Chapter 53
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I walked into the dungeon, the cold stone walls pressing in on me, the sense of deja Vu was so strong that I wanted to turn around but I sighed.
I was already here and I resisted the urge to scoff when I saw her seated with her legs crossed. There she was, Millicent in all her glory and as haughty as ever, even behind ham, Her sharp eyes flicked toward me, namowing in disdain.
“Well, well,” she said “Who dressed the ugly duckling up1*
I couldn’t help but smile, despite the jah. “Angon thought I needed a makeover. The words slipped out before I could stop them, but I didn’t mind It gave me the reaction I wanted.
She shot up from the bench, her posture rigid, and slammed her hand against the iron bars that separated us. The loud clang echoed through the dungeon. “What the hell are you playing at, Sapphire?” she listed, glaring at me with venom in her eyes.
1 shrugged, unfazed by her outburst. “I’m not playing at anything, Millicent. I just thought we should talk” I kept my voice calm, casual, like I wasn’t standing face–in–face with someone who had tried to poison me not so long ago
She sneered, but I continued, unfazed. Your mom paid me a visit today.”
Her lips curled into a smirk at that. “I know. Means Fil be getting released soon.” Her voice was amur, like she had already won
tilted my head, watching her. “You must be thrilled. Mummy came to the rescue because you were so incompetent.” My toe was light, almost teasing, but I knew would hit her where it huri.
Her eyes darkened, and she hissed like an armal caught in a trap. “You have no idea what you’re talking about. Sapphäre.”
הת
I let out a soft chuckle, picking at my nails. “Sure, sure, I don’t know anything, right know that she doesn’t give a shit about you and only came here for her image. She kept saying all the things but she never mentioned you once. Exactly how worthless are you to your mother?”
“You are calling me worthless? What, you think because you got new clothes and changed your hair, you think you have a new personality? News flash, bitch. You are still the daughter of a murderer so who is the worthless one now
I scoffed, “I know who my father is but the question is, do you? I can do some dreadful things and your mother wouldn’t blink unless I soil your name because it affects her reputation.
But I came here for a reason. I wanted to know why you hate me so wich”
she opened her mouth, ready to fire off whatever lie she had prepared, but t held up a band “Don’t bother lying, Millicent. It’s obvious you don’t
care that my father killed Aragon’s parents. That’s not why you hare me. I want to know why you decided I was your enemy.”
Her lips risted into a scowl. “Of course I don’t care. The only reason I’m in this mess is because the only way I can become Lima is by marrying Aragon and your little pathetic ass came along and suddenly, he was questioning his decision. I am the future Luna”
My mouth dropped open slightly in disbelief “So, you were willing to puson me because I was a threat to that?”
She rolled her eyes, crossing her arms. “Don’t flatter yourself, Sapphire. You’re not a threat to me.”
I raised an eyebrow at that, amusement bubbling up inside me. Funny you should say that, considering Aragon was in my bed yesterday. I don’t think he was thinking about his future Lura when he was moaning my name,”
Hereyes narrowed dangerously, fury flashing across her face. “That’s not true. He hates you.”“”
“Yeah,” I said, a slow smirk spreading across my lips. “But the bond doesn’t. I am his mate, with or without you, he is mine. Who knows, if you had been nice to me maybe I would let you have him but you have been abach,”
Millicent’s for paled as the words hit her, and I couldn’t help the laughter that burst out of me. The look of shock, of defeat, on her Encr, it was priceless. I leaned closer. “What’s the master, Millicent Surprised? Did you really think he loved you? Or are you as delusional as your mother, believing someone actually wanted either of you for more than the power you represent?”
The moment those words left my mouth, she snapped. Her face twisted into a mask of rage, and she began hurling every insult she could think of. “You pathetic, useless Lace-
I watched her, bemused, as she spiraled into a tirade, calling me every name under the sun. It didn’t for me. Her words were as hollow as her claim to Aragon’s heart
“Do you even hear yourself I internupted, cutting through her stream of insults like a knife. “You think being Luna is about power and control, but It’s not. It’s about the bond, Millicent. Something you’ll never have with him.”
She gripped the bars, knuckles tuming white, and glared at me with wild eyes. “You think you’re better than me because Aragon showed you some attention? You’re nothing. Sapphire. A temporary distraction, at best. He got you into bed because I wasn’t there,”
I shrugged again, feigning indifference. “Maybe. But at least I’m not the one locked behind bars, desperate for a mother’s help. I know you would joon be out but that doesn’t fear me, now that you have made it clear that you are my enemy, I will not be quiet.”
Her lips pulled back into a vicious url, but I could see the cracks forming beneath her heade. For the first time. I save fear in her eyes–fear dut maybe, just maybe, she had already lost. And I could sense her crumbling, bit by bit.
“You’re wrong,” she spat, though her voice was weaker now, faltering “Hellcome to his senses, and when he does, I’ll be the one standing beside
Chapter 33
I took a step closer, tilting my head to meet her gaze fully. “Is that what you really believe? Or is it what you keep telling yourself so you don’t have to face the trial Because the truth, Millicent, is that Aragon doesn’t want you. He never has.”
Herjaw clenched, her breathing uneven. She looked like she wanted to scream, to lash out at me, but all she could do was glare. The fire in her eyes was dimming, replaced with something darker–something closer to despair.
1 straightened up. feeling an odd sense of satisfaction settle over me, For once, she was out of moves, and I was the one in control. I hadn’t come here
to win, but it seemed I had.
“You’re wrong,” she repeated.
I stepped back, leiring the moment sink in for her. “We’ll see.”
Millicent didn‘) say anything more. She just stood there, clutching the bars of her cell, staring at me with a mixture of hatred and fear. And as I sumed to leave, I couldn’t help but feel weight lifting off my shoulden. Whatever happened next, I knew one thing for certain Millicent’s grip on her illusion of control was slipping, and she knew it
As I reached the doorway. 1 glanced back one last time, meeting her gase. “Good luck, Millicent. You’re going to need it.”
“No, you are going to need it by the time I am done with you, you bitch”
Something in me snapped at that, something hot and feral wrapped around me like a vine. 1 tumed to her with a snarl on my lips,
Really
I chuckled. “You think you can bear me? You sigh your fake hair and fake nails! You think you can take the girl who grew up with a murderer?”
she squared up, “Why don’t you find out?” she tilted her head towards the keys hanging on the wall. I had no idea what I was about to do but I needed to show her something.
My father forced me to train with the best of his warrion because no offspring of his would be considered weak. I was bruised and battered just so 1
could lear
I could fighs on my own, I just never felt the need to
I grabbed the keys before I could think about it and opened the gate, she stepped forward with a smirk and cracked her fingers,
“You don’t know what you just unleashed. little girl,”
“Yeah, let’s see what you can do. You all talk like your mother. She was yapping so much today, I should have smacked her when I had the chance,”
I was satisfied when it sparked the reaction in her and she lunged at me.
She lunged at me, her fist flying toward my face with more anger than precision, stupid girl. Ixidestepped quickly, barely feeling the breeze from her panch as it whiffed past me. Her momentum carried her forward, leaving her vulnerable for a second. I took advantage, skidding to the side and sweeping my foot out with a swift kick. She tripped hard, falling face–first onto the cold, hard ground.
The sound of her groan as she tried to push herself up brought a smirk to my face. “You know,” I said, watching her struggle, “it was a mistake challenging me. Just because you’ve got your wolf doesn’t mean I’m weak.”
I crossed my arms, my tone cam but confident. 1 can be your ass with my eyes closed, Millicem
Her growl was low, feral. She wiped the din from her face as she got back on her feet, eyes blazing with fury. “You’re wrong. Sapphire,” she spat, squaring her shoulders. “I’m stronger than you think. I was just getting my being
I snorted. “Keep telling yourself that.”
Without warning, she charged at me again, this time faster, more calculated. Her body blurred with the speed her wolf granted her, but I was ready. I dropped low, docking under her swing, and before she could regain her footing, I delivered a hard punch to herside. She gasped, the air leaving her Jungs as my fist connected with her ribs.
But she wasn’t done. She spun, attempting to kick my legs out from under me I jumped back, barely avoiding her strike. The satisfaction on her fee made me laugh. Did she really think I’d let her land a blow?
I trained with my father’s warriors even when they were transformed. It was the one thing my father did right by me. Teaching me how to defend
myself.
“Nice try,” I teased, “but you’re still too slow.”
Her eyes narrowed, and she rushed at me once inore, this time slamming her shoulder into my chest. The impact knocked me back a few steps, but 1 dag my heels into the ground, refusing to go downL
Her strength was undeniable, but she didn’t know how to use it. There was no strategy, juu brute force, and brute force wouldn’t be enough to bear
ΠΗ
she swung wildly, and I ducked again, landing another solid hh on her shoulder. She growled, backing off for a moment, panting from the effort.
“Getting tired already!” I taunted, shaking out my hands. “I thought you were supposed to be strong,
She bared her teeth, her eyes glowing with the power of her wolf. “You think you’re so clever, don’t you? Let’s see how smug you are when Impila pretty face of yours apart.”
Before I could reply, she studied her stance.
nce, coming at me with a more measured approach. I knew this was her trying to be tactical, but she didn’ti realize she was telegraphing her every move. I could see the way her muscles tensed right before she struck, giving me just enough time to dodge rach blow with ease.
Chapter 53
1 sidestepped another punch and lashed out with a kick, catching her in the knee. She staggered but didn’t fill. The next instant, she was throwing herself at me again, claws out, slashing wildly. I ducked, twisted, and grabbed her wrist, using her own momentum to flip her onto the ground with a
land tund.
She screamed in frustration, thrashing on the ground as I held her arm pirmed behind her back. “You’re only embarrassing yourself, Millicem,” I
- said. tightening my grip. “Stop now before this gets wonc.”
She twisted herbody, managing to break free, and sembled to her feet. Her breathing was ragged, but the fire in her eyes hadn’t, dimmed. “I’m not done” she screamed, lunging at me yet again
I met her charge head–on this time, blocking her punches with swift, practiced movements. My fists found their mark on her chest, herjaw, her stomach, each strike sending her staggering backward.
trying to daim my mate.
“Is that all you’ve got?” Hameed, barely breaking a sweat. “This is pathetic. As pathetic as you in
Her face twisted in rage as the let out a snarl, throwing another punch at me. I caught her fist in midair, squeezing hard enough to make her wince.
“You’re not as strong as you think, Millicent,” I said, Incking eyes with her. “Just because you have your wolf doesn’t mean you’ve got what it takes to beat me. At the end you are just nu weak as everybody else.”
She roared in frustration, jerking her band free and trying to claw at my fee. I ducked and swept my leg out again, knocking her off balance. She fell hard, crashing onto the ground with a grunt.
I stepped back, letting her have a moment to realize just how badly she was losing
Millicent groaned as she pushed herself up onto her knees, her eyes burning with hatred as she glared at me. “I kill you,” she hissed, the feral look in her eyes intensifying. Her wolf close to the surface now, but I wasn’t afraid. If the shifted, it wouldn’t matter. I was still in control of this fight.
“You’ve already lost, Millicent. I said. “You just don’t know it yet.”
With a scream, she lunged at me one final time, her claws extended and ready to tear into me. But I was faster. I ducked under her swing, cristed around her, and slammed my elbow into the back of her neck.
She crumpled to the ground, gasping for breath, her body limp and defeated.
I stood overber, catching my breath, but not nearly as winded as she was, “I told you,” I said quietly. “Challenging me was a mistake.”
Millicent groaned, her face pressed against the din, and I crouched down beside her “You thought you were strong because of your wolf, but strength in’t just about power. It’s about control. And you.. you have none.
Her fingers ached as she tried to push herself up, but her body was trembling 100 much to coopere. She glared up at me with glassy eyes, hare radiating from her every pore, but 1 could see the defeat lurking beneath is
“You’re nothing, she rasped This doesn’t change anything.”
I shrugged “Maybe not. But for now, I’m the noe standing, and you’re the one on the ground.”
I stood up, wiping my lunds as I looked down at her. “Next time you challenge me, Millicent make sure you’ve got more thunjux your wolf. Because I’m not going to go easy on you just because you think you’re strong. And when you get released, try to stay out of my way or I will put you in the ground permanently,”
She didn’t respond too exuuted and broken to offer any more threats. I turned and walked away, leaving her lying there in the dini, knowing full
well that this victory was mine.
I didn’t have to worry about her telling anyone, her ego wouldn’t allow that. Advantages of dealing with shallow–minded bitches.
