Married To Darkness
Chapter 274: upcoming Betrayal

Chapter 274: upcoming Betrayal

This was a battle to the death.

"You shouldn’t have done this, for whatever reason!" Alaric shouted between clashes.

Richard sneered, pushing Alaric back with a powerful swing. "Oh, but I do. I want to be a vampire,"

Salviana paled, Alaric frowned.

"A vampire? That’s stupid!" He said, because he knew.

"You know nothing, Alaric, it’s the ultimate power and threat to have," Richard said with an uplifted face.

Alaric was exasperated, being a vamp wasn’t that cool, "Even more than your witchcraft? What have you gained?"

"You see, I’ve been pretending long enough. All the rituals, all the rites—they’ve made me stronger than you could ever imagine. Stronger than you, young demon."

Alaric scoffed, sidestepping a deadly thrust and countering with a strike that Richard barely deflected. "Stronger? You’re still just Richard to me. And I won’t die by your hand."

"Maybe not," Richard growled, their blades locking as they pressed against each other, "but your wife will be my reward when this is over."

That was the final straw. With a furious growl, Alaric broke the lock and unleashed a series of swift, powerful strikes that forced Richard back.

Salviana watched in terror, her heart pounding as the man she loved fought against the friend who had betrayed him.

She trusted Alaric, but the sight of Richard’s unrelenting attacks sent a shiver down her spine.

The battle raged on, the moon casting an eerie glow over the forest.

Every clash of their swords seemed to shake the very ground beneath them.

Alaric’s wound had healed, his vampire strength fully restored, but Richard’s newfound power was unsettling.

"Stay back, Salviana!" Alaric shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos.

"I trust you!" she called out, her voice steady despite her fear.

And with that, the fight continued, each man determined to end the other. But only one would walk away.

The clash of swords echoed through the forest as Alaric and Richard fought with ferocity, their movements a blur under the pale glow of the moon.

The air was thick with tension, the metallic tang of steel cutting through the stillness.

Alaric’s strikes were precise and calculated, his vampiric strength giving him an undeniable edge.

Richard fought with raw power and unrestrained aggression, but it quickly became evident—Alaric was stronger.

But Richard didn’t know.

"Is this all you’ve got?" Alaric taunted, disappearing from Richard’s line of sight in a blink.

Richard spun around, his sword slicing through empty air. "Coward!" he snarled, his frustration mounting. "Stand and fight!"

A heartbeat later, Alaric appeared behind him, delivering a swift, calculated strike that sent Richard stumbling forward. "You’ve already lost, Richard," Alaric said coldly, his voice carrying an edge of pity.

Richard growled, his pride refusing to let him admit defeat. "I’ve spent months preparing for this! You can’t be stronger than me!"

Alaric’s gaze was unyielding. "You think rituals and stolen souls make you invincible? You’ve underestimated me."

Before Richard could respond, he suddenly shifted his focus.

His eyes landed on Salviana, who stood a few paces away, her hands clenched tightly in fear and concern.

A sinister grin spread across his face.

"If I can’t beat you, maybe I should start with her," Richard hissed, lunging toward Salviana.

"No!" Alaric roared, his voice filled with fury.

In an instant, Alaric was there, faster than Richard could anticipate. He slammed into him with a force that knocked the knight’s sword from his hand.

Alaric’s red eyes glowed faintly in the darkness, and Richard’s expression flickered with confusion—and fear.

"You made a mistake," Alaric growled, his voice dangerously low. "You should never have looked at her."

Salviana gasped, her heart pounding as she watched her husband’s protective rage take over.

She trusted him, but seeing this side of him—this feral, unyielding fury—was both awe-inspiring and terrifying.

Alaric drove Richard back, his strikes now fueled by unrestrained anger. Richard struggled to keep up, his confidence faltering.

"What are you, Alaric?" Richard spat, his breath ragged as he clutched his side, trying to steady himself.

His eyes darted between Alaric and Salviana, his desperation barely masked beneath his fury. "No human moves like you. Fights like you. Heals like you. What are you?"

Alaric didn’t answer immediately, his expression cold and unreadable.

The moonlight caught the blade of his sword as he lowered it slightly, his stance still ready for an attack. "You’ve spent your whole life chasing power, Richard. And look where it’s brought you."

Richard laughed bitterly, his voice tinged with madness. "I always knew there was something unnatural about you. Even when we were teenagers. You remember, don’t you? The day you disappeared in front of me?"

Alaric’s jaw tightened, but he remained silent.

"I thought you were a trickster," Richard continued, his grin twisting with malice. "But no... it was more than that. I knew you had something—some gift, some curse—that made you more than just a prince. And I wanted it."

"You wanted it," Alaric repeated, his voice low and dangerous. "So you turned to dark rituals? To sacrificing innocents?"

Richard sneered as he stood up. "I did what I had to. I found people who understood my vision, who saw that this kingdom deserves more than a pampered prince with a secret. They saw the truth: that I could rule if I were stronger. And I would be—if I were like you."

Salviana, standing behind Alaric, felt her stomach churn. "You think being a vampire would give you power?" she whispered, horrified.

Richard’s eyes gleamed with ambition and witchcraft brought his sword back to him. "Not just power. Dominion. Immortality. The throne. I was always better than you, Alaric, but you had the one thing I lacked—a secret edge. I’ve spent years trying to uncover it, to take it for myself."

"You’ve killed for this," Alaric said, his voice hardening. "You’ve betrayed your people, your friends, all for a throne you were never meant to have."

Richard laughed again, a harsh, guttural sound. "Spare me your sanctimony. They don’t love you, Alaric. They whisper behind your back, calling you a demon. They fear you. They hate her." He gestured toward Salviana with a mocking smirk. "Your pretty red-haired witch."

Alaric’s grip tightened on his sword. "That’s enough. How dare you?"