. If you’ll accept me.”

Xavier got down on one knee and held out his hand to me.

Happiness welled in my heart and at that moment, I knew I could believe him. If Xavier truly wanted my family dead, then he wouldn’t be here. He wouldn’t be risking his life like this if he had intentions of truly getting rid of them.

I took his hand in mine. “Of course, I’ll accept you, Xavier.”

Xavier’s smile was wide as he reached into his pocket and took out my wedding ring I gave back to him. He placed it on my ring finger and kissed the back of my hand.

The sound of someone clearing their throat brought our attention to them. It was Liam who was smiling at us.

For a moment, I was nervous with Xavier and Liam being so close to one another. After the battle, I thought that maybe Xavier still harbored ill feelings towards his cousin.

I also thought that maybe I was going to be accused of being unfaithful…

Instead, the two embraced.

“Thank you for all that you’ve done, Liam.”

“Of course, Xavier. I’m just glad you answered the call.”

“I-I don’t understand.” I looked at the two men confused. “What do you mean by that?”

Liam and Xavier exchanged smiles.

“You tell her,” Liam teased.

“After I defeated my helpless romantic of a cousin, I gave him an ultimatum. I told Liam that if he truly loved you, then he would protect you even if he couldn’t have you.”

“So, we came to an arrangement that I was to act like I loathed Xavier for losing to him–”

“Which, I’m sure you do.” Xavier smiled playfully.

Liam rolled his eyes. “I don’t! It was a fair fight! You were always the stronger one anyway.”

“But when Douglas saw my scars and wounds from the duel, he accepted my conviction of hating Xavier and how I wanted vengeance against him. Douglas thought I was his ally when I was really collecting evidence of his misdeeds and plotting his downfall alongside Xavier.” Liam smiled.

I laughed. “Well, I’m just glad that you two have made up!”
I was genuinely glad that the two reconciled and that Liam truly did have our best interest in his mind and heart. Even though Liam knew I was with Xavier, he still wanted to go out of his way to protect me.

The two men smiled at each other before we went our separate ways. Tomorrow was going to be the big day and we all needed rest.

Xavier picked me up and carried me to my room.

“So does this mean that we’re together again?” Xavier looked at me with a wide grin.

“Yes, absolutely.” I kissed him on the cheek.