As the gem\u2019s glow faded, Lila discovered painful burns on her skin, a physical rejection from the magical artifact she believed was her birthright. Daisy, witnessing this, warned Lila that the gem would continue to reject her and grow more hostile each time she tried to use it. Despite Lila\u2019s fierce insistence that the gem belonged to her family, the gem\u2019s light pulsed in a way that suggested it was connected to someone else entirely. Daisy realized that Lila was not the true heir\u2014the rightful owner of the gem and its power was still out there.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Judy found herself in an unfamiliar place, overwhelmed by strange emotions and a rhythmic heartbeat that echoed within her. Though frightened and disoriented, she felt a comforting presence nearby\u2014her mate\u2014who urged her to wake. Surrounded by friends who expressed concern for her wellbeing, Judy struggled to communicate, repeating the phrase \u201cBlood calls to blood,\u201d which puzzled those around her. When an unfamiliar voice prompted her to open her eyes, she suddenly awoke with a wild gaze, seeking clarity in the strange surroundings.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Upon waking, Judy was embraced by Gavin, who reassured her that she was safe. However, despite his comfort, Judy sensed that something was deeply wrong. Her tears fell freely as she clung to him, aware that her situation was far from resolved. The chapter closes with a sense of tension and uncertainty about both Lila\u2019s rejection by the gem and Judy\u2019s mysterious condition, hinting at deeper conflicts to come.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 788<\/p>\n
As the glow faded, the sharp scent of charred wood and ozone filled the room, thickening the air with a heavy tension. Lila let out a low groan, her hand instinctively clutching the arm where the gem\u2019s light had grazed her skin. There, angry red burns now spread like wildfire, marking her as if branded by some unseen force.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt rejected you,\u201d Daisy whispered, her eyes wide with a mixture of fear and disbelief. \u201cIt\u2019s going to keep rejecting you, and every time you try to use it, it will only grow more furious.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lila\u2019s breaths came in quick, ragged gasps, her chest rising and falling unevenly. Tears stung her eyes, but she angrily wiped them away, frustration and pain twisting her face.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo\u2026 this was supposed to be mine,\u201d she said, voice trembling but fierce. \u201cIt\u2019s my family\u2019s birthright. My birthright\u2026 so why won\u2019t it recognize me?\u201d Her words cracked under the weight of her desperation.<\/p>\n
The gem continued to emit a cold, intense light, sharper and more piercing than before. It pulsed rhythmically, almost as if alive, and Daisy felt a strange tug deep within her chest with each beat. The sensation was both unsettling and profound.<\/p>\n
Her voice dropped to a barely audible whisper. \u201cLila, it\u2019s not calling to you. I don\u2019t think it ever was.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lila spun to face her, eyes blazing with disbelief. \u201cHow can that be possible?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s calling to someone else\u2026\u201d Daisy replied softly, her gaze fixed on the gem\u2019s eerie glow.<\/p>\n
Lila shook her head vehemently, refusing to accept the harsh truth. \u201cNo\u2026 it can\u2019t be. This isn\u2019t real\u2026 it just can\u2019t be,\u201d she whispered, tears streaming freely now.<\/p>\n
But Daisy saw it clearly\u2014felt it with every fiber of her being. The gem\u2019s heartbeat did not match Lila\u2019s. Instead, it beat in sync with someone else, someone truly connected to the magic it held. The real owner, the rightful heir, was still out there somewhere.<\/p>\n
It was time to accept the painful truth: Lila was not a Blackwell. The true heiress, the one who belonged to this gem and its power, was yet to be found.<\/p>\n
And Daisy vowed she would do everything in her power to find her.<\/p>\n
\u2014<\/p>\n
Judy\u2019s POV<\/p>\n
The slow, steady thump of my heartbeat echoed loudly in my ears, drowning out everything else in this strange, unfamiliar place. I curled up, pulling my legs tight against my chest, closing my eyes to focus solely on that rhythmic pulse. My body trembled uncontrollably, a cold wave of fear washing over me, though I had no clear idea what I was so afraid of. Strange emotions, ones that didn\u2019t feel entirely my own, coursed through my veins.<\/p>\n
\u201cBlood calls to blood,\u201d I whispered, my voice strange and unfamiliar even to myself. \u201cBlood calls to blood.\u201d<\/p>\n
Those were the only words I could manage, though I had no clue where I was or what was happening to me.<\/p>\n
I thought I might die here, alone and lost, but then a warmth spread through me\u2014a comforting presence that filled the space around me. Though I couldn\u2019t see him, I knew he was near. His scent, his warmth, the love he radiated\u2014it surrounded me completely.<\/p>\n
He was worried about me, but I didn\u2019t understand why. I was right here\u2014this was where I belonged.<\/p>\n
\u201cJudy\u2026\u201d His voice was soft, tender, urging me gently. \u201cPlease, baby\u2026 wake up. Open your pretty eyes for me.\u201d<\/p>\n
He was calling me home, pulling me back to him. I longed to be with him\u2014my mate, my anchor.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat happened to her?\u201d Another voice, familiar and gentle, spoke quietly.<\/p>\n
Nan\u2014my best friend\u2014was there too, her concern evident in her tone.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s nothing physically wrong. Both she and the baby are fine,\u201d Eliza assured, her voice calm but cautious.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t say there\u2019s nothing wrong, Eliza. She passed out,\u201d Gavin said, his voice rough with fear.<\/p>\n
I wanted to tell him I was okay, that I was here, awake, but my body felt foreign, no longer mine. It was slipping further into darkness, pulling me away from him.<\/p>\n
\u201cBlood calls to blood,\u201d I murmured again, unsure if anyone could hear me. It was the only phrase I could find, the only sound that came from my lips.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is she saying?\u201d Nan asked, confused. \u201cI can\u2019t understand her\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBaby, please\u2026\u201d Gavin\u2019s whisper was broken, filled with pain. My heart ached for him.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s time to wake up,\u201d another voice spoke\u2014this one unfamiliar, but clear, as if inside my mind rather than around me. The moment I heard her words, my eyes snapped open wide. I took a deep, desperate breath, as if I\u2019d been holding it for far too long.<\/p>\n
I sat up quickly, my gaze wild and searching as I took in the strange room around me. Nan looked startled, and Eliza\u2019s expression softened with relief.<\/p>\n
Before I could even process what was happening, Gavin wrapped his arms around me, pulling me close. I buried my face against his chest, overwhelmed with relief to finally be awake and safe in his embrace.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s okay\u2026\u201d he murmured softly. \u201cYou\u2019re okay.\u201d<\/p>\n
But deep down, I knew he was wrong. I wasn\u2019t okay. Nothing was okay. Something was terribly wrong, and it was only getting worse. Though he meant well, and I was safe for now, all I could do as I clung to him was let the tears fall.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
The chapter closes on a poignant note of painful realization and fragile hope. Lila\u2019s desperate struggle with the gem\u2019s rejection forces her to confront a truth that shakes the foundation of her identity and dreams. Yet, in the midst of heartbreak, Daisy\u2019s quiet determination to find the true heir offers a glimmer of purpose and loyalty that promises a path forward, even if it is uncertain and fraught with loss. The emotional weight of belonging and the search for one\u2019s rightful place pulse through the narrative, highlighting the complex interplay of destiny and identity.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Judy\u2019s awakening is steeped in vulnerability and a haunting sense of disconnection, underscored by the repeated, mysterious call of \u201cblood.\u201d Her reunion with Gavin is tender but overshadowed by an unsettling awareness that all is not well, setting the stage for deeper struggles ahead. Together, these intertwined moments capture the fragile threads of love, belonging, and the painful truths that bind the characters, leaving readers suspended between despair and hope.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
The next chapter promises to delve deeper into the tangled web of identity and destiny that binds these characters. As Lila grapples with the shattering revelation that she may not be the rightful heir to the Blackwell legacy, her world is poised to unravel further. The emotional turmoil she faces will test her resilience and force her to confront painful truths about her past and her place in this mysterious kingdom built from ashes.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Judy\u2019s awakening sets the stage for an intense exploration of her connection to the gem and the unseen forces pulling at her soul. The bond between her and Gavin, layered with love and fear, will be tested as they navigate the uncertain path ahead. The haunting phrase \u201cBlood calls to blood\u201d hints at deeper ties and secrets yet to be uncovered, promising a chapter filled with poignant moments and mounting tension. Readers will be left wondering how these intertwined fates will collide and what sacrifices will be demanded in the quest for truth and belonging.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sara is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland\u2019s breathtaking cold.<\/p>\n
We Built a Kingdom From Ashes That Still Remembered Love by Aila Frost 788 We Built a Kingdom From Ashes […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[38],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21857","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-shadow-slave-by-author-novelnozi-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21857","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21857"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21857\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21857"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21857"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21857"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}