CHAPTER THIRTY ONE
TANYA'S POV
I followed him.
Invisible.
Silent.
Watching every step he took.
At first, I told myself it was because I did not trust him. I wanted to know what he was planning, what he was hiding. But deep down, I knew the truth.
I was worried.
For him.
Each obstacle he faced along the way—the vines, the storm, the illusions—I created them. Not to harm him, but to stop him. To force him to turn back before it was too late.
But Daniel…
He never stopped.
No matter how difficult I made the journey, he kept moving forward. His determination frustrated me… and at the same time, it stirred something inside me that I could not explain.
When he finally reached the shrine, my heart tightened.
I knew that place.
And I knew the man inside it.
The witch doctor was not someone to trust. He was dangerous, manipulative, and far more wicked than most creatures in the supernatural world. He did not help people—he used them.
I moved closer, remaining hidden as I listened to their conversation.
The moment I heard his condition, my blood ran cold.
"Your manhood… your bloodline…"
I clenched my fists tightly.
"This is a trap," I whispered.
"That man does not want to help him… he wants to destroy him."
I watched Daniel carefully, my heart beating faster as I waited for his answer.
For a moment, I feared he would accept.
But he didn't.
He refused.
Relief washed over me so suddenly that I had to steady myself.
"You stubborn fool…" I murmured softly.
"Why do you always make things harder for yourself?"
But when the witch doctor threatened him, I felt something shift.
Danger.
Real danger.
So I followed Daniel again as he left the shrine, my senses fully alert.
But what I saw when we returned to his kingdom…
Made me freeze.
Blood.
Bodies.
Death.
Everywhere.
My breath caught in my throat as I stepped forward slowly, trying to understand what had happened.
"This… this wasn't me," I whispered.
I could feel the magic in the air.
It was dark.
Twisted.
And unfamiliar.
Then I understood.
"The witch doctor…"
He had done this.
Not just to kill—
But to manipulate.
To push Daniel into despair.
To make him desperate enough to return.
To accept his conditions.
My chest tightened as I looked at Daniel.
The pain in his eyes… the anger… the hatred…
It was all directed at me.
"No…" I whispered.
"I didn't do this…"
For the first time, fear gripped my heart.
Not fear of death.
But fear of losing him completely.
I stepped forward and revealed myself.
"Daniel."
My voice was softer than I intended.
He turned to look at me, and the expression in his eyes made my heart ache.
Cold.
Distant.
Hurt.
"I know what you're thinking," I said quickly. "But this… I didn't do it."
He didn't respond immediately.
He just stared at me.
Silently.
As if trying to decide whether to believe me or not.
"It was the witch doctor," I continued. "He is using you. He wants you to hate me so that you will go back to him."
His jaw tightened.
"And why should I believe you?" he asked coldly.
The question hurt more than I expected.
But I didn't look away.
"Because I can fix this," I said.
"I can save them."
He hesitated.
I stepped closer, my voice more serious now.
"My magic can reverse this sickness. I can heal your people."
His eyes flickered slightly.
But the anger did not disappear.
"I will help you," I said.
Even if it meant destroying my plans.
Even if it meant losing my revenge.
Because at that moment…
I realized something.
I was no longer choosing hatred.
I was choosing him.
END OF CHAPTER THIRTY ONE