Chapter 55: Chapter 55

REYNA

Standing behind a reinforced glass wall was a creature straight out of a nightmare—very big, with a hideous face, bulging eyes, huge fangs, gnarled limbs, and bluish skin, emitting a blue misty substance that fogged the glass.

“What the hell is that?” I shouted, horrified.

“This was what the blue mist plague did to human males,” Cas said.

I glanced at the frightening creature behind the glass in disbelief. “You’re telling me that—that is a man?”

“Was a man. Now, it’s something else. We call them ghouls. They feed on human flesh. It might look docile now, but the second it smells a human, it will turn into a predator, ten times faster and stronger,” Cas explained.

“Oh my God, can it see us? Or hear us?”

“No. Now watch this, Alaric.” Cas nodded at the doctor.

Alaric instantly spoke through a tiny device. “Sprinkler activated.”

Instantly, a sprinkler opened and rained red liquid over the creature’s head and body.

For a while, nothing happened, but then it suddenly started banging its head against the glass wall, gurgling and groaning.

Soon there was a cracking sound as its body began to contort, bones breaking, then it just exploded in a puddle of blood and gore, completely dead.

My jaw dropped with horror.

“Activate the incinerator and sterilize the room,” Cas ordered.

In mere seconds, everything was gone as though none of it had happened.

“What the fuck did I just witness? And what was that liquid, acid?” I asked. Cas held my shaking hands.

“No, that was your blood,” he replied.

I jumped back from him so fast I gave myself whiplash. “You can’t be serious? My blood did that? How are you still alive?” He grinned.

“Because I’m your soulmate, the only one fated to be by your side, and also because I actually have my Aekhi (essence), what you humans call a soul,” he said.

I shook my head, still seeing how the ghoul exploded. “The ghoul, on the other hand, is nothing but a rotten husk, so that’s why your blood affects it differently.”

Cas suddenly hugged me, and despite fighting him so I could stay far away from him, he wouldn’t let me go.

“You should be running away from me, Cas. I’m a danger to you and everyone,” I whispered with devastation, as the enormity of what I am sank deeper into my consciousness.

“No, you’re a danger only to our enemies, those who wish you harm,” he growled and whirled me around.

He kissed my wet eyelids, then my nose, and finally my mouth, passionately.

Until all I could think of was having him skin to skin.

When we parted, I still had doubts about everything—there was fear, sadness, and confusion.

I went to speak, but Cas wouldn’t let me.

“You don’t realize it, do you?” I looked at him with a question in my eyes.

“Realize what?”

“Now, humanity stands a chance. You can end the blue plague forever. With Alaric and Benjamin working together, they can use your blood to eradicate the ghouls.”

“Yes, but what about us? We’re a danger to everyone.”

“Don’t worry. Alaric and Dr. Benjamin will work on finding a cure, for the meantime. They will continue making the same vaccine for our people since we do have three Roses here with us. That should put your mind at rest.”

I just nodded.

Kayak, who I was still trying to make up to despite him saying he forgave me for attacking him, had gone back to hunting for the two Roses.

To my delight, Casvan had agreed to give them a low sentence of six months and community work of two years after their release from the dungeon as their punishment for killing Vok and Drik.

My nana now lived in the castle with me.

To my surprise, she was not afraid of me. I was heartbroken and afraid that my nana would be terrified of me after seeing me in my lycan form but was relieved that wasn’t the case.

“Come, Kitten, you owe me a debt,” Casvan growled, nipping my ear. He proceeded to whisper wicked things in my ears.

Instantly, I felt my walls clench with need, becoming wet, my nipples tightening.

I sprinted away from him and shouted, “I owe no such debt.”

“You better run fast, Kitten,” Casvan growled, chasing after me.

He left both doctors with slack jaws.

I walked through the hallways of my new home, my shoulders straight, and even managed to smile at the palace guards.

However, the instant I was inside our room, I locked myself in, choking back my tears.

I was trying to be brave, but inside I was breaking.

How could people be so evil, so indifferent to others’ suffering?

God only knew how many lives were lost in all the wretched experiments conducted by Elizabeth under my mother’s reign.

How could Cassandra have stood there and watched girls like me getting poisoned every day without stopping it?

And now, I was one of them—this must be karma.

And it was a small price to pay for what my family had done for all these years.

And they had the audacity to point fingers at the Dakkuth as monsters when they’d been murdering men and children.

There was no way I was willing to risk Cas’s life.

He was saying that he didn’t care right now, but he’d definitely regret it when he was dying, and where would that leave me?

Alone and miserable—that was, in the worst-case scenario.

Because I knew with all my heart that living without Casvan in my life was worse than death.

I’d rather die by his side than live a miserable existence.

“Open the door, Reyna!” Casvan growled.

I sighed. Cas wouldn’t stay away; he’d probably give me a couple of minutes before he broke the door.