*Selena*
“Sir Nicholas, I have an urgent need for information regarding Damon,” I stated, my voice betraying the urgency of my request. Time was of the essence, and I could ill afford any delays.
Nicholas regarded me with a knowing look, his lips curling into a mysterious smile. “Of course, my dear. I am more than willing to assist you,” he said, his tone laden with intrigue.
“Follow me,” he commanded, gesturing for me to accompany him.
“Where?” I asked, furrowing my brow in confusion.
“To a place where you can find all the answers to your questions,” he replied cryptically, leading the way. I followed him through a long, dimly lit corridor adorned with ancient hand-painted portraits hanging on the walls.
We entered a dimly lit room located three layers down in the basement, and the atmosphere felt unsettling. I could sense something off in the air. While vampires typically exuded a dark aura, this energy was different. As I stepped further into the room, the door closed behind me automatically, causing me to furrow my brow in suspicion.
“What was that?” I growled, my voice low and filled with irritation.
“Relax, Selena,” Nicholas said calmly, his demeanor unaffected by the situation.
“No, first tell me why did you close the door,” I demanded fiercely, my eyes narrowing in suspicion.
“You need to know about Damon’s past, don’t you?!” he shot back, his tone defensive.
“Then tell me quickly,” I ordered, my gaze unwavering as I stared him down. Despite my demand, he remained silent, only smirking in response. It was clear he had no intention of sharing the information with me anytime soon.
“You know, if I don’t return quickly, Damon will unleash hell upon you,” I threatened, my voice laced with menace.
“Calm down and sit peacefully,” he grimaced, his tone betraying a hint of unease.
“You know Damon won’t be pleased if he finds out you’ve harmed me,” I said, narrowing my eyes in warning.
“Damon! Damon! Damon!” He raised a brow before letting out a chuckle that grated on my nerves. I furrowed my brow at his mocking laughter.
“That man has taken everything away from me. He has all that I should have had. So I can at least take his mate away from him, can’t I?” he gritted his teeth, his anger simmering just beneath the surface.
“What do you mean?” I frowned, confusion clouding my thoughts.
“I should have ascended to the throne, not him. Now I have his mate in my possession. I’m intrigued to see whether he will choose you or his crown,” he explained, a sinister smirk playing on his lips.
So, he set a trap to lure Damon using me. I needed to think fast to get out of this place before Damon arrived and fell into danger because of me. Urgency coursed through me as his guards captured me.
“You’re making a big mistake, and you’re going to regret it,” I warned, struggling against their grip. “If you let me go, I won’t tell Damon about your deceit, and we can pretend it never happened,” I offered, desperation evident in my voice.
“You useless wolf, you can’t do anything to me,” Nicholas laughed cruelly. “Take her to the sacrificial altar” he ordered his guards, his tone filled with malice.
“Don’t you dare touch me!” I protested, trying to free myself from their restraint, but to no avail.
“Cooperate with us, and we will not harm you,” Nicholas cautioned, his voice dripping with false sincerity.
“Selena, let me take control,” Arena’s howl reverberated through my mind, prompting us to swiftly exchange positions, yielding command to her. In response, I seamlessly transitioned into my form as a towering golden wolf, a sight that sent shivers of horror down the spines of the guards and making them take a step back.
“A golden wolf!” Nicholas gasped, his eyes widening in astonishment. “That’s quite the prize. If I can possess you, golden wolf, I can wield your formidable powers,” he muttered covetously.
“In your dreams, you despicable wretch,” Arena snarled, launching herself forward as the guards hurled silver chains in her direction. With the agility of a seasoned predator, she effortlessly evaded the chains, retaliating with a ferocious assault that swiftly subdued the guards.
“Now it’s your turn, Nicholas,” she bellowed furiously, crimson droplets of blood staining her menacing jaws.
Nicholas grinned malevolently as his palms radiated with an eerie glow, softly chanting an incantation that left me feeling paralyzed, frozen in place.
“Golden Wolf, now you’re within my grasp. Surrender, and bestow upon me your powers. I shan’t bring harm to you,” Nicholas declared boldly, his voice laced with an audacious tone as he dared to threaten my wolf.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Arena growled, her voice a low, menacing rumble.
“Your wish, for I shan’t show mercy as I strip your soul and power from your very being,” he sneered, his eyes darkening ominously. With a muttered incantation under his breath, his palm began to emit a sinister glow, signaling that the moment of confrontation had arrived.
“Now, Arena!” I cried out, channeling all of my strength to her aid, urging her to break free from the oppressive magic that ensnared her and reclaim her freedom.
Arena howled ferociously before she sprang into action, her powerful form soaring through the air. In the blink of an eye, Nicholas found himself pinned beneath the weight of Arena’s massive paws, her growls resonating with unrestrained anger. Terror flickered in Nicholas’s widened eyes, a stark reflection of the imminent threat of death that loomed over him.
But before Arena could carry out her lethal intent and end that bastard’s life, the door was violently flung open, and an arrow pierced Arena’s body with precision. She crashed to the ground, her cries of pain echoing through the arena. The arrow, coated with wolfbane, sapped our powers, rendering us utterly defenseless. Helplessly, Arena’s helpless eyes watched as I saw through her eyes, witnessing our attacker approach.