Their Secret Obsession by Pippa Moon

Chapter 0338

Kane's POV

We continued our climb, more cautiously this time. The winged demons maintained their circling above but kept their distance. The reddish sky intensified the dramatic ambience, casting warm, golden shadows that made the setting feel even more isolated and formidable.

I stayed close to Lottie, ready to shield her from any threat.

"Are you okay?" I whispered to her. I offered a warm smile, gently brushing a strand of hair away from her face. Placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder, I squeezed lightly to let her know I was right beside her.

She nodded, though her eyes remained fixed ahead. "I just want to find Knox and get out of here."

"Me too," I agreed, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. As we approached the top of the staircase, the massive doors of the castle loomed before us-ornate and foreboding, with intricate carvings and symbols etched into the dark stone. The guards standing on either side observed us with unreadable expressions. "Expecting trouble?" Adam grunted, his gaze flicking between the imposing doors and the silent sentinels.

"I am not sure yet," Astaroth replied calmly. For a moment, his usually confident demeanour faltered. His eyes held a flicker of vulnerability, a rare glimpse beneath his façade. It was as if the weight of something unseen pressed upon him.

"Who would want to hurt you? You're the king of chaos," she said, her voice tinged with confusion. Lottie tilted her head, curiosity and a hint of concern in her eyes.

"Even kings have their enemies." Astaroth offered a wry smile. She stopped walking, her feet planted firmly as she regarded him.

"I'm potentially sending my child to live with you. I deserve to know who your enemies are," she stated firmly.

Her words struck me like a bolt. I halted beside her, realisation dawning. Lottie was seriously considering going through with the deal to give our child to Astaroth. A knot formed in my stomach. Astaroth met my gaze, a subtle challenge in his eyes, clearly not appreciating my unspoken doubts.

he replied cryptically before stepping aside. "Welcome to my humble abode," he

ever came for him, we'd be collateral damage at best. "You have more enemies than you think, Kane," Astaroth remarked as we stepped inside. His tone was casual, but his words

air carried whispers

bounce in his step. He seemed almost... proud to have guests in his home. It was an odd sight-a

to be on guard. Lottie clutched my arm, her grip tightening as we ventured deeper. The sound of our footsteps echoed ominously,

Lottie asked nervously, her voice barely

chuckled dismissively. "You will know

trembling beside me. Concerned, I gently pulled her away from the group, allowing a small

her head to meet my gaze. She shook her head, trying to brush

face and wrapped my arms around her, pulling her close. "Hey, listen to me," I murmured softly. "Nothing and I mean nothing that has happened or will happen is your fault.

her head against

and I could feel the

her heart slowly calming. I tilted her chin up and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips. The world seemed to fade away for a moment, the weight of our worries lifting ever so slightly. When

you," she whispered, her

set of grand doors adorned with unfamiliar symbols.

be?" I challenged,

him, opening the doors.

mix of relief and surprise at our sudden appearance. "About time you showed up," Chase quipped, though his

okay?"

Pet

sign of the fatal wound he had when he left. There was no blood, no visible injuries-just the steady