Devil's Desire {A BWLM Novella}

19

19

Athena

I awake to the slight dip in the mattress, the weight of it pulling me from a restless sleep. Santiago sits on the edge of the bed, and even in the dim light, I can see the strain in him. There were bags under his eyes, his jaw darkened with stubble, and his usually neat hair is disheveled, as if he's been running his hands through it all night. His body is coiled, every muscle taut, like a predator ready to strike. I've never seen him like this-so visibly on edge. Outside, the night still clinged to the sky, and the clock reads three a.m., casting shadows across the room.

"Santi, what's wrong?" My voice trembles despite my attempt to steady it. I'm scared, and the anxiety tightens in my chest, mirroring his own tension.

"My fucking sister," he laughs, but it's a hollow sound, devoid of humor. I wince at the bitterness in his tone. "She fucking ruined us!" He springs up from the bed, pacing back and forth across the room like a caged animal. His fingers flex, ready to strangle whatever-or whoever-crosses his path.

"What happened?" The question comes out breathless, like a plea.

"I'll explain on the way. We have to go now!" He throws jogging clothes onto the bed, and without needing further instruction, I begin to dress. The atmosphere is heavy with dread. I look around the room-our room-but it's eerily empty. All the personal items are gone. Did someone clear it out? Why didn't I notice sooner?

The jogging suit is tight but practical, and Santiago practically drags me out of the room. We hurry down the grand staircase, the sound of our footsteps swallowed by the frenzy of activity below. Staff members rush past, their faces tight with urgency.

"Rodger!" Santiago barks, his voice cutting through the chaos like a knife.

Rodger appears almost instantly. "Yes, your grace?" He bows, as if this is just another day in his strange, servile life.

"Is everything prepared?"

"Yes, everything is packed and in the SUV."

"Good. Let's go," Santiago commands, his grip on my arm firm as he steers me outside.

~~

"Santi, what the hell is going on?" I ask again as the jet hums through the night sky. The tension in the cabin is palpable, and I'm struggling to breathe evenly, fearing his answer.

"Ingrid exposed us. She went on national television and handed over documents-documents that reveal everything. Names, dates, our entire history back to the twelfth century."

I stare at him, my mind scrambling to process what he's just said. "What does that mean for us? For the society?"

His hand drags down his face, weary, defeated. "We have contingency plans for this sort of thing. Right now, every family is fleeing to Greenland. We've built a stronghold there-a palace that can house all of us until this blows over. But there's a chance... there's a chance we may never return to the States."

The gravity of his words hits me like a ton of bricks. My hands clench into fists, my mind racing with all the implications. "What aren't you telling me, Santi? You promised me honesty. I'm about to be your wife and the mother of your child-I deserve to know."

His hand tightens around mine, his knuckles white. "They're already challenging my rule. This has never happened before. Secrecy has always been our strength to protect our way of life. Now it's shattered." His voice is low, a dangerous edge to it. "And it was my sister who lit the match."

I shake my head in disbelief. "Santi, we live in a digital world. No matter how careful you are, there's always a risk of exposure. It was bound to happen eventually."