Chapter 360 Acting Up Again

Seraphina did not pull away from him. Instead, she leaned into his embrace, her forehead pressing lightly against his chest as her hands clutched the fabric of his shirt.For the first time since she could remember, she felt like she was not standing alone. The Queen was gone, the coven was broken, and the world felt unfamiliar, yet in that moment, there was someone beside her. The feeling unsettled her, but at the same time, it made her feel strangely safe.

Her heart beat unevenly, stuttering in her chest, because this was the first time she had ever been held like this by a man, not in anger or confrontation, but in quiet support.

She cried for a while longer, her shoulders shaking as the weight of everything she had been holding back finally spilled out. When the tears began to slow, she straightened slightly, inhaling deeply as if forcing herself to regain control.

Crying was something she had always associated with weakness, something she despised, something she never allowed herself to do. Slowly, she wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand and pulled herself together, her posture stiffening once more.

"Thank you," she said quietly, her voice still rough. She did not look at him when she spoke. "For saving me in the castle from Gwen."

Alaric frowned at her words. He did not remember saving her. His memories from that moment were fragmented, scattered, and drowned beneath Midnight’s presence. Still, he nodded, believing it must have been Midnight who acted in his place. He did not correct her.

Before either of them could say anything else, the door creaked open slowly. Two witches stood at the entrance, their eyes wide in disbelief. One had black hair that fell straight down her back, and her expression was sharp and calculating. The other had softer features and brown hair tied loosely at her neck.

"Seraphina," they both exclaimed at the same time. "You are awake."

The sound of their voices made Seraphina pull away immediately. She stepped back, wrapping her arms across her stomach, her posture shifting completely. The vulnerability vanished from her face as her emerald green eyes hardened, fierce and guarded once more, as if nothing had happened moments before.

Alaric rose to his feet, clearing his throat. "I will give you some space," he said, already turning toward the door. He believed they needed time alone, time to speak freely without him present. Without waiting for a response, he excused himself and left the room.

The witches rushed to Seraphina’s side, their voices overlapping as they began to tell her everything that had happened while she was unconscious. They spoke about the retreat, the chaos after the Queen’s death, and the fragile state of the coven. Finally, they told her that it was the Chosen who had healed her.

Seraphina’s brows furrowed deeply. "The Chosen," she repeated under her breath.

She remembered her from the battlefield. She remembered the power she carried and the way Alaric fought by her side. She also remembered the rage she had felt, and the instinct to kill her without hesitation. She had believed she was doing the right thing, after all nothing mattered to her more than the queen’s life. The unease settled in her chest, heavy and uncomfortable.

The witch with black hair stepped forward. "You are now the future Queen of the coven," she said softly, her eyes gleaming with a calculating gaze. "And... I believe the Chosen’s blood can help you regain the inheritance and the memories of the former witches, we can help you get the Chosen’s blood."

Seraphina’s eyes hardened. She raised her hand immediately, stopping her. Her voice was calm, but it carried authority. "That will not happen."

Agatha froze, her eyes widened in surprise. "But without the blood, the inheritance..."

"If I cannot gain the inheritance and the memories on my own," Seraphina interrupted, her gaze sharp, "then I was never meant to be Queen."

Agatha opened her mouth to argue, but Seraphina’s expression darkened. "Leave," she said coldly. "And if I hear you suggest using her blood again, you will be punished."

Agatha stiffened, then turned and walked out of the room. Outside, her hands clenched into fists. Her eyes burned with resentment. "If you are too weak to do it, then I’ll do it for you. The witches must rise again." Agatha whispered to herself.

Meanwhile, inside the room, the other witch Ophelia helped her back into bed.

"Seraphina, don’t you think Agatha is right? If you can get the inheritance now, the witches won’t have to rely on the werewolves." Ophelia said, her tone was cautious.

Seraphina clutched the bed in anger. It was true that the witches were never associated with loyalty, however, she would not do anything that would hurt the small bond the witches had created with the werewolves.

Furthermore, the Chosen was Alaric’s friend, and the Lycan King’s woman, she would be foolish to lay a hand on her.

"No, we will do no such thing," Seraphina replied coldly.

Ophelia nodded and turned to take her leave.

"Keep an eye on Agatha, she must not do anything stupid," Seraphina said with a tone that left no room for argument.

Ophelia nodded her head once more before walking out of the room.

........

(Ember POV)

My eyes fluttered open to the golden rays of the sun. My hands searched the space behind me and it was empty, I turned abruptly, and there was no trace of Damon.

’Where did he go?’ I wondered.

I grabbed my clothes which were nearby and wore them, my eyes still searching around the open space for him.

"Damon," I called, but there was no response.

I decided to walk towards the back of the rock. The place was a little dark and the air was moist and cold.

I rubbed my hands together, seeing he wasn’t there, I turned to leave, just then something caught my eye... Something familiar.

I rushed back, squatting before a plant. The plant was dried and blackened like it had been burnt. ’Maybe it was struck by lightning.’ I said to myself.

"But there is no way lightning can reach here." This time I said it out loud.

My eyes trailed along the plant to the soil, black like veins spread across the ground, I followed it deeper into the forest, and my breath hitched. The vast majority of the plants and trees were burnt beyond recognition, and the black veins spread like webs across the ground.

My eyes widened in surprise. "How could this happen?"

Cough. Cough. My shoulder shook violently, and blood sputtered from my mouth. My chest burned with pain and unease, and my legs gave way.

I clenched my chest in pain. ’Why is it acting up again? Is it because of this place?’