Their Secret Obsession (A Reverse Harem) by Pippa Moon novel Chapter 343

Kane POV

"Any deal we had with you.. is over.." Charlotte demands as she pushes between Knox and me. "You see, I was careful with my wording.. The deal only stood if those I loved remained protected.. You hurt Knox,"

"I did not put that blade in his side." Asatroth laughed stepping closer, but Charlotte remained still, her hands reaching back to grab mine and Knox's

"No, but you orchestrated it.. You are to blame.. and what about my brother.. I do believe you have tortured him more than once..." She smiles, and fuck am I so proud of her. My fierce Mumma bear.

"Where is this strength coming from?" He asks, his eyes tight with anger.

A surge of raw energy seemed to pulse from Lottie, her silvery glow brightening the entire chamber, overpowering the shadows that clung to Astaroth like a second skin.

"From those I love." She smiled earnestly as her body hummed with power. The sight was mesmerising, and for a moment, I was struck by the magnitude of her power. This wasn't the Charlotte we'd all been protecting—this was something far more formidable, something ancient and unyielding.

But Charlotte's face still showed signs of confusion, her brow furrowing as she tried to focus. I could see her struggling to harness the energy swirling around her as if it were a force she was only beginning to understand.

"You're afraid, aren't you?" I taunted, hoping to throw Astaroth off balance and draw his focus away from Charlotte. "Afraid that your hold on her is slipping." I snarled, pleased to see his eyes blazing as he whipped around to face me.

"You think you can goad me, boy? You know nothing of fear." His words were laced with fury, and a fresh wave of darkness pulsed from him, pressing down on the room like a physical weight. But as he advanced, Charlotte's glow only grew brighter, counteracting the shadows.

"We've had enough of your manipulations!" Liam shouted, forcing himself forward despite the pain etched across his face.

"You wanted us to play your twisted games, but this ends now." Adam laughed venomously. Astaroth's gaze flickered between each of us, assessing, calculating, the rage in his eyes giving way to something colder—something far more dangerous.

"Fine," he hissed. "If you won't submit, I'll simply take what I want. starting with the weak link." With a sudden, violent motion, he turned to Knox, grabbing him by the head, his fingers digging into Knox's temples with renewed intensity.

"You will surrender when I am the only one able to return your lover from a blubbering fool." I could see Knox's face contort in pain as Astaroth began probing deeper, his expression a twisted mask of anger and determination.

"He's linking his mind to Knox's," I realised, dread pooling in my stomach. The faint shimmer between them indicated a psychic connection—Astaroth was prying into Knox's mind, manipulating him from the inside. Again. Memories of the last time Astaroth got his hand on my brother danced through my mind, making dread pool in my stomach.

"Stop it!" Charlotte's voice broke through the tension, raw with desperation as she clearly thought the same. Tears streamed down her cheeks, the purple glow around her hands intensifying into a vivid, pulsating light that radiated throughout the room. The energy pulsed in sync with her heartbeat, filling the air with a charged intensity that sent a thrill of fear through me.

"Lottie, don't let him in!" Chase called out, urgency sharpening his tone. "Remember. Your. Training." Training, what fucking training? My mate looked like a nuclear bomb of fucking purple rain!

"You think you're untouchable?" Adam growled. "Guess again."

Astaroth snarled, his face twisted in fury, but his gaze kept flickering to Charlotte, clearly unnerved by the raw power radiating from her. She stood there, glowing like a beacon, her expression one of fierce resolve.

Knox, finally free from Astaroth's grip, staggered to his feet, breathing heavily. He shot me a look, the unspoken understanding passing between us. This was our chance.

"Baby, let's end this," Knox said, his voice calm but unyielding.

She nodded, the determination in her gaze unbroken. The glow around her pulsed once more, and I could feel the surge of energy building within her.

Together, we stepped forward, forming a united front against Astaroth. The shadows that had once been his armour now recoiled, shrinking back as Charlotte's light pushed them away. His confidence was unravelling, the smug smirk replaced by a look of desperation. Astaroth took a step back, his expression turning desperate.

"You have no idea what you're doing," he sneered, though there was a tremor in his voice. "This power will consume you."

"Better than darkness," Charlotte admitted as she shook her head, a faint smile touching her lips.