“How have you been, Jaris? I assume the news of the King’s death must have hit you really hard.” He continued talking. Now, I was irritated.
“Thaddeus was not my personal King. He was a king to every one of us.”
As soon as I spoke, the smile Chloe had been forcing on her face vanished.
The pain was there, very clear now.
I couldn’t believe that after five years ago, she still hadn’t gotten over it.
“You’re right.” Zarek nodded. “He was a king to us all. Tell me, who do you think is fit to replace him?”
I chuckled.
Oh, truly, it was admirable. How hard he was trying to act normal like he still wasn’t pissed about the fact that his current mate hadn’t chosen me over him.
Five years ago, Chloe had been madly in love with me, despite knowing I had no intention of being with her.
We only had sex for one night, and she didn’t want to let me go. She rejected Zarek who was in love with her, just so she could be with me. She hoped that someday, I’d get to choose her.
But in the end, I had to force her to leave. I wasn’t interested in keeping a woman.
Since then, Zarek had been furious with me for bedding the girl he loved. But I still couldn’t understand how it was any fault of mine. In my defense, yes he loved her, but she didn’t love him and wanted me. Besides, they weren’t mated yet.
“I am sure there are many more people that would be delighted to have that conversation with you, Zarek.” I emptied the wine in my glass. For me, I totally have no interest.”
Setting the glass down, I walked away
If there was a good thing about me, it was how accurate my instincts could be sometimes. Something in me told me that Ittle scared Lyric would want to run for the heels after my threat.
So, she wasn’t the only one who kept an eye out for me. I did the same. And the moment I realized she was missing, I left the hall
It didn’t take me long to find her scurrying toward the direction of the gate.
Using my Alpha speed, I reached her in three seconds, blocking her way.
She gasped, startled. What? Shouldn’t she be used to things like these?
“Going somewhere, Lyric?” I taunted her. “We’re not done yet.”
Her eyes that were always spitting fire now looked frightened. Wow. Lyric Harper, tongue-tied. Quite the sight.
“I don’t make empty threats, Ly. And I never forget.”
“Please, there was a slight tremor in her voice. “Just…Just let it go. Okay? I promise you, no more disobedience.”
I halted my steps. She was scared. Like, really scared. Her eyes were glossy, Eke she wanted to cry. I hadn’t even touched her yet. Hadn’t told her what plan I had in mind. Yet, she was already shaking.
This meant one thing, she was used to being hurt by others. This fear wasn’t just because I’d threatened her, but because she was afraid of the usual pain that came with her being hurt all the time.
I almost felt pity for her. Almost.
But I didn’t go back on my threats, unfortunately,
Instead, I ended up with a lesser punishment.
“I still can’t let you go. I need a way to make you feel pain, Lyric, so you’ll always remember not to defy me.”
She took a frightening step back. My eyes roamed over he body until it landed on the necklace around her artfully crafted neck.
That necklace.
She’s had it on from the first day I saw her in my Pack. And every other time I’ve seen her, she always had it on.
The pendant-whatever it was-was always hidden in her dress. But from the cord, I could tell it was nothing fancy. Yet she always had it on her like it was very important.
Of course, it was. And no punishment would be more befitting.
Closing the distance between us with a swift move, I yanked it off her neck.
Her eyes widened like saucers, her lips forming an exaggerated ‘0’.
I’d never seen anyone look more pale before. Right there, she looked like she was about to die.
No. Not that.
He could take anything from me. Not that necklace.
The scanned image was the first valuable thing I had. This was the second. I couldn’t afford to be away from it for one second.
I tried to take it back from him, but he pulled his hand away.
“Please, give it back.” I couldn’t control how shaky my voice was.
He stared at it, like he held some sort of admiration for it. He rolled his thumb along the locket, and in that moment, I yearned for oblivion.
“I think this will do,” he nodded. “Goodnight, Lyric.”
He turned away.
No. You’ve got to be kidding me.
“Please, you have it to give it back. You can’t take it from me.” I ran after him.
I felt cold tears on my cheeks. Oh, damn it.
He kept walking until he reached the parking lot. Kael and Nerion were already there, the backseat hanging open.
Jaris got in, completely ignoring my pleas. Where the hell was he going?
The door was shut and Kael and Nerion got into the front door.
“Hand it back!” I was angry now, slamming my hand against the window.
The asshole had the guts to stare at me through the window, letting me see how superior he was.
The car started and drove off.
I was losing my mind. I couldn’t let him get away with this.
There was a waiting cab nearby and without thinking, I got in. “Follow them!”
The cabby seemed hesitant but went after them.
I cried in the backseat. That locket contained ashes from my babies’ clothes. After I lost them, I’d burnt the little clothes I bought for them and put some of the ashes in the locket so I could have it with me all the time. It was my own way of feeling their presence as I had not even been able to get their bodies to bury.
He had no idea-he was holding a locket containing remnants of his babies’ belongings. Of course, he didn’t care. And if they’d been alive, I wasn’t sure I’d have let him come near them. A man like him didn’t deserve to be around children.
My cab man followed him until he drove into a suite. But before I could pay the man and rush out of the cab, he was already going through the revolving doors.
I ran after him but was stopped by the security at the door.
“Do you have a reservation, ma’am? If yes, we’d like to see your details.” The first one said.
Geez, Jaris was getting farther away.
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