Virgil PoV
I sat on my throne, my left hand resting against the cold armrest while my toes tapped an irregular rhythm on the black marble floor. I had waited far too long, expending every ounce of patience for each step of my meticulously crafted plan for revenge-a vengeance rooted deep within me.
Now, my anger consumed what little control I had left. The thought of Selena’s offspring has echoed in my mind since Valeria’s death. She was the target of my wrath, a tool to be destroyed to lure her mother into my grasp for the crime of taking Valeria from me.
The Treaty of the Three Nations meant nothing to me anymore. It was dead in my eyes, and the blood oath we had once sworn no longer held sway over me.
I had dispatched two of my best Death Sanguines to capture her. I wanted to see the expression on the faces of the Melucci twins-prominent and powerful Alphas of their kind after Alpha King Silas-when I obliterated their mate before their eyes. One move to achieve three objectives.
I wanted them to feel the agony I had endured for centuries. But as the night grew deeper, only Stefan returned.
He stood trembling before me, his characteristic calm shattered by fear.
“My Lord,” he began, his voice quivering. “I’ve returned to report… but Milla didn’t make it.”
I rose from my throne, my body taut with the unexpected outcome. “Didn’t make it?”
He lowered his head, avoiding my gaze. “The Moonstone wolves were too strong, My Lord. Milla fought until her last breath to ensure I could escape and deliver this report.”
“Your partner fought?” I stepped closer, my footsteps echoing through the cold marble hall. “Fought for what? For failure? You return empty-handed and expect me to accept this?”
The Death Sanguine remained silent, his body trembling. I could hear the irregular, panicked thrum of his vampire heart. He must have known the risks.
The urge to end his life because of his incompetence surged within me, but Kruglov’s voice halted my intentions.
“My Lord,” his voice boomed, steady and measured, “may I speak?”
I turned to him, my gaze icy. “Speak, Kruglov. But tread carefully.”
Kruglov stepped forward, his large, imposing frame slightly bowing as he addressed me. “The Moonstone wolves are too strong for a small operation like this. They guard Godiva with everything they have because they know she’s their weakness. If we want to reach her, we must destroy them first.”
I frowned. “What’s your plan, Kruglov?”
“A full-scale assault,” he declared firmly. “We will deploy our best forces to crush their defenses. Two waves would be optimal. Amidst the chaos, we extract Godiva. Then, My Lord, you can deliver your final message to the Moonstone wolves in your own way.”
A cold smile spread across my lips, one that could intimidate anyone in the room. “I like your plan. Nothing would be more satisfying than watching them fall apart. Ensure Godiva is brought back alive-at least until I’m finished with her.”
Kruglov bowed. “This battle will be yours, My Lord.”
From the balcony of my castle, I watched as Kruglov rallied his forces. The Death Sanguines gathered under the pale moonlight, their long black cloaks merging with the night’s shadows. They were my weapons, the sharp blade I would wield to strike directly at Moonstone.
Tonight would mark the beginning of their end. I already envisioned the chaos-their gates falling, their warriors decimated, and in the end, I would stand amidst their ruins, reveling in their despair.
And Godiva… I wanted to see fear etched into her face. I wanted her to understand that the protection offered by the Melucci twins and their wolves meant nothing to me. She was merely a tool-a symbol of the werewolves’ greatest humiliation before I crushed them all.
As the army advanced into the darkness, a gust of wind crept into my throne room. In my mind, I imagined the clash of silver, the howls of those dogs, and the sound of bodies hitting the ground-a melody composed for my satisfaction.
I closed my eyes, savoring the envisioned symphony of their destruction. The wolves had defied me for far too long, and now they would pay the ultimate price.
Light footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I turned to see a woman stepping onto the balcony.
Her straw-blonde hair cascaded down her back, shimmering like liquid gold under the moonlight. Her blood-red eyes were sharp, brimming with a confidence rarely seen even among newly turned vampires. She wore a black dress that clung to her form, exuding elegance and subtle menace.
“Lord Virgil,” she said, her voice soft yet weighted with significance, like the whisper of death. “You seem tense. Not a usual look for a ruler like you. I overheard your conversation with a high-ranking vampire earlier.”
I raised an eyebrow. “There are matters to be concerned about, but Kruglov has them under control,” I replied flatly, speaking to her with familiarity. “Tension is part of this game. You know that better than anyone.”
She gave a faint smile, stepping closer to stand beside me. “Your forces work hard. An assault on Trionia… quite ambitious.”
“Ambitious?” I let out a dry chuckle, glancing at her. “No, this is more than that. This is destiny.”
She nodded slightly, her gaze shifting to the shadowy battlefield below. “And Godiva? What are your plans for her?”
A cold smile spread across my lips. “She will witness the destruction of her pack, their humiliation laid bare before their own kind. After that…” I paused, letting the image form in my mind. “She will be my final message to them. Exactly as planned.”
She turned to me, her expression unreadable. “I agree, Lord Virgil. You always focus on destruction. But I wonder-Is this truly about Godiva? Or is there something more personal at play?”
I scowled, narrowing my eyes at her. “What do you mean?”
She shrugged, her mysterious smile unwavering. “Just an observation. You wield the power to destroy worlds, yet you seem obsessed with old wounds.”
“I don’t need your judgment,” I said flatly.
“It’s not judgment, just an observation,” she replied lightly. She leaned against the balcony’s railing, her gaze piercing. “What if Godiva isn’t what you expect? What if the wolves have a card they haven’t played yet?”
I paused, her words sinking in. Before I could respond, she smiled again-this time colder, as if she knew something I didn’t.
“I’ll be watching, Master Virgil. Be careful not to let this game turn against you,” she said before I could approach her.
She reminded me so much of Valeria. Without thinking, I grabbed her slender waist, pulling her close.
I claimed her lips with a passion ignited by desire and anger, my emotions swirling into a storm of chaos. My hands encircled her body, swiftly lifting her into my chambers.
My focus wavered as I looked at her-innocent yet enticing, a sharp contrast to Valeria’s sharp wit. I didn’t care. Tonight, I wanted only her. Before I threw myself completely into battle, I craved this intimacy, just the two of us.