Be Careful When You Bite Me

Chapter 45

I looked back up at my concerned brother. I was beginning to calm down and I could see his

perspective. If I didn't kill Seth, if I walked away now, there's no telling how he's going to rule.

I looked down at the crowd of moving bodies. I caught sight of Holly. Her silhouette stood out to me as

if the outline of her body glowed. In a room full of vampires, she looked the strongest to me. She was

incredible in every way, from the way her hair moved every time she did to the flicker of innocence in

her eyes that she would lose if she remained involved with my world any longer. In every way possible

she was beautiful, so beautiful it was almost painful. I wanted nothing more than to wrap my arms

around her and keep her safe. Be her protector as well as her lover.

I could feel that she was nervous even from up here. I still couldn't believe that she had risked her life

and climbed down that shed just to save me. Never in a million years would I have believed anyone

would care about me enough to do something so brave. It hurt to picture her in the dungeon. There

wasn't a second in the day that I didn't hate myself for it. She walked through Volati for me, and

although she said it didn't hurt, I saw the burn marks on her palms, I knew that she was lying. I wanted

to curse the Gods of The Underworld for burdening her with the fate of being with me. Our bond was

forming and there was no way in hell I could convince myself to stay away from her now, and I knew if I

killed Seth, I would be writing a death sentence for the both of us. Kia had looked into Holly the night

that the Council took me away, she knew what Holly meant to me.

Holly would be the first person they would go after in hopes of getting to me. I could ask Holly to run

away with me, promise to keep her safe but I knew that that was as selfish as getting her killed. She

didn't choose to be mated with me, just like she didn't choose to be apart of this world. She has every

right to go back to her human life and forget about me, and that isn't going to happen if I killed Seth, not

today.

I knew that regardless of what was going to happen tonight, the only way I could keep Holly safe was if

I had Luna perform the Ritual of Obliteration and left her alone. She had to go back to her regular life,

that would be the only way to save her from the doom of being mated with me. The Council would have

no choice but to leave her alone and maybe one day, Holly and I would be able to reunite. My chest

ached with the feeling of dread of having to let her go.

I knew that if I killed Seth today, there would be no hope for Holly and I. I thought of Xavier and how

brave he was to walk away from it all just to be with the one he loved.

The idea of giving up on my race for love felt weak, it felt wrong, but Xavier was right, this was going to

be a battle that I was going to either lose or die fighting but whatever choice I make doesn't have to be

decided tonight.

I looked away from Holly to where my parents sat. Father was busy talking with someone, but my

mother's eyes were glued to mine. Her expression was serious and it was almost like she was trying to Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

read my thoughts. I stared her down for a couple more seconds. I almost wanted to reassure her, after

all, she was my mother, but she had watched the Council drag me away and was silent the entire time.

I turned around to face Xavier who had been staring off at Asia. His eyes caught mine and it was as if

he read my mind.

"Let's get out of here," he said. I nodded and took one last glance at Holly.

"Let's go."

We made our way downstairs to where the girls were standing. Holly's eyes locked with mine

immediately and she rushed over.

"Is everything alright?" Her voice was as soft as a feather. I didn't like that she was concerned and I

almost wanted to grab her and kiss her. I wanted to reassure her that she was going to be okay, even if

I had to die to make sure of it.

I merely smiled and said," let's go."

She paused for a couple of seconds and her eyes searched mine for a clue. It didn't take her much

time to figure out that I changed my mind. She smiled a sad and understanding smile that almost said, I

knew you couldn't do it, but it's alright.

Xavier and Asia were already heading for the exit, hand in hand. I looked down at Holly's hands that

were placed at her side. I grabbed her small fragile fingers in mine. I could tell that she was surprised at

the action, but she didn't pull away.

We followed Xavier and Asia out of the quarter and towards the main exit. When we reached the doors,

guards flung them open to reveal the garden. Seth stood at the gate and by his side was Isabelle. All

six members of the Council blocked the gates where our car was.

Shit.

Holly's POV

It almost felt as if everything had frozen and the only thing moving was the nerves at the pit of my

stomach that sunk deeper and deeper. I suddenly left like a deer caught in headlights. The garden had

cleared out and nobody was there besides the four of us, Seth and Isabelle and the Council.

"It's so nice to see you, my brothers," Seth was the first one to speak.

"We were just leaving, "Xavier spoke, his voice was calm and rational.

"But you just got here," he continued," you missed fathers speech when he announced that I will be the

next King."

"You'll be King over my dead body," Damon released my fingers from his grip and darted a few steps

closer.

I wanted to reach out and pull him back but I refrained from doing so.

"Actually," Vesto stepped out from the line where the rest of the members stood," that still could be

arranged, and it will."

Xavier stepped towards Vesto, blocking Damon from his path," you'll have to go through me first."

Vesto smiled almost sarcastically," Is that so?"

"Why don't you take them all?" This time it was Isabelle. Although her voice was deep yet feminine, it

still came off as infuriating.

Vesto turned around to look at her before turning back to face the four of us," as I should, after all, it

was the three of you that killed my wolf and stole my prisoner."

I gulped back and looked at Damon. Beside me, Asia was wide eyes and scared.

"Let them go," Damon barked out," I'm the only one you want anyway."

"Charming," this time it was Fabian who stood amongst the others. The tips of his pitch-black Mohawk

were cobalt blue instead of red," but that's not going to happen."

"What do you want?" Damon demanded. It was clear that he was tired of the games.

"I want the four of you to get into that van where you will be escorted to my prison, where you will all

die a long and painful death for disobeying the only living gods of The Underworld," Vesto's oval pupils

had gone red. His expression was starting to resemble an animal more than it had resembled a human.

The scales on his skin became more visible now and shun with a hint of green," and I want it all done

without a scene."

"That's not going to happen," said Damon," you either get me alone or none of us."

Isla stepped forward her long red hair bouncing with the wind," do you want me to take care of them?"

Vesto put up a finger," I'm going to give you one last chance to get in the car."

I looked up at Damon for instructions but his eyes were locked with Vesto's.

Isla stepped forward closer towards us and lifted her fingers. Her sharp nails were made out of wood

and they extended to form a sword that shot at Xavier's chest. He gasped out loud, his eyes were now

wide open staring at the faerie. Asia screamed out loud and ran towards Xavier but within a flash,

Damon was at her side, grabbing her from getting closer. Asia looked towards Kai," you're a witch! Help

us, we're your sisters!"

Kai's face remained expressionless as she stared down at Asia.

"Get in the car, with your sweetheart, or I pierce my nail right through his chest," Isla's fangs had

extended, and was staring at Damon as if he were a disobedient prey.

Damon looked at me and looked back down at Asia. I could tell what he was thinking as if I were in his

brain.

If we were to get into that van, we would be as good as dead.

"Let him go," Damon snapped, "you can have me, let him go, now."

The vampire I recognized as Aboot began to chuckle out loud," you're a joke to your race," he

exclaimed to Damon," putting the lives of your entire family at risk for two witches."