It's been a month since the last chapter.
Well, now I have everything I need to break my curse—I just have to find a way to make Amara mortal without using the Cure, so I won't risk being cured too and becoming just a werewolf when I sacrifice her.
Even if the Cure in this universe isn't perfect, my immortality isn't nearly as strong as Amara's and Silas's.
I'm not sure I'd turn back into a vampire if I drank the elixir, even weakened as it would be in Amara's blood.
I arrived at the warehouse lost in thought and stopped short—my compelled vampire and my witch were telling Amara a story.
I hid above a beam and listened.
"So, Columbus reached America and discovered it," Alex said, gesturing with his hands. "Then, when he went back home, he told the King of Spain, and they began sailing to colonize the Americas."
"Yes, the continent was divided among several countries—and that's how it is today because of it," Mary, my witch, added, picking up the story.
"Ohhh, how wonderful!" Amara fidgeted in her restraints, delighted, almost clapping if only she could.
I finally stepped in and clapped, and they all jumped in surprise.
"Lord Nik," Mary was the first to rise, bowing with a mix of fear and awe. "I had no idea you would come."
"Sir," Alex said, looking at me without emotion. "Is there something you need?"
Alex asked helpfully. I'd made sure compulsion kept him loyal, but I hadn't stripped away his personality.
That would be foolish—because if someone ever found a way to break my hold, I'd lose that compulsion and gain yet another enemy, one whose mind I'd torn apart.
An enemy who knows what I have to lose—and no one but my compelled vampires knows that.
By leaving his personality intact, at the very least he'll think twice before striking at my family, and his hatred toward me will be lessened.
"Ah, Nik! They were teaching me all the history I've missed," Amara brightened, lying covered against magical barbed wire. "They told me about Disney and other wonderful places too—they even showed me these things called photographs."
Her eyes shone. They weren't the eyes of the broken woman I'd met a month ago; now I saw hope there.
Not hope of escaping or breaking free—no, you could see in her gaze she'd accepted her fate.
But hope that instead of dreading what might come next, she could find wonder in something small.
"Of course—I heard," I told her with a gentle smile. "But they got one thing wrong: it wasn't the English or Spanish who reached the Americas first. It was the Vikings."
"Ohhh," Amara's eyes lit up.
"But Sir, there isn't enough historical record—" Alex started, stepping forward, then his eyes went wide. "I'm sorry… I didn't mean to speak out of turn."
"Relax—I'm not that bad," I answered, touching his shoulder. "And the proof of the Vikings arriving in America is standing right in front of you."
They all fell quiet, remembering who stood before them—a thousand-year-old vampire.
Well, Klaus's body was a thousand years old.
Then I turned to Mary, recalling what I needed.
"Mary, I need your help," I said. "I need an amulet to make me appear to age. Otherwise, people will realize what I am in just a few years."
"But with your magical resistance, that's very difficult, Lord Nik," Mary replied, looking down. "I don't have enough power."
"Relax—support magic works on me," I said, showing her the lapis lazuli. "Vampires' magic resistance only blocks offensive spells."
I looked at Alex too.
"Alex, I need you to recommend a trustworthy human martial arts instructor," I said seriously. "I'm enrolling Elena and Jeremy in classes—and Jenna too—so they can defend themselves as best they can… and in a few years, my children as well."
"Yes, Sir," Alex answered quickly. "I'll find the very best one."
Then I looked at Amara.
"Stay right there, and I'll bring you a TV to watch," I told her.
"Understood," she replied, just as the other two had.
It seemed they were having a good influence on her.
A few days later
"Alright, everyone," I walked into the living room with a smile. Jenna was holding Iris, Elena sat with Harry was feeding him with a bottle. and Jeremy was helping so Elena could get him to eat.
"Daddy!" Iris cried out, reaching her little arms toward me.
"Hello, my sweet girl," I smiled, going to her. Jenna handed her to me, and she clung tight.
"You're home early, Nik," Jenna kissed me. "Is everything alright?"
"I hired a martial arts instructor for us," I said, kissing her again.
"Uncle Nik… why?" Jeremy asked innocently. "I thought you didn't like violence."
"I don't," I said, brushing his hair. "But these days, everyone needs to know how to protect themselves. The world is dangerous—and you want to keep our family safe, don't you?"
"I do," Jeremy smiled back, determined.
"Even me?" Jenna asked, pointing to herself.
"Especially you, love," I grinned. "Who's going to mess with an amazing woman who knows how to fight? Come in," I called.
A man stepped through the door—tall, dark-skinned, built like a mountain, standing two meters high.
Alex said he was a good man who wouldn't cause trouble, wouldn't pry into my family, and was an expert in Krav Maga with MMA experience too.
That was perfect—he could teach practical defense while building skill.
"Good morning," the man said with a respectful nod. "Marcos Rois. I'm here to teach you all self-defense. Alex told me about you… he said you have fighting experience yourself?"
He looked at me, curious.
"Just the basics," I said, unbothered.
"Basics…" He studied me for a moment. "You're like Alex—no openings anywhere." He spoke so quietly I barely heard.
"Nik… who is Alex?" Jenna asked, confused. "You've never mentioned him."
Great—now I'd have to come up with something believable.
"A dear friend," I sighed. "He's like an anchor between me and my brothers… we use him to pass messages back and forth."
Well, that was true enough—apart from the fact Alex had never met my brothers, only occasionally kept their coffins safe, and was now posted here to guard Amara and bound to me by compulsion. Everything else was true.
Today was just the introduction. I'd already set up a dojo in the backyard so everyone would have a proper place to train.
POV: Jenna
Something was wrong—Nik had changed. Not that he was less loving, or distant… if anything, he was more attentive than I could keep up with. But he seemed so strange.
I couldn't understand why suddenly everyone needed martial arts lessons. Nik was always strong, always stepped up when he had to—but he'd never been a violent man.
He spoke of family rifts, brothers he'd fallen out with, parents who weren't there—from what he said, they never really had been.
After more than a year together, all I knew for certain was that he'd had children with someone he loved, and she'd died giving birth. He'd run away with the babies because he couldn't bear to stay where she'd been lost.
I told myself he wasn't in the mob—but he was full of secrets, and obsessed with keeping us safe. It terrified me. What if he was? Would I leave him? I shook my head—I couldn't. I loved him too much.
To be honest… I'd almost rather it was another woman. I could handle that—pretend I didn't see, carry on, keep our life together. I bit my lip. I couldn't lose him. But I was so scared—please don't let it be something terrible. Please just let it be an affair.
I knew he was incredibly wealthy, and I kept hoping it was all inheritance, not blood money. I felt guilty enough living off his generosity—I'd feel sick if it came from something evil. That's why I still worked as a real estate agent, earning my own money, buying things for the kids myself.
They weren't mine by blood, but I loved Harry and Iris as if they were. Having had part of my uterus removed, I might never have children of my own—and they felt like mine in every way that mattered. It meant the world to me how he'd stepped up for Jeremy and Elena too, even though they weren't his.
I wanted so badly to trust him… but I had to know what was hurting him.
One day, I waited until he left and followed him in my father's car—Nik rarely drove it. I trailed him to a warehouse that looked more like a mansion—some grand project that had turned into a business, maybe. He went inside with a young man and woman, both around seventeen or eighteen. They were dressed nicely, and the way they treated him… it was deep respect.
I breathed easier. No warmth, no familiarity—so not lovers. That eased the worst fears.
I slipped inside. The door was locked—reinforced steel—but I'd had a wild streak as a teenager and knew how to pick locks. I felt terrible doing it, but I had to know.
Then I heard it—soft, quiet laughter, happy laughter. My heart lightened, but a pang hit too. Relief that he wasn't a criminal… and hurt that he might be seeing someone else.
I hesitated. Go back, Jenna, just go home.
But I had to see. Who was she? Was she beautiful? Was she prettier than me? I hated myself for thinking it, but I couldn't help it.
I followed the sound. When I opened the door… I saw her. One of the most beautiful women I'd ever seen—maybe twenty-five, twenty-eight, with a face that reminded me so much of Elena it made my chest ache.
But she was tied up in barbed wire, blood seeping where the sharp points cut into her skin. And somehow… she was smiling, watching something that looked like a television.
"God," I gasped, covering my mouth. "I have to help you."
I rushed forward to free her.
"No! Don't touch me—stay back!" she cried, terrified. "The wire's cursed—you'll get hurt! Keep away!"
Too late—I was already reaching for it. Then a hand caught my wrist just in time.
I looked up… and it was Nik.
"Thank goodness I realized someone had come in," he breathed, eyes heavy with sorrow. "You shouldn't be here, Jenna. You shouldn't have seen any of this. You don't deserve this… this rotten world."
"Nik—what is this?" I stared at him, hurt and anger rising.
He looked away for a long moment, then sighed.
"I have to tell you the truth."