Chapter 1 Scheme Of The Ashborn: The Twin Pawns Of The Castelos Family

• A minor mafia family in Noxhaven, weak and largely overlooked, led by men and women more accustomed to hiding than fighting—except for a few rare exceptions. One such exception was Luxia Castelos, the family's eldest daughter. At 18, she was known not for ruthlessness or ambition, but for her kindness and gentle spirit. Sheltered from the harsh realities of the underworld, Luxia had lived a quiet life, untouched by its violence and cruelty.
• In this world, humans are not alone. Other races—vampires, werewolves, and more—walk among them, often hidden in plain sight. These beings bide their time, waiting for the right moment to reveal their true nature. Most of them dwell in the shadows of society, particularly in the criminal underworld, conducting covert dealings and staying out of public view. Each race keeps to its own territory: werewolves rarely leave their forests, while vampires roam only under cover of night.
• Then, fate intervened.
• Her parents, desperate to settle their debts and secure an alliance, entered her into a contract marriage. But this would never have happened if Cassian Ashborn, the ruthless Don of the Ashborn family, hadn’t taken notice of her.
• One day, while riding in his car, Cassian rested his chin on his palm, gazing absently out the window, until a striking figure caught his eye. A woman in an elegant white dress, with raven-black hair, crimson eyes, and a beauty mark beneath her lips, walking with an air of untouched innocence.
• "That woman..."
• He wanted her.
• With a single command, his men looked into her, Luxia Castelos, the sheltered daughter of a feeble mafia family. The reports they brought back made him smile, a cold and calculated smirk. Though his eyes seemed lifeless, something stirred behind them: desire, a sense of possession, and the thrill that came with control. He felt fortunate, no, fated—for he had been hunting the twin daughters of the Castelos family, and now, the very woman who had captured his interest turned out to be one of the ones he’d been searching for.
• He orchestrated every encounter, rescuing her from harassment, winning her over with charm on carefully planned dates, and slowly weaving himself into her heart. She was naïve, untouched by the darker truths of the world, and he took full advantage. All the while, he quietly disposed of any man who showed interest in her, ensuring they vanished from her life as if they'd simply lost interest.
• And when the moment came—when he was finally close enough to touch what he desired—he gave a simple, casual order to his men:
• “Call the Castelos.”
• Within an hour, Luxia’s parents were brought before him, their faces pale, their bodies trembling. They stood in the presence of Cassian Ashborn—the Mafia King—a man who ruled with absolute authority, unwavering dominance, and an iron will.
• “I want your daughter. In exchange, all your debts will be erased.”
• It wasn’t a request. It was a command. A decree handed down by the king of the underworld himself.
• And with that, Luxia’s fate was sealed.
• The next day, the whole family of Castelos gathered in the large dining hall. Luxer was skeptical as this only happens during special occasions, then out of the blue, after all of them are seated, Danny, the head of the family spoke.
• "Luxia, you will be engaged to the Don of the Ashborn famiglia."
• Her father’s words struck like a cold blade. Luxia’s crimson eyes dimmed with sadness, she hoped to tell Cassian, the man she had been secretly falling for, about this forced arrangement. Little did she know, Cassian was the Don of the Ashborn family.
• "I understand, Father," she whispered before retreating to her room, her heart heavy with resignation.
• "Belle... You will be with your twin sister from now on."
• Their mother’s command was sharp, final.
• Belle’s face twisted in disbelief. "WHAT!? You’re kidding, right? Why would I? What about my life!?"
• Danny Castelos, their father, slammed his fist on the table. "For God’s sake, Belle! This is an order. You aren’t the daughter of a normal family! Be like your twin sister, Luxia!"
• Belle’s eyes burned with pain and fury. She tsk’d before storming off to her room, the message clear—she was to become Luxia’s shadow, her double, a sacrificial pawn. If danger ever came for Luxia, she would be the one to take the bullet.
• "I hate them!" she seethed under her breath.
• Luxer, the eldest son of the Castelos family, watched the scene unfold with disgust. He had always despised how his father operated, kowtowing to stronger mafias, bowing his head in fear, and now, selling off his siblings like bargaining chips.
• "Father, why did you agree to this? It’s so sudden. Even if they’re the Ashborn famiglia, they can’t just decide something like this."
• But Danny Castelos only glared at him, his voice low and threatening. "This isn’t a discussion, Luxer. This is survival."
• Luxer clenched his fists. If his father wouldn’t protect his family, then he would.