A Eternal Love

chapter 24

The corridors of the Mikelson estate always felt cold to me, even in the heat of summer. But today, that chill was nothing compared to the fire gnawing at my insides. I was heading to the cellar—the one where we kept the friend of the vampire who had dared touch my mi amore. Every step down the dimly lit stairs made my jaw tighten. The vampire had tried to harm her. He had dared. And no one, not a single being, attacked my mate and got away with it. Not alive, at least.

As I approached the door, Larry, my trusted lieutenant, was already inside, standing over the bound figure. The man was a mess: ribs broken, fingers missing, a face carved into an expression that screamed both fear and regret.

Daniel: Did he say anything?

Larry: No.

Daniel: Really? Not a single word?

Larry: He said a lot of words, but none of them were useful. None that could tell us anything we didn’t already know.

I exhaled slowly, my eyes narrowing. The vampire had no clue he was dealing with someone who would stop at nothing for the woman I loved.

Daniel: We want him alive if we want answers.

I glanced at Christian, who was observing with his usual detached smirk. He had always enjoyed the art of inflicting pain, but his mind games—oh, how he loved those—weren’t enough here. My method was simple: precision, pain, and dominance. But Christian? He thrived on manipulation. Still, in this case, neither of us could allow the vampire to walk away unpunished.

Christian: We would have had the answers if you hadn’t—

Daniel: cut him off with a glare No one gets to hurt my mate and walk away alive.

Christian rolled his eyes.

Christian: Love-sick puppy.

Daniel: And you’ll see how that works once you find your own mate.

Christian: Who said I want a mate? I only want revenge on that—bitch.

Daniel: You cannot do that.

Christian: Don’t worry, baby brother. I’ll wait. When you mark Mia, I’ll take care of her entire family, just as she would want to do to ours.

I clenched my fists. Christian’s words, always so casual, so dangerous, reminded me why we were the most feared vampires in existence.

Daniel: You should focus on finding your mate instead of plotting vengeance.

Christian: I can’t. You know why. Her curse.

I swallowed hard. How could I forget? Her curse had been designed to torment both of us. Mine had been bad, but his—Christian’s—was worse. A bond he couldn’t feel, a connection he couldn’t trace. A mate he would never know… until it was too late.

Daniel: We’ll find a way.

Christian: There is no other way. I cannot find her. I cannot feel her. I cannot track her.

Daniel: There is a way.

Christian: That way is impossible. And frankly, I don’t want a mate. Weakness is not an option.

He slammed his fist down on the floor, breaking the chair beneath him.

The vampire whimpered, eyes wide.

Vampire: Please, King! I don’t know what she belongs to… Alpha King—if I had known, I would never have let him—

Christian didn’t respond. His presence alone demanded fear.