blood and peace
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CHAPTER TITLE: His Blood, My Bond
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UNDERWORLD – THE COUNCIL CHAMBER OF FLAMES
The Underworld trembled when Prince Diago summoned the Elders.
No one ignored a royal summons. Not when it came from the firstborn of the Dark Line. Not when his blood carried the mark of Lilith herself.
The massive obsidian chamber burned with cold fire. Every flicker of flame bowed as Diago entered—black coat trailing like smoke, eyes glowing with restrained fury.
Everyone rose.
Even the ancient ones.
Even those who claimed not to fear him.
"Sit," Diago said softly.
They obeyed instantly.
His siblings lined the wall—Celene, tense and quiet, too smart to speak. Ezren, hiding a smirk. And Lucien... the arrogant fool still wearing the grin of a man who didn't know he'd just pissed off a god.
Diago stood in the center, voice calm—but every word felt like a command.
"The wall protecting our world is gone."
Murmurs.
"And the one who broke it is in this room."
A pause. Then his gaze cut through the silence—burning into Lucien.
Lucien shrugged, smug. "So what? It was time we reminded the world who we are. Let them fear us again."
Diago didn't blink. "You didn't do this for power. You did it because you're bored. Weak men cause chaos to feel strong."
Lucien laughed. "And you'd rather sit and play politics? Look at you, talking about peace. How... human you've become."
The air dropped ten degrees. Shadows crawled across the floor like snakes.
Diago tilted his head, lips curling. "It's fascinating, really. You mistake restraint for weakness. Perhaps Lilith forgot to bless you with a brain."
Lucien stiffened.
Diago stepped closer, voice now a low, seductive threat.
"You broke an enchantment older than your bloodline. You exposed us to the mortal world. And you think that makes you a warrior? No, brother. It makes you expendable."
Celene grabbed Lucien's arm. "Enough."
The Elders looked shaken. One stood slowly. "Your Highness... what do you suggest?"
Diago's eyes glowed. "Two paths. One leads to war. Fire. Blood. We burn the Hunters down to ash."
He paused.
"The other—calls for a meeting. A treaty. We give peace a chance. Once."
Murmurs.
Then Lucien snorted, "Soft. Weak. Our enemies should bow, not negotiate."
Diago smiled.
And it was dangerous.
"Funny. I didn't realize stupidity was contagious."
Even Celene winced.
Another Elder stood. "We vote peace. Send a message to the Hunters. If they refuse... then we unleash hell."
Diago nodded once.
"Thomas," he said quietly. "Summon their leader."
Thomas bowed low. "At once, my Prince."
But as Diago turned away, something shimmered in the firelight.
A flicker in his soul.
A pull.
A name.
Alora.
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ALORA – MORTAL WORLD
She hadn't seen him in two days.
But she felt him.
In her bones.
In the ache between her ribs.
In the heat that rolled through her body at night, uninvited and unstoppable.
She sat at the dinner table, picking at her food while her family talked. But her mind was far away—in a dark forest, pressed up against a cold stone wall, with his voice in her ear.
"I'll ruin you for anyone else."
Her thighs pressed together under the table.
Her cheeks flushed hot.
And of course, Mia noticed.
"Alora has a boyfriend," the little monster said, pointing at her with a wicked grin.
Her grandmother cackled. Her dad nearly dropped his spoon. "Who?! Who is he?!"
Alora blinked. "What?! No—Mia, what are you talking about?!"
"You're blushing," Mia said proudly. "And smiling. Like... like you're thinking about kissing."
Her face burned. "Mia!"
Even her mom looked amused. "Let her be," she said gently. "She'll tell us when she's ready."
Alora ran upstairs the moment dinner ended, her heart hammering like she'd committed a crime.
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She couldn't sleep.
She touched her lips.
She could still feel his.
Rough.
Cold.
Hungry.
Her body ached in places she didn't even understand yet.
And the worst part?
She liked it.
No—she craved it.
There was a pull between them. A thread of something deeper than lust, older than magic. She didn't know what it was.
But it scared her.
And yet…
She turned off her light.
And whispered into the dark, "I miss you…"
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BACK TO DIAGO
He stood alone in the Hall of Mirrors, staring into the reflection of his own rage.
But her voice echoed through him.
I miss you…
He heard it.
Felt it.
Even from another realm.
His lips parted, a dark thrill spreading through his chest.
"She's calling me," he whispered.
And the shadows... moved.
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As Alora closed her eyes, the wind in her room shifted.
Soft.
Cold.
And something pressed against her neck—a breath that wasn't hers.
"Miss me too, little flame?" a voice murmured from the shadows.
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