Oracle Days

Chapter Twenty Four

"Give me what I want, or shall I remind you of what befell that poor girl?" Queen Celeste demanded, her British accent slicing through the tense silence of the ballroom like a blade of ice.

The werewolves exchanged uneasy glances, their hesitation drawing a faint smile to her lips. "He didn't tell you, did he?" she said, her voice carrying an edge of mockery. "What was her name again?" She paused, relishing their discomfort before answering herself. "Ah, yes. Valerie."

The name sent a ripple of tension through the room, punctuated by Lily's sharp intake of breath. Celeste's gaze swept over the gathered pack, unbothered by the rising anger in their eyes.

"You've entered my territory uninvited," Alpha Elias said, his voice steady and firm, yet carrying the weight of his authority. "I'll give you one chance to leave. This will not end well for you otherwise, Queen Celeste."

The room fell into a heavy silence, the charged atmosphere crackling as both leaders stood their ground.

Silence settled over the room like a heavy fog, the tension growing thicker with every passing second. The werewolves exchanged cautious glances, low growls rumbling in warning as Celeste's vampire guards stood still, their expressions unreadable. The air felt charged, poised on the brink of violence.

"I'm not leaving without what you've kept hidden from me," Queen Celeste said, her voice cold and sharp, cutting through the uneasy quiet.

Alpha Elias frowned, his confusion apparent. "It's not here. You're too late. Someone else took it," he replied evenly, his tone calm but firm. Yet Celeste's expression didn't waver. Her eyes burned with suspicion, the hint of fury simmering just beneath the surface. She didn't believe him, and her unrelenting stare made that clear.

I stepped forward, raising my hand. The dagger I held caught the light, its blade glinting sharply as it drew everyone's attention. The room seemed to shift, all focus landing on me as I approached the staircase leading to where Celeste stood.

"Is this what you're looking for?" I asked, my voice steady and loud enough to cut through the tense stillness.

Celeste's gaze snapped to the dagger, her lips curling into a faint, satisfied smile. She said nothing, but the intensity in her eyes left no doubt. I climbed the stairs, each step deliberate, as her attention remained fixed on the weapon in my hand. The room seemed to hold its breath, the charged silence amplifying every movement.

"Meredith, don't!" Alpha Elias called out, his voice sharp with urgency.

"I've got this," I said, my voice steady as I kept my eyes fixed on the Queen.

As I stepped closer, Queen Celeste moved swiftly from the railing, her petite frame commanding an unsettling sense of purpose. My plan clicked into place, and with determination, I raised my hand, prepared to smash the dagger into fragments on the ground.

But before I could act, Celeste moved with inhuman speed, her hand darting out to snatch the dagger midair. In a single fluid motion, she turned the blade on me, driving it into my chest with precision. The sharp pain stole the air from my lungs, freezing me in place.

Before I could fully register the blow, her cold fingers gripped my hair, pulling me closer. Her fangs sank into my neck, and a searing pain burned through me as she drank deeply, her strength unwavering.

When she had taken her fill, she released me with brutal force, throwing me backward. The sound of wood and glass splintering filled my ears as the balcony railing gave way beneath me.

I fell, the air rushing past as the ground loomed closer. Just when I thought it was over, Lucian appeared, his bat-like wings slicing through the chaos. He caught me mid-fall, his grip firm but careful, cradling me as he brought me safely to the ground.