Chapter 130 Chapter 130
Gritting her teeth hard, she fought to keep her composure so as not to worry him, but she didn’t manage for long. His demonic magic ate through her, burning her blood and slowly taking away her consciousness. When black spots began to cloud her vision, she slumped forward. He caught her and embraced her body so she was nestled safely into his chest. His hand held on to her wrist as a new mark formed on her skin, gleaming brightly.
“It’s going to be over soon. Just a little longer,” he whispered soothingly into her ear. “I’m sorry.”
It was the last she heard before her body gave in, and she lost consciousness.
All of a sudden, her bedroom was gone, and she was surrounded by nothingness. There was no ground and no sky, no beginning, and no end. Swirling shadows enveloped her body as she floated in their midst, and when they faded, a mirror appeared right in front of her. She couldn’t explain where it came from and why it was here.
Valerie looked at it in confusion, seeing her own body, but the next time she blinked, the reflection suddenly changed. She was no longer looking at herself, but at someone else. The woman in the mirror was beautiful, like a doll—perfect in every sense. Wavy silver-blonde hair framed her heart-shaped face. Her pale lips were curled into a soft smile that conveyed a sense of warmth and friendliness. She had Vaughny skin and looked unnaturally pale. The Arctic blue of her iris was too vibrant; she couldn’t possibly be human.
Valerie was unable to move, hypnotized by the woman in the mirror. Her pale lips parted, forming soundless words. Thank you, she said silently, her smile becoming melancholic. When Valerie blinked once more, the woman was gone, and she stared at her own reflection.
“What was that?” she whispered, peering into the mirror, waiting for the strange image to come back. But no matter how long she stared, the mirage didn’t return. Had she only imagined it? But how would her mind come up with such a clear image of a stranger? It had to have been real, but Valerie didn’t understand why and how it had happened. Feeling dizzy all of a sudden, she stumbled away from the mirror. “Who is she?” Valerie mumbled, trying to come up with an answer, but there was none. Could she have been a witch? A demon?
Unbeknownst to her, it would be the first and last time she would ever see Nicholas Clarke's eyes on the woman, and soon, she would forget about their mysterious encounter, her mind growing hazy as she was swallowed by darkness once more. She fell.
This time, however, she didn’t drown in the all-encompassing blackness but instead resurfaced. Her eyelids fluttered, noting a bright source of light that drew her attention. She opened her eyes.
Gleaming white light greeted her, originating from a familiar star-shaped crest on her wrist. She was wide awake in a second, staring at it in astonishment as if it was the most beautiful thing she had ever laid eyes on. She smiled, overwhelmed by relief and joy. Tears gathered in her eyes and ran down her face. It was finally back
The spell had worked. She was tired, her limbs numb, but the pain was gone, and she felt better than before. Especially with the knowledge in mind that she shared a bond with him now.
Her tears didn’t stay unnoticed for long as Maxwell realized that she had woken up. He’d been leaning his back against the headboard of the bed, embracing her body from behind. He caught a tear with his finger, brushing it away.
“Why are you crying, sugar?” he asked softly. “You’re not hurting, are you?”
“No, I’m just… really happy,” she sniffled and smiled. “And besides, you’d notice if I was in pain.”
“You’ve got a point,” he chuckled, nuzzling her hair affectionately. Her smile brightened, and she turned in his embrace, facing him. The endless blue of his eyes was filled with warmth, a comforting sight that she could never get enough of. She inclined her head, softly pecking his lips.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “I love you.”
His sinful red lips formed a smirk. “I know,” he drawled. He held her wrist carefully and guided it to his lips, planting a kiss on it without breaking eye contact. A hint of red became visible in his iris. “Now you’re mine,” he murmured.
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The next morning, Valerie woke up with a smile on her face, her body cuddled up to his toned chest. He’d pulled the covers over her, so it was warm and cozy in bed.
“Good morning,” she mumbled tiredly and yawned.
“You’re up,” he commented, tilting his head. “Finally.”
“Are you bored?” she teased, playing with one of his white braids that dangled in front of her.
“Somewhat, though it’s entertaining to watch you sleep, sugar.”
She snorted and nudged his arm. “You are unbelievable. Let’s get up, I need to be at work in an hour.”
Before she could even move, he’d already ensnared her waist in his arms and hugged her close to him. She was trapped. “No, you’re not leaving,” he said stubbornly, earning himself a sigh.
“It’s not like I want to leave, but I have a job to take care of, and Thorne will be disappointed if I don’t show up,” she explained, taking another look at the clock on her nightstand.
“Fuck him, just stay here,” he persisted and held on tightly to her body.
“You’re so rude! Isn’t he your friend?” she replied. “I wonder how he puts up with people like you and Xander all the time.”
“I’m special; he should be grateful that I’m friends with him,” Maxwell said and arrogantly raised his chin, prompting her to roll her eyes at him.
“Oh, I should have known you would say that,” she giggled. “Yes, you are special, but don’t get cocky over it.”
She realized that she shouldn’t have said that out loud as soon as his smirk widened. He was oozing arrogance and confidence at this point. Opting to change the topic, she tugged at his chain impatiently. “Come on, we’ve got to get up now. Let me go.”