CHAPTER FORTY EIGHT
TANYA'S POV
Everything still felt unreal.
Even after Daniel rescued me from the sacrifice altar…
Even after the giant python bowed before him…
Even after the Queen revealed the truth about his origins…
A part of me still could not believe what my eyes had witnessed.
Daniel—
The man I once called a weak human servant—
Now stood before the entire covenant carrying the terrifying aura of a king.
Not just any king.
But the future King of the Pythons.
The air around him felt different now.
Dangerous.
Powerful.
Ancient.
And yet…
When his eyes looked at me—
They still carried the same warmth that first shattered the darkness inside my heart.
The moment my chains were removed, I ran straight into his arms without thinking.
And once again—
I felt it.
Protection.
Warmth.
Home.
Daniel held me tightly against his chest as if he was terrified I would disappear again.
His heartbeat echoed softly against my ear.
Steady.
Alive.
For a moment, I closed my eyes and allowed myself to breathe peacefully.
No fear.
No hiding.
No pretending.
Just us.
Then slowly, my eyes lifted toward my godmother as she explained everything to the covenant.
Daniel's true origins.
The Snake Pack bloodline.
The exchanged babies.
The ancestors protecting him all along.
The more I listened—
The more memories returned to my mind.
The ancestors refusing his death.
The sacred baobab tree reacting strangely whenever Daniel was near.
The demons failing to frighten him no matter how terrifying I became.
Even when darkness consumed me completely…
Daniel still looked directly into my eyes without fear.
As if something inside him always recognized me.
My chest tightened painfully.
How blind I had been.
Tears filled my eyes again.
Without caring who watched, I buried myself deeper into Daniel's arms.
"Thank the gods…" I whispered shakily.
Daniel looked down at me softly.
"For what?"
I smiled through my tears.
"For finally changing our fate."
My voice trembled emotionally.
"I can finally love you openly without fear."
Daniel's expression softened instantly.
Then gently—
He kissed my forehead.
"You were always mine, Tanya," he whispered.
My heart nearly stopped.
Suddenly—
An elderly man stepped forward from the crowd.
His long silver robes dragged slowly across the ground while powerful snake symbols glowed faintly on his walking staff.
The entire covenant immediately lowered their heads respectfully.
I recognized him instantly.
The Elder King of the Snake Pack.
Prince Alouis' father.
Daniel's grandfather.
The old man stopped directly in front of Daniel.
For several seconds, he simply stared at him silently.
Then suddenly—
He pulled Daniel into a strong embrace.
"My grandson…" the old man whispered emotionally.
The entire covenant fell silent.
Even Daniel looked shocked by the sudden affection.
The old king stepped back slowly before placing his hand proudly on Daniel's shoulder.
"The blood of the Snake Pack has finally returned home."
His powerful voice echoed across the ritual ground.
Then he turned toward everyone.
"Hear me clearly!"
Immediately silence filled the covenant.
The old king raised his staff proudly.
"Daniel, son of Prince Alouis, rightful heir of the Snake Pack…"
His eyes darkened with authority.
"…will take the throne as the next King of the Pythons."
Shock spread across the crowd once again.
Some witches gasped.
Others lowered their heads respectfully.
Even Prince Raymond remained silent this time.
"And after three days," the old king continued firmly, "the welcoming ceremony of the future king shall begin."
The covenant erupted into whispers instantly.
But honestly—
I barely heard anything anymore.
Because my attention remained completely fixed on Daniel.
My Daniel.
The man fate kept trying to bring back to me over and over again.
---
That night, the covenant finally became peaceful again.
For the first time in many months—
No one spoke about sacrifice.
No one spoke about death.
The sacred fires burned calmly beneath the moonlight as the witches prepared for Daniel's welcoming ceremony.
Meanwhile—
I remained beside Daniel.
Unable to leave him even for a second.
Inside his chambers, the atmosphere felt strangely warm.
Safe.
Daniel sat beside me while gently brushing his fingers through my hair.
Neither of us wanted to speak at first.
Because after everything we survived…
Words almost felt unnecessary.
Suddenly—
A strange energy approached the chambers.
I recognized it instantly.
My godmother.
She probably wanted to spend time bonding with Daniel after discovering he was her son.
But the moment she reached the entrance—
She stopped.
Because at that exact moment—
Daniel pulled me closer and kissed me deeply.
His arms wrapped around my waist possessively while I held onto him tightly.
As if both of us were still afraid fate would separate us again.
Outside the chamber, my godmother quietly smiled to herself before leaving silently without disturbing us.
That night—
I slept in Daniel's arms.
And for the first time in both my lives—
I truly felt peace.
No nightmares.
No hatred.
No loneliness.
Just warmth.
I rested my head against his chest while listening to the steady sound of his heartbeat.
Daniel tightened his arms around me gently.
"Tell me something honestly," he whispered softly into the darkness.
I lifted my eyes toward him.
"What is it?"
"When did you fall in love with me?"
My cheeks warmed instantly.
A small smile appeared on my lips.
"I don't know exactly," I admitted quietly.
"Maybe the first time you looked at me without fear."
I touched his face gently.
"Or maybe when you kept protecting me even after I hurt you."
Daniel smiled weakly.
"Do you know when I fell in love with you?"
I shook my head slowly.
"The moment you tried pretending you hated me."
I laughed softly through my tears.
"You were terrible at hiding your feelings."
"So were you," he replied.
For hours, we spoke quietly beneath the moonlight.
About our pain.
Our fears.
Our memories.
And the child growing inside me.
Every word only brought us closer together.
Then before sunrise—
Daniel suddenly took my hand.
"Come with me."
Confused, I followed him outside the chambers.
Together, we walked silently through the sleeping covenant until we reached the sacred baobab tree.
The giant tree stood proudly beneath the stars, its glowing roots spreading across the ground like ancient veins.
Soft wind brushed gently against my skin.
Daniel stopped beneath the tree before turning toward me.
Then slowly—
He held both my hands.
His golden python mark glowed faintly beneath the moonlight.
"Tanya," he whispered seriously.
"No matter what happens from today onward…"
His eyes locked deeply with mine.
"I will never leave you again."
Emotion tightened inside my chest.
Daniel raised our joined hands toward the sacred tree.
"I swear before the ancestors…"
His voice echoed firmly.
"…before the gods…"
"…before life itself…"
"That only death will separate us."
Tears rolled down my cheeks silently.
"I swear it too," I whispered emotionally.
The sacred baobab tree suddenly glowed brighter.
As if the ancestors themselves had accepted our oath.
I smiled softly before looking up toward the stars above.
For several seconds—
I remained silent.
Then finally—
I whispered the words my heart carried for years.
"Mom…"
"Dad…"
My voice trembled slightly.
"I avenged your deaths."
Fresh tears rolled down my cheeks.
"You can finally rest peacefully now."
I held Daniel's hand tighter.
"Your daughter found love in the world of darkness."
A small smile appeared on my lips.
"And even if I had another chance to live again…"
I looked lovingly into Daniel's eyes.
"…I would never regret being reborn as a witch."
END OF CHAPTER FORTY EIGHT