Chapter 222

Grayson’s POV

Damien’s words shattered my world. "He marked his fated mage," he’d said. Ava. Not her sister, not some prophesied stranger; it was her.

I watched her stiffen, bracing for a blow she already felt. Then I turned to Damien, the smug bastard. His triumphant grin burned me. He’d known all along. Every cryptic word, every glance… I’d been blind. The realization punched me gut, stealing my breath. Ava was my fated mate, and I’d cast her out, shattered her. Bitter rage choked me, but I controlled my fury, concealing it from Damien.

He tilted his head, savoring his victory. "Time to meet your sister, Little Dove," he purred, his voice dripping with cruel amusement.

Ava’s face drained of color. I saw that raw, vulnerable look – the one she'd worn before my rejection. Damien saw it too, his predator's smile widening. “She’s in Italy,” he said casually. “On standby. Say yes, and I’ll bring her in. Two birds, one stone, right?” He laughed, a private joke.

A suffocating silence followed. Then Ava spoke, her voice quiet but steady, "What happens if I say yes?"

I spun to her, surprised. Damien's grin widened. He’d been waiting for this.

"If our reign holds," he mused, tilting his head, "certain people can't live." His eyes flicked to me. He listed names like items on a shopping list: "Your parents, of course. Perhaps I'll spare the cousin… she'll self-destruct anyway. And Rickon. Loose ends are dangerous."

"And Isabella?" Ava asked, her voice softer.

Damien shrugged. "As long as she doesn't interfere."

I searched Ava’s face for resistance, but found none. She took a slow breath, tilting her chin. "And your plan, Damien? How will you take the throne?"

He chuckled, then looked at me. "Oh, he's going to die anyway," he said smoothly. Turning back to Ava, he savored the moment. "Everything I've done has led to this. The realm's crumbling. The packs of Alphas I killed? I've united them. I have more than an army. I have their warriors, their heirs, their bloodlines. When Alphas fall, they seek a new leader. Someone stronger. Someone who promises vengeance, power, a future. That's what I offer."

He paused, watching her. Ava remained still.

"I don't need to take the throne," he continued, his voice dangerously soft, "I only need to let them give it to me."

Silence. Then Ava asked, "What about the high-ranking members?"

Damien scoffed. "Half are already under my influence. The others… loyalty is fickle when power's at stake."

"And the other Alphas?"

Damien smiled. "A divided kingdom is weak. They will bow, or they will burn."

I clenched my fists. Damien was methodical, precise, ruthless. He had a plan, unfolding right under our noses. And Ava… she was considering it.

My heart pounded. Was she playing him, or weighing the offer?

Damien leaned closer. "You’re smart, Little Dove. You know how this ends. Why fight the inevitable?"

Ava exhaled. She met my gaze. I held my breath.

Then she said, "If I'm to protect my child… then I need to be on the winning team, don't I?"

I couldn't stop her. The weight of her decision was in her eyes.

Before I could react, she moved. A knife flashed in her hand, aimed at Damien's throat.

Damien's eyes darkened, a snarl twisting his lips. But he was faster. He grabbed the blade, yanking it away with terrifying strength.

I saw the shock, fury, and betrayal in Ava's eyes as she collapsed. I caught her, my heart pounding.

But Damien wasn't finished. His eyes, now fully black, locked onto me, a guttural growl vibrating in his chest. But before he could strike, another voice cut through the tension – smooth, mocking.

"I told you she's so predictable."

The clinking of heels echoed. A woman stepped into view.

Ava froze in my arms. The woman’s face, dark hair framing it, was suddenly familiar. Her sharp eyes locked onto Ava’s. Ava stiffened.

Then the woman spoke, her voice soft but lethal. "I guess it's time for a proper introduction." A dark smile curved her lips. "Hello, sister."