Cleo

Cleo
Lilith POV

We made sure the house didn’t smell of alcohol and was tidy enough so that Ava’s father wouldn’t suspect anything.

The next morning, Daniel questioned me about what had happened to him. I couldn’t give him a clear answer—I simply didn’t know what to say. He recounted those visions again, and this time, he said it was me in them. He told me I was about to be stabbed with a dagger. I could see that all his memories were flooding back, but I wondered why it was only that night.

“Have we met before? Maybe in a past life?” he asked. I couldn’t tell him about his history. I needed him to uncover it himself.

If I revealed his past, it could complicate things between us. He might end up hating me.

“Maybe these visions are about someone else. We kissed last night, and perhaps you saw me because I was the last person you saw before experiencing those episodes.”

He nodded slowly. “But this isn’t the first time, and I wasn’t hallucinating. The visions looked real—as if I’d encountered them before.”

I took his hand gently. “Listen, Daniel. These episodes will fade with time, I promise. Just relax your mind, okay?” He nodded. “I have to go now. You can find your way home from here, right?”

“Yes, I can. Just make sure you get home safely.” He hugged me. I had lied about going home to see my family—I would be back before next weekend. He was surprised to hear I was heading to NYC, but I told him it was nothing to worry about.

Theo would be accompanying me since he was also visiting the Council for assistance. Ethan and Riley would report about Jackson to the community. I didn’t tell Theo about the man I saw; he looked strange too, but I dismissed it. That would be another mission for another day. I was excited to visit NYC for the first time in a month—I couldn’t wait to see Elena again.



Our flight took about five hours to reach NYC. Since it was a business trip, I didn’t tell Elena I was in the city.

We arrived at the council region, and I still remembered the way. It had only been a few months since I’d left.

We were admitted after passing several identification checks.

We accidentally crashed a party. They were having a ball, and we weren’t aware. I suppose the problems in NYC had been resolved, and inside the region, all that awaited us was an ordinary celebration. Witches and werewolves drank and danced with their own kind, occasionally casting disdainful glances at members of the other clan. The ballroom was stuffy, and the human servers moved listlessly through the crowd, seemingly controlled by some spell that dulled their senses. I couldn’t understand why the council head would throw such a party—especially with the war still ongoing and California in trouble.

A doe-eyed young woman handed a man a glass of champagne, which he sipped with indifference. It was probably high quality, but it left no impression. “Wait,” he said, and the young woman obediently turned, balancing a tray of glasses. The man stepped closer to her, taking in the honey-colored shimmer of her hair and the faint pulse in her neck. “I need some air,” he improvised. “Can you show me where the garden is?”

The human girl hesitated for a moment, her lips parted as if she knew she was supposed to refuse but couldn’t. She set down her tray, and the man followed her toward the edge of the glittering ballroom.

Before the door fully closed behind them, he caught her. His eyes adjusted instantly to the darkness of the garden. His right hand muffled her scream, covering her mouth, while his left brushed her hair away from her throat. His teeth extended and sharpened as he stared at her smooth neck. He sank his fangs into her, tearing into her flesh and securing her in place while her hot blood flowed into his mouth.

By the time her heartbeat faded, his mind had already begun to wander. His eyes roved the moonlit garden, searching for hiding spots. Once the girl was dead, he carried her to a wall covered in honeysuckle and concealed her among the vines. He didn’t bother inspecting his work carefully—leaving a killing in the midst of a dull party only made him feel more out of sorts.

He slipped back through the carved double doors, momentarily struck by the light and music inside.

His return was almost unnoticed, but I appeared before him, my gaze fixed on his face. I saw what he had done. 

I had been watching others, making sure everything was fine because, at an event like this, things were rarely truly fine.

He turned away from me in disgust, only to realize he was being observed by someone else. The girl watching him was one of the witches. A beautiful young witch unafraid to stray from her kind? That could be interesting and perhaps even redeem this dreadful party. With her raven hair, porcelain skin, and intensely black eyes, she could almost pass for a vampire. 

He watched her move through the room, pausing to speak or dance. Occasionally, her shining black eyes would meet his before darting away. He stalked her through the ball gowns and frock coats like a tiger slipping through tall grass.

The music shifted, and the dancers obediently separated into groups of eight, each couple in a corner. She was one group over from his target. The dancers turned and stepped to the music, guiding him and the girl toward each other. He watched until she was just behind him, then spun around.

“May I cut in?” he asked flatly, not waiting for a response as he pulled her into his arms. Her partner stammered something and backed away. He didn’t bother to watch him go.

I saw the tension between them.

The girl’s red lips curled into a rueful smile. “Poor Michael,” she sighed, her black eyes glittering in the candlelight. “I don’t think he saw you coming.”

“I think you did,” he countered, spinning her away from him and then back in, closer this time.

“Cleo,” she replied, holding up her gloved fingers expectantly. He turned her hand over and kissed the underside of her wrist, letting his lips linger longer than usual. She didn’t blush like most girls her age; instead, she raised an eyebrow skeptically.

“Nick,” he responded. “It’s an honor.”

“I’m sure,” Cleo murmured. She looked away briefly, distracted, then back at him with a smile that seemed as bright as the sun—dazzling, powerful, and dangerous. “Who dragged you to this tedious affair, anyway? Or did you just wander in and lose your way?”

Across the room, Nick spotted Theo lurking at the edges of the ballroom. Theo’s brown eyes searched and bore into his. He jerked his head subtly, trying to catch Nick’s attention without others noticing. Nick stared back curiously, intrigued by the vehemence of Theo’s silent protest. “My friend told me this would be the social event of the season,” He said. “I wasn’t convinced, but it’s definitely improved dramatically in the last few minutes.”

Cleo’s eyebrow twitched again; he couldn’t tell if she was flattered or amused. “I wouldn’t have thought you enjoyed pattern dancing.”

“Neither would I.” The music signaled a change of partners, but Nick glared at the man holding out his hand to Vivianne. “I don’t quite have the hang of it,” he admitted, “but you dance beautifully. I didn’t know this city produced such refined young women. Have you traveled?”

Her eyes sparkled mischievously. “I think you want me to know you’ve traveled,” she said dryly. “You must have seen extraordinary things.”

“Oh, I have,” Nick replied. “But you didn’t answer, Cleo Lancaster.”

She leaned closer, more than necessary for the dance. “How upsetting for you.” Sarcasm dripped from her voice like honey mixed with blood. “I’m sure you’re used to getting your way.”

He chuckled softly. “Oh, mysterious Cleo, I’d rather have you deny me than succeed with anyone else tonight.”

“You shouldn’t insult the guest list,” she teased playfully. “For all you know, I invited all these people. They might be five hundred of my closest friends.”

“Half of them, at least,” he replied. The divide between the clans was still visible—no werewolves on their side of the ballroom.

“Peace is a wonderful thing,” Cleo said. 

“I’ll have to stay close and borrow some of your popularity,” he teased. “I don’t think I have many friends here tonight.”

“Lucky for me,” she said dismissively, rolling her eyes. “I’ll protect you from all these terrible people.” For a moment, she looked just like the girl she was—innocent, carefree.

He smirked. “Protecting the innocent is what I do, Mademoiselle. I’d be surprised if my reputation hadn’t preceded me.”

The song ended, and the dancers paused. Cleo rose onto her toes, bringing her face close enough that Nick could have bitten her lip. “Oh, but it has,” she whispered, her wicked smile eclipsing everything else in the decadent ballroom. She reached up to touch his face, caressing the corner of his mouth with a long finger. He leaned in to kiss it, to taste her, but she pulled back out of his reach. He saw her fingertip was stained red—forgotten blood from the serving girl, probably there all along.

Cleo had already moved halfway across the ballroom by the time he thought to follow her. Horns sounded a celebratory flourish. Frustrated, Nick waited.

“Ladies, gentlemen, distinguished guests,” the council head announced, silencing the murmurs. “Tonight we have a special guest: Cleo Lancaster.” Her smile was radiant as she raised a white arm and gestured to the crowd.

The ballroom erupted into applause and cheers, but I remained perfectly still. Theo and I were confused—who was this Cleo, and why was she in NYC? The council knew her, too. She must be extraordinary for the head of the council to introduce her to everyone.

Nick narrowed his eyes. Extraordinary, indeed. She had to be the one I’d heard about—the daughter of a witch and a werewolf. I’d dismissed the rumors as foolish, but now, standing before us, her pulse betrayed her true nature.

Someone else intervened before he walked up to her.

Besides, Cleo was far too valuable to waste on a werewolf.

“She’s not for you, Nick,” She suddenly said, appearing beside him. “You shouldn’t look so angry all the time. It doesn’t suit you.”

Nick watched Cleo dance with a werewolf. Her body moved gracefully across the floor, her skirt trailing like a white echo. He didn’t answer the girl..

I observed what was happening but chose not to interfere. I was there to deal with important council matters, not to meddle in someone else’s love life.