Laila lay on the ground, her heart racing as the chaos erupted around her. The banquet hall, once filled with laughter and music, was now a battleground of emotions. She could hear the shouts of her family, the gasps of the guests, and the heavy thud of her brother Ronan's fist connecting with Damonios's jaw. The world around her blurred as she fought to maintain her composure, the weight of her plan pressing heavily on her chest.
"Laila! Can you hear me?" Yasmin's voice broke through the noise, filled with concern. Laila opened her eyes, feigning confusion as she blinked up at her friend.
"I… I think I'm okay," she whispered, her voice shaky. She could feel the warmth of her brother Kaelan's hand on her shoulder, grounding her amidst the turmoil.
"Get him out of here!" Kaelan shouted, his eyes blazing with fury as he glared at Damonios, who was still reeling from the punch. "You don't belong here!"
Damonios straightened, wiping the blood from his lip with a smirk that sent a chill down Laila's spine. "You think this is over? You have no idea what you're dealing with, Laila. You're just a pawn in a game far beyond your understanding."
"Enough!" Laila's voice rang out, stronger than she felt. She pushed herself up, her brothers' protective stances flanking her. "You're the one who's out of your depth, Damonios. You've deceived my family for too long."
The crowd murmured, eyes darting between Laila and Damonios, the tension thick enough to cut. Laila could feel the weight of their gazes, the expectation that she would stand strong against the man who had manipulated her life.
"Laila, you don't know what you're saying," Damonios replied, his tone smooth, but there was an edge of desperation in his eyes. "You're cursed, and you need me to break it. Without me, you'll never know your true potential."
"Cursed?" Laila echoed, her heart pounding. "You're the one who cursed me! You made me believe you were my mate, and I won't let you control me any longer."
"Control?" Damonios laughed, a dark, hollow sound. "You think you're in control? You're nothing without me. You'll never awaken your wings, never fulfill your destiny."
Laila felt a surge of anger, a fire igniting within her. "I will find my wings, and I will do it without you. You're nothing but a liar and a coward!"
With that declaration, she turned to her brothers, who stood ready to defend her. "We need to get him out of here. He's a threat to our family and our tribe."
Kaelan nodded, his jaw set in determination. "Let's take him to the edge of the forest. He doesn't belong here."
As they moved to confront Damonios, Laila felt a flicker of doubt. What if he was right? What if she truly was cursed? But she pushed the thought aside, focusing on the strength of her family surrounding her. They would face this darkness together.
"Come on, Damonios," Ronan growled, grabbing the collar of his shirt and dragging him toward the exit. "You're leaving, one way or another."
Damonios struggled against Ronan's grip, but Laila could see the fear in his eyes. He was losing control, and she reveled in the power of that moment. "You'll regret this, Laila," he spat, his voice low and threatening. "You have no idea what you're unleashing."
"Maybe," Laila replied, her voice steady. "But I'd rather face the unknown than live in the shadow of your lies."
As they reached the edge of the forest, the moonlight bathed the trees in silver, casting an otherworldly glow. Laila felt the magic in the air, a reminder of her lineage and the strength that flowed through her veins. She would not let Damonios take that from her.
"Let him go," Kaelan said, releasing Damonios with a shove. "You're not welcome here. If you ever come back, we won't be so forgiving."
Damonios straightened, brushing off his clothes with a sneer. "You think this is over? You have no idea what's coming. The darkness is rising, and you'll all be swept away."
With that, he turned and disappeared into the shadows of the forest, leaving Laila and her brothers standing in the moonlight, the weight of his words hanging heavy in the air.
"Are you okay?" Yasmin asked, her voice soft as she stepped closer to Laila. "You were so brave."
Laila took a deep breath, the adrenaline slowly fading. "I'm fine. I just… I need to figure out what he meant. About the curse and my wings."
Kaelan placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "We'll figure it out together. You're not alone in this."
Ronan nodded, his expression serious. "We'll protect you, Laila. No matter what it takes."
As they stood together, Laila felt a flicker of hope amidst the uncertainty. She would uncover the truth about her past, about the curse that had bound her for so long. And she would find a way to awaken her wings, to embrace her true self.
But as she looked into the depths of the forest, a sense of foreboding settled in her heart. The darkness Damonios had spoken of was real, and it was coming for them all.
A week had passed since Damonios had been expelled from their tribe, and Laila found herself grappling with a strange mix of relief and unease. The chaos of the banquet still lingered in her mind, but the aftermath was even more complicated. The copsula she had infused into the pastry had worked, allowing her to track Damonios's movements through a faint magical tether. It was a double-edged sword; while she could keep an eye on him, it also meant she was constantly reminded of the curse he had placed upon her.
Laila sat at her desk, surrounded by stacks of legal textbooks and notes. Sunlight streamed through her window, casting a warm glow over the pages and illuminating her determined expression. She had been diligently working to finish her law degree, driven by a fierce determination to secure her family's future and prevent them from going bankrupt. The weight of their financial struggles pressed heavily on her shoulders, a burden made even heavier by the betrayal that had shattered their lives.
Her father's assassination had sent shockwaves through their family, leaving them vulnerable and exposed. Laila's older sister, Seraphina, had been on the ill-fated plane with their father during a business trip overseas when tragedy struck. The crash that claimed their lives had plunged Laila's mother into despair, while their grandfather, who had lived for over three centuries, had retreated from the world, unable to withstand the weight of the magic that had once sustained him. As for her brothers, one had been cursed and sold into the dark market, while the other had succumbed to addiction, losing both his magic and his life. All of this played out in her dreams, remnants of a past life she was determined not to repeat.
"I will learn the legal intricacies of the kingdom and grow my magic as much as possible. When I discover who is behind Damonios, I will ensure he regrets ever drawing breath," she vowed silently. "None of this has happened yet, which means I still have time for revenge against those who wronged us."
"Laila!" Yasmin, affectionately known as Elara, burst into the room, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "You won't believe what just happened!"
Laila looked up from her notes, curiosity piqued. "What is it?"
"I saw Lucian Vespera!" Yasmin exclaimed, practically bouncing on her toes. "He was at the market, and I swear he looked right at me!"
Laila's heart sank at the mention of Lucian. He was the right-hand man of her long-time enemy, Orion Ignatius, and the thought of Yasmin being infatuated with him sent a wave of protectiveness through her. "Elara, you know he's trouble. He's not someone you should be interested in."
Yasmin pouted, crossing her arms defiantly. "But he's so charming! And he's not like Damonios. I can tell there's something different about him. He won't break my heart; I just need to win his over. Since he's from a different tribe, when I hug him, I'll show my wings to see if he's my mate. Just wait—I'm sure he's my mate!"
Laila sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I just don't want you to get hurt. You don't know what he's capable of."
"Neither do you," Yasmin shot back, her tone playful yet serious. "You're the one who's been keeping tabs on Orion, remember? You're not exactly in a position to judge."
Laila felt a flush of embarrassment at being called out. "I'm not stalking him! I'm just… keeping an eye on him. It's for our safety. I want to know if he's scheming something, and once I figure out if Damonios is involved with the Ignatius family, I will end him too."