61. Liam
Chapter 61
Liam
T here’s just a split second of confusion that hangs heavy in the air as we all watch Selene collapse to the ground, her form crumpling like a marionette with its strings cut. Ariana’s urgent shout breaks through the stunned silence, her voice slicing through the chaos like a beacon in the night. “Get them!”
“But Selene,” I cry out.
“Layla is going to siphon the magic out of her. She will be okay. Don’t let them get away,” Ariana instructs.
Layla springs into action, rushing to Selene’s side with a speed that belies her normally calm demeanor. I watch with a mixture of relief and apprehension as my sister kneels beside Selene, her hands moving with practiced efficiency as she assesses the situation.
But there’s no time for me to dwell on Selene’s condition. With growls that rumble menacingly through the room, Colt and I shift into our wolf forms, the transformation swift and seamless. We can’t let Levi and Blake get away with what they’ve done. Not after everything they’ve put us through.
I launch myself at Levi; my teeth bared in a silent snarl as I barrel toward him with all the force of my fury.
This ends now.
The scent of blood and the sound of battle fill the air, but all I can focus on is the vampire before me, the source of so much pain and suffering.
Levi, to his credit, is no easy opponent. As a vampire, he possesses speed and strength far beyond that of a human. But I am fueled by a deep-seated rage stemming from a primal need to protect my mate and my family.
Our fight is a blur of motion, a dance of predator and prey. Levi dodges and weaves, his movements almost too fast for my wolfen senses to track. But I am relentless, my teeth and claws finding purchase on his flesh with each strike.
Despite his speed, Levi is no match for the sheer power of my wolf. With a fierce growl, I tackle him to the ground, my jaws closing around his neck. I feel his struggles weaken, his movements slowing as the life drains from him.
But even in his final moments, Levi refuses to yield. With a last burst of strength, he lashes out, catching me off guard and sending me tumbling to the ground. As I regain my footing, I see him stagger to his feet, bloodied but unbowed.
Our eyes meet, but there’s no hatred in my heart, only a grim satisfaction that justice has been served. And with a final, defiant roar, I charge at Levi once more, determined to end this fight once and for all.
My claws connect with his chest, tearing him easily.
He is defeated, and he knows it.
This is for Emmett, for Alyssa’s wife, for Annie, for Andrea, for Selene.
For my family.
I pull my claws right out. They are bloodied as I attack once again. This time, I reach for the exact same spot.
I tackle him to the ground.
His blood is everywhere.
This is it.
I open my jaw wide, wrap it around his throat, and pull.
His head lolls off to the side before rolling away.
It is done.
Colt is still fighting Blake, and Layla is still with Selene as Emmett and Grayson stand guard by her side.
They’ve got her. I trust them with her.
I am just about to run towards Colt to help him take down the bastard, but it does not look like he needs my help. His mouth is on Blake’s throat, squeezing.
Blake lets out a gurgled noise as Colt bites into his throat and tears it out.
He doesn’t stop there, though. He proceeds to remove Blake’s head from his body as his claws make a purchase in Colt’s torso, tearing more flesh. Satisfied that he is dead, I turn to the rest of the room.
There is still the noise of battle all around us, but they all seem to be handling everything just fine.
I charge outside, following my parents’ and Raskogr. There is still an attack going on outside. I stand at the edge of the chaos, ready to fight alongside my family.
But then, my father steps forward, his authoritative voice cutting through the commotion.
“Listen up!” he commands, his voice booming across the courtyard. “Levi and Blake are defeated. You will not win. If you want a chance at redemption, lay down your weapons now. Finish your sentences, and you can reintegrate back into society. But if you choose to fight and die here tonight, know this: you’ll do so without honor and, if by some chance you survive, without a home to come back to.”
His words hang heavy in the air. The chaos seems to freeze for a moment, as if everyone is holding their breath, waiting to see what will happen next.
Just then, the door swings open, and Colt comes out. He’s covered in blood and carrying Blake’s severed head, which is bleeding into the concrete. “He is dead,” he pants.
There is an audible gasp rippling among everyone.
My mother rushes to Colt’s side. “It is okay. Give me his head.”
Colt shakes his head. Everyone is quiet. Watching.
Layla and Selene walk out right behind him. Selene looks at her brother’s head and I hear her let out a loud whimper.
“Don’t look at him, Selene. Look at me,” Layla says. Selene is shaking. I want to run up to her, scoop her in my arms and tell her that I am so sorry she had to witness the deaths of her brothers.
Emmett and Grayson are next. Gray's forehead has a gushing wound, but other than that, they all look relatively unharmed.
One of the prisoners takes a step forward. He is a tall man with ginger hair. “How sure are we that we will not surrender and then have you slaughter all of us in cold blood.”
There is a murmur of agreement among the people. I quickly transform back to my human form.
Selene watches me in amazement.
“I think this is bullshit,” the ginger man says. “This is an ambush.”
“Who are you?” I ask. “You are here at my family’s home, threatening us. You all have ambushed us, not the other way around.”
“You are wrong, wolf,” he replies.
“Identify yourself,” my father says.
“Huzna. I was Katya’s cousin. You killed her. You killed all of them. All they wanted, all we wanted, was a chance to roam freely as your equals, and you killed them for it. Will you kill us too?”
My father takes a bold step forward. “You and your people broke the accords. That is why those that attacked us are dead.”
“You fucking imprisoned us. Punishing us for being what we are. I think I speak for everyone here when I say that we would rather die than go back to that kind of life. That was not living.”
Selene is still supported by my sister as she walks towards the crowd. “Listen, I know we lost people tonight. People we cared about. People we loved. But when will it all change. We can’t continue this cycle of violence and hope to survive.”
“Shut up, traitor,” a voice calls from the crowd.
All my instincts to protect her surge forward, and I take a step in her direction. She looks at me and shakes her head, her eyes begging me to stay out of it.
This is between her and the people who blindly followed her brothers.
“Am I a traitor, really?” she asks. “I am a pure blood. I was born a vampire. All my life, I have grown up hearing about how vampires and wolves cannot coexist. That was my reality for so many years. But I am proof that we can coexist. I have been living around the Night family, and they have done nothing but protect and care for me. Even when my own family threatened to kill them for it, they stood by me. This has nothing to do with us versus them. This has everything to do with good versus evil.”
“You are in love with one of them. That’s what Blake said,” Huzna says.
She looks at me, and I see the frown lines on her face disappear for just one moment. “Yes, I am.”
“Liar,” someone says.
“You can’t be,” another one adds.
“And why can’t I? Fairies, nymphs, shifters, wolves, and humans have been able to coexist. What makes us the exception?”
“We need human blood to survive,” someone in the crowd shouts.
“I know that. I am a vampire, am I not? I keep fighting for my humanity,” Selene says defiantly.
“There are other ways to feed,” Mom says. “I have seen it. It works. We can work with the sheriff and the humans. We can get you blood bags that you can substitute with animal blood. We can make it work for all of us.”
“Animal blood? Is this a joke?” Huzna shouts.
Selene has her head held high as she walks up to him. “I have been sustaining myself on animal blood for years. I have been feeding on blood bags, and I managed to kill a witch.”
There is another chorus of “She has a point.” among the crowds.
“So, what? We agree to be prisoners and live on scraps of blood?”
“Yes. Then, when you have served your time, you roam the street free once more. Don’t you want to live a life without having to look over your shoulder every minute of every day? Don’t you miss your friends? Your family? Living a life out of the shadows? That is the life Blake and Levi promised you, isn’t it?”
I look up at Colt to find that he’s dropped the head but is now leaning heavily on Grayson. We’ll need to keep an eye on him and help him through this.
Raskgor, who has been watching everything, quietly adds, “We can even have someone on the council who will represent you. A vampire council member.”
That gets more of a reaction from everyone than I had expected.
“Really?” Huzna asks.
“Yes,” my father replies. “You can have a representative who will speak up for you and air your grievances to the council. We will work together to make sure you are all protected and fed and most importantly safe. One of the first things the council will be discussing, is eliminating the penalty of death for your crimes.”
“Agreed,” Alyssa says. “None of us want to see anyone else killed. But you must agree to no more violence. The council’s main objective is for humans to live their lives oblivious to your existence. And as sheriff, I will help you acclimate to living here peacefully.”
“Are you sure?” a young female vampire asks.
“Yes,” Alyssa responds. “It can work if everyone is willing.”
“So, can we work together now?” Selene asks. “And build trust between our peoples?”
Huzna looks straight at her and nods once.
The other prisoners also nod. Then, slowly, they begin to lower to the ground, their defiance melting away in the face of Selene’s words.
They know she is right.
I can see the resignation in their eyes, the realization that fighting will only lead to more pain and suffering.
As the tension eases, relief washes over me. Maybe this nightmare is finally coming to an end, even though the scars of tonight will linger for some time.
I look around at the faces of my family, their expressions a mix of exhaustion and determination. We’ve been through hell and back tonight, but somehow, we’ve managed to come out on top.
And as I watch my father address the crowd with words that promise a better tomorrow, I can’t help but feel a glimmer of hope. Maybe there’s a chance for peace after all.
I can’t wait any longer, so I finally run toward Selene. She has been so brave tonight.
“Great job, Selene!” I exclaim. Relief floods through me as I wrap her in a tight embrace.
“Thanks, Liam,” she murmurs in a voice filled with emotion. “I’m okay. We’re all okay.”
I pull back slightly to look at her. “I thought I lost you,” I admit, my voice breaking with emotion.
“You didn’t lose me,” she says, placing a hand on my cheek. “I’m right here.”
I lean into her touch, feeling a sense of peace wash over me. Despite everything that’s happened, she’s here, and she’s safe. That’s all that matters.
As we stand there, wrapped up in each other, my mother steps forward, her voice cutting through the quiet.
“I want to thank everyone for their bravery tonight,” she says warmly. “We’ve faced a great challenge, but we’ve come through it stronger than ever. And I believe it’s time to discuss Raskogr’s promise.”
She looks around at the crowd with a steady and unwavering gaze. “I believe we must make the council more inclusive. From now on, we will welcome all creatures, regardless of their nature, and we will work together to build a better future for all.”
There’s a murmur of agreement from the crowd, a sense of hope and determination filling the air. My mother’s words are a promise of a new beginning.
“And I believe,” my mother continues, her voice gaining strength, “that Selene should be the council representative for the vampires. She has shown incredible strength and leadership tonight, and I believe she is the perfect choice to represent her kind.”
I turn to look at Selene proudly. She’s come so far and faced so much.
Selene steps forward. “I accept,” she says humbly. “I will do everything in my power to represent my fellow vampires and work towards a better future for us all.”
“Raskogr,” my mother commands, “Do you think you can find a way of getting the prisoners back to the prison?”
“Of course, Jade.” He responds.
“I will help,” Layla and Alyssa announce simultaneously.
My mother nods as my father takes her hand. “As for you two,” he points to me and Selene. “Get home and get some rest. I want to see you back here bright and early.”
I lean over and kiss both my parents’ cheeks before taking my mate’s hand. “C’mon, baby. Let’s get you home.”
“I think you should check on Colt first before we can go.”
So damn caring. I kiss her cheek and nod.
Half an hour later, I walk into Colt’s room, and my heart sinks when I see him there, tears streaming down his face. “Hey, brother,” I say softly, trying not to let my own emotions get the best of me.
He looks up at me, his eyes red and puffy. “I’m okay,” he mumbles, but I can tell he’s anything but.
Colt’s always been the strong one, the one who never let anything get to him. Seeing him like this... it hurts.
I take a deep breath and sit down next to him on the bed. “Alyssa’s organizing with the coroner department,” I tell him, trying to keep my voice steady. “They’re coming for Willow’s body. If you want to say goodbye...”
He shakes his head, his voice barely above a whisper. “I can’t believe she betrayed me like that. She used me.”
I wrap my arms around him, pulling him close as he quietly shakes in my embrace. “I’m so sorry, Colt,” I say, my own voice breaking. “You couldn’t have known it was going to go this way.”
He pulls away slightly, looking me in the eyes. “I brought her into our lives,” he says, his voice filled with pain. “And now she’s the reason so many people are dead. How will anyone ever forgive me?”
My heart aches for him, knowing there’s nothing I can say to take away his pain. “Nobody blames you, Colt,” I say, trying to sound reassuring. “We all know you were just as much a victim as we were.”
But even as I say the words, I can see the doubt in his eyes. He’s always been too hard on himself, taking on more than he can handle.
I take a deep breath, trying to find the right words to comfort him. “Think about Selene,” I say, hoping to get through to him. “Her brothers led a revolution that almost cost us everything. But nobody blames her for their actions. It’s the same with you, Colt. Nobody blames you.”
I can see the weight of his guilt lifting slightly, but I know it will take more than just words to help him heal.
“I’m sorry I failed you as your big brother,” I say, feeling tears stinging my own eyes. “I should have protected you from all of this.”
He shakes his head, his arms wrapping around me tightly. “You didn’t fail me, Liam,” he says, his voice barely a whisper. “You’ve always been there for me, even when I didn’t deserve it.”
We sit there in silence for a long time, silently supporting each other as if our lives depend on it.
And maybe they do.
We are family, after all.
When he tells me that he needs to be alone, I give him one last hug before leaving.
I head downstairs and find Layla using magic to help clean up. Mom asks how Colt is doing. I tell her that he’s going to need some time to process everything. She nods, understanding. Then she asks me how I’m doing.
“I’m hanging in there,” I say, trying to sound more confident than I feel.
Mom sighs, looking exhausted. “Emmett and Grayson are resting,” she tells me. “And so is Selene.” She shakes her head. “This whole thing has been a nightmare.”
I’m feeling guilty. Like I’ve put them all through this mess. “Are you sure you’re okay?” I ask, concerned.
She gives me a small smile. “Your father will be back soon. He’ll be here to hold me and work through all of this with me. As soon as he and Raskogr are finished with their task,” she says, trying to reassure me. “But for now, I’m helping Layla clean up. Then I’m going to see Alyssa. She left with Ariana.”
I nod in understanding. “I’ll take Selene home.” I can at least do that small thing right.
Mom smiles gratefully and kisses me on the cheek before heading back to help Layla.
I walk back into the living room and find Selene curled up in a ball on the couch. She looks so small and vulnerable.
“I know you’re awake,” I say softly, not wanting to startle her.
She lifts her head and smiles sadly at me. “Hey.”
I sit down next to her, wrapping my arms around her. “You okay?”
She nods, but I can see the pain in her eyes. “Just tired,” she says, leaning into my embrace.
I run my fingers through her hair, trying to soothe her. “You need some rest.”
She nods again, closing her eyes. “Can’t sleep,” she mumbles.
I kiss the top of her head and hold her close, feeling her slowly relax against me. “I’ll stay right here with you,” I say.
“Shouldn’t we be leaving, Liam?”
“I’m sure Mom doesn’t mind if we stay here for a couple more hours. We can leave when you are ready, baby.”
“I’m scared,” Selene whispers, her voice trembling.
I pull her closer, holding her tight as she lets out a sob. “I know,” I say softly, trying to reassure her.
She sniffles, wiping away tears with the back of her hand. “My siblings are dead. And my parents...” She chokes on the words, unable to finish. “It just hit me. I am the last Black alive. No one else. Just me.”
I squeeze her hand, trying to offer some semblance of comfort. “You’re not alone,” I tell her, my own voice shaking with emotion. “You have me.”
She looks up at me, her eyes filled with so much pain it hurts to look at her. “I keep thinking about how I’m the last of my lineage.”
Oh!
My heart hurts for my mate.
“You don’t have to be,” I whisper.
“Liam, I know you are trying to be sweet, but…”
“Listen to me, sweetheart. You don’t have to be the last of your name. We will have children in the future, won’t we?”
She looks up at me, her eyes still glittery with tears. “You still want that?”
“Of course, my love. Of course, I do.”
“But our children will be Night children.”
I cup her cheek and kiss the corner of her mouth. “Who said that? Is it a rule or something?”
“Well…what? What are you saying right now?”
“Black- Night. We will hyphenate it and everything. What do you think, baby?”
She clings to me and lets out a sob. “You would do that for me?”
I feel my heart breaking for her. “I would do anything for you, Selene. Anything. You have me…”
“I am not alone,” she says in a low voice.
“No, you are not alone,” I say, pulling her into my arms and letting her cry. “You will never be alone ever again.”
“You promise?” she whimpers into my collar.
“I swear, baby.”
Tears stream down her cheeks as she kisses my jaw. “Then, can you take me home, please?”