“I wish I had gifts too,” Anthony said all of a sudden, and Kai raised his brows.
“From the moment Alastair baptized us, you are no longer human at all, but a tribrid creature. This means we have the traits that Alastair may possess but still learning to discover it, and not only that, we can also have other unique abilities from each other. Yours is that you still smell like a human, which allows you to conceal your true identity naturally. That is one of your unique physical traits or abilities,” Kai explained, and Anthony’s eyes widened.
“Why do all supernatural beings share common psychic and physical abilities?” Giuseppe asked again.
“Because we were created by the same group of ancient witches who possessed abilities through spells and magic. Haven’t you realized that our natural or innate physical or mental abilities can be learned through magic, but only if you have a witch’s bloodline?” Rio retorted, and they all hummed in unison except for Aliyah.
“That’s true, but vampires and werewolves have limitations regarding their abilities. Witches can possess everything through spells and magical incantations, provided they are powerful enough to perform and control them. This means creatures with hybrid or tribrid blood can execute them more effectively, with greater power and concentration, resulting in stronger and longer-lasting effects. We are more powerful than we thought we were,” Aliyah explained, and they all exchanged looks of amusement.
“That’s why hybrid and tribrid creatures are hunted and killed by others since the day they were born—to bring balance to the supernatural world. Only once in a blue moon can two creatures interbreed, that’s a very rare and terrifying phenomenon at the same time. ” Kai added, and Alastair’s eyes widened.
“That explains a lot to me,” Alastair murmured under his breath.
When Alastair and the others arrived at Blaze’s manor, Eddie was already there, engaged in a serious conversation with Blaze. Without so much as a glance toward Alastair, Eddie swiftly rose and appeared before them in a blink. His presence was calm but purposeful. He embraced Alastair and Kai, offering a warm greeting to the others as well. Aliyah and Rio both caught a whiff of something familiar in the air—a scent so sweet and heartwarming.
“Hey. What’s up?” Alastair greeted Eddie in return, his voice relaxed yet attentive. Blaze stood and hugged them one by one. For a fleeting moment, as Blaze embraced Rio, Rio felt a love unlike anything he had ever experienced from his parents—especially from his father. His older brother and younger sister had always been their father’s favorites, leaving Rio starved for any affection.
“Where’s Marco?” Alastair asked, his brow arching in curiosity. Blaze and Eddie exchanged a subtle glance.
“Aliyah’s mother dropped by earlier and left Mandy—Aliyah’s younger sister—to look after while she’s away. She mentioned visiting some distant relatives who live in the big witches’ coven. Marco drove her to the airport,” Blaze retorted, a soft smile playing on his lips. Aliyah and Rio exchanged amused smiles before rushing upstairs to find Mandy. The sound of her giggles echoed down the hallway as Mandy came running toward Aliyah, arms outstretched, hugging her tightly.
Esme stood off to the side, watching them with a smile that brightened her entire face. The scene reminded her of her own daughter running into her arms as a child, filled with the same innocent joy. But the memory was bittersweet—Esme had left her daughter and her son, Anthony, to work abroad, but she never returned. Her husband had vanished soon after, leaving only the two of them in their small house.
Anthony, Giuseppe, and Kai hurried upstairs, leaving Eddie and Blaze standing alone in the softly lit hallway. Anthony wrapped his arms tightly around his grandmother, who chuckled and kissed his forehead lovingly, as she always had when he was small.
“Thank you for looking after Mandy,” Aliyah said, her gratitude genuine as she looked toward Esme.
Esme shook her head gently, a warm smile spreading across her face. “It’s my pleasure to watch over her every day,” she replied, her voice filled with affection. Aliyah smiled in return, wrapping her arms around Esme in a tender embrace.
Downstairs, Eddie and Blaze exchanged knowing glances before smiling.
“So, are we just going to talk about our lives for all eternity after we part ways, or what?” Blaze teased, his voice breaking the silence with humor. ” God! I’ve missed you so much!” he added, his tone whiny yet playful.
“Quit it, you are being cheesy,” Eddie chuckled, rolling his eyes at Blaze’s theatrics.
The lightness between them soon gave way to something more serious as Blaze cleared his throat. “So… about Alastair.”
Eddie raised an eyebrow, his expression turning curious. “What about our son?” he asked, his tone casual, but Blaze’s sudden silence made him realize what he’d said.
Blaze groaned. “That sounds so wrong!” he exclaimed, whining again. Eddie paused for a moment before laughing heartily.
“Alright, fine. Your son… and also my son. What about him?” Eddie asked again, more seriously this time. Blaze’s mood shifted, becoming somber.
“Do you know about the mating bond in werewolves?” Blaze began, his eyes scanning their surroundings cautiously, as though he feared someone might overhear. “Come on, just see for yourself,” he urged. Eddie hesitated but eventually extended his hand, gently pressing his index finger to Blaze’s forehead.
Instantly, a torrent of images from Blaze’s mind flooded into Eddie’s consciousness—vivid, overwhelming, and real. Eddie’s eyes widened as the full weight of the revelation settled in. He stood up, pacing back and forth, his thoughts racing.
“I hope he’ll be ready for this,” Eddie muttered, his fingers raking through his hair in frustration. Blaze sighed heavily, leaning against the couch, his arms crossed.
“A curse… an abomination,” Eddie continued, his voice trembling slightly. “I don’t think he can live with that.”
“We’ve all been cursed in different ways,” Blaze replied quietly, pulling Eddie into a firm, comforting embrace as if trying to soothe a troubled child. “The only thing he can do is reject his imprint, ” Blaze paused for a while. “ There’s no spell, no magic strong enough to stop or break the pull of destiny between mates. He either accepts it or rejects it. But if he rejects it…” Blaze’s voice trailed off, his eyes darkening with the weight of what he was about to say. “The pain is unbearable…. insurmountable…..after experiencing it, there will be nothing left—just emptiness….in your heart. That’s werewolf thing.”
Eddie exhaled deeply, his breath shaky with a mix of emotions. “I feel so sorry for him,” he whispered under his breath. He look at Blaze with his piercing eyes.
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