CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR
TANYA'S POV
Something had changed between us.
Something neither of us could explain.
After everything that happened… after he saved my life…
There was no more pretending.
No more hiding.
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One night—
It happened.
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We were alone.
No guards.
No interruptions.
Just silence… and the truth we had been avoiding.
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Daniel stood close to me.
Too close.
His eyes searching mine as if he was looking for something.
Or maybe…
Asking for permission.
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I should have pushed him away.
I should have reminded myself who he was.
A human.
My enemy.
The one I swore to destroy.
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But I didn't.
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Instead—
I stayed.
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My heart was beating fast.
Too fast.
And before I could stop myself…
Our lips met.
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The world around us disappeared.
No revenge.
No hatred.
No past.
Just that moment.
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It was wrong.
It was forbidden.
And yet…
It felt real.
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Too real.
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But just as quickly as it began—
It ended.
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We pulled away.
Both of us breathing heavily.
Both of us silent.
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From that night—
Everything changed.
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We started avoiding each other.
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No eye contact.
No words.
No closeness.
---
But the distance didn't erase what we felt.
It only made it stronger.
And more painful.
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I couldn't take it anymore.
I needed answers.
I needed to know who Daniel really was.
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So I followed him.
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Carefully.
Silently.
Hidden in the shadows.
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That night, I used my dark charm.
My body faded into the air—
Invisible.
Untouchable.
Unseen.
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Daniel didn't notice me.
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He left the covenant alone.
Moving with purpose.
Determination.
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I followed him through the forest…
Across the river…
Beyond the boundaries of our territory.
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And then—
I saw it.
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The palace.
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My heart stopped.
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Daniel didn't hesitate.
He walked straight toward it.
As if he belonged there.
As if…
It was his home.
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I moved closer, still invisible.
My breath unsteady.
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The guards saw him—
And bowed.
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"My prince."
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The words echoed inside my mind.
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Prince.
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Daniel…
Was a prince.
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My body went cold.
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But I wasn't done.
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I had to know everything.
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I followed him inside the palace.
Silent.
Invisible.
Like a shadow.
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The halls were quiet.
Heavy with tension.
Servants moved carefully, their faces filled with worry.
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Something was wrong.
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Daniel walked quickly toward the king's chamber.
I followed.
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When we entered—
I froze.
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The king lay on the bed.
Weak.
Pale.
Half-dead.
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Around him stood the council elders.
Their faces serious.
Their voices low.
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Daniel stepped forward.
"My father…" he said softly.
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The king struggled to breathe.
His voice weak.
"The kingdom… is dying…"
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One of the elders spoke.
"The sickness is spreading. We are running out of time."
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My heart pounded.
---
So this was it.
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The reason he came.
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The baobab tree.
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"The only cure is the ancient tree," another elder said. "Without it… the king will not survive."
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Daniel lowered his head.
"I know."
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His voice carried something heavy.
Something broken.
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"I went to the jungle for that reason," he continued.
"To save him… and the kingdom."
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My chest tightened.
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"So what happened?" one elder asked.
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There was silence.
Then Daniel spoke again.
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"I was captured by the witches."
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My eyes darkened.
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"And then?" another elder asked.
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Daniel hesitated.
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"I found her," he said quietly.
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Her.
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Me.
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"I didn't recognize her at first," he continued. "But when I did…"
He paused.
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"I planned to get close to her."
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My heart dropped.
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"To gain her trust."
"To destroy her."
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The words felt like knives.
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I stood there, frozen.
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So it was true.
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Everything.
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His kindness.
His closeness.
His words.
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A plan.
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A lie.
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But then—
He spoke again.
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"But I couldn't do it."
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Silence filled the room.
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"I tried," Daniel said, his voice breaking slightly.
"I told myself it was for the kingdom."
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His fists clenched.
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"But something changed."
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My breath caught.
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"I don't know when it happened…"
He continued.
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"But I couldn't see her as an enemy anymore."
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My heart trembled.
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"I couldn't hurt her."
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The elders exchanged looks.
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"You are forgetting your duty, prince," one of them said firmly.
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Daniel lifted his head.
His eyes filled with conflict.
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"I know," he replied.
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"But I can't lie to myself anymore."
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His voice softened.
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"I care about her."
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The room fell silent.
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"And if it comes to choosing…"
He paused.
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"I don't know what I will do."
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Everything inside me shattered.
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I stepped back slowly.
My heart aching.
My mind in chaos.
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So it was real.
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And yet—
It wasn't.
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He came to destroy me.
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But he stayed…
Because of me.
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Tears filled my eyes.
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"What am I supposed to do?" I whispered silently.
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Love.
Revenge.
Oath.
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Three paths.
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And now—
I knew the truth behind all of them.
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But no matter what I chose…
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Someone would suffer.
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And this time—
It wouldn't just be me.
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END OF CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR