Chapter 71 Your humanity
Amara POV
The castle feels different at night.
It always has.
But tonight.. it breathes.
The halls are quieter, the torches burning lower, their flames flickering against the black stone walls like they know something is coming. Like they’re waiting for it.
Or maybe that’s just me.
Sebastian’s hand is wrapped firmly around mine as we walk, his thumb brushing slow, absent patterns across my skin.
We finally consummated our marriage. I can’t believe it.
I don’t think he even realizes he’s rubbing my hand.
Or maybe he does.
Either way.. I don’t pull away.
Not when the bond between us still hums, softer now, but no less present. Like a steady pulse beneath my skin. A reminder.
He’s here.
We’re together.
And nothing has torn that apart yet.
“Try not to start a war at the table,” Luther mutters from behind us.
I snort quietly.
“No promises.”
“That’s exactly what I was afraid of.”
Aven huffs a soft laugh beside him, but her gaze flicks ahead, sharp and observant as always. She’s already assessing the room before we even reach it.
Sybil walks on my other side, silent.
Too silent.
Her eyes are distant, like her mind is somewhere else entirely.
I don’t like that.
Not here.
Not tonight.
The doors to the dining hall open before we even touch them.
Of course they do.
Servants
They’re always watching.
The room is already set when we step inside.
Long black table. Silverware polished to a mirror shine. Candles flickering in tall holders that stretch toward the ceiling like skeletal fingers. Plates lay out with careful precision.
And at the far end sits my father.
Leviath Ronavov sits like he owns not just the room, but the air inside it.
Because he does.
His gaze lifts the moment we enter.
Sharp.
Calculating.
And then it softens.
Just slightly.
Only when it lands on me.
“Amara,” he greets smoothly.
I don’t miss the way Sebastian’s hand tightens around mine.
Not aggressive.
Not yet.
Just.. there.
A reminder.
Mine.
“Father.”
The word still feels strange in my mouth.
Still feels like something I shouldn’t say.
Like it belongs to someone else.
His gaze flicks to Sebastian next.
And whatever warmth was there fades.
“Lycan King.”
“Vampire King.”
The air between them tightens instantly.
Gods.
We haven’t even sat down yet.
“Sit,” Leviath says simply, gesturing to the table.
We do.
But not before something else catches my attention.
Two small figures are sitting further down.
I freeze.
My eyes lock onto them instantly.
A little girl, barely three, her dark hair messy like it hasn’t quite decided how it wants to sit yet. And beside her, a boy maybe six years old, sitting a little straighter, a little more aware.
Protective.
Even now.
Even here.
My chest tightens.
“..Sebastian.”
“I know,” he murmurs quietly.
The children look.. clean. Great for kids who were found in the dark forest.
Fed.
Dressed in clothes far nicer than anything they would have had, had they not been found.
But their eyes..
Their eyes still carry it.
That fear.
That uncertainty.
That waiting.
The boy notices us first.
His gaze sharpens immediately, body shifting just slightly in front of the little girl.
Protecting.
The girl peeks around him.
And when her eyes land on Sebastian…
She lights up.
“Lycan!” she chirps softly, pointing.
The word is quiet.
But it lands like thunder in the room.
Luther chokes.
Aven turns her head sharply.
And I—
I almost laugh.
Sebastian doesn’t.
He just.. stares at her for a second.
And then something in his expression shifts.
He looks at her with a softness in his eyes.
“Yeah,” he says quietly. “That’s me.”
The boy narrows his eyes slightly.
“We got showers! And, and to eat a whole plate of the goodest food ever!”
Sebastian nods once.
“I see you’ve got new clothes too.”
The boy studies him for a long moment.
Then he nods. A gentle smile crossed his tiny face.
Gods.
They truly are adorable.
“They will be taken care of,” Leviath says calmly, drawing attention back to himself. “For now.”
My head snaps toward him.
“For now?”
“Until you leave, of course,” he continues smoothly. “It is my responsibility to ensure their care.”
“Thank you,” Sebastian says.
Leviath's gaze shifts to me again.
Cool.
Unbothered.
“Of course.” He says. “They’re sweet kids. I got to see them help out in the kitchens. They did well. They’ll make strong wolves.”
“I am inclined to agree.”
Sebastian’s hand tightens slightly around mine again.
“That’s what a good king does. Makes sure everyone in his territory is taken care of.”
Sebastian leans forward slightly, his voice low but edged with steel.
“A good king doesn’t chase power just because it’s there,” he says. “He protects what’s already his. And doesn’t gamble souls for more. Showing a couple of kids kindness they deserve is NOT what makes a king good.”
Leviath's lips curve faintly, unimpressed.
“A good king,” he replies smoothly, “does whatever is necessary to ensure his kingdom survives. Power is not a luxury, Lycan. It is insurance.”
Sebastian’s eyes darken.
“No. It’s greed when it costs you who you are.”
Leviath tilts his head, studying him like something mildly interesting.
“And what use is a king who keeps his morals.. but loses everything else?”
“Enough,” Sybil cuts in quietly.
Everyone pauses.
Because Sybil.. doesn’t interrupt.
Not from what I’ve seen.
Her gaze lifts slowly to Leviath.
“You didn’t invite us to dinner to argue about children.”
No.
He didn’t.
He invited us here for something else.
Leviath leans back slightly in his chair, fingers steepling together.
“Correct.”
There it is.
The game.
His gaze sweeps across the table slowly.
Measured.
Controlled.
“The artifacts.”
The word alone tightens something in my chest.
Sebastian goes still beside me.
Completely still.
“We already know I want them,” Leviath continues.
“I’ve heard enough,” Sebastian replies coldly.
Leviath hums softly.
“Have you?”
My jaw tightens.
“Why do you want them so badly?” I ask.
His gaze returns to me instantly.
“Power.”
At least he’s honest.
“That’s not a good enough reason.”
“It is when you’re a king.”
“That’s not what makes a good one.”
A faint smile touches his lips.
“You’re still thinking like a child.”
“And you’re thinking like a tyrant.”
The room stills again.
Even the air feels like it stops moving.
Sebastian shifts slightly closer to me.
Not touching.
But close enough that I feel it.
Support.
Always.
“The artifacts are not just objects,” he says evenly. “The dagger alone-”
“-changes you,” I but in.
His gaze flicks to me briefly.
Surprised. He didn’t think I’d know, but I have felt the power since it got here. It’s dark.
Leviath arches a brow.
“Changes how?”
Sebastian’s jaw tightens.
“It feeds on something,” he says. “Something not meant to be touched.”
Leviath leans forward slightly.
Interested.
“And you know this how?”
“I’ve seen it. Felt it.”
A beat of silence.
Then..
“If it’s used,” Sybil says quietly, her voice cutting through the room like a blade, “a part of your soul goes dark.. or vanishes. I’m not sure if it changes you or takes away from you. But it does and will. It’ll whisper sweet nothings into your ear and drive you mad.
Everything stops.
Even Leviath.
His gaze shifts to her slowly.
“Explain.”
Sybil doesn’t move.
Doesn’t blink.
“It doesn’t take all at once,” she continues. “Not at first. But every time it’s used.. it takes something with it.”
Leviath studies her.
Carefully.
“And what would I lose?”
Sybil’s lips press together slightly.
“Your humanity.”
A soft, humorless laugh leaves him.
“I am not human.”
“No,” she agrees. “But you’re not nothing either. All vampires have a soul. Including you.”
That lands.
I see it.
The flicker.
Small.
But there.
“And eventually?” I ask quietly.
Sybil’s gaze shifts to me.
“Eventually.. when there’s nothing left to take.. you’re left a madman, dangerous, stronger and more powerful than any being.. able to completely demolish kingdoms. It’s dark magic.”
Silence settles over the table again.
Heavy.
Suffocating.
The little girl swings her feet gently beneath the chair, completely unaware of the weight of the conversation.
The boy watches everything.
Every word.
Every movement.
Learning.
Leviath leans back again slowly.
Unbothered.
Or pretending to be.
“Power always comes at a cost,” he says.
“That doesn’t mean you should pay it,” I shoot back.
“It does when the alternative is weakness.”
“You’re not weak.”
His gaze snaps to mine.
Sharp.
Dangerous.
“You don’t know that.”
“I do,” I say firmly. “Because weak men don’t build kingdoms like this.”
A pause.
Then..
“They destroy them,” I add.
That one lands.
Hard.
Sebastian exhales quietly beside me.
Not quite a laugh.
But close.
Leviath watches me for a long moment.
Longer than necessary.
Then finally..
He smiles.
A real.. smile.
“You are my daughter.”
I don’t know whether that’s a compliment..
Or a warning.