Chapter 251
Cecilia’s pov
I stared at Tang, my brain flat-out refusing to process what he’d just said.
“What do you mean that wasn’t the real Belinda?” I asked, sharper than intended. It felt like someone had shattered the mental blueprint I’d so carefully constructed.
Tang winced and shot a guilty glance at Sebastian, clearly regretting his choice to speak. The air in the carriage tightened.
I turned to Sebastian, unable to hide the edge in my voice.
“Were you ever planning to share that little detail with me p>
Sebastian met my stare, his usual guarded calm softened by something almost apologetic.
“I was going to tell you. Just not while we were still on the island,” he said quietly.
“You’d have insisted on digging deeper. And this place? It’s already dangerous enough p>
I exhaled. He wasn’t wrong. Still p>
“Fair,” I muttered. “But I want the truth. All of it p>
Sebastian pulled back the curtain, eyes scanning the vanishing silhouette of the castle.
“At the banquet last night, Tang mentioned something about Belinda wearing what looked like a skin mask. I didn’t believe it at first. But when I spilled my drink and touched her hand–it wasn’t synthetic. It was real. Young. Too young p>
A chill needled down my spine.
No matter how good your serum is, skin doesn’t lie forever. Hands especially. They betray age faster than faces ever will.
Tang leaned forward, eager.
“Cecilia, I’m not guessing. They were at least a centimeter apart in height. And their scents? Completely different. I’d never confuse them p>
I blinked. “You can spot a one-centimeter difference p>
“Obviously,” he said, as if it were common knowledge. “We’re trained from a young age. And our sense of smell? Way sharper than yours p>
Still, the disappointment sat heavy in my gut.
I hadn’t noticed the skin tone, the scent, the height. I’d been so confident I’d seen through everything.
Sebastian caught the shift in my posture.
“If Tang hadn’t warned me, I wouldn’t have realized it either,” he said.
“You didn’t miss anything obvious. I just had more intel going in. You were brilliant the whole way through p>
I gave him a crooked smile. A little bruised, but grateful.
Of course he’d say that. He was trying to make me feel better.
“Next time,” I said, voice steady again, “I’ll spot it before you do p>
Sebastian blinked, clearly expecting me to seek reassurance. Not a challenge. His expression was somewhere between impressed and amused.
I turned to Tang. “If she shows up again, would you recognize her p>
He shook his head. “Not reliably. Scent profiles can be altered. Height and posture can be imitated. None of that’s solid enough for confirmation p>
“Could she be someone we know?” I asked. “Someone from Denver p>
Sebastian straightened slightly. “What makes you say that p>
Tang and Sawyer leaned in as I explained the instinct–the face, the mannerisms, the unplaceable familiarity.
Sawyer frowned. “Only familiar face tied to the Ascendancy is Mrs. Locke. But she’s not exactly… young p>
“What about Cici?” Tang blurted. “She’s younger than Cecilia p>
I shook my head. “Not her. Cici’s too volatile. She wouldn’t have let us walk away without fireworks p>
“Neither of them,” Sebastian said flatly. “I know where they are p>
Silence settled over us as the carriage rolled toward the cottage where we’d changed the day before.
After switching back into our regular clothes, we boarded a second carriage to the helipad.
I noticed the driver had changed. A younger man now held the reins.
We moved on.
The chopper came into view. As we boarded, I glanced back.
The young driver stood by the roadside, smiling and waving. His lips moved, but no sound reached us through the glass.
“He said,’See you next time,’” Tang translated.
Our eyes locked.
Ice crawled up my spine.
“It’s her p>
The figure vaulted onto the carriage, snapping the reins.
A human skin mask fluttered to the ground. Long hair streamed behind her as the carriage tore into the forest.
Tang surged forward.
“Don’t,” Sebastian snapped.
“But Alpha p>
“We’re leaving. Now.”Sebastian placed a firm hand on his head. “Never chase a retreating enemy into unknown ground. Not unless you want to die p>
The helicopter lifted off. The carriage vanished into the trees.
Silence filled the cabin like smoke.
I looked down. My fists were clenched so tight my knuckles had gone white.
Sebastian slid an arm around me, his hand wrapping around mine, steady and warm.
“Just theatrics,” he murmured. “A desperate bluff p>
The helicopter returned us to London.
Back at the manor, the elderly housekeeper had prepared a lavish dinner at Sebastian’s request, but no one had much appetite.
Being escorted off the island by the enemy’s own hound had taken the shine off our so-called victory.
Evelyn stabbed at her plate with such force I was half-certain she’d chip the china.
“Those smug bastards,” she hissed, fury radiating from every line of her body. “Sebastian, just tell me what’s next. I’m ready p>
The bloodlust in her eyes said it all.
“You and Vance have already done more than enough,” Sebastian said.
“Don’t give me that formal crap,” Vance cut in, placing a hand over Sebastian’s. “You’re family p>
Sebastian gave a small, humorless smile and withdrew his hand. “In that case, I won’t hesitate to tap your network for the next phase p>
The exchange warmed me more than I expected.
After dinner, Vance and Evelyn left first.
Later, Sebastian told Sawyer and Tang to take our luggage upstairs–we’d be leaving for the airport by seven.
I texted Harper quietly: Landing tonight. What’s for dinner?
On the plane, everyone except Sebastian exhaled in collective relief.He opened his laptop. The rest of us surrendered to sleep, tension giving way to exhaustion.
Some time later, Mia gently roused us.
“We’ve arrived,” she said softly.
I blinked at the window. Rain streaked across the glass–gray skies, wet tarmac, a perfect London imitation.
Sawyer yawned, pushing aside his blanket. “Already? Did I sleep twelve hours? Feels like I just blinked. Denver’s raining too p>
Tang squinted toward the terminal. “Cecilia. Sawyer. That’s not Denver p>
We followed his gaze. Sawyer and I shared a look, then checked the time. Barely an hour had passed.
Sebastian shut his laptop and looked up at Mia, who stood like she wanted to melt into the floor.
“Bring them both a strong coffee,” he said dryly. “They clearly spent the flight drinking in their dreams p>