- il y a 2 jours
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PersonnesTranscription
08:18My voice sounded distant.
08:19We're fine. Just leave.
08:23Katie let out a dry laugh.
08:26You sure about that?
08:28Zane kicked the door.
08:31Aria, did that snake touch you?
08:33I bit my lip to keep from screaming.
08:35A cold tongue licked the bite on the nape of my neck.
08:38His fangs sank deeper into my pulse point.
08:40No gentle bond, just an apex predator invading my very soul to claim his prize.
08:45Power flooded my chest.
08:46It froze. The black veins of the Backlash.
08:49The pain vanished.
08:51The storm of the feral heat finally passed.
08:54The suffocating pressure faded.
08:56Lucian's massive tail dissolved into shadow.
08:58He leaned back in a worn chair, his handsome face cold and moody again.
09:02He stared at me with gold-slit eyes.
09:05I pushed past the ache in my body and checked my wrist.
09:07The black veins of the Backlash were gone.
09:10In their place, a pale gold scale mark sealed the poison.
09:13I had survived.
09:18Serena claimed your heat was barely a spark.
09:20My voice was raspy.
09:22Lucian scoffed, his tone low.
09:25Suppressed instinct.
09:27Nothing more.
09:28I didn't push.
09:30I handed him a glass of water.
09:32Rest today.
09:33You work for me tomorrow.
09:34He didn't take the glass.
09:36He just stared.
09:37By evening, I dragged myself out to the yard.
09:40I froze.
09:41Lucian was hanging my linen dresses on the drying rack.
09:44His face was blank, but his movements were efficient.
09:47Before, Cade and the others would toss their dirty clothes at me, expecting me to scrub them in the freezing
09:53river.
09:53Even when my body ached, no alpha wolf would ever do grunt work.
09:57Watching Lucian's long, pale fingers, my heart twitched.
10:01But peace never lasts.
10:03The next morning, the Chief Knight kicked my door with a squad of armed guards.
10:08His lordship says you've had your fun, Arya.
10:10Time to go home and marry the Bear Lord.
10:12I drew my dagger, pressing the blade to my throat.
10:15What if I got that monster on our wedding night?
10:17Then kill myself.
10:21The knight froze.
10:23He leaned in, lowering his voice.
10:26The Bear Lord has an offer.
10:28Marry him and you get 5% of the core northern mithril mines.
10:31My hand stopped.
10:325% of the mithril mines.
10:34That was my freedom.
10:36Enough to build my own mercenary army.
10:39Get the carriage ready.
10:40I lowered the night.
10:41The knight smirked, glancing at Lucian.
10:43Serena wants her serpent back.
10:46He needs to be dealt with before the wedding.
10:48I looked back.
10:49Lucian's gold eyes were dead.
10:50But a chill ran down my spine.
10:53The castle hall was pure luxury and a joke.
10:57My three wolves, the ones who swore to die for me, were lounging in the hall.
11:01Zane flipped his dagger, looking me up and down.
11:03Couldn't survive in that rotting cabin?
11:06I thought you were tough.
11:08Cade didn't even look up from the sofa.
11:09Crawling back.
11:11Changed your mind or do you miss us?
11:14I scoffed.
11:15You flatter yourselves.
11:17Julian set down his wine glass and sauntered over.
11:22A smirk on his face.
11:23Stop pretending.
11:24Kneel and beg.
11:25And maybe I'll help you run.
11:27I stepped back, disgusted.
11:30Julian lunged, grabbing my jaw.
11:33He squeezed, forcing my head up despite my struggle.
11:37His eyes locked onto my collar.
11:38Right on my pulse point was the deep, bloody bite mark Lucian left last night.
11:42Julian's face went pale.
11:43What is this?
11:45A mating mark from that filthy serpent?
11:47Zane slammed his dagger onto the marble table.
11:50His wolf ears pinned back as he marched toward me.
11:54What did you say?
11:55Julian reached to rip my collar open.
11:57A pale, icy hand clamped around his wrist like a vice.
12:00A heavy force yanked me back.
12:02I hid a chest smelling of frost and pine.
12:04Lucian stood in front of me, his gold-slit eyes burning with bloodlust.
12:08Back off.
12:09His voice was pure ice.
12:11An ancient predator's pressure flooded the room, crushing the three wolves.
12:15Julian gasped, instantly dropping into a defensive stance.
12:19The air was thick with tension.
12:21Serena glided down the stairs, her silk gown rustling.
12:24I could hear you boys from upstairs.
12:28What is all this noise?
12:29I looked at her.
12:30They saw my mating mark.
12:33They didn't take it well.
12:34Serena's bright smile froze.
12:36She stared at Lucian and me, her eyes twisting with disbelief and envy.
12:43The serpent she once viewed as her life's greatest embarrassment,
12:46the one who wouldn't even let her touch him,
12:48had just completed the deepest mating bond with me to save my life.
12:51Serena grit her teeth, her face twisting before she forced a smile.
12:55Father's waiting in his study, Arya.
12:57She pointed at Lucian.
12:59Leave the slave downstairs.
13:01I pulled my hand from Lucian's cold grip and glanced at the three wolves.
13:05Don't mess with him while I'm gone.
13:07Zane let out a harsh laugh.
13:09Us?
13:09Mess with him?
13:11I ignored him and walked upstairs.
13:12I pushed open the heavy study doors.
13:14Father sat behind his massive desk.
13:16First, the blood oath.
13:18Then, the wedding.
13:20He sipped his tea.
13:23Obey, and the Mithyat's scepter is yours.
13:26I want the scepter the day of the oath.
13:28Not a second later.
13:30You don't trust your own blood!
13:33I don't trust you.
13:35One pout from Serena and you'll give her my minds.
13:37His face turned purple, but he needed the Bear Lord's alliance.
13:41He grit his teeth.
13:43Fine.
13:45Sever your bond with that trash and prepare to marry.
13:54The hall downstairs was still suffocating.
13:56I walked straight to Lucian.
13:58Let's go.
13:59I'll show you my room.
14:01I needed to tell him my plan to escape.
14:02Zane sneered.
14:03You haven't lived here in years.
14:05What's to see?
14:05Serena popped a berry into her mouth.
14:08Father is still in the castle, Arya.
14:10Bringing a man into your private chambers.
14:13You have three alphas trailing you day and night.
14:16I think I'll survive.
14:19I headed upstairs.
14:20Lucian right behind me.
14:22The moment the heavy oak door shut.
14:24A cold, thick tail wrapped around my waist.
14:27He pinned me against the door.
14:28Your scent is so strong here.
14:31I haven't stepped foot in here in years.
14:34He didn't listen.
14:36His fangs grazed my neck, possessive and slow.
14:39Lucian.
14:41I agreed to the marriage.
14:44The black tail swept me off my feet.
14:46Tossing me onto the bed.
14:48He hovered over me.
14:49Gold slit eyes drilling into mine.
14:51His cold tail slit up my skirt.
14:53I grabbed it.
14:54My heart hammering.
14:59Do you hate me?
15:01No.
15:03But I have to marry the bear lord.
15:06Go back to Serena.
15:07It's safer for you.
15:08You're never getting rid of me.
15:10And as for the wedding, don't worry.
15:13A tavern in the black market.
15:15A mountain of mussel sat across from me.
15:17His skin covered in brutal scars from surviving the beast tides.
15:20The infamous, bloodthirsty bear lord.
15:24I know you want Serena.
15:26You proposed with rare crystals, but my father rejected you.
15:30The bear lord snorted.
15:33Said the oldest sister had to marry first.
15:36Crushing his blood in his bare fist.
15:37Of course I want her.
15:39She's a pure, radiant beauty.
15:41But she told me you loved me, so she stepped aside.
15:44I hid my disgust.
15:46Serena's pathetic lies only worked on brainless beasts.
15:52I can give you Serena.
15:55I slid a warded coin across the table.
15:58We'll stage a fake blood oath.
16:01When Serena sees me at the altar with you, jealousy will eat her alive.
16:05What's the catch?
16:07I'll escape through a secret tunnel before the vows.
16:09With no bride, Serena is so kind-hearted she will step in to save face.
16:13You take her hand, and she'll weep with joy.
16:16I take my gold and disappear.
16:18Fine.
16:19If it gets me, Serena, I'm in.
16:24I smiled, signing the temporary soul contract.
16:28Fool.
16:28You're walking straight into a disaster.
16:34The day I brought the bear lord home, the air was suffocating.
16:37One week until the wedding.
16:39The family was busy securing the mithril alliance.
16:41I went to fetch my healing potion.
16:46Julian blocked my path, leaning against a stone pillar.
16:51You don't want that beast.
16:53His blood stench is sickening.
16:55Looking down at me with fake pity.
16:57Kneel and beg, and maybe I'll save you.
17:00Save your breath.
17:03You'll regret this.
17:04It's suicide!
17:05His voice went icy, but I kept walking.
17:08In the hall, Serena was flirting with the bear lord.
17:11She sauntered over, swirling her wine.
17:13Five percent of the mines?
17:15You're throwing your life away.
17:18Once father dies, the entire state is mine anyway.
17:21Selling yourself for dirt.
17:22Zane sneered, polishing his dagger.
17:24Cade didn't even look up from his scroll.
17:26I ignored their barking.
17:28My eyes swept the crowded room and found Lucian.
17:31He stood in the shadows, completely detached from the noise.
17:35For the first time, I noticed how beautiful he was.
17:38His pale skin, his gold-slit eyes.
17:41Breathtaking.
17:41I offered a soft smile.
17:43He looked away, his expression unreadable.
17:49The day of the blood oath arrived.
17:51The grand cathedral was blindingly luxurious.
17:54Floating crystals lit the ceiling,
17:55and white roses cascaded like waterfalls over velvet rugs.
18:00In the dressing room, maids fitted me into a heavy mithril wedding gown.
18:04They placed a crown of silver thorns on my head.
18:06As the hour neared, I dismissed them all.
18:08I told them I needed to pray alone.
18:10The moment they left, I pulled back the rug.
18:14I slipped into the secret passage I'd bribed my way through.
18:18I ripped off the heavy gown, threw on simple clothes, and ran.
18:22A carriage waited in the dark alley.
18:26The board apports. Go!
18:28I tossed a heavy bag of gold to the driver.
18:30As we sped away, I tapped my calm crystal, trying to reach Lucian.
18:35It flashed, then went dark.
18:37No response.
18:38Did the knights catch him?
18:39Anxiety clawed at my chest.
18:41I channeled my mana into the crystal.
18:46Connecting to the cathedral's magic projection.
18:48It was the bear lord wanted to record the moment Serena stepped in to save him.
18:52Now, I had a front row seat to the show.
18:54On screen, the priest raised his gold staff.
18:57Bring forth the bear lord and his bride.
19:00The brass doors swung open.
19:02The bride's aisle was empty.
19:04Hundreds of nobles gasped.
19:07Murmurs filling the cathedral.
19:09Father's face went pale.
19:10Mother shook with rage.
19:11On the groom's side, a massive shadow flashed.
19:16I gasped.
19:17That wasn't the bear lord.
19:19That dark, crushing aura.
19:20Lucian, what was he doing?
19:22Crashing the wedding.
19:24The bear lord marched onto the altar, adjusting his heavy armor.
19:27He looked at the empty aisle and took a deep breath.
19:30He shouted into the magic crystal.
19:31Everyone, Arya is not my bride.
19:34My true love is Serena.
19:37The magical projection whipped to Serena.
19:39Her perfect face twisted in horror.
19:41She shrank behind father.
19:46Are you insane?
19:47What are you talking about?
19:49You said you loved me.
19:50You said you stepped aside for Arya.
19:52Now we can be together.
19:54Who would love a monster like you?
19:55You're a monster.
19:57Killed three wives.
19:58Why would I ever love you?
19:59The cathedral erupted into chaos.
20:02Suddenly, a continent-wide emergency alert flared through every magic array.
20:07The abyss throne has awakened.
20:09The true ruler of the far north, the pure-blood serpent emperor, is in our territory.
20:15A magical image manifested above the array.
20:17A tall, dark figure with gold-slit eyes stared back.
20:20Lucian.
20:23The carriage reached the tense border port.
20:25My calm crystal flashed.
20:27The bear lord roared, static screaming from the gem.
20:31You played me!
20:33Get back here and seal the bond!
20:35A fool like you doesn't deserve my time.
20:41I sneered, cutting off my magic and crushing the link.
20:51The sea wind howled.
20:53I waited on the empty dock.
20:55A tall shadow blocked the moonlight.
20:57Cade.
20:57His cold eyes stared, his lips curling into a sneer.
21:01What's that face?
21:03Disappointed?
21:04Did you think your snake was coming?
21:06I stared back, silent.
21:08Cade laughed, sharp with bitter jealousy.
21:10He's the serpent emperor, a ruthless tyrant.
21:13You think a beast like him cares about a weak human?
21:15He abandoned you.
21:19Before I could speak, a metallic scent hit the wind.
21:22Feral magic rushed over the docks.
21:24Cade stiffened, arching his back and growling.
21:27Lucian stepped out of the fog, treading on frost.
21:29His black cloak was soaked dark red with blood.
21:33Crimson splatters painted his pale, beautiful face.
21:38What did you do to Julian and Zane?
21:42Cade roared, eyes turning blood red.
21:44In Lucian's hand hung the severed tails of Cade's brothers.
21:47Lucian walked past him, wrapping his arm around my waist and resting his chin on my shoulder.
21:52Those mutts are almost dead.
21:54He chuckled, gold-slit eyes gleaming with sadistic joy.
21:59Thirty-three.
22:02Giamma Godrood
22:04Thirtyeden
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