CHAPTER TWENTY THREE
TANYA'S POV
Rage.
That was all I felt.
Ever since Daniel took that bullet for me, something inside me had changed—and I hated it.
I hated how my heart reacted whenever I thought about him.
I hated how I couldn't focus on my revenge anymore without seeing his face.
And most of all—
I hated the people who dared to hurt him.
"They will pay…" I whispered to myself, my eyes darkening.
"I will make them suffer."
---
Daniel survived.
But the moment he woke up…
I didn't go to him.
I couldn't.
Instead, I kept my distance.
Far enough so he wouldn't notice me—
But close enough to watch him.
To make sure he was fine.
I stopped torturing him.
I stopped calling for him.
I stopped pretending that he meant nothing to me.
But I also refused to face the truth.
---
Days passed.
And then—
Prince Raymond returned.
---
He came to the covenant with a calm smile, as if nothing had happened.
As if I had not rejected him.
As if everything was still under his control.
"I came to discuss our wedding," he said smoothly, his eyes fixed on me.
But I could see it.
Something had changed.
Not just in me—
But in him too.
His gaze would often drift toward Daniel.
Cold.
Observing.
Calculating.
And in that moment…
I knew.
He had noticed.
---
Love.
The one thing I swore never to feel…
Was now becoming my greatest weakness.
---
Daniel also noticed his presence.
I could feel it.
He stayed alert.
Watching Prince Raymond closely, as if he could sense the danger that surrounded him.
---
I made my decision.
"I am cancelling the engagement," I said firmly one evening.
The room fell silent.
Prince Raymond's smile didn't fade.
But his eyes…
They darkened.
My godmother, however—
She was pleased.
Relieved.
But that relief didn't last long.
Because she also saw something else.
The way I looked at Daniel.
The way I protected him without meaning to.
And that worried her.
---
"It is forbidden," she warned me later.
"You must not fall in love with a human."
Her words echoed in my mind.
But my heart refused to listen.
---
Days later, Prince Raymond approached me again.
This time, he looked calm.
Peaceful.
"I accept your decision," he said.
"I only wish for us to part on good terms."
I studied him carefully.
"Let us have one last dinner," he added. "As friends."
I hesitated.
But then…
I agreed.
---
That night, the dinner was quiet.
Too quiet.
Just the two of us.
Seated across each other.
Wine poured.
Smiles exchanged.
But something felt wrong.
---
Unknown to Prince Raymond—
Daniel was there.
Hidden behind one of the pillars.
Watching.
Waiting.
---
As I lifted my glass, I felt it.
A strange weakness creeping into my body.
My fingers tightened around the glass.
Poison.
---
At the same moment—
Prince Raymond smiled.
But it was no longer human.
His features began to change.
His eyes darkened.
His body shifted—
Becoming something monstrous.
Something terrifying.
---
I stood up immediately.
"You planned this," I said coldly, even as my body began to weaken.
He laughed.
A deep, cruel laugh.
"Of course I did."
---
"You think I came here for peace?" he continued.
"No, Tanya."
"I came to take what belongs to me."
---
His voice grew darker.
"Your great ancestor betrayed my father."
"She was supposed to rule beside him—but instead, she chose a human."
"That betrayal destroyed our territory."
---
His eyes burned with hatred.
"And yet… your covenant continued helping humans."
"Giving them power."
"Protecting them."
---
He stepped closer.
"And then there is you."
His voice dropped.
"The most powerful witch… even greater than me."
---
"I will take your power."
"And I will take the ancient baobab tree."
---
My vision blurred.
The poison was spreading fast.
But I refused to fall.
Not like this.
---
Before I could attack—
A sudden movement.
A figure rushed toward me.
---
It was the princess of the Snake Pack.
The same one I had once punished.
She was smiling.
Cruelly.
Madly.
---
Before I could react—
She stabbed me.
---
Pain exploded through my chest.
Near my heart.
My body froze.
My strength faded.
---
I was dying.
---
But then—
Daniel moved.
---
He rushed forward without hesitation.
Without fear.
Without thinking.
---
I saw something in his hand.
Powder.
A charm.
The same one I once used.
---
He threw it toward Prince Raymond.
The effect was immediate.
Raymond staggered.
Weak.
Confused.
---
"How…?" he muttered.
"How does a human know such power?"
---
Daniel didn't answer.
He grabbed the dagger—
And stabbed Prince Raymond.
---
Everything happened so fast.
Too fast.
---
Before anyone else could arrive—
Daniel caught me before I collapsed.
---
I could barely see him.
But I felt it.
His arms.
Holding me.
Carefully.
Gently.
---
He didn't call for help.
He didn't tell anyone.
Except—
My godmother.
---
The next thing I remember…
Was waking up in my chamber.
Alive.
---
My godmother had saved me.
---
Days passed.
But something inside me had changed.
Completely.
---
I couldn't deny it anymore.
I was falling for him.
Deeper.
And deeper.
---
But what I didn't know…
What I could never imagine…
Was the truth.
---
Daniel—
Was the son of my greatest enemy.
---
END OF CHAPTER TWENTY THREE