Mated to alpha triplets at all-boys school Chapter 225

Kaiden pov

The location I received over the message seemed too sketchy to be taken seriously, but I still snuck out of the house and headed towards it. It’s the middle of the goddamn night and here I am, wandering the fucking forest like some deserate peasant.

On top of that, the forest feels closer than usual, darker too. Almost like the shadows around me are alive, watching my every move, waiting for the moment when I finally break the character and look back at them.

But of course, I don’t do that. I’m not that weak minded. I don’t stop to look around, just keep walking, every step I take loaded with determination.

I’ve been here before, this place seems familiar, but I’ve never walked these forests with the sole purpose of meeting someone who’s technically been banned for centuries.

When I was younger, reading the old books, I told myself I wouldn’t be one of the men who fucks up so much, they end up in history books. I made a promise that I would never cross this invisible line, but everything has changed and now, I have no other choice left.

My mate is gone - again. Gio, while kept locked in the cells, is somehow managing to pull more people to his side and with that, my father’s trust in me is slipping away. I can’t afford to lose it if I want to take over the kingdom.

Desperate times call for desperate measures, and soon, all of them will learn what it means.

As I walk deeper into the forest, closer to the location, I look up at the night sky. The moon can be barely seen, it’s hidden behind thick clouds and somehow, the view makes the place feel like there’s magic in the air. The witch is close. I know it.

After another five minutes, I reach the clearing. My heart hammers in my chest as I step into the circle of stones, feeling like this is where I’m supposed to be. Inside the circle, the air is much colder, unnaturally still.

“You’re here,” a voice speaks to my right. It’s soft, almost a whisper, and as I turn to its direction, I see her standing at the edge of clearing.

There’s not much to see, really. Only a figure, hidden in the dark. I think I see a robe, but I might be mistaken. Her face is hidden under a massive hood, only her eyes are visible, two bright, burning orbs that feel like they are piercing right through my entire being.

“I am,” I reply, not knowing what else I can say. Standing before her, I struggle to keep my voice even, just being this near her makes me feel fear I’ve never felt before. But regardless, I won’t let her see my hesitation.

The witch steps forwards, her movements smooth and truly inhuman. “You seek great power,” she announces in a sharp tone. “Desperation is what has brought you to me. What is it you desire, little prince?”

“Strength,” I hiss and clench my fists at my sides. “Plenty of strength to take back what is mine, what rightfully belongs to me. I want to end the ridicule, to show them all that I deserve to stand where I am and higher. I want to show them all exactly what I’m capable of.”

“Ah, revenge must be my favorite flavor,” she cheers and steps closer. “But, my dear prince, strength like the one you seek comes at a price. Are you willing to pay it?”

Her approach makes me hesitate a little. I’ve heard the stories before, the tales about witches and their bargains, the terrible things they demand in exchange for what one might seek. Despite that, I’m out of options, so it’s not like I have any other to choose.

I refuse to lose everything simply because I’m too afraid to take the risk. And besides, I’m already here, I’ve gotten this far. No turning back.

Sucking in a deep breath, I straighten my posture and look her dead in the eyes. “Yes. Whatever it takes, I am willing to pay any price.”

Now that she’s closer, I can see the black, rotten teeth as she smiles at me. There’s a predatory gleam in her eyes that makes me uneasy, but I push down the doubt. “Very well, my prince. Don’t step out of the circle no matter what happens. You must remain there.”

I swallow. Hard. Standing frozen on the spot isn’t nearly as easy as one would think, especially under this much pressure. As she moves closer, I have to chant to myself that this is what I want, this is exactly what I need to reach the level of power only I am worthy of.

I blow out a heavy breath just as the witch raises her hands towards the mood. A cold shiver runs down my spine as the ground under my feet starts to hum, a low, almost human-alike sound that vibrates through my entire body.

“Kneel,” she commands, her eyes slowly changing their color. I don’t question her and obey, dropping to my knees in the center of the circle.

The grass is damp and cold, the wetness seeps into the fabric of my pants, making me deeply uncomfortable, but that’s the smallest of my worries as I start feeling the magic of the ritual all around me.

“You will get your strength, my prince. First, it’ll come in waves but as days pass by, it’ll only grow into something bigger, unimaginable. A true work of art,” she announces. “But, you must give me something in return. A part of you, a piece of your soul, something you will never be able to take back.”

I swallow again, ignoring the dryness of my throat. “What do you want?”

“Your humanity,” she answers without any hesitation. At her words, a wave of cold dread washes over me. “I want your compassion. Your mercy. The pieces that make you soft. I will take them and replace them with the power you seek, the strength that no man can stand against.”