Chapter 126
16:25 Sat, Dec 20 MO·
Chapter 127
Chapter 127
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156 veuerters
Roana,
I stared at the man who walked in just as the morning sunlight slipped out of the room, retreating behind thick clouds. At this point, I had no idea what day it was. Time felt peeled apart, meaningless.
This man, however, looked like he was supposed to be some kind of detective. His overly colorful dyed hair, the gaudy golden chain resting against his chest, and the metal bracelet hugging his wrist made him look more like a circus clown than anyone meant to inspire authority.
His eyes never settled. They dragged along the corners of the room, skimmed the dusty floor as if he were counting invisible grains of sand, then climbed the stone pillars, traced the cracks on the walls, measured the window glass, and then-
“Judging by your weight,” he said suddenly, stepping directly into my space, “how did you defeat a skillful warrior gray wolf,
Roana Milestones p>
I lifted my gaze slowly. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I replied coldly. My voice came out sharp, clipped. Only then did I notice the scar stretching from his left jawline down toward his collarbone, pale and jagged like something torn open and stitched back carelessly.
“You don’t know?” He tilted his head, lips twitching. “You really don’t know, beautiful p>
A faint scoff escaped me as I leaned back, forcing my body to relax despite the restraints biting into my skin. “You insult my weight and then call me beautiful? Nice p>
After being betrayed by the people I trusted most, meeting a weirdo like him barely stirred anything inside me.
“I didn’t insult your weight. Don’t be so negative, beautiful,” he said lightly, though his eyes sharpened as he scanned me again, slower this time. “I’m just surprised. Cove was heavier than you. Stronger. Faster. Yet with this tiny appearance, you successfully took him down p>
His gaze lingered on my arms, my throat, my hands, as if trying to peel me apart layer by layer, searching for an answer that refused to show itself.
“How did you kill him?” he continued, voice dropping. “Did you tear his throat open? Did your claws sink into his gray fur? His blood reaching your hands, warm and thick p>
“Are you playing some kind of thrilling roleplay here?” I cut in, my lip curling. “Because if you are, you suck at it p>
He froze.
For a brief second, something unreadable flickered across his face. Then his expression darkened, the humor draining away like spilled ink.
“You are interesting, Ms. Roana Milestones,” he said slowly. “I like you p>
He straightened, towering over me, eyes locking onto mine. “Wanna hook up? I like trying new women p>
My mouth twitched, but there was no amusement in it. “Sorry. I’m not available. Especially not for someone who looks like he carries at least three kinds of STDs p>
The air shifted.
His stare turned cold, predatory. Then he let out a low, humorless chuckle that scraped against my nerves.
“You’ve proven your worth beyond expectations,” he said. “Now I understand why Cassian killed three of my commanders right after you went on a little camping trip with my people p>
16:25 Sat, Dec 20 MUJ
Chapter 127
“My people?” I echoed, my posture stiffening despite myself.
“Yeah,” he replied casually. “The ones who kidnapped you from the Ocean Region p>
“Ah.” I nodded slowly, keeping my face blank.
“Yes,” he went on, pacing now. “Then you wandered into the valley of the Black Moon Flower. You witnessed a group attempting to cross into the Southern Region. One of them spotted you and tried to fight p>
My stomach dropped. My fingers curled instinctively.
He knew everything.
“Then-” He suddenly crouched in front of me, his hand brushing the rope binding my legs. “You killed one of my friends. One of them who meant everything to me p>
My breath hitched before I could stop it.
One of his friends. That gray wolf was his friend?
“So, Roana Milestones,” he whispered, lifting his gaze to mine, “tell me how I should punish you for doing something so unforgivable p>
Without warning, his hand snapped up and wrapped around my neck. His grip tightened fast, deliberate, cutting off air. The cold metal of his bracelet pressed into my skin.
“Your little mate has already fallen into a trap I set,” he continued, voice calm, almost amused. “He thinks he’s protecting Elle’s dignity by spreading the false story that Carolyn is pregnant with his child. That idiot believes her. Blindly p>
Dark spots danced at the edge of my vision, but I refused to look away.
“Let me tell you something interesting,” he murmured, leaning closer until I could smell him. “Elle wasn’t kidnapped. Carolyn sent her here. Elle has been having an affair with my dearest friend, Marcó. Since she was engaged to him, Carolyn helped her run away-while making sure Cassian knew he failed to protect his precious little lover p>
I froze.
Not because I was surprised, but because my body reacted before my mind could catch up. My fingers went numb. A sharp chill crept up my spine and settled between my shoulders.
Every word landed like a blade, precise and deliberate, slicing deeper with each breath I took.
They were all involved.
Every single one of them.
Even Elle.
The realization hollowed my chest, leaving a dull, echoing ache behind. My jaw locked so tightly it ached, my teeth grinding against each other as I forced myself not to react.
All the years, Cassian had been suffering without knowing that Carolyn and Elle were behind everything. And he was punishing himself.
“Now that stupid man is torn between his mate and his old lover,” he said, tightening his grip.
His fingers dug into my throat, the pressure deliberate. My pulse slammed wildly beneath his palm, heat spreading where his skin touched mine,
Chapter 127
“Beautiful, isn’t it? His stupidity p>
The corner of his mouth twitched upward as he watched me, eyes sharp and waiting.
Then he paused.
The pressure loosened just enough for a thin, painful breath to slip past my lips. His gaze narrowed, dragging slowly over my face, searching-calculating.
But there was nothing.
Inside me, everything went unnervingly still. No panic. No tears. Just a cold, solid weight settling in my chest. A silent guilt was there. I should have been there for Cassian more.
His brows drew together sharply. A flicker of irritation crossed his face, followed by something close to disbelief.
“What?” he snapped. “You think he’ll choose you? You aren’t that delusional, are you p>
“N-no,” I answered honestly, trying to gasp some air in.
The word scraped out hoarse, my throat burning. I swallowed hard, my chest rising unevenly.
“But I promise you p>
Something shifted.
A sharp heat bloomed behind my eyes, sudden and undeniable. My vision blurred for a heartbeat before snapping back into focus. Rye purred inside, allowing me to see what I needed to see.
And, in process, My eyes changed.
The brown drained away, replaced by a glowing, unnatural purple that spread across my irises like ink in water. The air around us seemed to tighten, heavy and charged.
“He won’t be fooled by you either.” I smirked, meeting his eyes.
He blinked. Just once.
But his pupils shrank as if stabbed by light. His grip fell away completely, fingers jerking back as though burned. I dragged in a ragged breath, my throat throbbing where he had held me.
He staggered back a step, heel scraping against the floor. His hand shot up to his hair, fingers tangling through it as his breathing turned uneven.
“These eyes…” he muttered, staring at my eyes.
The color drained from his face. His earlier arrogance fractured, replaced by unease. His lips parted, then pressed together, his jaw tightening visibly.
A muscle in his cheek twitched.
Then his head snapped toward the door, movements abrupt, almost frantic.
“Guards!” he barked, voice sharp and strained. “Bring Estelle here. Now p>
He stood rigid, shoulders tight, eyes flicking back to me again and again-as if afraid to look away.
And for the first time since he walked in, fear crossed his face.
Mark Twain