The Wolfless Luna's Revenge: Returning With His Secret Twins-Chapter 302

~Samantha~

"I’m fine." Killian’s voice came out strained with a lie. "The kids?"

Devon’s voice was muffled under Killian’s chest. “Safe as we will ever be but we can’t breathe, Uncle!"

Killian rolled off them, gasping. His left arm hung useless, the arrow still lodged through his bicep.

I reached them, checking the twins over frantically. "You’re sure you’re not hit? Nothing hurts?"

"We’re not hit." Diana was crying but unhurt. "Uncle Killian saved us."

"He did." I looked at Killian. The arrow had gone clean through. Blood soaked his sleeve, dripping onto the stone. "Let me see."

"I already told you."

"If you think I’m going to let you behave like last time, you’re in for a long run." I moved his good arm aside, examining the wound. Entry and exit. That was good. Meant I could pull it through instead of having to push it deeper first.

But the arrow was silver. And Killian already had shadow corruption in his system.

Silver plus shadow equaled bad things.

"This is going to hurt a lot." I gripped the arrow shaft.

"Wait." Killian tried to pull away but I held firm.

"On three. One.."

I pulled on one. Yanked the arrow straight through and out.

Killian’s scream bounced off the chamber walls. He curled forward, good hand clamping over the wound as blood poured out faster.

"Sam, what the hell?!" Dominic appeared beside us. "You’re supposed to warn him first!"

"Warning gives him time to tense up. Makes it worse." I tossed the bloody arrow aside, already pressing my hands over Killian’s wound. "Hold still."

"Easier said." Killian cut off with another gasp as my royal blood activated.

Silver light spread from my palms into his arm. I felt the tissue trying to knit back together, felt my power working to close the holes the arrow left.

But something was fighting back.

The corruption in Killian’s system didn’t like my blood. Pushed against it. Tried to force it out.

"It’s not working." Sweat broke out on my forehead from the effort. "The curse is blocking my healing."

"Then stop." Dominic grabbed my shoulder. "You’re wasting energy."

"Nothing is ever a waste when his life is involved."

"Then get ready to join him because take a look at him!"

"No no no." I pressed harder, pouring more power into him as I watched his curse backlash. "Killian, you have to resist it!"

"Sam, stop!" Dominic tried to pull me away. "You’re going to hurt yourself!"

"I’m not leaving him!"

"Nobody said you should but take a minute! Can’t you see what’s happening?!"

I looked down. He was right. Where my blood touched Killian’s skin, the black veins grew thicker. Spreading faster instead of slower.

I jerked my hands back. "What do I do? Dominic, what do I do?!"

"I don’t know." Dominic’s voice was tight.

Killian’s eyes snapped open. Purple. Glowing bright purple. Not a trace of their normal color left.

"Get away from me." His voice was layered. Two voices speaking at once. His and something else. "It’s taking over."

He lunged at me.

Dominic caught him mid-leap, both of them crashing to the ground. Killian fought like an animal, clawing, biting, trying to reach me with single-minded focus.

"The twins!" I spun around. "Diana, Devon, run!"

Diana pulled out her whistle. "We can purify him!"

"No! The corruption is too strong!" I grabbed them both, dragging them back toward the tunnel entrance. "Dominic can handle this!"

"Your mate can’t handle anything." Killian’s voice boomed through the chamber. "The curse owns me now. And it wants her. It wants the royal blood."

He threw Dominic off. Dominic slammed into a support pillar hard enough to crack wood.

"Dominic!" I screamed.

Dominic shook his head, dazed. Blood ran from his hairline where he’d hit.

Killian turned to me. Smiled with too many teeth showing.

"Come here, Samantha. Let me taste that pretty blood."

"Snap out of it!" I backed up, keeping the twins behind me. "Killian, I know you’re still in there! Fight it!"

"He’s not fighting anything. He gave up." The curse-Killian took a step forward. "Welcomed me in. He was tired of fighting. Tired of losing. Tired of watching you choose the angry wolf over him again and again."

"That’s not true!"

"Isn’t it? Every time, you pick Dominic. Every time, Killian stands aside and bleeds for you and gets nothing. So when I offered him peace? He took it."

"You’re lying." But my voice shook.

"Am I?" Curse-Killian tilted his head. "Ask him yourself. If he’s still conscious."

I didn’t look at Dominic. Couldn’t risk taking my eyes off the threat.

"The twins." Curse-Killian’s purple eyes locked on them. "They have even better blood. Purer. Stronger. Give them to me and I’ll let you live."

"Over my dead body."

"That can be arranged."

He moved fast. But Dominic was faster.

Fully shifted now, his massive wolf form crashed into Killian’s body, taking him down hard. They rolled across the floor in a tangle of claws and teeth and blood.

Lila appeared beside me. "The vault. I got it open while you were distracted."

"How?"

"Used the arrow you pulled out. It had Killian’s blood on it. His blood worked because.." She stopped. "Doesn’t matter. The vault is open. We need to get the relics and go. Now."

"I’m not leaving while they’re fighting!"

"You’re not helping by standing here either!" Lila grabbed my arm. "Get the relics. Save Killian later. That’s the priority."

She was right. I hated it, but she was right.

"Devon, Diana." I grabbed their hands. "With me. We get the relics and get out."

"What about Dad and Uncle Killian?" Devon’s voice was small.

"Your father can handle himself. Come on."

I dragged them toward the now-open vault door. Behind us, Dominic and Killian tore into each other with savage intensity.

Every snarl, every yelp of pain made me want to turn back but I resisted.

Walking straight into the vault was my biggest priority where whatever Silver Claw had hidden for ten years was waiting.

And behind us, Dominic fought alone against a friend turned enemy.

Fought to protect us while I ran away.

The guilt took a toll on me but I swallowed it down.