Their Secret Obsession (A Reverse Harem)

Lottie POV

Adam's confession and insight had touched me deeply, I appreciated his vulnerability and honesty but the fact was, I had already gambled so much on the lives of the people I loved, was I ready to do it again. "But I can't trust him," I admitted after a moment, biting my lip to stop the tears.

"Can you afford not to?" Adam asked, his face twisted with guilt for suggesting such a thing.

"Kane?" I looked at my mate as he sat beside my feet on the floor, lost in some kind of spiral of his own.

"If I have learned anything, princess, it's that you can take care of yourself, and your gut is always right. I'm behind you whatever you decide," he finally answered, meeting my eyes with conviction.

"I will have Knox meet us there..." Astaroth added as a bargaining chip, no doubt. I could feel the slight tremor in Kane's body, and I worried that Astaroth's blood was affecting him.noveldrama

"Are you okay?" I whispered to him. His eyes met mine, filled with determination, but I couldn't shake the unease creeping in.

What was he not telling me?

Closing my eyes, I tried to shut out my fears, counting to ten as the sound of the room caving in grew louder. Dust filled the air, making it hard to breathe.

"Fine," I snapped, opening my eyes. "But I need Knox and my brothers with me! And if this is another one of your tricks, Astaroth, I swear-"

"No tricks," he interrupted, a hint of desperation in his voice. "Knox and your siblings are already waiting for you." He nodded. "Time is of the essence."

"If you had led with that, maybe we could have saved this bullshit," I snapped angrily.

"Let's go," I agreed reluctantly, casting a concerned glance at Nera. She was on her feet, though still a bit unsteady.

We moved toward the portal, its swirling energy seeming more ominous than ever. Astaroth led the way, his steps hurried. Black blood still seeped from his wound, leaving a trail of sizzling drops behind him. Each drop made me flinch, worried about its proximity to Kane and Nera.

"Stay close," I told Adam and Kane. I hesitated for a moment, then reached out to touch Kane's naked flesh. The burning sensation was still there, but less intense. Maybe the effects were wearing off?

"Or perhaps it is wishful thinking," Sage muttered, finally piping up.

As we approached the portal, the ground gave a violent shudder. A massive crack split the floor between us and the gateway.

"Jump!" Astaroth yelled, leaping effortlessly across the gap.

"Go!" I urged Adam. He nodded, taking a running start and clearing the distance.

I turned to Kane. "Your turn," I voiced. He backed up slightly before bounding over the chasm with ease.

Just as I prepared to jump, a sharp pain shot through my abdomen. I gasped, doubling over. Panic surged through me the twins! What if something was wrong?

"Charlotte!" Kane shouted, reaching out a hand. His eyes were wide with fear, his arm stretching toward me desperately.

"I'm okay," I managed, straightening up, but the pain rippled through me again, sharper this time.

What was that?

"Now or never!" Astaroth barked, his voice tinged with urgency.

Gathering my strength, I planned to sprint and leap, hoping Adam would grab my hand to pull me safely to the other side. But Nera had other ideas. She nudged me forcefully, positioning herself beside me. "Nera, what are you doing?" I began, but she wouldn't be deterred. She lowered herself slightly, indicating I should climb onto her back.

"I can't-I might be too heavy," I protested, aware of my pregnancy.

Without giving me a choice, Nera moved between my legs, flicking me over with her tail and onto her back. Instinctively, I grabbed fistfuls of her fur, gripping for dear life as she bounded toward the chasm. "You are as stubborn as..." I started to say.

"She is just like Knox," Kane mused, ruffling her fur lovingly as we landed safely on the other side. There was a shared moment of understanding between us, a brief respite in the chaos. Nodding, I felt panic eat at me. Was Knox okay? The thought of him suffering fueled my urgency.

We stood before the portal, its energy crackling and unstable.

"It's now or never," Astaroth repeated.

I looked back one last time. The chamber was collapsing, rocks and dust filling the space we had just occupied. There was no turning back.

"Together," I said, taking Kane and Adam's hands. Nera pressed against my side, her loyalty unwavering despite her injuries.

With a deep breath, we stepped into the portal. A sensation of weightlessness enveloped me, colours and lights swirling around us. For a moment, everything was silent.

Then we emerged on the other side, stumbling onto solid ground. The air was crisp, the sky filled with

flora glowed softly around us, casting ethereal light on our faces. The landscape was both alien and breathtaking.

unfamiliar constellatione line

"Where are we?" Adam whispered, awe replacing his earlier urgency.

"A place where answers await," Astaroth replied, a hint of sheepishness in his demeanour. He seemed almost... vulnerable here.

I turned to face him. "You promised explanations."

"And you shall have them," he assured me.

But as I looked into his eyes, I couldn't help but notice the wound on his arm had stopped bleeding. The black blood had crusted over, leaving an eerie, tar-like scar. I glanced at Kane, concern gnawing at me.

"Are you sure you're okay?" I asked him softly. He nodded gently, but I could see a shadow of discomfort in his eyes.

"Let's find Knox," he said, wrapping an arm around me and pulling me to his side, his other hand resting on his stomach. "Are they okay?" he asked, referring to the twins.

I fought the urge to tell him I wasn't sure. The pains earlier had scared me, but I couldn't burden him with that now. There was too much at stake.

"Come," Astaroth beckoned. "There's much to discuss," he added with a wink in my direction, as if he was helping me by cutting off their questions.

As we followed, I couldn't shake the

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feeling that our journey was only just beginning and that I had been here before. Déjà vu washed over me, snippets of dreams or memories teasing the edges of my mind. This place held secrets-my secrets-and I was determined to uncover them.