Chapter 155 chapter 155

Chapter 155 chapter 155
Paxton’s POV

I rushed outside to check what was going on. That idiot Gabriel wouldn't dare to come outside anyway. He's always acting like he's the only one who is being romantic with her instead of thinking about her well-being in this kind of situation. I found the source of the crash at the end of the west corridor.

Two guards lay crumpled against the wall, blood soaking into the stone beneath them. Their throats were slashed clean; it was so precise that there were no struggle or hesitation signs around.

I moved to the other side and saw that one of them wasn't dead. Maybe the person made a mistake, and I decided to ask what was going on.

"Hey, what happened here? Who did this to you?" I asked him.

But he only pointed in the direction that I did. He didn't say anything else. He couldn't say it until he stopped breathing. I tried to hit him to get more answers from him, but I couldn't get any. I checked the others, and they were all dead. Even though they were told to watch us, they weren't exactly guilty for doing their job, so why would they be killed like this? Only stronger wolves could walk past guards like now they were dead, which meant that someone stronger did this to them.

Someone wanted them dead. We were supposed to be locked here, and now someone killed those who were supposed to be watching us. Is this a good thing for us or a bad one? Is someone here to take us out or help us escape?

I crouched, pressing my fingers to the floor, to the air. The scent hit me a second later, and my stomach twisted. This was a familiar scent.

That's wrong. This is not just a familiar scent, but this is from Dante. The name burns through my head like poison. He’s inside the manor. And he’s not alone.

I didn't think; I ran. I moved as fast as my legs could, realizing that we must have fallen into a trap, and it might could be a good thing that I left her with Gabriel earlier because she might have been taken away if she was alone, but I can still make it.

The halls blurred as I followed the trail, my heartbeat pounding in my ears. The closer I got, the stronger the scent became, tangled with something darker. His intent was rotten for sure. Whatever he’s here for, it isn’t subtle.

And I needed no one to tell me that he was here for Carlota. I finally got closer to the door, and I wanted to go inside, but something stopped me. The door to her room exploded inward before I even reached it.

Wood splintered and wards shattered. The air cracked like lightning.

Dante stepped through the smoke with a silver dagger gleaming in his hand, his smile evil and easy, like this was a game he already won. His eyes locked on her immediately.

“Hello, little heir,” he said, voice smooth, mocking. “Miss me?”

Something inside me snapped. I couldn't just wait and let him do whatever he wanted.

"You bastard, you need to get out of here right now!" I shouted in a loud voice.

I lunged towards him. I thought I needed to attack him first or take him down to get rid of the threat in order to make way for her to escape. I didn't even reach him.

A wave of magic slammed into my chest, invisible but crushing. It flung me backward like I weighed nothing, the breath tearing from my lungs. For a split second, all I saw was stone rushing toward me.

Then arms caught me midair. I looked to see who it was, and definitely it was someone I didn't expect: Gabriel.

He hit the wall with me, his shoulder taking the impact, teeth gritting as he kept me from smashing into it headfirst. We staggered but stayed upright. My vision swam, rage flooding in to replace the pain.

I didn't know what to say, and I was still shaken by the fact that Gabriel risked his life to help me. Why would he do that? If I could hit the wall and take a big impact, that would be more than one rival out of his way. He would only need to deal with Dante.

"Why would you risk your life like that? I can definitely take care of myself," I said to him, even though I was grateful that he helped me.

My pride just wouldn't allow me to say that I'm grateful to him, just in case he starts using that against me or looks for an opportunity for me to leave her alone using this.

"I saved your life, and this is what you can think about? You always said we should be serious in serious situations. Can you just drop the rivalry and face the common enemy now?" he fired at me.

I couldn't say anything against that because there were no words to counter that. He was definitely telling the truth, and I knew it.

Dante laughed softly. "I see I have united you idiots. Isn't that such a good thing coming from my side?"

Gabriel shoved me behind him, eyes blazing gold as he faced Dante. “You can’t kill her,” he snarled, voice vibrating with power.

Dante tilted his head, amused. “Who said I want to?” His grin widened, and he lifted the dagger just enough for the light to catch it. “I just need her heart to awaken what sleeps below.”

The room went cold.

My gaze snapped to Carlota. She’s frozen, eyes glowing faintly, the mark on her skin pulsing. She looked like she knew exactly what he meant.

Over my dead body, I thought. There's no way I'm going to let him do whatever he wants. He's not going to get close to her even if it costs me my life. I swear by everything I hold close that I'm going to fight him back.

And judging by the way Gabriel stepped forward beside me, he’s thinking the same thing.

Like he said, over our dead bodies. There's no way we are going to let you have your way that easily.

Dante only laughed at us, most probably because he didn't take us seriously. He’s stronger than the weight of us, but he can still do great damage to him. Even if it's going to take us down, we won't give up without a fight.