Chapter 178: ~A Rival's Wrath~

(Fiona’s POV)

“Well, I guess we're roomies tonight,” Sabel smirked, her eyes lighting up unnaturally… almost in a chilling way. “Isn't it amazing?”

Kaia and the other girl, whose name I now remembered, Lyra, sat on one of the camp mattresses, grinning suspiciously.

Ziva’s jaw was clenched tightly. “What are you doing here, Sabel? Haven't you done enough already?”

Sabel gasped dramatically; her hands were placed on her chest as she widened her eyes in mock horror. “Me? What have I done? Oh dear, did Fiona go around saying shit about me? I promise, whatever she said, they're all lies.”

“Lies? You set Moonfang Eastwing on fire, you heartless bitch!” Ziva flared up. “I wonder what Principal Winston will say when she finds out that you're the cause of her son’s near brush with death.”

Kaia and Lyra laughed derisively.

“Trust me, dearest Ziva, your beloved Principal Winston has a lot more on her neck—quite literally—than a baseless allegation from two spineless dimwits.”

Her vile insults pierced through my chest, almost like a physical blow.

“There’s a reason why you’re a witch, because honestly, there’s no better way to describe you,” I said, eyeing her in disgust.

How could a human being be so heartless?

She faked an offended look. “Good gracious! The blithering morons have grown some balls… at least one of them.”

“Go fuck yourself!” Ziva exclaimed.

“Careful now,” Sabel warned. “We're roomies tonight, remember?”

“I would rather get eaten by the creatures of the night than spend a minute with you in the same space,” Ziva spat.

“Go on then,” Sabel pointed toward the tent door, which was still left open after they had walked in. “The way is free.”

“You know, there's no difference between you and those creatures,” I said to her. “You’re all evil and rotten, and you make me sick!”

Kaia rolled her eyes. “I make you sick? Oh please. You're already sick… sick in the head.”

Lyra stared at her nails, yawning like she was bored.

“Says the person who slipped poison into my food and still somehow managed to fail. What a joke!” I chuckled.

Sabel's expression quickly turned vile. “Say one more word, and I assure you, it's the last thing you'll say.”

Ziva shot up from her seat and faced Sabel, their noses almost touching. “You’re nothing but a spineless fool!”

“Step back or else I'll claw your eyes out,” Sabel muttered dangerously under her breath. “I don't make empty promises.”

“Do it! I dare you!” Ziva yelled. I could see her fangs extending as her wolf threatened to emerge. “In no time, you'll be nothing but blood and bones.”

“Save this energy for the battles that lie ahead,” Kaia snapped. “You'll need it!”

Sabel stepped backwards and stared Ziva down. “You can't even keep a man.”

“You stole someone else's,” I didn't hesitate to bite back.

“Oh, you think Xander is your man?” Sabel looked at me like I'd said the most ridiculous thing she'd heard all day. “You really are dumb. How do you try to lay claim to a man who warms my bed every night, huh?”

Oh, she wants to go there?

Somehow, Sabel always managed to bring out the worst in me, honestly. But since she wants to go there…

“Oh, trust me, he was warming mine a few minutes before he left for the moon temple,” I chuckled maniacally. “And trust me, it was some of the most amazing sex I've had in a long… long time.”

The next thing I felt was her long, slender fingers tightening around my neck. It happened so quickly that I froze, unsure of what to do next or how to react.

I heard a growl as Ziva shifted to her wolf form and launched an attack at Sabel. Her wolf was a four-foot, grey-colored wolf with a thick mane of fur. She lunged into the air, sinking her fangs into Sabel’s hand until she let out a shrill scream, but Ziva did not let go.

Sabel's grip on my neck loosened finally, and I moved backwards, coughing and gurgling as tears welled in my eyes. How could someone so skinny wreak such havoc?

I saw Ziva violently mauling Sabel’s hand as a pool of blood formed on the ground. Kaia and Lyra suddenly began to shriek.

“Stop it, Ziva!” I yelled as I ran toward her. “Stop it, please.”

But she wasn't budging; if anything, her mauling grew even more vicious. Sabel let out a scream, her eyes widening in horror at the thought that Ziva was going to maim her.

“Let go,” Kaia raised her hand, and a burst of light shot out from her finger, sending Ziva’s wolf spiralling through the air until she landed on the ground. The impact caused her to shift instantly into her human form.

“Ziva!” I rushed toward her form on the ground.

Kaia and Lyra ran toward Sabel, and with an old cloth from Lyra's belongings, they were able to tie up her hands to stop the bleeding. But before long, the cloth was completely soaked in blood.

The sound of footsteps approaching our tent put us all on alert, and we suddenly fell silent.

A warden opened the camp door with an irritated grunt. “Keep it down! Some of us are trying to catch some sleep.”

We all stared back silently.

“Now!”

Immediately, we separated, each taking their own camp bed, while the annoyed warden turned off our lanterns. “Good night!”

Before she turned off the light, I felt Sabel's chilling gaze on me. She was clutching the arm that had been bitten, her jaw was clenched tightly, while her face burned with unbridled hatred… but what bothered me was the light in her eyes.

I knew she would harm me.

A chill ran down my spine.