I can only breathe a sigh of relief when Nikita's unconscious body slumps in my arms. She's safe. And she avenged herself. She's won the biggest victory of her life. And yet she manages to peacefully rest in my arms, her mind completely trusting me to care for her.

And I will!

At least better than the last time.

I suspect she is sleeping so peacefully for the first time.

Holding her up, I cradle Nikita against my chest as I watch Callum holding onto Alcina's struggling form. She's weeping, her pain and hatred evident from the way she's screaming. Her gaze is fixed on my mate as she tries to fight her way out of Callum's arms.

"She killed my mate!"

I still can't connect the dots. It seems that Alcina is Nikita's tormentor's mate. It explains why she was so blinded by love for the dead man. Wulfric!

I frown at the déjà vu that the name brings me. I've heard it somewhere. I try to focus on my thoughts, hoping to track the name through my memories but Alcina's screams wash over me, making it difficult to concentrate.

I don't feel any sympathy for her. I only pity her. So blinded she is, by her love for Wulfric that she was ready to kill her own cousin. She didn't even realize that she has committed treason by helping Wulfric's evil work.

"You committed treason, sister," Callum whispers something inside her head along with those loud-spoken words.

"No!" Alcina's screams echo through the castle as Callum's palm emits a steady stream of fire, burning down Wulfric's body to ashes. I focus on the burning body, taking in the sight of the dead Wulfric before Callum methodically burns his body with a steady stream of fire.

My eyes narrow when I see something familiar but I am unable to make out anything because of the smoke that arises due to the burning flesh.

Callum then does the same to Anya's mother's body and this time Anya's quiet sobs echo behind me.

All the while Alcina's screams create havoc around us, ringing in my ears. I try my best to soothe Nikita's mind as well as Anya's mind as she seems to be in some sought of a weeping trance. Her mind is blocked, and I assume that it is because of Alcina's magic. Nikita might be able to help clear Anya's mind and hopefully, she can recall how Alcina and Wulfric plotted our downfall.

I am absolutely certain that this Wulfric had the motive to take over my crown. Was I the reason behind Nikita's abduction and torture at Wulfric's hands?

If not, then how did he know about Nikita? That too before I met her? Or did he have a grudge against Nikita's parents? But if that's the case then he would've focused his wrath on Fenris as well but he didn't seem interested in the wolf crown.

At least not to the extent that he was focused on the vampire crown. That's the main reason why he targeted Anya and her mother. Or was there another reason behind it?

"Dominic?"

My heart nearly stops beating when I hear Callum's voice. Shaking my head a bit to clear my mind, I almost groan when I feel a headache building behind my eyes. Too many questions with a missing links. I might as well go crazy with the thoughts flying inside my head.

I need to speak with Fenris and Nora. Try to find out if they know anything about this. And to reveal Alcina's betrayal to them. It's going to be difficult for sure. At least I have Callum and Nikita as witnesses to Alcina's treachery.

But till then, I have to be patient. I look down at the precious bundle in my arms. During this time, I need to make Nikita realize that she's my last chance and I wish to make the most of it. I just hope that she accepts me and my failure to protect her the first time and every time after that.

"I need to cease her activity," says Callum bringing my thoughts to a standstill. I am not sure where he is taking his sister but trust him to subdue her and not hide her from us. Nodding at him, I allow Callum to take Alcina away from us.

It leaves me with an unconscious Nikita and a very hysterical-looking Anya.

"Anya?"

I call out making her shoulders jerk in surprise. At first, she wasn't looking at me but when she does, her eyes well up again and she bursts into tears, covering her face with her hands. Her shoulders jerk as she sobs hard, wailing like a child at her loss.

I am so sure about the reason behind her heartache.

"I am so stupid," she cries as she rocks herself back and forth as if trying to console herself. The action brings out all my protective instincts for her. She is Dima's mate and it's my responsibility to look after her in his absence.

Even if she planned to stab him in the back? Even if she played a role to kill him and me?

The thoughts plague my mind and I nearly growl at the anger that flows through me at the thought of Dima being dead. I can't even comprehend the thought of my twin's death. He's alive, I can feel it.

If Anya's here, the chances of Dima being here is very high.

"Anya?" I call out, walking steadily toward her, making sure that she doesn't react violently. She resembles a wounded animal at the moment. "Let's go home," I whisper, hoping that she'll comply.

I do not really know what to do with her. I am not even sure if she's a friend or foe. I don't even know if she is crying for Dima or her mother.

She jerks up, scooting back towards the wall behind her; her eyes wide and fearful.

"No. Dimi... Dmitry," she hiccups as she looks around herself. And then as if a bulb has gone off in her head, she pulls herself to her feet and then runs along the corridor. Maybe she's gone crazy?

Shaking my head out of the weird direction of my thoughts, I follow her and hope that she doesn't make me force her compliance.

"Dimitry!!"

She screams as she runs through the corridors, crying and sobbing for his name. I let her emotions wash over me and all that I feel is unconditional love and great regret.

Maybe she really does love Dima. Then why the regret? Did she participate in instigating this mess? Well, she did but was it knowingly or forcibly?

I need to find this ASAP.

"Dimitry!" Anya screams, standing right in the middle of the garden, her tears now blood-red due to the intensity of her heartache.

I wince at the sound of her scratchy throat. She'll be having a nasty sore throat tomorrow but that's not what is worrying me now. The fact that she's calling Dimitry as if he's here. As if she knows that he's here.

"What are you doing Anya?"

Anya whirls around to look at me, her eyes wide in fear and then they brighten with hope. It appears that she only realizes now that I am here. She walks over to me, almost tripping over her own feet.

The female is full of nervous energy. But she's more confused than heartbroken. Something's off.

"I know, Dominic! He's here. Dimitry's here," she whispers, her voice a hoarse whisper now that it's gone dry due to excessive shouting. "Please," she sobs while holding both her hands along her chest as if I am some God.

"You mean that Dima's here?" She nods her head and then looks around us. "Is he trapped?"

"No, yes. I don't know. I don't remember," she babbles and then once again sobs while shaking her head. "I... That night when we were in the club, I was so happy to be away from mom and uncle. They constantly pushed me to take Dima out of the castle but I wasn't sure why," Anya sobs, her eyes glazed now with the memories that haunt her.

"Then what happened?" I ask, holding onto Nikita's unconscious form but also creating a safe cocoon for Anya. She is the victim here, too.

"I don't know. As if someone was controlling me, I felt the urge to pull Dima out of the club and that's when someone hit me from behind. I was all alone in this cold place after that with Dima nowhere in sight. And then I heard my mom and uncle speak. That witch, Alcina, is my uncle's mate. I met them both for the first time. But mom was very much influenced by my uncle as if she knew him for a long time. But I do not ever remember uncle visiting us before this."

With those rushed words, Anya goes down to her knees, holding her head as if in pain. She might as well be in pain. It seems to me that Alcina has put a magical spell on her mind, not allowing her to disclose information to me or Dima, in case of questioning.

I need Nikita to heal Anya.

"So are you saying that Dima was not with you when you were brought here?"

"No, he wasn't but from what I heard; uncle Oman wanted Nikita here and Dima was bait."

Anya doesn't know the effect that her words have on me. I halt my thoughts and focus on the name, Oman. I have definitely heard this name.

Oman.

"What's your uncle's full name?"

I wait with bated breath as I recall my conversation with Sebastian, the son of the previous Alpha Female, Sabrione. Oman was Xavier's friend and an important instigator in the war against the Wolf Royals.

"It is Oman Wulfric."

Woah! So Oman Wulfric is Xavier's friend. He was the one to torture Nikita. This explains everything about Nikita's torture and her need to avenge herself.

So Oman was a vampire. Xavier was a Wolf. And Oman's mate is Alcina.

But what was Oman's agenda?

He wanted my Crown. But was Nikita's torture a coincidence? Or did he purposely target Nikita?

Who can answer this question for me?

I sigh loudly. It's a dead end for my thoughts with a dozen of questions. Only Nora or perhaps Nikita's mother can answer that question for me. Queen Eva is out of the question, so that leaves me with only Nora. I hope she chooses the truth and supports us instead of her daughter.

Focusing on Anya, I only attempt to soothe her and then go on my knees beside her.

"Anya, can you please look after my mate?" I ask, giving her a chance to prove her loyalty. If she harms Nikita, I am sure Nikita will save herself and Anya in her fragile state won't be able to cause much damage.

She looks at me with wide eyes. "Your mate?"

"Yes, my mate, Nikita."

Anya looks at me in surprise, and then at Nikita. I lay down Nikita close to Anya but am shocked to see Anya pick up Nikita's head and lay it on her lap, caressing my mate's white hair.

"She's a witch," Anya whispers while observing my mate closely. All I can detect is a wonder in Anya's soft caresses.

Not wanting to disturb Anya, I am about to take off in search of Dmitry when a whoosh of air lands right in front of us.

And then I see Nora, Fenris, Callum and Connor as they land on their feet looking around, ready to attack.

"You are late."

"We apologise for that, Dominic," whispers Nora as she walks toward me and then peeps to look around me at Anya and Nikita. "Are they..."

"They are fine. Nikita's exhausted. Anya is victimised."

"Okay. Then let me take them both to Crimson Shadow?"

"I am not sure about Anya," I whisper but Fenris's frown makes me halt my speech.

"It's fine, Dominic. Anya is family now," he says and I let out a relieved sigh. Knowing that Fenris accepts me and Nikita's bond, is a huge relief.

"Okay. Thank you."

With those words, Nora vanishes out of our sight taking Nikita and Anya with her. Only when the females are out of our sight do we look at each other.

"Dmitry's here," I whisper.

"Yes. And some of our werewolf friends, too," replies Fenris as he takes in a deep sniff. Callum nods and then we all follow Callum as he stretches out his hand that's glowing with fire.

"I've some of my aunt's skills but only for a short period of time. It is energy-draining as it's not my natural gift. So let's try to find the trail as soon as possible."

We walk a few steps, taking turns before we reach a clearing. It appears to be right in the middle of the castle. Fenris pulls out a torch, and so does Connor. Soon, the entire clearing is visible to our eyes.

And all we do is gasp in the horror of the scene in front of us. 

~~~~~

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