"You should kill me," Zilia said, her voice trembling as tears welled in her eyes. "But I cannot speak of my master. I swore an oath."
Casaio’s expression darkened. Rage surged through him like wildfire. "You think I’ll show you mercy because of what we once shared?" he hissed, his eyes flashing a dangerous crimson red. He seized her throat with one hand, tightening his grip until her breath hitched.
Zilia didn’t resist. Her body remained still, eyes fluttering as her windpipe was completely crushed beneath his grasp. She looked as though she had surrendered to her fate.
"I found the pictures. The envelopes. Hidden in your home." Casaio leaned in, whispering against her ear as his fingers slowly released her throat. "You are a spy of the Blood Dominion Pack. And that man in the photographs, the one you played your little love games with, I’ll find him. I’ll make you watch as I tear him apart."
"No!" Zilia gasped, shaking her head desperately as the tears finally fell, streaming down her cheeks. "Please... I beg you, don’t do that."
"I will," Casaio said coldly. "I gave you a chance to speak the truth. You spat on it." His eyes searched hers, as if wondering why he trusted her so much. "What was it that blinded me so completely? What made me trust you so deeply that I failed to see the betrayal growing right beside me... against my family, my kingdom?"
Zilia simply stared at him. "Just kill me," she pleaded and lowered her gaze. "I won’t open my mouth, Casaio. I am of no use to you," she stated.
"You will die after I find the man I mentioned earlier. Brace yourself for what is about to come next," Casaio said and shoved her back.
Zilia didn’t have much strength left in her body, and she stumbled to fell on the floor.
"Karmen!" Casaio called for the beta.
He arrived there in seconds and saw Zilia on the floor, crying and sobbing.
"Lock her in the dungeon. And..." Casaio paused as if he feared to speak those words, "start the torture. Show no mercy until she tells the reason why she approached me." He gave out clear instructions without looking at Zilia.
"I will do it, Alpha!" Estelle’s voice echoed in the living room. She bowed to the prince and grabbed Zilia’s arm tightly.
Casaio allowed her to and turned his back on Zilia, who glanced at Casaio for the last time.
~~~~~~~
Estelle stood in the dimly lit dungeon while her eyes remained fixed on Zilia. The former spy hung limply by her bound wrists, suspended from the ceiling with no support beneath her.
"Prince Casaio is still being merciful," Estelle said, stepping closer. "You were with him for ten years. That’s the only reason you’re still breathing."
Her eyes drifted to a table lined with iron rods laced with wolfsbane, glowing faintly with a sickly green hue. She picked one up, bringing it close to Zilia.
"But I’m his beta," Estelle continued, her voice unwavering. "And I must protect him, from traitors, from threats, and especially from the ones who knew exactly how to get close."
Zilia lifted her chin, blood crusting the edge of her lips, but her voice was steady. "You think I’ll break? That I’ll tell you the truth?" she scoffed. "None of you will get anything from me."
A thin smirk tugged at Estelle’s lips, "We’ll see," bringing the rod to her arm, making her scream in pain.
~~~~~~
"Catch me," Amelie teased, backing away with a mischievous smile. Her laughter echoed off the water.
Gabriel arched a brow, running a hand through his damp hair. "You think I can’t?"
"I am a swimming champion," she declared, her hands slicing through the water as she turned and kicked off from the edge, gliding away like a fish.
Gabriel smirked and dove in after her, cutting through the water with powerful strokes. The chase was on.
Amelie reached the pool’s far end first, her head breaking the surface with a triumphant gasp, only to find Gabriel already there, rising from the water with a sly grin. He planted his hands on either side of her, trapping her between his arms and the pool wall.
"I have to admit," he said, eyes locked on hers, "you’re good at swimming."
Then, with playful confidence, he reached out and flicked her nose. Amelie blinked in surprise, then laughed again, breathless from the swim and his nearness.
Gabriel inched closer, his breath warm against her lips. "Ten minutes are almost up," he murmured, his gaze dropping to her soft pink mouth, lingering there.
Amelie’s heart skipped a beat. Just as the space between them threatened to disappear, she dipped beneath the surface with a playful smirk, escaping his reach like a whisper on the wind.
But Gabriel wasn’t far behind.
He plunged into the water, cutting through it like a predator. This time, he caught her, his fingers closing around her arm and pulling her toward him.
Underwater, time seemed suspended. Amelie’s eyes widened just before Gabriel leaned in and pressed his lips to hers. Tiny bubbles escaped as they kissed beneath the surface.
His arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer. He could feel the wild rhythm of her heartbeat against his chest. It was fast, erratic, and perfectly in sync with his own.
Returning their heads to the water, they both gasped for air.
"Now, how are you supposed to escape me, sweetheart?" Gabriel arched his brow, challenging her.
She felt her back pressed against the pool’s wall and her legs instinctively wrapped around his torso, drawing him closer. He sucked on her neck, trailing hot kisses down to her collarbone, yearning soft moans from her.
He returned his mouth to her jaw while giving a gentle squeeze on one of her thighs.
"Ahh, Gabriel," Amelie cried his name, but kept her voice low. Her arms wrapped around his neck, grinding against him involuntarily.
Gabriel grazed her chin with his teeth and leaned down, licking the outline of her throat.