Chapter 26

The days that followed the battle with Dahlia were filled with a strange quiet, as if the world was holding its breath. The power that had once radiated from Dahlia, threatening to tear apart everything in its path, was gone. But even in her absence, the weight of what Erik had done lingered in the air, a palpable reminder that victory came with a price.

Erik, though, was not one to dwell on the past. He had never been one to indulge in sentimentality, especially when there was work to be done. The world was far from safe, and the repercussions of Dahlia's death would echo for centuries to come. Other forces—just as dangerous, if not more so—would rise in her place, seeking to claim the power she had once held.

He spent most of his days in the hidden corners of New Orleans, his mind always moving, always planning. His time with Astrid was rare, but every moment spent with her felt like a small reprieve from the endless battle that raged within him. Her loyalty and her strength had become a source of constant reassurance, and their bond had deepened in ways he hadn't expected. She was not just his love, but his partner, his equal in every sense of the word.

One night, as the moon hung low in the sky, casting a pale glow over the streets of the city, Erik found himself standing on the balcony of his estate. The cool air brushed against his skin, but it was nothing compared to the chill that ran through his veins as he gazed out over the city. He could feel the pulse of magic in the air, the undercurrent of power that hummed just beneath the surface of the world.

It was always there. Always waiting. Always watching.

His mind drifted to the prophecy that had once plagued his every thought—the prophecy that spoke of the Original Warlock, the one who would rise to change the course of history. A prophecy that had been both a blessing and a curse. He had never sought to be the chosen one, never asked for the power that had been granted to him. But now, as he stood there in the quiet darkness, he couldn't help but wonder if the time had come to embrace it fully.

"What's on your mind?" Astrid's voice broke through the silence, soft and steady. She had joined him on the balcony, her presence as familiar to him as his own breath.

Erik turned to her, his eyes softening as he took in the sight of her. She was a striking figure, even in the dim light—the moonlight casting a silver glow on her blonde hair, her green eyes sharp with intelligence and emotion.

"You," he said, his voice quiet. "I'm trying to figure out what this world is going to become, now that Dahlia is gone. And what role we'll play in it."

Astrid tilted her head slightly, her expression thoughtful. "We've always played a role, Erik. Whether we wanted to or not. But now… now we have a choice. We don't have to live in the shadows any longer."

Erik's gaze hardened, his jaw clenching. "We never lived in the shadows. We've always been in the light, even if it's one we created ourselves. But that light is dangerous, Astrid. The moment we let down our guard, we become targets again."

Her eyes narrowed slightly, sensing the change in his tone. She took a step closer, her hand gently resting on his arm. "And if we don't act? What then? Are we supposed to sit idly by, waiting for the next threat to rise? The next battle to fight?"

Erik didn't answer immediately, his mind working through the endless possibilities that stretched out before him. The burden of being the first-born warlock, the Original Warlock, was one he had never asked for. But it was his now. The magic he wielded was vast, potent, and it was growing stronger with every passing day.

He felt the weight of the power within him, the ancient magic of the witchers, the demon blood that pulsed in his veins. It was a heady combination, one that could shift the balance of the entire supernatural world if wielded correctly. But with power came danger. And Erik knew all too well the cost of wielding that power.

"I don't want to be the one who decides the fate of the world," Erik said finally, his voice laced with a quiet weariness. "But I will protect those I love. I will protect you."

Astrid's hand tightened on his arm, and for a moment, the world seemed to disappear around them. It was just the two of them, standing in the quiet darkness, facing whatever future lay ahead. Together.

"You don't have to do this alone," Astrid said softly, her words a steady anchor in the sea of uncertainty. "We're in this together, Erik. You're not the only one with power. We both have it, and we both have a choice. We choose to face whatever comes next, together."

For a moment, Erik simply stood there, letting her words settle within him. She was right, of course. He had always been alone, always carried the burden of his power by himself. But now, he had something else. Someone else. Someone who understood him, who stood beside him, not as a follower, but as an equal.

Erik took a deep breath, his mind finally settling on the path before him. He couldn't control everything. He couldn't protect everyone. But he could control his own choices. And for the first time in a long while, he felt the weight of the world lift ever so slightly from his shoulders.

"I'm not alone," he whispered, more to himself than to Astrid. "Not anymore."

With that, Erik turned his gaze back to the city below, his thoughts already racing ahead to the challenges that lay in wait. The supernatural world would always be a battleground, always shifting beneath their feet. But with Astrid by his side, with the strength of his family and the power he had been granted, he would face whatever came next.

And no matter what happened, he would always protect the ones he loved.