138
138
LYRIC
Luna Isolde was right.
Jaris and I could never be a thing.
I couldn’t put a name to what we had between us of recent, but I was sure it could never go beyond this. We could never have real feelings for each other.
As I shut the door after his departure, I slid to the floor and wept.
It hurt that maybe; just maybe my life would’ve been different if I wasn’t ‘this,‘
Perhaps, I’d have been able to accompany him to the Capital and even get to know what the problem was.
I’d have kept him company while he navigated whatever challenges he was going to deal with.
Maybe we would’ve cracked a joke or two and shared a laugh.
Maybe, just maybe, we’d have even held hands at some point.
But none of it could be real.
I was a dangerous forbidden thing; a murderer.
I needed to be far from him and everyone else.
I wiped my face as I got on my feet.
My handbag was already set. Since the place was still full and busy, I didn’t want to risk moving around with luggages to avoid drawing attention. So, I only took my essentials and fitted them into my big hand bag.
A while later and I was out of my room. I was sure Jaris must’ve left
already.
I couldn’t even say goodbye to the kids, and I hated myself for it. I couldn’t face them; not with what I’d just done.
I got into my car and hit the road, the tears flowing as I controlled the steering.
I didn’t even know where exactly to go. But my major plan was finding somewhere else to spend the night. Then by morning, I’d book a flight to a different country. A human one.
Maybe I’d be lucky and the Executioners won’t come to find me.
I couldn’t tell Jace about it. No. This was my cross. He didn’t deserve to get pulled down with me.
I was already out of Darkspire territory when a call came in from a strange number. I picked the call and the voice that reached me made my heart skip a beat.
“Lyric! It’s me… It’s Penelope!” She sounded like she was being chased.
I quickly moved to the side of the road, bringing the car to a stop.
“Penelope? What’s the problem? Where are you?”
“I don’t–I can’t-” She grunted, as if she just tripped and fell on something.
I heard a gunshot, followed by her shriek.
My eyes rounded as panic overtook me. What the hell was happening?
“Penelope!”
“You have to listen to me,” It sounded like she was running again. But her voice was strained and weaker. What if she had been hurt?
“Your kids… they’re alive. They are-” another gunshot and the line went dead.
So did my heart.
I couldn’t blink. Despite knowing the call had ended, I held the phone in my hand, staring at the blank screen.
‘Your kids. They are alive.
My heart pulsed with an uneven tempo, climbing up to my throat as if trying to escape.
Oh, gods.
Life surged back to me as I blinked and took in the words. My hands shook as I dialed the number, but it wouldn’t connect.
“No, no, no. Please, no,” I muttered like an insane woman.
Where was she? Who was chasing her?
138
I heard a raucous breath echoing within the car. It took me some time to realize it was coming from me. I was
hyperventilating.
Then, it got worse.
I saw the headlights coming from behind. But I thought it must be a normal vehicle and didn’t give any thought to it. But then, it kept getting closer and closer to me.
With how clogged my mind was, I realized a little too late what the intention was. The scream escaped me before the van crashed into me.
My car was violently thrust forward, the tires skidding before it tipped onto its side, flipping over like a turtle helplessly struggling. Inside, I was thrown against the seatbelt, my body slamming against the interior as chaos erupted around me.
I didn’t stop screaming.
By the Moon, please. It can’t be.
My ears were ringing painfully, my head constantly banging.
I couldn’t hear a thing or tell what was happening around me. I didn’t even realize when my door was pulled open until I felt a pair of hands dragging me roughly.
I groaned and whimpered from how sore my body was. I knew I was bleeding. I just couldn’t tell where.
I heard someone sobbing beside me.
No. It was me.
I was sobbing so hard, my shoulders quaked. But for what exactly, I couldn’t tell.
Did it have to do with the murder at the party? Or the fact that I was about to die?
Or the fact that I just learned from Penelope that my kids were alive? Or what was that? Was it a lie? A trick?
I was dying anyway. I was never found to find out.
Consciousness was slipping out of me. I felt my eyes going close.
“Hey, stay awake.” Someone slapped my cheek.
I managed to open my eyes just as I heard light footsteps. The man who had slapped me stood up as the new person took his place, crouching before me.
I couldn’t see his face due to how blurry my vision was, but I could tell he was smiling down at me.
“Lyric Harper.” His hand reached out, touching my cheek.
His voice…there was something familiar about it.
It all became clear when he added, “My brother’s mate.”
