QT: Against My Will-Chapter 578 - 8.95 - [END] Falling For The Persona She Cooked Up - Monster Heist
Shina attempted to kick Nathaniel again. The moment her knee touched his stomach, she felt her own stomach twisting, ’It works!’
Sergeant Rills yanked Nathaniel away from Shina, preventing the situation from spiraling out of control.
"What... an honor it is to bear Nathaniel Hauxley’s mate mark. I can barely contain my enthusiasm," With a sultry gesture, Shina traced her tongue over the bite mark he’d left on her wrist, "You see, every partner I’ve ever had has ended up dead. Not missing, not scarred—dead."
Nathaniel wiped away the small trace of Shina’s blood from his lips, his expression unreadable, "If my heart stops, yours will too. So, in case of an unfortunate event, you’d be joining me too."
He wouldn’t have agreed to the bond if it didn’t benefit him. Shina knew a secret that could ruin Nathaniel Hauxley. His involvement with Ethers could be his downfall if the LADs found out. He realized that the life-bound mark could turn her into a protector of his secret—and his life.
"Of course," Shina put back her mask, "You should also remember your own words before you decide to make any drastic moves on me again, murderer."
"..." Sergeant Rills quickly dragged Nathaniel outside.
· · ─────── · ⊱❈⊰· ─────── · ·
Shina went to the bathroom to wash off the blood from her hands. After patting her wrist dry, she exited the bathroom and walked back to where her team was gathered.
"Good to see everyone in one piece," she said, going around and giving each of them a heartfelt hug.
She enveloped Laura and Aria in a soft, comforting embrace, followed by a gentle pat on their backs, as if to wipe away their tears.
Even Juliet, who was generally unflappable, looked a little taken aback as Shina hugged her.
Douglas looked like he had aged years in mere days, the youthful spark in his eyes replaced by a hard, jaded glint.
Felicia’s delicate frame continued to shake slightly from what she had witnessed in the last few days.
In stark contrast to the others, Alain reciprocated her hug, gently patting her on the head as they separated.
"I’m sorry I couldn’t protect us from what happened. I never meant for any of you to get hurt," Shina said, patting Liam on the back, apologizing in her husband’s stead too.
Liam stood there like a statue. His gaze was distant, perhaps replaying moments he wished he could forget.
And then there was Henry, standing rigid and even more expressionless. It was as if his entire being had been hollowed out, leaving just a shell.
They had trained their whole life to protect their homeland, and they had failed. They had lost the war, their homes were gone, and the world as they knew it, had collapsed. In many ways, it felt worse than death.
Despite the physical exhaustion that weighed on their bodies, they couldn’t fall asleep and tried to find sanctuary in Shina’s presence.
Shina’s earlier actions, uncharacteristic though they were, were less about forgetting the pain and more about acknowledging that they were all in this difficult place together.
· · ─────── · ⊱❈⊰· ─────── · ·
Sergeant Rills understood why Nathaniel would be pissed at Shina for not helping out during the most difficult times. He was surprised too when he saw her pristine condition. But...
"What have you done Hauxley," sergeant Rills asked when they reached an empty corridor, "Do you understand the gravity of your choice? If you want to kill her, there are other ways to do it."
Mate marks took various forms and served different functions, each with its unique set of rules and emotional connections.
For some couples, a simple touch could trigger a tattoo-like design to appear on their skin, signifying a bond of loyalty. Others had marks that glowed when their mate was in danger. Some marks even allowed for a limited form of telepathy.
However, the most complex of all was the life-bound mark, which Shina and Nathaniel now carried. Unlike other mate marks that enhanced life, this one wielded the power to end it.
If one mate died, the other would follow in an instant, their hearts stopping in sync. It was supposed to be love and life at their most vulnerable and their most intense. Yet, those two did it out of spite and hate!
Having his arm draped over Sergeant Rills shoulders, Nathaniel felt fatigue settle in, pulling his thoughts into a fog, "She’s as trapped by this bond as I am. I might not have a way out, but now, neither does she."
"You are crazy," said Sergeant Rills.
"She made me," Nathaniel smiled grimly.
"Whether she had participated in this battle or not, confronting her about it in your current condition was foolish," sergeant Rills whispered as he helped Nathaniel open the door to his room, "Her people had tried to save everyone with this vessel. Even if she might be plotting something, try not to provoke her too much until then."
Shina Night was ambitious and dangerous. She was the wild card no one could afford to ignore — especially now, when everyone was vulnerable both in spirit and strength.
But what no one realized was that an even more dangerous individual lurked in the shadows.
"I understand," responded Nathaniel, but he didn’t have any other choice but to assess the situation as soon as possible.
Left alone, Nathaniel tried to muster some ice magic. The tip of his fingers flickered with a spark of cold mist before it dissipated into thin air, ’Did I truly sacrifice my chance to advance just to witness a future with Shina Night?’
His heart beat like a drum, feeling the mark on his neck burning. How much longer could Lu Kai resist the pull of his true feelings? The overwhelming love he felt for his wife threatened to overshadow everything else.
’You are not acting out of character, you are just falling for a persona she has cooked up,’ Xuan Mu chuckled, amused at the thought of Nathaniel being captivated by Shina.
If Lu Kai only loved his wife, he would have no problem parting ways with Shina. But he was clearly having difficulty doing it, ’I love her too much, and she loves me just as deeply. It’s just a matter of time before we fall for each other as Shina and Nathan too.’
’If this keeps up,’ said Ru Quan, ’You are going to lose that bet.’
’Did you see the curse I got from the broken deal with the Ethers? What is a little bet compared to that? Losing it might just make her day,’ said Lu Kai.
’We need to win this one, mate,’ Xuan Mu couldn’t help but revel in the sensation of butterflies in Nathaniel’s stomach. Each thud of his heart resonated with an undeniable desire that pulsed through his veins.
’Whether with combined strength or not. A curse can be managed, but winning a bet crafted by Big Shi? As much as she loves losing against us in her own games, actually beating her is darn hard.’
Nathaniel’s expression remained stoic as he closed his eyes, ’I thought you were on her side to make it extra difficult for me.’
’No idea what you’re talking about,’ they all responded in unison. A chance to further deepen their wife’s love for their very soul? How could they pass on that?
· · ─────── · ⊱❈⊰· ─────── · ·
The Ethers, along with myriad beasts, stood united, their gazes lifted to the sky where the spaceship had once cast its ominous shadow.
The void it left behind was more than just an empty patch of sky; it served as a symbol.
For centuries, these ancient invaders had been an ever-present menace, a weight on the collective consciousness of every living being on this planet. Their sudden absence felt almost surreal.
As they continued to stare at the heavens, each one silently wrestled with the same question: Had they truly regained control of their world, or was this merely a calm before another storm?
Nathaniel Hauxley seemed to hold the answer to that unspoken question. Even though he was now marreed with a curse for breaking his oath, they couldn’t ignore his accomplishment.
Through his efforts, their defenses had been fortified, their powers increased, their means of protection amplified. But would it be enough?
In the future, whenever a spaceship dared to make an appearance, it was obliterated so quickly, it became almost comical.
The invaders barely had a moment to realize what was happening before they were wiped out by the Ethers.
The foreigners were unaware that their doom was essentially sealed by just one individual.
The thought of Shina Night coming back for revenge filled the world with dread.
It was forcing it to evolve and take premeasure action in response.
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END OF ARC EIGHT
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╔═══ Author’s note ════╗
The curse the Ethers put on Nathaniel sealed his powers, so let’s see how he would do at the bottom of the food chain in terms of strength.
Serves him right, haha ଘ(੭ˊᗜˋ)੭* ੈ✩‧˚
As Ru Quan had subtly mentioned, the "Monster Heist," as this arc’s name suggests, indeed involved capturing rare and dangerous ’creatures’.
Come along for the ride as Bing Shi reclaims her position as a Host and proceeds to world-hop with Kuro and her new crewmates!
(°(°ω(°ω°(☆ω☆)°ω°)ω°)°)
You may have noticed that the story is now structured around a central plot with several characters making appearances in several arcs (Victor, Elera, Nathaniel, Shina’s team, etc.).
Additionally, there will be shorter arcs (5 to 30 Chapters long) that willl stand apart from the main storyline. To get a glimpse of what to expect, check Vol 0 - Auxiliary Chapter - Arc List.
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