Chapter 252
Chapter 252
JARIS
She wiped her nose with the back of her hand. “Lyric doesn’t want to be with Caden. She’s only there because she signed a deal with him. A deat she was actually forced into by him.”
She sniffled. “I don’t know what it is, but I know it’s somehow linked to you or this Pack. It’s strong enough to make her risk her life. She’s scared and actually wants to leave, but somehow, the deal keeps drawing her back.”
A deal.
The corridors of my mind snapped into place, something foreign settling deep in my chest.
A deal. Why did that make so much sense?
My voice was quieter when I spoke to her again. “What kind of deal?”
“I don’t know. She won’t say. But it forces her to be with him. Lyric…” She hesitated. “Lyric’s heart has always been with this Pack. Caden knows this and never misses an opportunity to hurt her for it. If it wasn’t for the deal, she wouldn’t be with him.”
I leaned back in my seat, my fingers pinching my eyes tight.
A deal.
Why did the word keep ringing in my head.
“There’s a high chance she’s just making claims, My King. We can’t trust her entirely,” Kael said.
I kept my eyes closed as I let the lady’s words sink. What deal would Lyric possibly have with Caden to make her stay?
It couldn’t be money. I may not like the girl but I knew she didn’t do things for money. From what I remembered, Lyric didn’t really like Caden. She became scared of him after he abducted and hurt her. Six months ago when I learned she took his side, it left me wondering what the hell brought them together.
So, there was a deal.
My eyes snapped open just as the thought clicked. I slid my gaze between Kael and Nerion.
“Six months ago, why did Caden release me?”
I never got an answer when I asked this same question back then. Then, too many problems happened that pulled my mind away from it.
But now, I was curious. Caden didn’t have any reason to release me. He could’ve kept me imprisoned, like I did. Was it a coincidence that Lyric moved to him after he released me?
Kael’s silence further proved I’d been missing something the whole time.
“Kael?” My voice dipped.
Still, there was no answer. Only the bow of his eyes.
My hand tightened around the arm of my chair/my blood becoming smoldering ash.
“Oh, my!” The lady gasped. “She must’ve given up her freedom for yours. That must be the deal!”
There was something else.
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Chapter 252
The missing pieces… The sketches in Xylon’s book that I just couldn’t remember.
Was it a coincidence? Or did Lyric siphon my memories?
The moment I solved this puzzle, a deep calm rushed over me. Though it was soon replaced by an inferno that burnt too hot in my chest,
A low sound formed deep in my throat, crawled upward until it came out in a deep laugh. Nothing was funny. I laughed because I just realized I’d been fooled.
“She siphoned me,” I said the words more to myself, my head shaking in disbelief. “Lyric siphoned me.”
How did I never think of it? Of course, she was a Siphon. I had loopholes in my memories that even my son noticed. It’d explain why my head always
ached each time I tried too hard to think of it.
“Please, you have to help her,” Bianca’s voice was back again. “She’s currently at my place. I don’t know what Caden did to her again, but she’s currently running from him and slept at mine yesterday.”
I locked my eyes on my Beta and chief of security as I rose to my feet. They both avoided my eyes.
“I’m only going to ask this once: did you know about this?”
There was a beat of silence before Nerion answered“,
told me. It didn’t look good, but we figured it was best you didn’t know.”
Right.
I leaned over the table as I chuckled. They figured it was best.
Stay calm, Jaris. Stay calm.
I grabbed my phones. “You’re taking me to her.”
Bianca gratefully nodded.
“Boss-”
“You don’t get to talk to me,” It was impossible not to grit the words. “I don’t want to catch a glimpse of your shadow for the rest of the day.”
Kael’s gaze was filled with guilt. “She did it for you. Caden would’ve kept you imprisoned had she not signed the deal.”
I laughed in his face. These assholes actually did know. For six
months, they knew but said nothing.
My gaze hardened to steel. “This is not about Lyric signing the deal. It’s about you-“I looked at Nerion. “–and you knowing and keeping it from me. It’s worse than what she did.”
+walked out of the room, hoping to the Moon I don’t lay eyes on them today.
********
LYRIC
“Lyric!”
I woke up with a loud gasp, sweat beading my forehead.
“I know you’re here! Open the damn door!”
I didn’t know which feared me the most–his growl or the angry way he hit the door. I sprang to my feet, my eyes roaming around the place like I could
find another exit.
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Caden. He found me.
I’d slept off after breakfast and woke up now to his voice. I thought it was a nightmare at first until it was strong enough to get me up.
“Break it,” I heard Caden say. Did he have company?
Iran out of the bedroom to the living room.
e was a backdoor in the kit
Maybe I could get to it.
Unfortunately, my escape was cut short when the door broke down with a frightening thud. With their strength combined, two Feeders had been able to kick it down.
I shrieked and jumped on my feet. Caden was going to kill me.
Avoiding him since yesterday, I knew there would b
e consequences. I just wasn’t d
to
face them now.
His Feeders stepped aside as he made his way into the room. His eyes burnt like embers.
Oh, gods.
“What’re you doing here?” The chill in his voice made it even more frightening.
I took some steps back even though I knew I was headed towards the wall.
“Caden-”
“Were you trying to run from me?”
“No! Of course, not. You know I can’t do that.” I took a deep breath. “I just needed some space.”
He cocked his brow, clearly not having it. “Space for what?”
Staring at him now, I saw him past the fear of him just being a monster. I saw him like a curse. My curse.
“I promise, it’s nothing serious. Bianca and I just had to work on something to-”
“And you switched off your phone? What happened to working from the company?”
I ran out of lies.
Maybe, not completely. “My–My back hurts. I was scared I’d do something to upset you if I stayed around. So, I had to come here.”
My excuse sounded stupid.
Caden took two steps toward me. “Or you just came around, hoping to:
My eyes widened. “What? No!”
someone?”
I couldn’t have him think I was here for Jaris. It was only going to make him hurt me.
Time seemed to freeze, and for a moment, I feared he’d hurt me.
He shook his head, going off to the direction of the room.
“Where’s Bianca?” The way he asked made me think he was going to hurt her.
“She’s not here.”
My eyes found the clock. She’s been gone for hours. Shouldn’t she be back by now?
Chapter 252
“So, you’re here alone? Is that what you’re telling me?”
“Yes! You should know I wouldn’t do such with Bianca.”
“Well, I don’t know anything, Lyric! Fuck, I’m losing my mind right now!”
I shuddered.
I was standing at the doorway while he stood in the center of the room. I contemplated running to the front door except I knew his men would be out there. And there was no way I could make it to the back door in time.
He rubbed his fingers against his temple, muttering some curses. To my relief, he sat on the edge of the bed.
“Fine. I’m done keeping it to myself,” he sounded calmer, confusing me. “I said nothing all these while ‘cause i thought you’d figure it out yourself. But you just refuse to see it, don’t you?”
Please, don’t tell me.
His eyes when they locked on me again, they were softer. “We’re fated, Lyric.”
