Chapter 81
Content is © 2024 NôvelDrama.Org.
Xavier
I watch Daisy raise her hand to the sky for the billionth time today. She is trying to use her light powers to invalidate the eternal night. So far, my little mate hasn't managed to light up the sky for a minute. She will need a lot of training.
"Hello, brother."
I look up to see Yato. He is holding two glasses in his hands: a beer for himself and blood in a wineglass for his tribrid brother.
As I take the glass, a grateful grin spreads over my lips. "How thoughtful of you to kill the two new recruits to feed your freak of a big brother."
He sits down beside me underneath the oak tree. "You're not a freak," it sounds like he means it. "And please don't joke about hurting Logan and Aron. They are already overwhelmed by the fact we have told them they are special, magical werewolves destined to save the world."
I snort at that and raise a toast. "To let the new recruits save the world."
Yato laughs at my words, clinking his glass with mine before staring at Caleb and Daisy. "I'm happy that you're laughing again. You seem more relaxed after accepting yourself for who and what you are."
My eyes drift to my beautiful mate and the pregnant swell of her belly that is growing larger every day. My heart warms as I watch her summon a large ball of light. She is so amazing. Does Daisy even realize that she got me wrapped around her finger? That I'm whipped? Truthfully, I lost interest in healthy women the day I met her on the flight. It's a curse. After getting a taste of her spitfire personality, I've rarely found a woman who I actually think is interesting. Daisy is...different.
I love how she challenges me and how she isn't pure. There is a darkness in her and sarcasm, too. I swear I'm addicted to her teasing me. She makes me work for every smile and every kiss. I also love how strong she is and how hard she is trying to bring peace to this dark world.
A sigh leaves my lips. "Daisy is the type of woman that men write songs about. There are about fifty of them I play on repeat in my car."
Yato chuckles. "She is unique," he drinks from his beer and wipes off the foam with the back of his hand. "Which is why I must ask her why you haven't told her the truth."
Yikes. I was hoping Yato hadn't figured it out-my true plan, but nothing gets past my little brother.
"So you know what I'm about to do?" I ask him.
"Mhm, and I think it's stupid," he says. "You've used your powers to block our father from seeing the future. I thought it was off at first that he could no longer see an outcome. It took me a while to figure out why."
My lips curl to reveal my teeth. "I plan on placing the seal on Lucian myself. That way, no one else needs to get hurt."
"But Daisy will be hurt because you and I both know fighting Lucian alone will kill you."
I don't have an answer to that and stare down at my legs with a thoughtful expression. When I eventually find words, my voice comes out weak. "I don't see another solution."
"You could trust in the elemental wolves," Yato places his hand on my shoulder and grins. "Let's go with your 'fake plan' of letting us seal away Lucian. Werewolves are stronger together, and like it or not, but you're still an Alpha in my eyes...even if you have weird eyes." "Fuck you!" I growl. "I don't have weird eyes!"
Yato laughs and holds up his hands in fake surrender. "Alright, alright! It was just a joke. Please don't get mad at me. I don't want to fight the tribrid."
"I'm not interested in beating you up today," I lift my nose into the air, letting my eyes fall on Daisy. "But if I'm to trust in everyone else's strength and not only my own, Daisy needs a real sparring partner. Caleb is strong, but..." I hesitate, but my brother grins and finishes for me.
"But he isn't Daisy's opposite. You are. She is the light while you're the darkness. If anyone can train her, it's you, but don't go easy on her just because she is your mate."
"I won't," I say, standing up. Most people in our pack turn their heads to look at me. No one besides Daisy has seen me in my true form, which I'm about to take.
With a deep breath, I close my eyes and let my leather-clad wings spread from my back. My tail lashes behind me, and my claws replace my nails while my black hair grows long. I can feel my werewolf strength coursing through my blood while my vampiric speed and demonic aura create an almost tangible energy field around me.
As if acknowledging my transformation, the wind picks up, rustling the leaves in the trees, making them appear as shivering spectators waiting for the spectacle.
A murmur runs through the crowd, and I can feel their collective gaze on me. Some are awed, others are afraid. But I don't care about them; it's Daisy's reaction that matters most.
She's stopped her practice and is staring at me now, wide-eyed yet unafraid. Her brows furrow in question, and her lips part slightly as if she wants to speak but can't find her voice.
Without breaking eye contact, I walk towards her. "You won't be sparring with Caleb today," my voice is cold because it needs to be. "You will fight with me, and I don't care that you're pregnant. We won't rest until you've managed to light up the entire sky."
Her lips curl into a confident smile. "Good, because I wouldn't want you to go easy on me when the future of the entire world rests upon my shoulders."
Instead of answering, I do something reckless-I shoot a quick ball of darkness at her. The crowd gasps, probably thinking I've sent my own mate and baby to their death.
But I know my mate. She works best under pressure, and I'm not surprised when she manages to create a last-minute shield out of her light powers. It's powerful enough to block my attack.
I'm impressed.
Daisy, however, is glaring at me now. "What the hell was that? Did you just try to kill me?!"
Since I know my mate is stronger when she is pissed off, I can't give in. My instincts as her mate tell me to go easy on her, but the Alpha in me-the part of me that sees her potential-won't let me. She can be stronger than this. She can grow and I must let her by being her opponent.
"No," I say, my voice dark and unfeeling. "I tried to kill you and our child." There's a collective in-drawn breath from the crowd, but I don't care about them. I see Daisy's eyes widen further in shock. Her face flushes red, and I know she's seething. Good.
"You..." she begins, her voice shaking with rage. "You bastard! Did you hit your head when you accepted your other self? Can you even hear yourself?!" She throws another light ball at me with all her might, but I'm quicker.
In a flash, I'm in front of her, my hand stretched out to catch her light ball. It explodes on contact, causing me to wince slightly, but not enough to falter. I meet her eyes gleaming with defiance and anger. My lips turn into a satisfied smirk.
"That's better," I praise her. The glint in my eyes is challenging. "Fight me like you mean it."
With a growl, Daisy throws herself at me, light glowing and streaming from her hands. It's an all-out assault, her rage, and indignity fueling the potency of her attacks. Each strike is met with either a swift dodge or a block from myself, my dark energy serving as a shield.
"I can handle you," she promises through gritted teeth, her pink eyes sparkling with fierce determination. I see the telltale signs of adrenaline kicking in - sharper movements, bolder attacks, unrestrained power.
I cannot help but admire her fiery spirit. "Prove it," I taunt her, pushing back with my own attack. Our energies clash in mid-air, creating a visible shockwave that emanates outward to ruffle the leaves around us.
The crowd watches in awe as we continue our dance of war and affection. Each move is calculated yet spontaneous, but I can tell that Daisy is holding back.
My lips curl. "What's the matter? Afraid to fight your mate at your full power?"
Her eyes narrow. "Why would I be afraid?"
"You haven't shape-shifted yet-I see that as a sign of fear," I prod her further. The scowl on her face deepens, but she doesn't retort. Instead, the light around her intensifies, and I find myself stepping back as the radiance becomes blinding.
The crowd gasps again, and then there's silence. The light fades away, and a growl vibrates the very earth. Daisy is standing there in her proud white wolf form, and her angelic wings spread out as if ready to take flight.
I grin and spread my own demonic wings. "You want to take this to the skies?"
Daisy's response is to lunge for me, and I'm forced to fly upwards, laughing. "Is that all you've got?!" I tease.
The wind whips against my face, and my laughter turns into an exhilarating roar as I swoop and swerve in the air, Daisy hot on my tail. The crowd underneath us, oohs and aahs, their heads swiveling as they attempt to follow our aerial battle.
I'm going to destroy you!' Daisy screeches at me through the mind-link. She is seeing red. 'I know what you're doing, Xavier, but you've gone too far!'
I flash her a smirk. 'Because I said I was trying to kill you both after attacking you? Why are you so upset? It was the truth, Daisy!
'Gaaaaah!'
She speeds up her pace and knocks into me so fast that I don't even have time to react. Her teeth sink into my arm, and my eyes widen in shock when her entire body lights up like the sun. It's so bright that I have to shield my eyes and pull away from her quicker than lightning.
I don't want to be destroyed.
I create distance between us. But the light doesn't go away, and soon, I can hear Daisy's worried voice inside my head. 'Xavier?'
'Mhm?'
'I... I don't know what's happening. I'm glowing, and I can't stop it. It feels like I'm a sun ready to burst.
I chuckle at that. Could it be that my mate is ready to battle against my magic? It's worth a shot.
'Try using that energy to remove the eternal night from the sky. Repel the darkness and bring back the sun!
'Wh-what?' I can hear the fear in her voice. 'But I can't do that. I'm not powerful enough!'
'You are. Believe in yourself!
'And what if I fail?' she whimpers, 'What happens then?'
'The world remains in darkness,' I shrug, though my heart pounds with the weight of our impending doom. 'You won't fail, Daisy. You're stronger than you think."
I open one eye to watch her. She is soaring in the sky, glowing like the sun itself. There are no signs of the eternal darkness I unleashed on Earth. Now Daisy just needs to be ready to give up her magic to keep the world in this state forever.