Page 33 of French Quarter Heiress

Don Victor is silent for a long moment, his eyes never leaving mine as he considers my words. And then, with a slow, predatory smile, he leans forward, his voice dripping with honeyed venom.

"An intriguing proposal, to be sure. Back to the natural order. But I'm afraid there's just one small problem. You see, for such a treaty to work, there must be trust between our two peoples. And how can I trust a man who has already proven himself a traitor to his own kind, a man who has chosen to mate with the enemy?"

I feel my heart sink, a cold sense of dread washing over me as I realize the trap he's laid for me. "What are you saying, Don Victor?"

"I am not an unreasonable man. I understand the depth of your feelings for my daughter, misguided though they may be. And so, I offer you an alternative."

I frown, my heart pounding with a mixture of hope and dread. "What alternative?"

He leans forward, his eyes boring into mine with an intensity that takes my breath away. "Surrender yourself, Beau Leblanc. Offer yourself up as a hostage, a guarantee of your pack's good behavior. Serve me as my personal enforcer, my loyal dog on a leash... and I will spare your precious Elise. She will be free to live her life as she chooses, untouched by the politics and the bloodshed that have defined our world for so long."

How dare he threaten Elise’s life? That’s his daughter. She’s my love.

I feel a wave of nausea wash over me, my stomach churning with revulsion at the thought of serving this monster, of being his slave and his attack dog. But as I think of Elise, of the chance to keep her safe and free from the horrors of this war...

I know that I would do anything, sacrifice anything, to protect her.

With a deep, shuddering breath, I sink to one knee before him, my head bowed in submission. "I accept your terms, Don Victor. My life for hers. My service for her freedom."

He claps his hands together, a laugh of cruel triumph echoing through the room. "Excellent! I knew you would see reason, in the end. After all, what is a dog's life compared to the love of a pure-blooded princess?"

As he summons his guards to escort me to my new quarters, as I feel the weight of my decision settling over me like a shroud...

I can only pray that Elise will understand, that she will forgive me for what I've done. For in the end, this is the only way I know to keep her safe, to shield her from the darkness that threatens to consume us all.

Even if it means sacrificing my own heart, my own soul, in the process.

For that is the true measure of love, the true test of devotion.

And I will not fail her, not now, not ever.

22

ELISE

Istand amidst the glittering throng of the vampire elite, my heart heavy with the weight of my father's betrayal and the escalating conflict with the werewolves. The lavish gala, a celebration of the Delacroix clan's power and dominance, feels like a cruel mockery of the pain and turmoil that rage within me.

I struggle to maintain my composure, to keep my true feelings hidden behind a mask of cold indifference. But with each passing moment, each false smile and empty platitude, I feel my resolve beginning to crumble.

Suddenly, a hush falls over the crowd as my father takes center stage, his presence commanding the attention of everyone in the room.

"My esteemed friends and loyal subjects." Father’s voice booms across the ballroom, commanding the attention of all. "We gather here tonight to celebrate the unrivaled power and eternal glory of the Delacroix clan. For centuries, we have reigned supreme over New Orleans, bending the lesser races to our indomitable will."

He pauses, his cold eyes sweeping the crowd. "But now, our dominion faces an unthinkable threat. The mongrel dogs who call themselves the Crescent City Wolves dare to challenge our authority, spitting on the very laws that bind our world together."

I stand rigid, not moving a muscle, my heart pounding, dreading what devastating revelation Father would unleash next. "Tonight, we hold captive the mangy cur who leads their pathetic pack. Beau Leblanc, the one stirring dissent, now rots in our dungeons, awaiting the eternal torments he so richly deserves."

But as I listen to his words, as I see the cruel, calculating glint in his eyes, I feel a sickness rising in my throat. For I know the truth behind his grand vision, the dark secrets that lurk beneath the polished veneer of his public persona.

Beau is the one person who has ever given me true happiness. And he has taken that away from me, just like he’s taken away everything else. My mother, my freedom, my happiness.

Slowly, my fists clench into tight balls.

He pauses for effect, his eyes scanning the crowd before landing on me with a malevolent intensity.

"Beau Leblanc, the so-called head enforcer of the Crescent City Wolves, came to us as an emissary, seeking to negotiate a surrender. But in his foolishness, he offered himself as a sacrifice, a bargaining chip to save his pathetic pack. A fitting end for a mangy cur who dared to raise his paw against his betters. Along with the surrender of the wolves, tonight we have struck a decisive victory."

His laughter echoes through the ballroom, cold and merciless. "And so, we accepted his offer. The wolves have surrendered, their resistance crushed beneath the heel of our power. And their precious leader now languishes in our dungeons, a trophy of our victory and a symbol of our unquestioned dominance."

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