The event had just ended. Dante escorted Zamora back to her chamber. He still had other matters to attend to. As soon as Dante disappeared down the hallway, the door creaked open—and in stepped Mark.
Zamora's eyes widened in panic. She instinctively took several steps back, distancing herself from Mark, who kept advancing toward her.
"Are you afraid?" Mark asked, his lips curling into a smirk.
"What do you want?" Zamora countered, her voice uneasy.
"I just want to talk," Mark replied with a feigned innocence.
"We can talk tomorrow. I need to rest now," Zamora tried to gently dismiss him.
"Are you sure you don't want to talk... tonight?" Mark raised an eyebrow.
---
Meanwhile, Dante was still walking down the castle hallway. He was on his way to inform the council about Zamora's pregnancy, which had progressed far more rapidly than expected. But before he could reach the meeting hall, Alice stepped into his path.
"What do you want? Move!" Dante snapped.
"Calm down," Alice said, trying to sound sweet. "I just want to apologize."
She stepped closer, her fingers lightly brushing the collar of his shirt.
"I was foolish. I regret everything. Can you forgive me?" she cooed, now clinging to his arm.
At that very moment, Zamora—having escaped Mark—was rushing down the corridor and caught sight of Dante and Alice... locked in what seemed like an intimate embrace.
"Dante!" she shouted, her voice cracking.
Both Dante and Alice turned toward the voice. But before Dante could explain, Zamora ran in the opposite direction. Mark caught up with her before she could get far. Dante tried to chase after her, but Alice held him back.
"I have to talk to Zamora!" Dante growled.
"You don't love her!" Alice protested.
"I do love her! Do you hear me? I love her!" Dante roared, yanking his arm free. Alice fell silent, stunned.
---
"Please, Mark... don't do this to me," Zamora pleaded as he dragged her into the castle gardens.
"You're acting like I'm going to hurt you," Mark replied, sitting calmly across from her. "I won't hurt you."
"Then what do you want?" she asked warily.
"Leave Dante and be with me. You saw him with Alice, didn't you? He's not good for you," Mark said, his voice slick with manipulation.
"I can't. Yes, I'm angry at him... but somewhere along the way, I started to love him."
Mark fell silent. Then suddenly—a hand gripped his shoulder and hurled him aside with supernatural force. It was Dante, furious beyond reason.
"Is this what you've been plotting? You bastard!" Dante growled, lunging again—but Mark had already vanished into the shadows.
Dante stood there, chest heaving with rage. He turned and rushed to Zamora, who had collapsed in tears.
"I'm sorry, Zamora," he whispered, gathering her into his arms.
---
One Week Later
Zamora's POV
The baby inside me moved violently tonight. Every twitch felt like it was tearing me apart from the inside.
It had only been two months since the seed of that monster began growing inside me. But my belly... it looked like I was nine months along. This wasn't normal.
Its growth was too fast. Too unnatural.
"Ugh—Argh!" I cried out as another powerful kick hit me from inside. I tossed the blanket aside, revealing the swollen mound of my stomach.
Bruises marred my skin—deep purple and blue. The nightly torment never ceased. I hadn't slept peacefully in weeks. It was more agonizing than anything my aunt had ever inflicted on me.
I closed my eyes, praying for a moment of peace, just one night without pain.
But then it came again—an intense contraction. My abdomen tensed like a stone. I bit my lower lip to suppress a scream.
"Argh... It hurts so much!" I whimpered, clutching my belly, utterly helpless.
Suddenly, a cold hand replaced mine, gently pressing against the rise of my stomach. I looked up—it was Dante.
"Let me help," he said softly, sitting at the edge of the bed. His cold hand calmed the fire raging inside me. Slowly, my muscles began to relax.
We looked at each other. His sapphire eyes met mine, tender and calm. I couldn't look away. His face, pale and perfect, was glowing in the candlelight.
Without warning, tears began to stream down my cheeks. I didn't even know why. Dante looked startled. He wiped my tears away with his thumb.
Tonight... he was gentle.
I forced a weak smile through the pain. But then—my eyes widened, my entire body seized up. Cold sweat drenched me as the next wave hit.
"AAAAARGH!" I screamed, the sound echoing through the entire castle. The pain centered on my stomach, threatening to rip me in half.
Dante stood, frozen in shock. Then he disappeared from the room in a blur. I gasped for air, my body thrashing like a fish out of water.
The room filled with the sound of my screams.
Black sand began to drift into the room. Several succubi, including Bella, appeared—pinning my wrists to the bed.
"AAAAARGH!" I roared as my ribs felt like they were shattering. The baby inside me thrashed violently, trying to claw its way out.
Blood gushed from my belly.
The succubi held me tighter. I heard the sickening crack of my bones as they gripped harder, driven wild by the scent of my blood.
The small creature crawled out of the torn flesh. I was drained—but I held on, desperate to see my child.
Dante burst through the doors with his brothers. My vision blurred. One of the incubus vampires lifted my newborn and placed it in Dante's arms.
He smiled, surrounded by his siblings, admiring the child. I smiled through the pain. At least I had experienced something sacred—motherhood.
My eyelids were heavy. Too heavy. My body was numb. I couldn't move. I couldn't breathe.
Darkness wrapped around me, suffocating every last breath. I was slipping away.
"Hold the baby," Dante's voice echoed faintly among the voices around him.
But I no longer cared. My time was over. I only wanted them to protect my child.
Something sharp pierced my neck. Not to drink—no, it injected something into my veins.
My dying heart lurched—then thundered to life, pushing the foreign substance through every inch of my body. It was warm... then hot... then scorching.
I couldn't scream. I couldn't even open my mouth. I lay still, my eyes closed like a corpse.
The fire burned on and on.
Then, finally, it faded. My thoughts cleared. My senses sharpened. I could hear everything... smell everything. My body began to heal. Torn flesh closed. Broken ribs realigned. I felt... stronger.
The last of the fire gathered in my heart—and then vanished.
My eyes flew open. I sat up. The room was the same—but I was not.
I stood, effortlessly. Walked to the mirror. My feet barely touched the floor.
There, staring back at me, was a woman of impossible beauty. Tall, slender, ethereal. A gown flowed like mist around her perfect figure. Her face was expressionless, yet hauntingly beautiful. Her eyes glowed sapphire blue. Her milk-white skin shimmered under sunlight.
Was this... me?
Below, the castle grand hall was filled. Nobles and soldiers stood in awe as I descended the staircase with unnatural grace. At the bottom stood a stunning figure—Dante.
Even more handsome than I remembered.
He smiled, holding out his hand. I took it. He led me to the center of the altar. His brothers circled us, their faces warm and welcoming.
"Welcome to our family," Dante said. His voice was like music. He cupped my face and kissed me—tender at first, then passionate and wild.
Desire overwhelmed us. We didn't care about the crowd around us. Until the nobles cleared their throats, reminding us where we were.
"I love you," he whispered against my ear.
I smiled, my heart overflowing.
"I love you too," I replied.
Then, a little boy ran up to us.
"Mom! Dad!" he exclaimed, leaping into Dante's arms.
He... called me Mom?
I stared in disbelief. My child—just born days ago—now looked seven years old.
"Drink this, Mommy," he said, handing me a goblet filled with thick, red liquid.
My throat burned with thirst. I drank it greedily.
The goblet fell and shattered. I licked my lips and grinned—revealing two sharp fangs. Everyone around me smiled proudly.
I was now one of them.