Chapter 35
Sandra
I go upstairs to get dressed, grabbing a green dress from the wardrobe and a pair of knee-high boots. As soon as I come downstairs, I find Mark waiting for me at the door. He hands me a thermal cup, and I take a sip without hesitation.
"Mmm..." I moan, closing my eyes for a moment. "How I've missed a good strong coffee in the morning!"
Mark stares at me with a frown. It's not irritation with me; I've already learned that I never need to be afraid of him.
But something is bothering him.
"Damn, Kitten, I'm sorry. You went too long without real food. I tried to prepare the best I could when you were a cat, but I couldn't use seasonings or risk harming you."
I stand on tiptoe and seal his mouth with a kiss.
"You were perfect for me, Mark. It wasn't your fault. To be honest, I never ate as well as I did here, even when I was stuck in cat form."
"I find that hard to believe..." He lets out a sigh, but his eyes soften. "I'll make it up to you right now, I'll take you out for a fancy breakfast.
"No need, people are already waiting for us. Just coffee is fine."
"I'm the boss, love. They can wait."
In the end, I manage to convince him to stop at a drive-thru, and we eat in the car. By the time we arrive at the company, thirty minutes have passed since we left home. Maybe I should feel guilty for making him late, but the egg cheese bacon was too good for that...
I walk alongside Mark through the company, hand in hand, and we are greeted by curious and surprised looks from the employees as we pass by.
I am slightly embarrassed by the attention we are attracting, but when I look at Mark's face, I see an expression of pride, as if he were introducing me to the world with quiet satisfaction.
I can't help but smile foolishly and snuggle closer to him.
When we reach the third floor and stop in front of the meeting room, Mark interlaces his fingers with mine in a firm, possessive gesture. As soon as the door opens, the muffled conversations cease immediately, and all eyes turn to us.
Ted, Balthazar, and Jack are seated around the table, but it is Viklaus who catches my attention.
He stands apart, a discreet shadow in the corner of the room.
I don't know if it's the environment or if it's him, but something seems different.
He is even paler than usual, even for a vampire.
There are dark circles under his eyes, as if he hasn't slept in days.
Mark takes a few steps towards the vampire, leading me along by keeping our fingers intertwined. I silently observe the exchange of glances between the two. On Mark's face, a trace of concern is masked beneath his relentless facade.
"How are you?"
Viklaus doesn't answer right away. His gaze pierces Mark, his dark eyebrows rising slightly.
"I should be asking you that, Mark." His voice sounds impassive, as always, but something in his red eyes betrays a slight glimmer of vulnerability. "I'm sorry for..."
"No." Mark shakes his head, interrupting him firmly. "No need to apologise, I just want to know if you're alright, Vi."
Viklaus takes a moment before answering, his tone softer than usual.
"Yes..." He moistens his pale lips, a subtle gesture that betrays the internal struggle he is trying to hide. "I'm in control now."
The vampire emphasises the last words, and then I remember the night Mark returned after chasing that evil energy.
He told me that Viklaus was hurt.
That he felt he had failed to protect the vampire.
"Before we begin, let's get the introductions out of the way. Some of you already know her, and for those who don't... well, you've met Sandra before as my Kitten." Mark's voice is firm, but there's a hint of pride he can't hide.
"Hi." I raise my free hand, giving a brief wave, and finish with a slight smile, trying to appear more relaxed than I really am.
"Oh, boss, seriously? As if we didn't know!" Jack laughs, crossing his arms, and his energy is so relaxed that I manage to relax a little. "Do you really think this wasn't going to become gossip?"
He flashes me a wide, toothy grin, and my tension dissolves a little more.
"Pleased to officially meet you, Sandra." He says in a friendly tone.
"Likewise," Viklaus's voice sounds behind me.
"The pleasure is mine," I say to both Jack and Viklaus, quickly turning back to face the vampire with a smile.
"Right... with the introductions out of the way..." Mark assumes a more rigid posture and looks at me, as if asking for permission.
I already know what comes next. On the way, we talk about everything that has happened to me, connecting the dots and trying to understand the whole picture.
There is no reason to hide the truth, at least from those who don't know yet. They need to know every detail, even the shameful reason behind my curse, to see the situation clearly.
So, I give a slight nod.
Mark begins to go over the information. He then draws connections between the recent attacks: the witch, the death of her husband at the hands of the wendigo — which may have been revenge for his betrayal — and, finally, my own attack by the same monster.
He talks about the duel with Liam, the wolves, and how everything indicates that it was a trap to weaken him, while another attack took place in the city, directly targeting people connected to his company.
"That's why I suspect that the witch who cursed Sandra may be involved in the attacks," he concludes.
The tension in the room grows. I feel the stares weighing on me.
Ted crosses his arms, looking like he's about to say something, but Viklaus speaks up first:
"I think we should focus on the wolves, Mark." The vampire's voice is low but sharp. "If anyone can get the truth out of them, it's me. It's clear that they were mentally manipulated by whoever is behind the attacks. Everything happened in perfect synchrony. It was planned, calculated."
He pauses for a moment, his eyes narrowing before continuing:
"Sandra's curse, on the other hand, was personal.
I doubt it has anything to do with the monsters.
" His gaze turns to me. "You may have just been in the wrong place at the wrong time when the wendigo appeared.
.. just like that man. The monster didn't come to you.
You entered its territory in that alley.
.. and then it chased you through the forest."
His analysis resonates through the room, each word laden with conviction and calculated coldness.
Mark seems to momentarily lose his patience. Frustration bursts from his lips in a raw way, and I see the fire of his determination. He is no longer concerned with the risks — he is adamant.
"If I have to choose between the wolves or the witch, my priority right now is my partner. I'm going after that witch now, whether you accept it or not." Mark's voice is laden with fierce determination, and there is a flame of protection in his eyes that I cannot ignore.
"Calm down, Beast..." Jack murmurs, and the tension in the room intensifies, like a storm about to break, the pressure becoming palpable.
"Mark, maybe Viklaus is right. The wolves..." I begin to speak, trying to make him see the logic.
"No, Kitten." Mark cuts me off, his voice firm, laden with decision. "I won't let you be trapped in this curse for another second. The world may be ending, I don't care. You come first, always."
He holds my face firmly and seals his words with a kiss, as if to end the discussion.
I sigh when he pulls away, my face flushed.
He, all protective and macho like that, is so sexy...
Someone clears their throat, bursting my bubble of happiness and pulling me back to reality.
"Can we split into two groups?" Jack suggests, looking between Ted and Mark. "Since we're at this impasse..."
"It's not a good idea to split up," Ted shakes his head, his expression grim. "Not when Mark is vulnerable and Viklaus has barely recovered. The person we're looking for is more dangerous than we imagined."
"I hate to admit that I'm weak, Mark, but Ted is right," Viklaus says, crossing his arms with a serious expression. "It makes no sense for us to se . We need a strategy, and we can't repeat the mistake we made in that house where the power exploded."
Mark lets out a heavy sigh before nodding.
"All right. But whoever it is, they will die by my hand."
"Okay, boss," Jack agrees, saluting with a half-smile.
Silence falls for a moment until Balthazar, who has been quiet until now, settles into his chair and finally speaks:
"If our first stop is the witch's house, I'll need a few minutes to prepare a few things before we leave," Balthazar tells Mark.
"Do whatever it takes."
"And if we find out she has nothing to do with the attacks, we'll go after the wolves next," Ted announces, his voice firm, his eyes fixed on Mark. "Viklaus can get the truth out of them once and for all."
"But not before we break Kittens curse," Mark replies, his authority filling the air, making it clear that there is no other option.
Silence falls, heavy and charged, so dense that I can almost hear the beating of each heart in the room. Glances are exchanged, quick and silent, and then everyone nods in tacit agreement.
Ted, satisfied, finally speaks.
"The strategy is as follows..."