Chapter: Chapter 210. Reunion Between Arthfael and FreyaA week had passed since Alvin's initiation into the corporate rhythm of Graham Company. As he approached the office building on that particular morning, he noticed Marshall standing near the entrance. The two exchanged a friendly nod, and without hesitation, they walked side by side into the bustling lobby.The elevator doors opened just as they reached it, and Alvin and Marshall stepped inside. The hum of the elevator's ascent enveloped them in a brief moment of solitude. It was within this confined space that Marshall broached a topic beyond the realm of work."Hey, Alvin," Marshall began, leaning casually against the elevator wall, "how's Camilla doing these days? Last time we talked, she had just lost Richard."Alvin's expression softened at the mention of Camilla. "She's doing much better now," he replied. "She's formed a contract with Neptunis and even mastered the art of lightning magic. It's incredible how resilient she is."Marshall's eyes widened in genuine amazement. "That'
Last Updated: 2023-11-30
Chapter: Chapter 209. Finally Met RichardWith the introduction to his new workplace, Alvin felt a mix of excitement and anticipation. Sophia led him to the 3rd floor, where his workstation awaited. Upon entering the spacious, well-lit office area, Alvin noticed the hum of productivity and the scent of freshly printed documents.Sophia directed Alvin to a desk where a woman was working diligently on her computer. Alvin's eyes widened in recognition — it was the same woman from the elevator earlier. Sophia approached the desk and tapped Felicia gently on the shoulder."Felicia, this is Alvin, our newest addition to the team. Alvin, meet Felicia, your colleague here. She'll be showing you the ropes," Sophia announced with a warm smile.Felicia turned around, her face lighting up with recognition. "Ah, we did meet earlier, didn't we? Good to officially welcome you, Alvin!" Felicia extended her hand, and Alvin shook it warmly.Sophia, pleased with the positive atmosphere, continued, "Felicia, please help Alvin settle in and guide
Last Updated: 2023-11-30
Chapter: Chapter 208. Interview At Graham CompanyAlvin, with a head full of new memories and a heart carrying the weight of two worlds, stepped off the bus into the familiar hustle and bustle of the city. The urban landscape, with its towering buildings and constant hum of activity, seemed both alien and strangely welcoming after his fantastical adventures.He strolled down the busy sidewalk, a stark contrast to the forest trails and mythical creatures that once accompanied him on his journey as Arthfael. The echoes of his footsteps resonated with the rhythm of city life, and he couldn't help but feel a twinge of nostalgia for the simplicity of the human world."Missed this place," he muttered to himself, his breath forming a small cloud in the chilly air. Despite the bustling crowd around him, Alvin found himself longing for the solitude of the forest, where every rustle of leaves told a story and every creature held a secret.Approaching the Graham Company building, Alvin gazed up at its sleek exterior, adorned with reflective gla
Last Updated: 2023-11-30
Chapter: Chapter 207. Alvin Is BackA man with black shirt, still caught in the hazy transition from one reality to another, found himself in a small, cozy room. The remnants of dreams clung to his consciousness as he heard the persistent knocks on the door. The voice outside, insistent and slightly annoyed, belonged to someone who seemed to know him well."Alvin! Alvin! Wake up, it's already morning! I've cooked breakfast, and if the food gets cold, I'll hit you!"The words echoed in his ears, and Alvin groaned, trying to make sense of the unfamiliar surroundings. The name "Alvin" echoed in his mind, and he muttered to himself, asking aloud, "Who's Alvin?"Reality asserted itself, and with a jolt, Alvin's memory clicked into place. He wasn't Arthfael, the hero navigating a magical realm. He was Alvin, and this room was his own. He rubbed his eyes, willing himself to wake up from the lingering traces of the fantastical adventure.As he stirred, the room revealed familiar details—a worn-out poster on the wall, a collecti
Last Updated: 2023-11-30
Chapter: Chapter 206. In The End, I'm Alone AgainThe room, adorned with the regal elegance of the Kingdom of Dragomir, became a sanctuary for Arthfael, Valentina, and Flare. As they entered, Arthfael locked the door behind them, enveloping the space in a cocoon of privacy. The air within held a palpable weight, a prelude to the poignant moments that would unfold.Valentina, with her tiny form and delicate wings, sighed audibly. "This might be our last meeting, Arthfael. We may not see each other again."Flare, the Pyroblaze Phoenix, who had accompanied Arthfael through battles and triumphs, let out a cry tinged with sorrow. The fiery aura surrounding her seemed to flicker, revealing an underlying emotion.Arthfael, perceptive to their sentiments, inquired, "Flare, are you crying?"Flare, attempting to conceal her emotions, retorted, "No, it's just something in my eye."Arthfael, recognizing Flare's attempt to mask her true feelings, chuckled and pulled her into a tight embrace. Unlike her usual blazing form, Flare's body now held a
Last Updated: 2023-11-30
Chapter: Chapter 205. Arthfael's Last Night The night settled over the Kingdom of Dragomir, casting a gentle glow on the palace gardens. Arthfael, Camilla, Neptunis, Flare, and Valentina gathered under the twinkling stars, surrounded by the fragrant blossoms of the palace garden. The soft hum of crickets and the distant murmur of the celebration in the courtyard provided a serene backdrop.Seated on a stone bench, Camilla began reminiscing about the first encounter between her and Arthfael in the Esteria Kingdom castle during Prince Frederick's birthday celebration. The memory brought a nostalgic smile to her face."Ah, that was quite the eventful night," Camilla chuckled, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Who would have thought that a simple escape plan would lead to such extraordinary adventures?"Arthfael, leaning back against the bench, nodded with a grin. "It was a night of unexpected turns, and I'm grateful for every moment."Neptunis, the calm and observant one, added, "Fate has a way of weaving its threads in the most
Last Updated: 2023-11-30
Chapter: Chapter 21: The PhotographSelene.The gala ended at two in the morning. At two fifteen, Selene's phone buzzed with a single word.Victoria: Up.She took the private elevator to the penthouse with her veil still on and her heart barely beating.She knew what was coming. She had seen Rourke lean toward Victoria near the platform. She had seen the phone. She had seen Victoria's eyes lift from the screen and find her across the ballroom, slow and shining, the way a snake finds a mouse in tall grass.The elevator doors opened.Victoria stood by the windows in her silver gown, barefoot now, her diamond heels kicked off on the marble floor. The city glittered below her like a jewelry box. She was holding Rourke's phone."Come here, darling."Selene crossed the room and stopped three paces away.Victoria turned the phone around.Snow. Pine trees. A young man in a black jacket, and a woman in dark glasses standing close enough to touch him. Her gloved hand on his cheek."Rourke took this two days ago," Victoria said pl
Last Updated: 2026-10-19
Chapter: Chapter 20: The Moonlight GalaThe Moonlight Gala was held every year on the night of the first full moon of winter, in the glass ballroom at the top of Hale Tower.Eighty floors above the city, beneath a dome of crystal and steel, the most powerful creatures in the city gathered in silk and diamonds. Alphas of every major pack, flanked by their Betas. Witches from the old covens, wrapped in velvet, their fingers heavy with rings. A handful of pale, ancient vampires from the families that had survived Victoria's rise, standing apart from everyone else like statues in a museum.And in the middle of it all, in a gown of liquid silver, Victoria Hale moved through the crowd like a queen.Ethan walked one step behind her in his new tuxedo, his hands folded, his face carefully blank.He could feel every eye in the room on him.He tried not to look at the floor beneath his polished shoes. Somewhere eighty stories below this glittering ballroom, in rooms without windows, were the people Victoria called her basement guests.
Last Updated: 2026-10-19
Chapter: Chapter 19: Stay Away From Me"Saturday night," Victoria said from the back seat. "The Moonlight Gala. You'll drive me, of course. And then you'll come inside."Ethan's eyes flicked to the rearview mirror. "Inside, ma'am?""Every important creature in this city will be there. The packs. The covens. What's left of the old vampire families." She smiled at her phone. "Half of them have heard about the human who beat Derek Reed with his eyes closed. They're dying to see you. I intend to show you off."Like a trophy, Ethan thought. Like a dog that learned a clever trick."Yes, ma'am.""Graves will have a tuxedo fitted for you this afternoon. Try not to look like a driver." She glanced up. "Oh, and Ethan? Smile more. People find it reassuring."He smiled.In the mirror, her eyes lingered on his face a moment too long. Then she went back to her emails.***Rourke was waiting in the estate garage when Ethan parked the Bentley.The hunter leaned against a pillar with his hands in his pockets, as if he had all the time in t
Last Updated: 2026-10-19
Chapter: Chapter 18: Sublevel 3Selene. That same morning.The fever came in waves.Selene lay on the narrow bed in her quarters on the seventy-ninth floor, curtains drawn against the grey morning, and stared at the ceiling while her body burned. Vampires didn't get fevers. Vampires didn't get sick. But vampires also didn't carve pieces out of their own souls and plant them in a reborn Golden Alpha, so she supposed she had stopped being an ordinary vampire a long time ago.Seal 2 had taken more than she expected.She had felt it break on fight night, sitting beside Victoria in the VIP box with the dagger in her lap. A deep, tearing pull, as if a hand had reached into her chest and closed around something vital. She had kept her face perfectly still. She had closed the box with steady hands, or almost steady. She had walked back to the car without stumbling.Then she had come up here and collapsed on the bathroom floor, and she hadn't been able to stand for two days.Five Seals left.She didn't know if she had five S
Last Updated: 2026-10-19
Chapter: Chapter 17: The Woman at the WindowHe made it in thirty-one minutes.He broke every traffic law in the city doing it. He ran four red lights, drove the wrong way down a one-way street, and took a corner so fast the Bentley's tires screamed. When he finally pulled up in front of Hale Tower, the dashboard clock read 12:16.Sixteen minutes late.Victoria was standing on the steps in her cream coat, her assistants hovering behind her. She didn't move toward the car. She just stood there, looking at her watch.Ethan jumped out and opened the rear door. "I'm sorry, ma'am. Traffic on the bridge."She looked at him for a long moment. Then she walked down the steps and slid into the back seat without a word.He closed the door, walked around, and got behind the wheel. His father's box was locked in the trunk. His heart was pounding so hard he was sure she could hear it."Home," she said.He drove.For ten minutes, the car was silent. Then she spoke, in that light, conversational voice that he was learning to fear more than any
Last Updated: 2026-10-19
Chapter: Chapter 16: Unit 214Harbor Lockers was a long, rusted row of storage units squeezed between a fish market and the old shipping cranes, so close to the water that the air tasted of salt and diesel.Ethan parked the Bentley two streets away. A black luxury car outside a place like this would draw more attention than a fire. He walked the rest of the way with his collar turned up and his father's key clenched in his fist.[Time remaining before Victoria's meeting ends: 3 hours 21 minutes.]The units were numbered in faded white paint. 210. 212.And there it was. Unit 214.The padlock was rusted almost solid. The key stuck halfway, and for one horrible second Ethan thought it would snap. Then something inside the lock gave with a crunch, and the shackle sprang open.He rolled up the door.The unit was nearly empty. A folding chair. A broken lamp. Cobwebs thick as curtains in the corners. And in the middle of the concrete floor, a single cardboard banker's box, its lid sealed with tape that had yellowed and c
Last Updated: 2026-10-19
