Chapter 188: Danger in the cave.
Cyrius’s POV
I stood in silence, the weight of my decision pressing against my chest like a boulder.
I had chosen death—not just for myself, but for my brothers too. A final act to preserve balance. To protect what nature now sought to destroy: Hazel and her babies.
And strangely... it felt right.
I and my brothers—triplets bound by blood and fate—had tainted her in ways she may never recover from. The three of us had wrecked her spirit, tangled her in our darkness, and now she clings to what’s left of her joy: those children. I couldn’t take them from her again. I wouldn’t.
She’s lost too much already.
And now, as I held the twins—those fragile, sleeping embodiments of light and lineage—I knew what had to be done. If I must vanish from this world so that she may never lose them again, then so be it.
Across the room, Dahlia watched me with a smirk curling her lips. Her gaze glittered with amusement... or power. Maybe both.
I don’t trust Dahlia. Only a fool would.
But I need her.
She controls the Crescent now. The bloodlines answer to her. And while I command the vampires, she commands the ancient magic I need to pull this off. I’m no longer waging war to be Alpha. That hunger is gone. Instead, I will make Hazel Alpha of Crescent and Blue Moon both—before I and my brothers are sacrificed for the greater good.
I’ve lived too long in the shadow of death. It’s time to die for real—this time with meaning.
"Are you taking back your decision, Mr. Salvatore?" Dahlia’s voice broke the silence, mocking, curious.
I turned to her, shaking my head. "No. Never. I stand by it. My brothers and I will die... so that Hazel and her children may live."
She hummed. "Very well, then. We need to start planning. We’ll have to summon your brothers—tie them to the ritual. But how do you propose we bring in the Alpha and the Beta without things turning... bloody?"
A dark smile spread across my face.
"We are triplets," I said. "The same blood flows in all three of us. We were born together. We were reborn together. I don’t need them to be physically here. Our blood is enough. My body carries all three of us."
Dahlia arched a brow. "That... will do nicely."
She stepped forward. "But I will need your blood. That is the key."
I nodded and extended my hand.
Without hesitation, Dahlia took a silver blade and dragged it across my palm. A sharp sting flared as warm blood dripped into a silver bowl. The cut sealed instantly—my hybrid healing kicking in. She raised the bowl, the crimson swirling like fate itself.
"To nature," I said solemnly, "to balance... and to sacrifice."
Just as the words left my lips, a sound hit my ears—a sound I knew better than my own heartbeat.
Her.
That quickening pulse. That footstep pattern I’d memorized like prayer. That heartbeat that sent my entire body into a frenzy.
She stepped into the cave.
My heart froze the moment I saw her brown hair cascade over her shoulders—Hazel. My Hazel. Her presence halted time. Even Dahlia turned, the entire room snapping to attention like prey sensing a predator.
But she wasn’t alone.
A man stood behind her—tall, built like stone, oozing power. Caspian. His gaze was locked on mine, and the air turned to fire. The tension between us could rip the earth apart. Hazel’s eyes found me... and in them, I saw everything: rage, heartbreak, betrayal, pain.
My knees nearly gave out.
I wanted to fall at her feet, beg for forgiveness. But what had I done wrong? I was about to throw away my life for her, for the twins. Meanwhile, she—she had sided with those who killed me.
Still, I didn’t regret it. I didn’t seek praise. This was my burden. My destiny.
"Cyrius, what are you doing?" Hazel’s voice cracked. "And why is my baby in the hands of a witch?"
"You’re not supposed to be here," I said, but she didn’t flinch.
"Silence!" Dahlia interrupted, raising her hand. "Well, well... Mrs. Salvatore," she cooed. "So nice to see you again."
Hazel turned to her, expression cold. "Dahlia. You still can’t seem to die, can you?"
Dahlia laughed. "And you still look so much like your mother. Lilith’s resemblance... still haunts me. Tell her—oh, wait. You won’t get the chance. I doubt you’ll walk out of here alive."
I turned sharply. "Dahlia, this wasn’t our deal!"
She waved her hand nonchalantly. "Your deal, Cyrius, was to protect Hazel and the babies. My deal... was to protect the babies and use them as I see fit. Don’t test me."
"You wouldn’t dare—"
"I have your blood, remember?" she smirked. "I could kill you and your brothers with a snap."
I smirked right back. "You forget—I’m a vampire. You can’t kill what death already owns."
"Oh, but magic created you. And I wield darker magic than you can imagine." She dipped her fingers into my blood.
I lunged but Davina stepped between us.
Her hand rose, and a screeching scream erupted in my mind. Agony shot through my skull. I collapsed to the ground, clutching my head. Beside me, Hazel and Caspian were on their knees too.
"Davina, stop!" I gasped. "What are you doing?"
"Protecting my master," she said, unwavering.
Dahlia turned, pleased. "Good girl."
Suddenly, the twins began to cry. That familiar, piercing sound cracked the air.
Hazel snapped.
The pain meant nothing anymore. She rose to her feet like a goddess of war, her eyes blazing with fury, her claws unsheathing from her fingers.
"You damn witch," she growled. "Drop my babies or I’ll show you what a Crescent is truly made of."
A voice rose from the crowd. "Don’t forget, you’re not the only Crescent here. Hundreds of us are loyal to her."
Hazel turned to the voice, venom in her gaze. "But I’m not made like any of you. I wasn’t turned into a Crescent. I was born one. A natural-born Crescent."
Another Crescent stepped forward, mocking. "Let’s see what that means, then."
He lunged, driving his hand into her chest and ripping out her heart. Hazel’s body hit the floor.
The entire room fell silent.
My mouth opened in horror—but Caspian didn’t even blink.
Then, without warning, the attacker’s skull cracked open. Blood splattered.
Hazel stood behind him. Alive. Unbothered. Vengeful.
"Who’s next?" she snarled, eyes flashing.
Caspian shifted, his wolf form tearing through Davina like lightning. The chaos exploded.
And then whatever spell Dahlia was doing had worked because her lips curved into a smirk.
"Versa!"
A wave of energy surged—and both Caspian and I fell to the ground, unable to move.
The spell was complete.
I gasped for breath, fury burning in my chest. I couldn’t leave Hazel—not with those monsters. Not like this.
Damn it.