Chapter 241

Ethan's Pov

The moon hung low and full in the night sky as I approached the border of werewolf territory. My wounds had healed, but the memory of Gideon's words haunted me. Malia. My Malia. The thought of her in the hands of a witch queen do a different reason made my blood boil.

I hadn't always been this way…consumed by emotion, driven by something other than self-interest. Before Malia, I had been exactly what I'd told Gideon: a selfish bastard king who cared for nothing but his own pleasure. But she had changed everything.

"I thought I smelled vampire," a deep voice growled from the shadows.

I turned to see a massive figure emerge from the trees. Liam, Alpha of the Northern Pack and my reluctant ally in matters that concerned both our territories.

"Liam," I acknowledged with a nod. "I need your help."

The werewolf's amber eyes narrowed. "The mighty Ethan, vampire king, needs my help? This must be serious."

"It's Malia," I said, cutting to the chase. "She's been taken by a witch queen in the Crimson Forest."

Liam's expression shifted. He had met Malia once, during peace negotiations. She had treated him with respect, unafraid despite his fearsome reputation.

"The Crimson Forest is dangerous territory," he said slowly. "Even for creatures like us."

"I know. That's why I need your help. Your pack knows the forest better than anyone."

Liam studied me for a long moment. "And what do I get in return?"

"Name your price," I said without hesitation.

A slow smile spread across Liam's face. "Access to the eastern hunting grounds in the Vampire Clan. My pack has been pushing for it for decades."

Fucking bastard!

The eastern hunting grounds were rich in game and had been vampire territory since before my father's time. Giving them up would not be popular among my people.

"Done," I said, surprising even myself with how quickly I agreed.

Liam raised an eyebrow. "She must mean a lot to you."

"More than you know," I admitted. "More than I knew myself until now."

The werewolf nodded. "I'll gather my best trackers and we leave at once. Please keep Sebastian away from me, I'll do this my style without any Moon King distractions."

I nodded, not promising his shit as we moved deeper into the forest, the trees grew taller and closer together, their leaves a deep crimson that gave the forest its name. The air hummed with ancient magic, making my skin prickle.

"Tell me about this witch queen," Liam said as we walked. "And why she would take your wife to be?"

I hesitated, then decided honesty was my best option. "Her name is Gideon, brother of Salvador….the vampire who betrayed my father. He claims this is all revenge for something my father did to Salvador."

"And what was that?"

"I don't know," I admitted. "But I intend to find out after I get Malia back."

Liam sniffed the air. "There's something else you're not telling me."

I sighed. "Malia... she wasn't always my wife. She was human when I found her."

"Found her?" Liam's voice held a dangerous edge.

"Kidnapped her," I corrected, seeing no point in lying. "She was special—her blood had properties that could enhance vampire powers. I took her for myself."

Liam growled low in his throat. "And now you claim to care for her?"

"I do," I said firmly. "It wasn't supposed to happen, but it did. She changed me, Liam. Made me see beyond my own selfish desires."

"Does she love you back?" he asked skeptically.

The question hit me like a physical blow. "I... I don't know. She stayed when I gave her the choice to leave. That has to count for something."

Liam's expression was unreadable in the moonlight. "For your sake, I hope it does."

We continued in silence, the only sounds the rustling of leaves and the occasional howl in the distance. My thoughts turned to Malia—her smile, her defiance when I first brought her to my castle, the gradual softening of her eyes when she looked at me.

"We're getting close," Liam whispered suddenly, pulling me from my thoughts. "I can smell powerful magic ahead."

I nodded, focusing on the path ahead. The trees had grown so dense that they blocked out the moonlight, leaving us in near darkness. But my vampire vision allowed me to see the faint glow emanating from a clearing up ahead.

"The witch queen's lair," I murmured.

Liam signaled to his pack members, who had been following silently behind us. They spread out, surrounding the clearing.

"What's the plan?" Liam asked.

"I go in alone," I said. "This is between me and Gideon."

"That's suicide," Liam argued. "The witch queen—"

"She will be expecting an army," I cut him off. "Not a lone vampire walking into her trap."

Liam looked like he wanted to argue further, but something in my expression stopped him. "Your funeral," he muttered. "But my pack will be ready to move if things go south."

I nodded my thanks and stepped into the clearing.

The witch queen's lair was a twisted structure that seemed to be part tree, part stone, its roots and branches forming walls and archways. At its center stood a woman with hair as red as the leaves of the forest, her eyes glowing with an unnatural light.

I stepped inside and there was a large crystal mirror on the wall, I wondered why it was there in the first place until I saw a display on what the hell was going on.

The witch Queen I had confronted in the White Cave stood with a bright silvery glow around her and beside her, bound by glowing chains of magic, was Malia.

My heart clenched at the sight of her. Her dark hair hung loose around her pale face, and her eyes….those eyes that had once looked at me with such defiance and later with something softer, were dull and unfocused.

"Is there something wrong?," she whispered when she saw me, her voice barely audible and I thought of a ways t

o break this thing and get Malia out immediately.