The Villains Must Win-Chapter 101: Valerian Cross 21

"Lucien."

The moment Valerian uttered it, realization struck him like lightning. He gritted his teeth, his hands curling into fists as rage boiled beneath his skin. "Lucien? Lucien Blood? The lord of the noble Blood vampire households? Have you lost your mind, Stephany?!"

"Brother, please, just listen to me—"

"Do you even understand what you’re saying?!" His voice rose like a storm, shaking the very air between them. "These creatures murdered our parents. Our ancestors! Thousands of our kind! And now you—" He took a sharp breath, struggling to contain the fury burning through him. "How could you betray us like this?"

Stephany’s spine stiffened. Through her tears, she met his blazing gaze with defiance. "We killed them too, brother. Don’t pretend we’re the only righteous ones."

His head snapped toward her, eyes darkening with something dangerous.

"What did you just say?"

She stepped back, but she didn’t falter. "This war has gone on for too long. Someone has to put an end to it. Lucien and I . . . if we stand together, maybe our kinds can finally unite. Maybe we can finally stop the bloodshed."

A cruel, humorless chuckle escaped Valerian’s lips. "You’re delusional." His laughter died as quickly as it came, his expression twisting into something cold and unforgiving. "You think centuries of war will just vanish because of you and that monster? Because you love each other? Oh, please, Stephany! He’s just leading you on. These monsters are masters of deception! He’s using you, and you fell right into his trap! Because of you, they’ve grown stronger, and more humans are being slaughtered every day!

Stephany retaliated. "No! Lucien is not like that brother! He’s different!"

"He’s a VAMPIRE!"

"It won’t be easy, but it’s a start," she pleaded. "Brother, don’t you see? We can change everything!"

Valerian’s anger erupted in full force. His eyes burned like embers in the dim light. "There can be no peace as long as creatures of the night exist."

A suffocating silence fell between them. Stephany took another step back, sensing the growing menace in his stance, in the way his fingers twitched toward his sword.

His voice dropped to a deadly whisper. "They can never be trusted."

"You don’t know that, brother! You don’t know Lucien!" Stephany argued, her voice trembling with desperation.

"And you do?" Valerian shot back, his piercing gaze locking onto hers. "Tell me, Stephany, just how long have you even known this vampire?"

Stephany flinched, her lips pressing together as she looked away. Her hesitation was answer enough.

Valerian let out a cold, humorless laugh. "Just as I thought. You haven’t even known him for a year, have you? And yet, you’re claiming you love him? Are you insane?"

"Say whatever you want, brother, but it won’t change my feelings for Lucien. We’ve promised to create a better future for both of our kinds," she said, lifting her chin and met Valerian’s sharp gaze.

Valerian’s hands clenched into fists. His patience was thinning, the rage bubbling beneath his skin threatening to explode. "A better future? With the same creatures who slaughtered our parents? Have you forgotten that fact, Stephany?"

Her eyes glistened with emotion, but her voice was hard. "No, brother. I haven’t forgotten. But it wasn’t vampires who killed our parents. It was a witch."

Valerian’s expression darkened, his eyes burning with fury. "Same thing. They’re all the same. None of them can be trusted."

Stephany’s gaze sharpened as she took a step forward. "Then why is that woman here?" Her voice was cutting, her meaning clear.

Valerian stiffened. He knew exactly who she was referring to. "Evelyn Night is here to work. We have a blood contract—nothing more." His voice was firm, but Stephany wasn’t done.

"Why can she stay by your side, but Lucien and I can’t be together? Why is she allowed in our home while I’m being locked away for loving someone?"

"Enough of this nonsense, Stephany!" Valerian thundered. His patience had reached its limit. "Don’t compare Evelyn to that monster! She is bound by contract. There is no trust between us, only obligation. But you . . . You claim that you’re in love with that vile creature! You let that thing into our home. You gave him the strength to fight against our own weapons! Do you even realize what you’ve done?"

Stephany shook her head, tears of frustration brimming in her eyes. "Then if Lucien and I form a blood contract, will that be enough for you? Will that ease your mind?"

"Don’t be ridiculous!" Valerian snapped. His chest rose and fell rapidly with his heavy breaths. "He’s not just any vampire, Stephany! He’s a noble. And in the end, he will always choose his kind over you." ƒreewebηoveℓ.com

"You don’t know that! Lucien is different! If you just—"

"Enough!" Valerian’s voice was like a whip, silencing her. His expression was like ice, unforgiving and absolute. "From now on, you are confined to your room. You will not leave until you rid yourself of these foolish fantasies!"

Stephany’s eyes widened in disbelief. "You can’t do that to me!"

"I can, and I will!" His final words cut through the air like a blade, and without another glance, he turned on his heel and stormed out of the room.

The heavy door slammed shut behind him. A sharp click echoed through the hallway as the lock turned.

"Guards," Valerian ordered coldly, "make sure she doesn’t get out."

Without waiting for a response, he strode away, his hands shaking from suppressed fury. The cool night air hit him as he stepped outside, but it did little to ease the storm raging inside him.

Of all the people in the world, his sister had fallen in love with a vampire.

It was unthinkable. Unforgivable.

And he would do anything to stop it.

=== 🖤 ===

The fire crackled in the dimly lit study, casting flickering shadows along the walls. Valerian sat slouched in his leather chair, so many-empty bottles of strong liquor beside him.

The white liquid swirled in his glass as he took another long sip, his mind drowning in frustration. The weight of his sister’s betrayal pressed heavily on him, twisting into something dark and bitter.

The door creaked open. He didn’t need to look up to know who it was.

"Well, this is a rare sight," Evelyn purred as she stepped inside, her tone laced with amusement. "Valerian Cross, brooding in his study, drowning himself in liquor. Not something you see every day."

She moved with effortless grace, her silken dress whispering against the wooden floor. Without waiting for permission, she leaned over and plucked the glass from his fingers, taking a slow, deliberate sip.

"Mm . . ." She sighed in satisfaction. "It’s been far too long since I’ve had something fine like this. It must be nice to be a Cross—access to all the luxuries money can buy." She smirked, running her fingers along the rim of the glass before setting it down.

Valerian exhaled sharply, his patience already worn thin. "I’m not in the mood for your games tonight, Evelyn."

Her smile widened. "Oh? And here I thought you’d be eager to hear about the progress of my brews."

"It can wait until morning." His voice was flat, uninterested.

Evelyn chuckled, the sound rich with mischief. "You’re right. I’m not actually here for business." She stepped closer, trailing a single finger along the edge of his chair. "I just came to see that stormy expression of yours. It’s a rare sight, and I wouldn’t miss it for the world."

He scowled, his grip tightening around the bottle. The way she spoke, so careless, so unbothered—it only deepened his irritation.

She was pushing him. And he knew it.

"Is it because of your sister?" she asked, feigning innocence.

His jaw clenched.

Evelyn tilted her head, watching him like a predator toying with its prey. "Let me guess . . . Stephany was the one who stole those potions, wasn’t she? And she gave them to the vampires." She leaned in, whispering conspiratorially, "But what I don’t understand is why . . ."

She already knew the answer. But she wanted to hear him say it.

Valerian’s gaze snapped to her, dark and murderous. If looks could kill a person, she would have dropped dead in that moment. It was a good thing she was a witch.

Evelyn smirked, enjoying every second of it. "Did she do it just to spite you? Because you didn’t give her what she wanted?" She tapped a finger against her lips in mock thought. "Or perhaps she sold the potions to outsiders and didn’t intend for them to end up in vampire hands? But that can’t be it. You’re rich, after all. Money wouldn’t be a motive." Her eyes gleamed as she delivered the final blow.

"Which means . . ." she trailed off, watching his reaction closely. "Could it be that she befriended a vampire? Or maybe . . . loved one?"

BAM!

In a blink, Valerian was on her.

The impact sent Evelyn sprawling onto the desk, her back pressing against cool wood. His hands caged her in, his body looming over hers. His breath was hot with the scent of alcohol, his chest rising and falling with barely restrained fury.

"Shut up!"