Chapter 229
My lungs forgot how to work.
Oh Moon above.
He knows.
He knows.
Panic surged through me like wildfire.
He knew. About Maggie, About Elena. About the wedding day.
I opened my mouth, but my tongue felt thick. Dry. My mind raced for something–anything–to grasp.
“Is… is that what he said?” I stammered. “Logan? Is that what he told you?”
Please say yes. Please say he sold me out. Let me blame him. Let me get out of this.
Derek’s eyes narrowed with something that might have once been pity. But now? It was pure disgust.
“He’s gone,” Derek said coldly. “Logan’s in the wind. No one’s seen him since yesterday morning.” My breath hitched.
Gone?
+25 BONUS
The news hit like a slap–but then, just as quickly, it settled into something more useful. If Logan was gone, he couldn’t defend himself. Couldn’t contradict me.
Maybe the Goddess did still love me.
I dragged in a shaky breath, reaching for the tears I’d always kept so close to the surface.
“Yes,” I whispered. “Yes, it was Logan. He was behind all of it.” My voice cracked beautifully. “He manipulated me, Derek. He threatened me. Said he’d tell everyone I’d been behind it all–unless I stayed quiet. Unless I helped.”
Derek’s expression didn’t soften. If anything, his jaw locked tighter.
“You knew he was the money behind the rogue faction after Pierce died?” he asked, voice like frostbite.
And for a second, I froze.
Because I didn’t know that.
But maybe I could.
I blinked hard, let another tear roll down my cheek.
“Yes,” I said quietly. “He told me after… after the attack on the convoy. He said it was the only way to keep you and Elena apart. That it would all work out in the end.” I clutched my arms, as if I were cold. “He said he’d kill me if I told anyone.”
Derek’s eyes burned with something dark and coiled. Not just anger. Something ancient and cold and pha–deep.
I pressed forward. In for a penny, in for a pound.
“And the spell–the one that broke your bond–he said it was the only way to free you. He was obsessed. He thought Elena would come back to him if the bond was gone.”
He didn’t move.
Didn’t blink.
Chapter 229
Didn’t even breathe.
+26 BONUS
My voice wobbled on the edge of hysteria. “It was Logan! He made me get your blood! I only did it because you’re always donating–it was easy–I just took a vial from the clinic’s cold storage, I didn’t even
“Stop.”
The word was so soft it scared me
than if he’d shouted.
He turned toward me, slowly, his expression carved from stone.
“You took my blood.” The words came out like venom.
My stomach twisted violently. “He took it,” I tried again. “Gave it to the dark priestess in the Blightwood. I didn’t go. He said he’d handle it-”
Derek closed his eyes. Just for a second. Like he was holding something inside that might break the world if he let it out.
When he opened them again, I saw the man he used to be–the one who didn’t have to say anything to make you feel small. The one who looked at you and saw everything.
“Luckily,” he said, voice cold and low, “my bond with Elena is stronger than ever.”
I froze.
The blood drained from my face.
What?
That wasn’t possible. The priestess had said-
The bond will come back. With teeth.
Suddenly I couldn’t breathe.
Derek stepped forward, his shoulders rising with slow, deliberate force.
“And I don’t ever-” he said, voice shaking now, not from fear, but from the sheer effort it took not to snarl- “ever want to see your face again.”
And then he turned.
And walked out the door.
Just like that.
Gone.
Leaving me alone with the pieces.
With the ruin.
With what I’d done.
