Konstantin: The Heartless Beta
47. Another Ritual

Konstantin

I remember now. Marle told us this as she tried to help Lily, but at the time, my focus was only onher and the pain she was enduring. I forgot what the witch said about Kaia because before she wasborn, we had resolved to give her back to the blonde bitch without a second thought.

Now things are different, and the demon spawn turned out to be my daughter.

“Konstantin, we'll replace a way; we always do.” Kai tries to assure me as we head to the meeting spotin the woods behind the mansion, but I am so fucking tired.

“I'm sick of always “replaceing a way’, Kai. I just want to live in peace with my family without all thisadded shit. Can't we just be normal fucking werewolves leading a normal fucking pack whichhappens to be normal fucking mafia?” I grumble, and Kai chuckles.

“Unfortunately, that is not in the cards for us as Volkov's, brother. We were always meant to lead,”he says, but his smile drops when he spots the witch in the distance.

Marle has a tight smile when she sees us and nods in greeting. “You called, Alpha?”

“Yes, unfortunately, we might require your help again,” Kai says.

Marle raises an eyebrow. “That's what I'm here for, Alpha, you need me, and I help. Now, whatseems to be the problem?”

Kai looks at me, then back at the witch. “Lily seems to be losing control of her Succubus side, andfrom what we recall you mentioning before the birth of the twins, Kaia will become a demon whenshe reaches the age of 26. Is there any way to strip them of their demonic lineage?”

The witch takes in what Kai has said and blinks in confusion. “That's like asking me to remove thewerewolf gene from yours, Alpha. It is not at all possible as you were born with it.” She says.

"But has it ever been attempted?” He presses.

“No, and I will not meddle in things like that. I apologise, Alpha, but I cannot interfere with nature'swilll” She says, looking completely horrified that Kai would even suggest it.

What now?!

Kai scoffs, crosses his arms and shakes his head. “So your kind will kill and exsanguinate babies tocreate a dagger, create parasites which can control a supernatural being and dabble in humansacrifices but cringe when asked to remove a curse?” He says in a low voice, and I feel his scentshifting to Loki.

Marle takes a step back, eyes wide. “N-no, you don't understand! A lineage is not a curse, but abirthright, and I do not dabble in what nature intended-"

“Nature intended for those Nephilim children to live, but you killed them.” He says as he stalkstowards her and the intimidation in his scent has Vulcan lowering his ears in submission.

The witch shakes her head and maniacally shakes her head. “That wasn't what I wanted to do!Xamnir forced me-!"

"And now you're under me, so do as you're told or die at my hand.” He says through gritted teethand a clenched jaw as he continues walking towards her.

Jesus fucking Christ, I can't even move right now. Kai is pissed off, and if Marle does not complywith him, she will probably end up dead. My eyes move lower when I see his right hand twitching,and I know my feeling is correct; the witch is about to get her throat ripped out, so I run to get inbetween them.

"Kai," I start as my heart hammers while looking at my brother's double irises. “Calm down; I'm suresomething else can be done, right?” I look at Marle when I say right’, and she nods frantically.Marle nods. “I cannot remove the demonic lineage, b-but I can bind it until their deaths.” Shestutters, her eyes remaining firmly on Kai, and when I look at my brother again, his irises meld backinto one but remain crimson.

"Why didn't you just fucking say that instead of telling me you refuse to mess with nature's will? Iwould have ripped your throat out if Konstantin didn’t stop me.” He growls and steps back fromMarle, then runs his hands through his hair in frustration. “Speak.”

She sighs and gives me a look of thanks. “I can prevent them from tapping into their demonic sideby placing a bind, much like the bind that held your Lycan. It will last until their deaths and be 100%tamper-proof.” She explains.

Kai nods. “That's all good and well, but your bind on me required human sacrifices last time mymother went to Norway.” He says casually. I remember that trip; our mother was pissed off andrefused to deal with the covens in Norway after that.

Marle chuckles when Kai says this. “We told you that because we did not want anything to do withXamnir and knew the previous Alpha would refuse. Remember, I am a witch thought to haveperished in The Purging; I'm not supposed to be alive.” She says, and her smile immediatelyvanishes when she sees Kai's expression.

"And because of that, I killed my parents. In any case, when can this be done, and what do yourequire?” He says with his hands balled into fists

My brother is trying so fucking hard to keep himself calm in front of this witch, and with that littlebit of news, I know he dislikes her even more. He blames himself for their deaths, only to replace outthe witches our mother sought out lied to her because they were looking after their own asses.She clears her throat. “It can be done straight away and will require nothing but moonlight, be it fullor not.” She assures, looking at both Kai and me.

“So this will just have you chanting over them while they lay out here in the cold?” I ask and crossmy arms while wondering if this is another fucking joke, but Marle nods.

"Yes, and since I will be conducting it, you can rest assured that it will hold, unlike the Lynx witches.”She says, looking a bit too proud about that.

Kai pinches the bridge of his nose then looks over at me. “Are you fine with this, brother?” he asks.I shrug. “If it will help, then I'm all for it. I'll just need to speak with Lily about this first.” I say,breathing out a sigh. “I'll call you over the link, and if everything is okay, then we can do thistonight.”

Marle nods. “I'll be available from 7 PM. If that is all, Alpha?”

“Thank you,” Kai says, dismissing the witch

As Marle walks away, he puts a hand on my shoulder and sighs. “They will still pass on the gene, butwe will put a bind on them as they grow. We look after our own, brother, even if they're not of ourkind.” He says, then walks away.

Binds, curses and prophecies. To say I'm sick of the supernatural world is putting it lightly. But howdo I bring this up without freaking Lily out or having her assume that I don't fully accept her? In fact,does she even remember what happened last night?

“Fuck,” I curse under my breath and make my way back to the mansion. I have to speak to her aboutthis even if it is fucking uncomfortable. I'm doing this for her and her future as well as the kids;there's no way she can deny me that.

When I get to the mansion, I run up the stairs and go towards our bedroom. She should still be inwith the twins before the minders arrive later on. But something feels...off. For one, the house isdead quiet where usually I would hear either Cat with Kira or the two of them downstairs with thetwins.

My heart hammers and a sliver of fear pierces my heart for some unknown reason. Something tellsme to head to the nursery, and I sprint further down the hall.

“Lily-" I say as I enter the room, but what I see makes my heart stop. Why... Why would she do this?“LILY, NO!"