The Sinful Pact

Chapter 19: Caught in the Act

Alistair's presence was suffocating. He stood at the edge of the ritual circle, his sharp eyes locked on me and Dante. The mark on my wrist burned like fire, reacting to his fury. My body froze as his voice cut through the air.

"You thought you could break my bond?" Alistair said, his tone calm but carrying a dangerous edge. "In my own home, no less."

I glanced at Dante, who was already on his feet, his body tense like a coiled spring. "It's over, Alistair. You can't control her forever," he said firmly.

Alistair's lips curled into a cold smile. "Control? You misunderstand, brother. This bond isn't about control it's about survival. Without it, Leona's power will wither. Do you really want her to suffer for your reckless rebellion?"

My heart pounded, fear and anger colliding inside me. "Don't twist this, Alistair," I said, forcing myself to stand despite the pain in my wrist. "You don't care about my survival. You just want to own me."

His expression darkened, and the air around him seemed to ripple with energy. "And yet, you're still alive because of me. Ungrateful as you may be, I've given you everything you needed. But perhaps I was too lenient."

Before I could react, he raised his hand, and a surge of invisible force slammed into the circle, scattering the stones and snuffing out the herbs. The ritual was broken, its energy fading into the night. I stumbled backward, the power of his attack leaving me breathless.

"Leona!" Dante shouted, grabbing my arm to steady me.

Alistair's gaze flickered to Dante, his smile cold and sharp. "And you, dear brother. Always the fool, always meddling where you don't belong. Tell me, how many times must you fail before you learn your lesson?"

Dante's grip on my arm tightened, and he stepped in front of me like a shield. "You're the one who's going to lose, Alistair. You can't hold her forever."

Alistair laughed, a low, chilling sound that sent shivers down my spine. "We'll see about that."