Offered to the Triplet Alphas

[Xanthea]

"These letters are enchanted and only the ones they are addressed to can unseal or open them," the prince said.

He paused.

"They've been kept in Alpha Valdimir's care since your mother's death. All of them have been opened by their addressees... except yours."

"Alpha Valdimir gave me everything that belonged to my mother. Be it her books, her home or her diaries. If what you are saying is true and these letters really belong to my mother... then he would have given them to me sooner. Everything that was hers, including me, was a burden to him, anyway," I said. "And even if he had them... why reveal them now? The timing seems too convenient, no?"

"Your suspicion is valid," the prince said, his voice calm. "However, the timing isn't off - it's just right. Lady Cadence hid you from the world so deftly that, until she revealed your existence herself, even your blood kin, the Starsouls, couldn't find you. So the letters were revealed exactly when your mother wanted the Celestials and the world to know of your true identity."

He looked over his shoulder at Yandor, his gaze unwavering.

"And ever since Lord Yandor found out about your existence, he's been trying to enter the Infernal Realm, to take you back from the demon lords."

"Is that so?" I narrowed my gaze at Yandor, who was still lying on his back, struggling for breaths.

"You see... these letters were in a bewitched box with some other items and the box was sealed until recently, when it opened on its own," the prince said, and I skimmed my eyes from Yandor to him.

"You want me to believe that?" I scoffed with a chuckle as I looked at Nikolai. "Given how you have spun lies all your life, I expected better from you, little brother. These pathetic lies are just as pitiful as you."

Nikolai clenched his fists, his eyes blazing with rage.

I had cowered beneath his burning scrutiny for years. But compared to all that I had already faced in hell, those woeful eyes didn't intimidate me any longer.

Taking a deep breath, Nikolai shut his eyes and put on a faint smile.

"This is the first time... you called me little brother," he said, and I widened my eyes slightly as a disgusting and repulsive bile burnt through my chest. "And as your brother, I have failed you. I should have protected you better."

I gritted my teeth. That sly fox. He was putting up a show before the celestials. He had always been like this.

"So, it's ok for you to blame me, hate me, sister. But I want you to know that I never gave up on you, and I never will. Hell, heaven. I'll do everything in my power to keep you safe wherever you are," he said.

I let out a fake laugh.

"How ironic? I feel much safer in hell than I ever was with my own family-"

"I know we've wronged you!" Nikolai cut me. "We shouldn't have forced you into this marriage. I should've stopped you from sacrificing yourself for our sake."

He walked beside the prince, taking an opened letter from his hand.

"The Virgo pack will forever be indebted to you. As an alpha of this pack, even if I have to sacrifice every last of my people to bring you back to us, I will! Nothing we do can right our wrongs, but we cannot abandon you."

Unfurling the letter, he raised it in one hand, showing it to me.

"Father never abandoned you. The moment the demon lords took you to Hell, he began searching for a way to bring you back safely. That's when the box opened, revealing the truth about your real identity through the letter your mother left behind. The contents of this letter... they're not something I could just make up to deceive the celestials. There's magic here no mortal can wield," he said.

His eyes dropped to the letter as he began reading it aloud.

"~Alpha Valdimir. If you are reading this letter, it means the demons have found our baby. It also means you, your family and perhaps your pack may be at peril beyond your control. At a time like this, the only ones that can help you are celestials. But it might take mere mortals ages to please a god and bestow their blessings. In exchange for your kindness and unconditional love, I leave you a telecom (telepathic communication) charm. Alpha King will know how to use it. This charm will help you communicate directly with the first celestial alpha. Tell him you are related to Cadence Starsoul and he will respond immediately. You may be wondering who Cadence Starsoul is. That's my real name...~"

Nikolai read the letter further where mother revealed her real identity to Alpha Valdimir and she assured him that the celestials would help him protect his pack.

She specifically asked him to burn down her books and diaries before interacting with the celestials. Doing so would break the seal on the telecom charm and then it'd be ready to use.

"~...I know it must have been a torture for you to helplessly watch Xanthea, your first child, suffer all these years and remain silent, simply because I asked you to. But trust me, all of Meesa's hatred, the mortal pain and isolation our baby endures, will help her make the right choices in the long run. It will make her more humane and prevent her from walking the heartless path I once treaded...~"

My breaths hitched.

The inferno of emotions scorched through all my senses and rationality at that moment. All I could see was red.

He knew?

My father knew the things Meesa, Nikolai, and Nathalia did to me?

He knew about all the abuse I went through for fucking twenty-three years.

He knew... and he watched?

Not because he was powerless.

Not because he didn't care.

But because my mother asked him to.

Because she wanted me to grow up in hatred, in isolation, without even a flicker of external love - so that I would cling to her words, her diaries, her version of peace?

I bit down on my inner lip. Hard.

The sharp taste of blood flooded my mouth.

Asher lying unconscious on my lap was the only thing that grounded me, that stopped

the scream tearing through my chest from erupting and shattering everything around

me.

For him, I had to stay in control.

Bitter tears stabbing needles in my eyes trailed down my cheeks like blades splitting apart my skin.

I lowered my head, burying my face in the shadow. I couldn't allow them to see my tears.

Still, I couldn't move.

Couldn't breathe.

Couldn't cope with the pain jamming my chest. Even if I smashed my chest, broke my ribs, punctured my lungs, this pain wouldn't leave, wouldn't stop.

It would keep growing until the day I die.

"Father ordered me to burn down your mother's house according to her will," Nikolai said, lowering his hand and the letter to his side. "But it took father some time to process all this and when he was finally ready, about to be on his way to meet the Alpha King, the demon lords burnt down our pack. As though they knew what he was trying to do and were trying to stop it."

As far as I know, it was all just a coincidence.

"Father was badly injured in the fire and before losing his consciousness, he entrusted me with your mother's box. There were five letters in the box. One was addressed to father, one to lord Yandor, one to alpha Caelum and two letters were addressed to you. After taking over as the Alpha of the Virgo pack, I met the Alpha King and through him, I contacted Alpha Caelum Solvaris, lord Yandor and the crown prince. Do you still think they are fake?"

"This one is addressed to Lord Yandor," the Celestial Prince said, holding up an already opened letter. "They're personal, so it's best if you read them yourself. But if you're still unsure, I can read it aloud... and you can judge their authenticity for yourself." "Read it," I said, my head still throbbing as my life played in the back of my mind. Did Father see them hit me?

Did he watch them break me - year after year?

No...

I guess not.

He was never there.

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And now I understand why he was never around.

Even when he knew everything, he probably didn't want to watch me suffer.

I clenched my jaw, gritting my teeth, as my fingers curled into trembling fists - fists

that could do nothing but shake.

"Lady Xanthea... are you ok?" the prince asked.

"Just read the damn letter or get the fuck out of my sight!" I snapped at him.

Taken aback, the prince contemplated me for a few seconds, and the silence that followed was too ruthless to bear. Thankfully, it didn't last long.

The prince took a quick gulp before reading the letter addressed to my grandfather.

"~Father. A lot happened after I fell from grace. I've missed you, mother and my siblings dearly over all these years. I want to tell you so many things, but perhaps it's better if I don't. Yet, there's a part of my life I'm not ashamed, but proud to share with you. My daughter, Xanthea~," the prince looked at me.

My feet crushed the forget-me-nots and even though I understood every word the prince said, I really couldn't see past my anger.

"~I named the best part of my life after the best person I ever had. My daughter bears your name, Father. Xanthea, blood of Yandorvan Xanthos. She is the only honor I can bring to you. Thank you for loving me despite the many ways I failed you. But now, I ask you for one last thing. Shamelessly, desperately. Please protect my daughter.~" My left eye twitched as I tensed my brows.

"~I've done things, Father. Terrible things I'm too ashamed to speak of. But every one of them has led to Xanthea's fate being entangled with the demon princes - Asher, Ezra, and Raven. At first, I wanted to bring her into this world out of a selfish desire to make things right. But now... I feel something deeper. A worry that never leaves me. A protectiveness I can't explain. I've never known anything as pure as this. Maybe this is what motherhood feels like. I want to shield her from every darkness, every harm... and yet, I have no other option but to plunge her into hell myself.~"

Worry?

Protectiveness?

Motherhood?

Don't make me laugh.

Cadence Starsoul, you were a woman who knew no emotion, pain, or guilt.

All you ever knew was how to manipulate - people, yourself, your stories, and the world around you - until everything bent to your will.

I shut my eyes, trying to cool the burn behind my thoughts with a slow, steady breath. "~My Xanthea has become both my greatest joy and deepest sorrow. I want to live for her, to protect her, to save her... but I am already out of time. This is my karma returning to haunt me. And now that I am a mere mortal, I understand demons a little better. I've taken so much from them - especially those innocent triplets - but I can't bear the thought of giving them my daughter in return.~"

Such empty words.

Such an empty woman.

And yet... how hollow must I have been to spend my life searching for meaning in her

emptiness?

To cling to her words, to make her my world.

"~I can't change the fact that Xanthea's fate would be hellbound. A cursed fate that'd cage her with the demons and the other fate that could set her free..." the celestial prince hesitated, his grip tightening on the letter as he continued. "The crown prince, Alpha Caelum's son. I've left that child with immense responsibilities and Xanthea is one of them.~"

Frowning, I looked at the prince, who was already looking at me. Clearing his throat, he lowered his gaze on the letter.

"~Ezra is unstable, and by the time the triplets cross paths with my Xanthea, both his mental and physical condition might become worse. Raven is walking the path of a healer, and his refusal to use living subjects in his practice gives me hope. But he's fiercely protective of his brothers. So he won't spare anyone who threatens them.~" A sudden wave of guilt hit me hard in the chest. I had witnessed both Ezra's instability and Raven's protectiveness for his brothers when Ezra relapsed. I couldn't understand why Raven was so determined to get rid of the weak blood boy. Now I do.

Ezra went through all that pain because of me. He was still suffering, and it was all my fault. If only I had tried to understand Raven instead of arguing with him, if we talked instead of fighting... maybe Ezra wouldn't be in a vegetative state right now.

Lost in the world of this story? Make sure you're on Ñe5s.com to catch every twist

and turn. The next chapter awaits, exclusively on our site. Dive in now! "~Asher..." The prince's voice pulled me back to the present, away from the misery of what could have been. "Asher might be the only rational one among them. Maybe he wouldn't hurt her, he might even protect her, knowing Xanthea is to find the cure of their curse. But if he inherits the Obsidian Throne, the madness will follow him shortly. And then even the darkest, most dangerous corner of hell would be safer for Xanthea than by his side.~"

So... the celestials know about the curse and the throne madness.

The throne madness, huh?

Right. That was the very reason the curse was created in the first place.

I looked at Asher and all the instances of Alpha Deimos, the demon lords' father,

suffering from the madness flashed before my eyes.

Mother had classified madness as a living disease - one with a consciousness of its own. She had documented its symptoms, drawing from ancient historical records on Obsidian Alphas and her own observations of Deimos.

So far, Asher had shown no signs of being affected by the madness.

But it would be foolish to make assumptions based on my limited insight, especially

when Asher was a master at hiding his pain and sufferings.

So, now more than ever, I needed to stay close to the demon lords.

Watching me contemplate Asher, the prince had stopped reading the letter.

"Perhaps I should stop here... given the circumstances, the letters may be

overwhelming for you," the prince said gently.

"Continue..." I said firmly.

The prince peered at me for a moment. He adjusted his mask on his face before he

continued reading.

"~The triplets' hatred for me will drive them to do unimaginable things to my baby girl. That's why the Crown Prince must stay by her side - to help her survive in hell. But that's not the only reason. Xanthea will inherit my knowledge, and she'll need someone with power and authority to protect and guide her, both in hell and in heaven. The

Prince is the only one who can truly understand the weight of what she carries and treat her with the care it demands.~"

Hmm.

So, they already know that I'll inherit Mother's knowledge.

The prince knew about Jualsra; what it was, what it could do. Which means... he

already knows I carry her legacy.

So right now... he knows I'm pretending. He knows I'm feigning ignorance about her.

And yet, he's still playing along.

Why?

Maybe... because of Yandor. Or does he have some other reason?

"I never hoped for you to find out about us like this, but well..." the prince sighed,

rubbing the back of his neck.noveldrama

About us?

Us?

Us as in... him and I?

What is he talking about?

What the hell does he mean by us?

He read the letter, but this time I could sense the subtle nervousness in the way his

voice faltered and his hesitant pauses.

"~Given her origin, Xanthea might have difficulty finding her place in Paradise, but with the prince by her side, the Celestials will have no problem accepting her. He can protect her from those who'd seek to exploit her in all realms. I truly believe he's the only one who can walk beside her without breaking her. Father, I ask that you honor this promise and ensure it is fulfilled, for I've already engaged Xanthea to the Crown Prince in a betrothed mate bond right when I conceived her.~"