151
JARIS
By evening, my mood wasn’t any better. I was trying to distract myself with some reports from the company when Kael made his way in.
“Anything new?” I asked when he remained standing without saying a word.
He shook his head no, his hands behind his back. “If you don’t mind, I was hoping Zould have a word with you.”
I gave him a full look. “Well, you already talking. Go on.”
He still seemed hesitant. Why did I have a feeling this had to do with a certain someone I didn’t like?
“It’s about Jace Ashford,” he finally revealed.
Damn it. I knew it.
“What about him?”
“I…know it’s too much to ask, but you’d be giving me the world if you could let him move back with us again.”
And here I was, thinking my day couldn’t get any worse.
“Did that son of a bitch ask you to do this again?” I held the pen in my hand a little too tight.
“No! We just… It’s been hard staying away from each other.”
I glared at him before lowering my gaze to the file in front of me. “You’re right. It’s too much to ask.”
He went mute. When I didn’t hear from him for a minute, I was forced to look up at him.
“We’ve known each other for more than fifteen years, Alpha. I have always been attracted to the same sex but always had difficulties finding the right one. You know this. But for the first time, I feel complete with this guy. I didn’t understand it at first. We started off as enemies, and then I realized I always wanted to see him. Always wanted to be with him. I was the happiest when he was living with us and was broken when he was forced to move out. I’ve been trying… trying to make it work between us. But the distance has been a huge barrier.”
He exhaled, like he was about to reveal a huge secret. “I’m afraid I’ll lose him if I don’t keep him close to me. You know, he’s… he’s straight. Or was. I’m not even sure. But I’d hate to wait around until he chooses to be straight forever. My life revolves around the pack, meaning I can’t be anywhere else but here. And I’m telling you, I need him close to me.
“So, for the first time, Alpha, I am asking you to do something for my sake. Please. Forgive him this once. Just for me.”
To say I was shocked would be an understatement. It was the first time Kael was saying so many words within a short span of time.
The cold Kael. The grumpy man who preferred using his fists to words. He had been forced into a personality I didn’t recognize on him.
“How special is this man?” I asked, out of sheer curiosity. “You’ve had a lot of people throwing themselves at you. What is it with this very man?”
He chuckled. “I wish I had someone to give me that very answer. But I guess that’s the crazy thing about our hearts. It beats for the people we least expect.”
Unknown to him, he’d given me my own puzzle.
Was this what it felt like to love someone? You do things you’ve never done before and can’t even explain it.
Like me drugging Lyric every night just so I could have a taste of her since I was so obsessed.
Following her to TCH to face the board because I didn’t want anyone bullying her.
Losing my mind when I saw her hurt.
And enjoying the sight of her in my bed.
Did this mean I’d fallen for her?
*****
MARTA
Marta placed the call for what felt like the hundreduccessfully unlocked k up.
“He’s not answering, grandma. It’s obvious they still haven’t found her body. He’s clearly afraid of telling me, she grumbled to her grandmother who was going through a book.
“Why is it so hard to get anything done, huh? First it was Jace. We tried to kill him but failed. Now it’s Penelope. Why is it that when it comes to this Lyric woman, things never go as planned?”
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Her grandmother didn’t answer. So, she went on. “I’m so afraid. What if Penelope is alive and exposes us? She might…she might know we were the ones that tried to kill her and would want to get back at us.”
She brushed her fingers into her hair. “The kids are already bonding with the witch. Imagine at the party. Xyla had the guts to pick Lyric over me. How could she do something that stupid?”
She placed her hands on her waist as she glared out the window. “I’ll die before I ever let that witch take my kids from me. They’re mine and are trapped with me! Forever!”
There was a brief silence before her grandmother replied. “Maybe we’ve been deal with the wrong problem. Perhaps, it’s time we tackled the issue from the source.”
Marta turned around to face her, her brows drawn. “Wh–What’re you talking about?”
“You should be smart enough to know.” The woman glared at her. “It’s time we got rid of Lyric.”
****++****
LYRIC
Jace was back.
I didn’t think this would be possible, but before midnight, he was back to Darkspire and told me he had been given a second chance by Jaris.
It wasn’t until I put pressure on him that he opened up and told me Kael was behind it. Apparently, Kael convinced Jaris that they were lovers and couldn’t stay away from each other.
“But how do you feel about him? Are you guys really a thing now?” I inquired when I was alone with him.
His countenance dropped as he stared down at the floor.
“Honestly, I–I don’t know. I mean, he’s a cool guy and all, and I feel happy when I’m with him.”
“Okay… but you do like or love him right?” I studied his face closely for a reaction.
He hesitated before looking at me and giving me a reply. “I’m sure I do. I didn’t think it was possible, but… Kael had made me feel things I never thought I’d feel for anyone.”
He looked like he was saying the truth, yet I could still see that he was holding back on something. What wasn’t he saying?
Anyway, I was just happy my bestfriend was back.
By the next morning, I felt much better. Although the pain was still there, but every day was better than the last.
The kids came to see me before going to school. Jaris had doubled their security, yet I still worried for them.
Anyway, I was sure they’d be fine. After all their school was within Darkspire.
Jaris came to check on me, and the whole time while he was talking, I couldn’t help but fantasize about how much I’d missed the dreams. It was insane. It’s only been a couple of nights, yet I already wanted to dive back into them. Something was definitely wrong with me.
The day went smoothly until evening when Jaris returned. We were talking lightly when–it was cute how comfortable we’d gotten each other–when Kael came in and whispered something into his ear. With how his brows drew, I knew it must be something serious.
“I’ll be back.” He turned to leave.
“Is there a problem?” My words brought him to a stop.
He hesitated a little before opening up. “It’s the Executioners. They’re here.”
My heart froze in my chest. My jaw hit the floor and I could only hope my shock wasn’t too obvious.
“Oh.” I swallowed hard. “B–But why?”
“We alerted them about the dead one. We knew they’d come to get her.”
My tongue was too heavy to say anything else. So, I watched him leave.
As soon as the door went shut behind him, I picked up my phone and called Jace, my fingers shaking. “Hey, Ly-”
“Jace, they’re here! The Executioners!”
