Divorce The Duke, Marry The King!
Chapter 71: Death sentence

Chapter 71: Death sentence

The vamp-wolves were gaining the upper hand. With the combined powers of vampires and werewolves, they recovered swiftly from injuries and seemed almost invincible. Every fall was followed by a rapid rise, as though they were untouchable.

But Quinn’s wolf, massive, black as the night, didn’t bother with their bodies. He went straight for their heads. Each time he got hold of a vamp-wolf, he tore it apart with ruthless precision.

The vampire leader, observing his men’s utter failure against Quinn’s unmatched strength, decided to take matters into his own hands. He left his useless subordinates to deal with Quinn’s men and charged straight at Quinn himself.

He rammed into Quinn’s side, eliciting a low grunt but failing to bring him down. In retaliation, Quinn struck back, delivering a savage blow that left a deep gash along the vampire leader’s side.

Enraged, the vampire leader howled, his fury reaching its peak as he entered full beast mode. Yet Quinn’s wolf remained unfazed, his piercing gaze burning with anger, his nostrils flaring as he sized up his opponent.

The two lunged at each other, exchanging devastating blows. The vampire leader, however, struggled against Quinn’s superior skill. His movements were clumsy and unrefined, a clear indication that he had never trained his werewolf side. Quinn smirked inwardly at the thought of how agonizing the vampire leader’s first transformation must have been.

In the midst of their fight, the vampire leader’s attention suddenly shifted. Quinn’s sharp eyes followed his gaze, and his fury multiplied when he saw what had caught the vampire’s focus.

It was Belle.

What in the world was she doing here amidst the chaos, with so many werewolves around?

The vampire leader seized the moment, using Quinn’s split-second distraction to his advantage. He bolted toward Belle, reaching her just before Quinn could stop him.

"Ahh!" Belle cried out, the signal fire clutched tightly in her hand. Quinn’s heart sank as he realized why she risked her life, she wanted to call for backup.

The vampire leader howled triumphantly, signaling his advantage. Quinn quickly mind-linked his men, ordering them to back off and disengage from the remaining vamp-wolves.

"Let me go if you value your life," Belle snapped, her voice steady despite the fear coursing through her. But her defiance only angered the hybrid. Werewolves despised being threatened and craved dominance.

The vamp-wolf growled lowly and leaned in, baring his fangs. It was clear he intended to bite her.

Quinn surged forward at lightning speed, but he was too late. The vampire leader sank his fangs into Belle’s shoulder just as Quinn closed the distance.

"Belle!" Mia screamed, rushing to her side as the vampire leader released her. Belle stumbled into Mia’s arms, the signal fire falling from her grasp.

"I..." Belle choked, her voice weak as she tried to speak. But the bite was too severe, and before she could utter another word, she collapsed, unconscious.

A primal roar tore through Quinn as he hurled the vampire leader to the ground. Without hesitation, he began punching him relentlessly, each strike fueled by unbridled rage.

The vampire leader shifted back into his vampire form, blood dripping from his mouth as he coughed weakly. Yet Quinn didn’t stop. He too returned to his human form, but his fury remained unchanged. He continued to punch the vampire mercilessly, ignoring the pain coursing through his own body.

All Quinn could think of was Belle, her limp form, her helplessness and the vampire who had dared to harm her. His only goal now was to beat the life out of the creature who had brought her to this state.

"You think killing me will save her?" The vampire sneered between Quinn’s relentless punches, blood dripping from his mouth. Despite his battered state, he burst into mocking laughter, only enraging Quinn further.

"I do not think, I act and trust me, you will regret this." Quinn vowed, his voice deathly, his gaze sharper than any blade.

"Would you rather waste time punching me or go save her?" The vampire leader taunted, a twisted grin on his face. He laughed again, his lack of remorse igniting Quinn’s fury.

With a final, crushing blow, Quinn stood, his clenched fists trembling as he forced himself to walk away. His focus shifted to Belle, limp in Mia’s arms.

"No!" Mia cried, pulling Belle closer to her chest, refusing to let Quinn take her. But one deadly look from him, filled with dominance she had never seen before, made her flinch. Intimidated, she reluctantly released Belle into his arms. For the first time, Mia realized the depths of Quinn’s power. He wasn’t the fool she had once thought him to be, he was far from it.

"Lock them up, and bring back the king’s sister," Quinn ordered, his voice cold and unwavering. His men responded in unison, obeying immediately.

Quinn carried Belle to his horse, laying her carefully across the saddle before mounting. He secured her against his chest with one arm wrapped tightly around her waist. Without hesitation, he spurred the horse forward, riding like a man possessed.

"I will not let you die!" He growled, his voice low but resolute. He struck the horse again, urging it faster, the wind whipping past them as he ignored the world around him.

When they finally arrived at the castle, Quinn dismounted swiftly, carrying Belle in his arms. He strode through the halls with an unrelenting purpose, ignoring the stunned whispers and wide-eyed stares of the castle servants.

"Is she dead?"

"Why is he half-naked?"

"What happened to his clothes?"

"Our lady... she’s gone, isn’t she?"

The murmurs followed him like a shadow, but Quinn paid them no mind. His only concern was Belle. His strides quickened, and soon he reached her chambers. Entering, he locked the door behind him with a decisive click, shutting out the world.

Gently, he laid her on the bed. His jaw clenched as he took in her pale complexion and shallow breaths. Without hesitation, he tore her gown away, leaving her in her undergarments, and positioned her head to rest on his chest.

"Mother," Belle murmured faintly, her voice tinged with pain. Her fists tightened weakly, and Quinn reached for her hand, entwining his fingers with hers.

Lowering his mouth to the bite on her neck, he began to suck out the poison. He worked quickly and methodically, knowing the venom of a hybrid was far more potent than that of a typical werewolf. If only she could transform, her wolf side would have protected her from this. But as a human, the venom coursing through her veins was a death sentence.

Quinn didn’t stop until he had drawn out every drop of the toxin. Instead of spitting it out, he swallowed the venom without hesitation, enduring the burning pain it caused. For five minutes, he continued, his desperation mounting.

When he finally checked her pulse, his heart sank. There was no improvement. How could that be? He had removed the poison, why wasn’t she recovering?

Panic overtook him. He laid her flat on the bed, his expression dark with determination. Without hesitation, he bit into his wrist, opening a deep wound. Blood began to flow, and he pressed his wrist to the bite on her neck, allowing his blood to seep into her wound.

"You are mine," he murmured, his voice breaking with raw emotion. "No matter what."