Chapter 252: Chapter 252 Giving Up the World for You
The Bone Witch tightened her grip on my neck, forcing me closer until I could feel the cold edge of her power sinking into my skin. She leaned near, her dead eyes gleaming. "What will it be, Lycan King?" she hissed. "Her life, or yours?"
The tension in the air was unbearable. It pressed down like a crushing weight, every heartbeat stretching longer, and heavier. No one dared move, or breathe.
I fought to scream, fought to tell him not to listen, I didn’t need his life but my voice was gone. My mouth opened and closed like I was drowning in silence. My tears streamed hot down my face, my body trembling with regret.
This was all my fault. I had run straight into her trap. My rashness had brought us here, and now Damon was standing on the edge of sacrificing everything.
He stared at me, his jaw locked tight, his chest rising and falling with uneven breaths. His hand lifted slightly, as though he was about to follow her command, but then it trembled and froze in the air. His eyes burned with fury and pain, and his lips curled as though he was about to roar.
The Bone Witch squeezed harder around my throat. Her smile widened. "Do it," she whispered coldly. "Rip out your heart, and she will be free."
Alaric’s voice cut through the air like a blade. "Damon, no. Do not give in. Think of what you swore to protect, if you fall here, it is over for all of us."
Theo stepped closer, desperation twisting his face. "And what about me? I will have nothing left if you are gone."
Rhydian’s wings snapped wide again, his eyes wild. "You fool!" he shouted at Damon. "What are you waiting for? Take out your heart and end this before she kills her!"
The tension grew so sharp it felt like the air itself would split apart. Damon’s body shook where he stood, every muscle straining, his hand hovering near his chest as though he could not decide.
The Bone Witch dragged me closer, her hand felt like ice around my neck, her dark power seeping into me until my skin burned. My wide eyes locked on Damon’s, telling him in silence not to obey, though my voice was gone.
Every second stretched like eternity, the weight of the choice pressing down on all of us.
"You promise to let her go?" Damon’s eyes flickered with longing mixed with guilt.
’Bastard, even if you rip your heart out I won’t forgive you. So continue being the asshole that you are!’
I could only scream in my head, and I have never been that frustrated in my life. The wish to be heard was eating my heart out.
"Of course I’ll keep my promise." The Bone witch chuckled, deceit flickering in her eyes.
"Damon..."
"Enough Alaric," Damon yelled. "I have already made up my mind. I do not wish to make the same mistake again." His voice lowered.
Tears streamed down Theo’s cheeks, his gaze burned with anger, and when he turned to me, his gaze turned to one of hatred.
It was so intense, that I could not keep his gaze. ’When did he become so stupid? Stay alive, my wish is to torture you, not give you an easy way out.’
Claws slowly protruded out of his fingers, and he raised his hand. "Honour the end of your deal."
"Did you forget about the past? Did you forget their betrayal and how it led to the death of our family?" Theo’s voice cracked. "Did you forget everything you have taught me?" His voice turned to a pleading one.
Damon looked at him. "I did not, don’t forget who you are. Your Lycan blood might not have awakened, but remember you are a King now."
"Damon, please..." Alaric’s words were cut off by one of the defectors, who pointed her long nails at his neck.
The Bone Witch’s nails dug deeper into my throat, and blood trickled down my neck. Her smile spread wider, savoring the chaos in front of her. "Well then, Lycan King," she whispered, her words like venom, "show me your loyalty."
Damon’s chest heaved as he stood frozen, his claws twitching by his sides. His eyes were locked on me, they carried a weight I had never seen before. The fury, the pain, the torment, all swirled inside him like a storm threatening to break.
Yet those emotions crashed into me like waves. ’No, the Damon I know would not risk his life for me.’ I tried to convince myself.
Alaric’s voice rang again, desperate and sharp. "Damon... please!"
His words pierced the air, but Damon’s gaze never left mine. His jaw tightened, his lips curled, and I could see the war raging inside him, before disappearing, replaced by calmness and... love.
My heart was pounding so loud it hurt. My body shook against the Bone Witch’s grip. I wanted to shout at him to stop, to fight back, to stay alive, but nothing came out. Only my tears betrayed me, spilling hot down my face.
I wasn’t crying for him. I don’t care if he died, I just don’t want him to die for me.
Rhydian’s wings spread wide, his voice filled with panic. "What are you waiting for? Do it! Take your heart, she’s dying!" His voice cracked like thunder, the desperation in it cutting through everyone else’s pleas.
My eyes widened in horror. ’No, no, no! Why are you telling him that?’ My chest burned with rage. I wanted to hit him, scream at him, do anything, but the chains tightened each time I moved.
The Bone Witch leaned closer, her lips brushing against my ear. "He will choose you. And when he does, you will carry the guilt for the rest of your life."
Damon raised his clawed hand to his chest. His eyes flickered to Theo and Alaric, then to me again. His face was unreadable, he dug his claws in.
"The first time, I gave you up for the world, this time..." Blood flowed out of his chest, his face remained expressionless, even when I could feel his pain coursing through my veins. "This time, I’ll give the world up for you." He drove his claws deeper, and blood sputtered from his lips.
"No!" Alaric’s scream shook the air. He lunged forward, but the witches shoved him back to his knees. His roar was muffled against the hiss of their magic.
"Father, stop!" Theo sobbed, his voice raw. "Think of our family, think of me! You taught me never to bow, never to give in. Do not betray that now!"
Damon’s lips parted, and for the first time, his voice broke. "I will not make the same mistake again."
A sickening crack echoed through the silence, and his body jerked violently. His claws tore through bone and flesh until his hand closed around the pulsing glow within him. With one final wrench, he ripped it free.
The world went still.
Blood poured down his chest, a gaping hole left in his chest. Golden light spilled out, shimmering like fireflies against the night. His heart hovered above his palm, glowing red crystalline, and each beat sent waves of golden energy spiraling into the air. It pulsed with power, both beautiful and terrible.
Theo’s scream tore through the silence. "No!" His knees buckled, his fists slamming against the ground as tears streamed down his face. Alaric roared in fury, his voice breaking as he shook against the witches restraining him.
Damon’s body swayed, his chest caving as his lifeblood poured into the air. His silver grey eyes turned to black, before they became dulled, his knees hit the stone with a heavy crack, and then he collapsed completely, his body lifeless against the ground.
My eyes widened in horror. I could not breathe. My veins burned like they were snapping one by one, waves of pain crashing through me. My chest tore open with grief, with regret, with rage, and it felt as though the world itself had ended.
The Bone Witch’s grip loosened on my throat. She let me go, and I fell to my knees beside the chains. Her laughter echoed across the field, sharp and cruel. Her eyes glowed with hunger as she approached Damon’s heart, which was still pulsing with golden energy, floating in the air above his chest.
The other witches stood frozen. Even they could not hide their shock. Their eyes widened at the sight of his crystalline heart, their lips parted, yet no sound came. They could only watch as the Bone Witch reached toward it.
My gaze dropped to Damon’s body. His black eyes were open, lifeless and empty, looking straight through me.
"No..." The word tore through my mind, though my lips could not form it. The silence was suffocating. My tears blurred my vision until I could not see him clearly anymore.
The pain inside me burned hotter. It was more than grief... It was furious, raw, and consuming. It clawed at my chest, threatening to tear me apart.
My body shook violently as the realization sank in. Damon was gone. He had given his life, and it was because of me.
"AAARGHHHH!"
A scream tore out from my throat, followed by waves rippling across the air, sending every living creature off their feet.