CHAPTER 35: THE SHAPE-SHIFTER

Aven’s POV

"I don’t want any of you," Aria’s words rang in my head.

Ardyn growled within from the instant rejection. I looked at her as she stormed out of the duel hall, followed by Zade and Damon.

I just stood rooted at the spot, processing what just came out of her mouth. "I should be happy, shouldn’t I? After all, that’s what I wanted all along. But here I’m disappointed, sad and enraged.

This must have been too much for her. I started this fight, not considering how she might have felt during the altercation.

I hated that I was overwhelmed with that emotion, an emotion I never wanted to feel.

I sat up in my bed as I thought about how to get to her, and I found myself dressing up and heading to her dorm.

The cold night swept through me as I walked. Maybe I could tell her how bad I wanted her, how somehow she has captivated me.

I got to her door, contemplating whether to knock or just stare at it until the day breaks and she meets me sitting behind her door.

But my hands moved and I knocked.

I was, for the first time in a long while, letting my emotions lead me.

No one opened the door, and as I turned to sit on the floor behind the door, my back hit the door, and it opened.

The living room was empty. They have either gone to bed without locking their door or left the house without closing the door.

Or....

My heart ran to Aria. I hope she was safe; hopefully, no one broke in.

As I drew closer, it dawned on me that something had broken in—a slow, crawling sensation through my veins.

For someone who hardly felt, it felt overwhelming thinking she might be in trouble.

I rushed straight to her door and into her room, just to meet myself staring back at me.

I saw the shock and confusion on her face, "Aven? How is that even possible?" she screamed.

It was a shape-shifting demon; not only did a vampire penetrate the sigil, but a demon from the underworld also did. We have multiple enemies now, and we need the witches on our side; a war is brewing.

And just then, the creature lunged towards her as he caught sight of me through his peripheral and caught her by the neck.

I instinctively charged forward, letting Ardyn take over.

My bones cracked, hair pulling out from my skin, and I was blinded by pure rage and fury at the sight I was just beholding.

I moved straight for his neck and, with one elbow blow, he released her. She was turning pale; he had poisoned her. But how? Who was he?.

I didn’t have a chance to help her as she slumped to the floor, because soon after he released her, he regained composure and moved towards me with precise movement.

"You think you can take me down with that weak move?" He growled as he approached me.

"It was enough to make you let go of her, you cheap replica." I snarled, baring my teeth.

He threw blow after blow in a swift way, but I dodged every attack. This wasn’t going to be an easy fight, so I had to shift entirely as fast as I could.

I pounced on him, driving him to the floor, clawing at his skin until the illusion dropped and his real form revealed itself.

"You?"

I was astonished to find out that he was one of the butlers in my father’s house. A face I’d seen a dozen times, walking past unnoticed, harmless and obedient, although I never knew his ranking.

He can’t be working alone. He was probably sent by someone who opened the portal and placed him to serve my dad.

My mind drifted to Commander Loome, who had recommended him to my dad, and my dad, who trusted him to serve.

Was Loome working with the underworld? What does Commander Loome want from my dad? He is a well-renowned Beta, well-revered, because my dad holds him in high esteem.

But not to rush into conclusions, the shape-shifting demon deserves to answer some questions.

The door burst open, and Tristan and Damon rushed in. They must have felt it, but they came almost late.

"What happened to her?" Tristan’s voice was sharp and terrified as he rushed to her side, crying her to her bed.

"She was poisoned", I said, eyes never leaving the demon "Nearly killed by this shape-shifting demon, and now I want to know why she was his target."

I dragged him to a sitting position, while Tristan and Damon landed blow after blow on him, fists fueled by fear and fury.

I crouched in front of the demon."Now tell me who sent you?"

His laugh was bitter and hollow. "I can’t disclose that information to you even if you threaten to take my life", he spat at me, "Fuck you and all the werewolves."

My jaw tightened. "That’s not how to plead, because you would be begging for death when I start with you"

Damon smirked when I said that, his eyes gleaming with that dangerous fire he barely kept in check. He lived for moments like this.

I extended one claw and dragged it down the demon’s arm, not deep enough to kill, just enough to make him scream, and he let out a deafening scream.

Tristan drew closer to him and whispered into his ear, "Be careful... or you may wake the neighbors and we don’t want that now, do we?" he said, bringing out the handkerchief in his pocket and tying the demon’s mouth.

The silence in the room was heavy, filled with the demon’s muffled groans and Aria’s uneven breathing.

"Now what did you give to her?" I growled at him.

He let out a painful laughter, "Let’s say, something to make her sleep for a while."

His answer enraged me, and I caught him by the neck, "You haven’t felt pain close to what you will think if you don’t answer my question.

I dug my nails again into the scratch I had left on his stomach, dragging the line further across his stomach.

He let out a loud groan, but that wasn’t what I wanted to hear.

"Please let me go, the person is within the counsel, and he will not stop," he was trembling as he spoke. " I got into a non-closure seal with him," he panted heavily.

"Spill"

I stared deep into his eyes, as if I were searching for the answer.

"My life is at risk anyway, but I fear for my family under his eyes...I can’t, I can’t," he groaned.

"Look at me", I said, holding him by the jaw and directing his gaze to me. "I don’t care about your family when my mate is in danger. Now tell me who sent you, what you poisoned her with and why she is your target.

He stared deep into my eyes; he was slowly losing consciousness from bleeding.

"It was a moon’s bane; it was very easy to convince her to take it, wearing your face," he said, managing a weak smile before slumping.