Sacrificed To The Triplet Alpha Kings

”I don’t care what it costs,” Lucian said immediately. ”Whatever it takes. Whatever you need. We’ll pay it.”

Victoria’s expression was pained. ”You don’t know what you’re agreeing to.”

”Then tell us,” Nicholas said. ”Tell us everything. And we’ll decide if the price is worth it.”

Victoria looked at all three of them. Then at Elena who had joined them in the courtyard.

”Inside,” Victoria said. ”This conversation should happen somewhere private.”

***

They moved to the sitting room, the same room where they had discussed the transformation attempt days ago. Where everything had started falling apart.

Nicholas sat on the edge of his chair feeling every muscle in his body tense with desperate hope.

Victoria stood by the fireplace. She pulled out a small glowing crystal from her bag and set it on the mantle. Then she took a breath.

”Lilith didn’t just die from the curse,” Victoria began.

The statement hung in the air like a bomb.

”What?” Sebastian said.

”The transformation failed because there were two forces trying to kill her,” Victoria explained. ”The divine curse from the Moon Goddess....yes. But also something else. Something woven into the very core of Morvaine magic.”

She told them everything.

About the grimoire. About their ancestor Morgana bargaining with an entity in the Veil for bond manipulation power. About the covenant that demanded one Morvaine death every generation as payment.

About how Lilith.....as the only Morvaine witch of her generation, was destined to die regardless of the curse.

”Even if she had never met us,” Nicholas said slowly. ”Even if there was no curse, she still would have died?”

”Eventually,” Victoria confirmed. ”The entity is patient but it always collects its debt. Lilith could have lived for years. But at some point, she would have been claimed. Killed mysteriously or naturally or violently. However it happened, the result would be the same. One death to pay for the power our family uses.”

”That’s insane,” Lucian said.

”That’s the price of our gift,” Victoria said. ”And it’s been the price for three hundred years.”

Elena spoke quietly from where she stood by the window. ”So the transformation failed because.....”

”Because Lilith was fighting two forces at once,” Victoria finished. ”The curse trying to kill her from the outside. And the death covenant woven into her own Morvaine magic pulling her toward death from the inside. Her own power was working against her survival.”

Nicholas felt sick.

Lilith had been doomed from the start. Had never had a real chance at surviving the transformation. Had been caught between divine punishment and ancient covenant with no escape possible.

”But you can bring her back,” Nicholas said. ”You said resurrection was possible.”

”It is,” Victoria confirmed. ”But Nicholas.....there’s a cost. A specific requirement that cannot be avoided.”

”What requirement?” Nicholas asked.

Victoria met his gaze directly. ”The entity claimed Lilith as payment for the covenant. To get her back, we need to give the entity a different payment. Something of equal value.”

”What has equal value to a Morvaine witch?” Sebastian asked.

Victoria’s expression was terrible. ”Another life. A willing sacrifice. Someone who chooses to take Lilith’s place in death so she can return to life.”

The silence that followed was absolute.

Nicholas felt the words hit him like a physical blow.

Someone had to die.

Someone had to trade their life for Lilith’s.

Someone had to choose permanent death so she could live.

”Who?” Lucian asked quietly.

”Most likely one of you,” Victoria said. ”The curse connected you to Lilith through the mate bonds. Even though the bonds are broken now, the ties are still there. Still strong enough that the entity would accept one of you as replacement payment. An Alpha lifespan for a witch lifespan. A supernatural soul for a supernatural soul.”

”How does it work?” Nicholas asked.

Victoria explained.

The ritual that would send an Alpha’s soul into the Veil. How they would find Lilith’s soul....still connected through residual bond ties, and anchor her. How both her and Elena would perform the resurrection ritual on Lilith’s body. How they would pull both souls back toward life. How at the last moment, the Alpha would let go of their own connection and push Lilith through. Sacrifice themselves so she could live.

”And the Alpha who does this,” Sebastian said. ”They don’t come back.”

”No,” Victoria said quietly. ”They go into the Veil permanently. Consumed by the entity as payment. There is no afterlife for them. No peace. No rest. Just.....ending. Complete and absolute.”

The silence returned.

Heavier this time.

More terrible.

Nicholas looked at his brothers.

Sebastian’s face was glued on the table, as he processed what Victoria was saying.

Lucian looked like he wanted to destroy everything in the room. Hands clenched into fists. Jaw tight. Eyes wild.

And Nicholas....

Nicholas felt something settle into his chest.

Calm. Absolute. The kind that came with making an impossible decision.

”When?” Nicholas asked.

”What?” Victoria said.

”When do we perform the resurrection?” Nicholas clarified. ”How much time do we have?”

”Four days,” Victoria said. ”Maybe less. The soul bonds are holding Lilith between life and death but they won’t last forever. In four days they’ll dissolve completely and we’ll lose her permanently.”

”Then we do it as soon as possible,” Nicholas said. ”Tomorrow night. Give everyone today to prepare. Perform the resurrection tomorrow.”

”Nicholas....” Elena started.

”I’ll do it,” Nicholas said. ”I’ll be the anchor. I’ll go into the Veil and bring Lilith back.”

”NO!” Sebastian was on his feet immediately. ”No, you can’t....we can’t lose you, Nicholas. You’re....you’re the Alpha Prime. The pack needs you.”

”The pack will have you,” Nicholas said calmly. ”And Lucian. You’re both strong enough to lead without me.”

”That’s not the point!” Lucian shouted. ”We’re not talking about pack leadership! We’re talking about you dying! Permanently! Never coming back!”

”I know,” Nicholas said.

”Then how can you just....” Lucian’s voice broke. ”How can you just decide this? Like it’s nothing? Like you’re not condemning yourself to permanent death?”