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"I want to eat his heart," I growled, seeing red. I felt my dark side awaken from the deep slumber, feeling thirstier for blood than ever.

"No, no, no, you shouldn't say that now!" I heard Lars' panicked voice, but I couldn't see him. Every time I breathed, something rumbled inside me. I was starting to feel more and more alive. In fact, I haven't felt so alive in a while. My senses were at their peak.

"Listen to me, Alex. You have to calm down," Lars tried to explain to me. He was shaking me desperately, but it didn't help.

"Get off me!" I growled, pushing him back. A little force had him flying to the other end of the room. As he collapsed on the floor, I headed towards the door. I don't care if it was raining outside or if there was a deadly storm. I had my mind set on going to the palace and ripping Theoron's head out of his body tonight.

"Alex, no!" Lars instantly jumped after me, keeping me from reaching the door. He used a lot of energy to keep me pinned to the floor.

"Get off me!" I growled, clutching his throat painfully. I was about to choke him to death, but someone grabbed my arm and peeled my fingers off his throat. Suddenly, I was surrounded by many of my men holding down my limbs. Lars was shouting something, but I focused on freeing myself and going to the palace.

"DRUCAOTH!" Suddenly, my senses were being taken over by the darker entity in my body. Calmness washed over me. My vision was clear. Lars stood above me, looking down with pure loath while my men held me down securely. My lips curled up into a smile.

"I'm awake," My lips moved, but I wasn't speaking. My voice sounded deep and guttural. It was unrecognisable. "And I'm thirsty," I licked my lips like a savage.

"I command you to go back to sleep," Lars commanded, but his slightly shaking voice indicated that he was nervous.

"You know what you have to do to put me to sleep," My lips moved again, yet I never intended to speak. "I haven't eaten a human in a while,"

"I command you again, Drucaoth. Go back to sleep!" Lars commanded again, but this time, he sounded much more confident. "By the curse of Morrigan, I command you to go back to your slumber, or your soul will be trapped in prierex forever!"

[prierex - a labyrinth where daemons and other beings are trapped]

My eyes closed suddenly, and I didn't remember what had happened next. Though, I let calmness wash over me. The chaos that I had been feeling earlier slowly drained out.

It was after a while when I woke up. My whole body ached for some reason, and most of my memory of the night was missing. However, I was surprised to see Lars sleeping in a chair beside my bed. I rubbed my face while raking my brain to remember what had happened to me and why Lars was sleeping in a chair.

My throat was parched, so I reached for the water jug on the bedside stand. This effort caused me to groan in my pain, waking Lars up. He jumped from his seat and instantly lunged at me before pinning me to bed.

"Get the fvck back to sleep!" He gritted in my face with bloodshot eyes.

"I just woke up and needed water," I groaned. As soon as he heard my normal voice, he calmed down. He straightened up, but he never took his eyes off me. His demeanour was puzzling as he poured me a glass of water. "Why are you acting like that?" I asked after chugging down the whole glass of water.

"You don't remember?" He asked me wide-eyed. I tilted my head, studying his peculiar reaction.

"Did I turn into that?" I asked carefully.

"No, but it was awake," Lars answered with terror in his eyes.

"No! Did anyone else see me? What triggered it?"

"No one saw you, but you did give me a couple of bruises. I'm not sure what exactly made you act that way, but I guess it has to do with Theresa," Lars informed me, looking at me cautiously. I ran my fingers through my hair, trying to keep myself calm.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Lars asked.

~

I glared at the fire flickering in the hearth while Lars fed it some wood. I watched as he took out a cigar and lit it before handing it to me. I muttered thanks before taking it from him. I took a deep drag from the cigar, closed my eyes and leaned back into the chair. Meanwhile, Lars lit himself one.

"Do you remember anything?" He asked me after taking a long dark.

"It felt like the greatest betrayal," I muttered.

"What do you think it is?" He asked.

"I don't know, but I'm certain it isn't real," I told him grimly.

"What about her?"

"I don't think she is real either," I told him. "She's just another pawn Theoron is using to get to me,"

"So, we're clear on one thing— She isn't my real mate," I declared.

"Now, we have to find out if she is who everyone claims her to be," Lars added.

"I can bet she's not real as well," I told him.

"I think the same, but how will we confirm that?" Lars wondered. I was about to suggest something when we heard a noise outside the study. We exchanged a look before not wasting a single second to go outside.

We found a broken vase instantly, followed by the sound of some footsteps running away. I followed the sound, which led me to the second floor, where all the guest rooms were located. I couldn't see who it was, but I saw a shadow entering a room and closing the door.

"Do you want me to see who it is?" Lars offered.

"I think we can wait till morning. Whoever it is, they cannot leave the room in rain," I told him, staring at the door. I could see some hint of light seeping from under the door. The light flickered as a shadow disturbed it. "Just keep an eye on it,"

~

The next morning, I did my best to keep my interactions with Theresa minimal. However, it was hard for me to avoid her because we were supposed to be travelling in the same coach. I was dreading the journey back to the palace. Though it was necessary for me to get back to the palace as soon as possible, especially after finding out Theoron was playing games with me.

We were ready quite early in the morning. My men and I were waiting outside the Guild Member's house with the carriages lined up. The Guild Official talked to us for the last time and bid us a formal goodbye. However, I could see on his face that he was relieved that we were leaving.

It took a while for Theresa and her accompanies to arrive. We waited as she took her time to thank the Guild Official for the abrupt stay. The delay annoyed me, but I was trying my best to stay patient and... it paid me fairly well.

While Theresa was busy talking to the Guild Official, I saw a man exiting the house. I had never seen him before, but I could tell he was important, probably a member of Theoron's court or a rich merchant. Nonetheless, as he came out of the house, he turned around as if someone was behind him.

My eyes instantly locked with hers when that man stepped aside. I froze in my place. However, she didn't seem shocked or surprised to see me. Instead, her face was expressionless as she looked at me, but a smile erupted on her lips when she glanced at the man.

I clenched my fists and stared at her.

"She was the one in that guest room," One of my men instantly informed me.

_