Hunted Hybrid Aegis War Saga 1 novel Chapter 173

Chapter 173

Lucien’s laugh echoed through the chamber, booming and full of fire. “Do you see now?” he called, stepping onto the platform with a smirk that chilled my bones. “We are evolving. Raelith has blessed us.”

Vaela straightened, her eyes burning like twin suns. “We are bound in blood. A bond forged by sacrifice and flame.”

I froze mid swing. Blood bound? Oh fuck no.

Lucien turned to Varek, who was still panting, his eyes narrowed. “You’ve heard the whispers. Seen the old rites. But none dared do it. Until us.”

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Vaela slid up beside him, pressing into his side, their auras practically writhing together. She tilted her head and said sweetly, “We share power now. His strength is mine, mine is his. Two generals. One will.”

Sierra let out a long, rattling snarl. “They’re insane. You need to leave. NOW.”

But I smiled. I fucking smiled, because that’s what they expected. “That’s… incredible,” I managed, wiping fake awe across my face. “I’ve never heard of anyone actually completing the bond.”

Lucien puffed up like a damned god, pride dripping off him like venom. “We are more than vampires now. We are the beginning of a new species. Raelith’s chosen.”

Vaela’s eyes flicked to me and narrowed, like she was trying to read the storm boiling beneath my skin. I looked away quickly. Inside, Sierra paced, her hackles up, eyes glowing with fury. “They’ve sold their souls. That thing in their blood? It’s not power. It’s rot. And it’ll spread.”

I swallowed the bile rising in my throat and took Varek’s hand as he came up beside me, his face pale, lips drawn tight. He squeezed back

once.

We were trapped in a den of monsters playing gods.

Lucien was still glowing. Not literally, but damn near close. The arrogance was radiating off him in waves as he clapped a hand on Varek’s shoulder and dragged him toward the double obsidian doors at the far end of the hall.

“You’ll want to see this firsthand,” Lucien said, his fangs flashing in the dim bloodlight. “The others are waiting…the original five. The Aegis Lock.”

Varek shot me a look as he was pulled along like a pet on a leash. His eyes said everything. Be careful. Stay alive. I gave him the faintest nod, then turned to Vaela as she hummed, brushing dried blood from her fingers like it was fucking glitter.

“That was exhilarating,” she sighed, arching her back with a blissed out groan. “You have no idea what it feels like, Soria. Being chosen by Raelith isn’t like any bond you’ve ever known. It’s deeper than fate, thicker than blood. It’s… divinity. Dark, rich, perfect divinity.”

She looked at me like I should be envious. I smiled instead. “It looked intense.”

“It was transcendent,” she purred. “I felt everything Lucien did. His lust, his rage, his strength. We were gods together in that circle.” Her eyes went glossy, drunk on her own damn power. “Soon, you and Varek will know it too. She’ll call to you, I know it.”

I barely resisted the shudder crawling up my spine. Sierra snarled softly in my head, low and cold. “Let me bite her. Just once.”

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19:02 Thu, Oct 16

Chapter 173

“Not yet. We need her blind.”

Vaela waved a hand dismissively. “Come. Let’s clean up. You’ve still got blood in your hair, darling.”

She turned, striding down the corridor with all the grace of a queen, her hips swaying like she ruled this whole damn temple.

I followed. Smiling. Nodding. Acting. Until we reached the split to our chambers.

“Rest well, sister,” Vaela said sweetly. “You’ll need it. The next ritual begins tomorrow.”

I nodded. “Goodnight.”

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The second I stepped inside my suite, I slammed the door and locked it. Every bolt. Every ward. Every ounce of protection I could slap up

between me and them.

My legs were shaking. My hands too. I pressed my forehead to the cool stone wall and exhaled like I’d been holding my breath since the fucking training session.

Sierra stirred softly in my mind, nuzzling me with her snout. “We did good, cub. But time’s running out.”

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