Chapter 17
ADELINE
“Someone is trying to kill you.”
I blinked, still staring at Nicholas. Of all the things I had expected him to say, those words were definitely not one of them.
The atmosphere in the room shifted in an instant, I should have felt terror, maybe even panic, but instead, I found myself numbly standing there, trying to make sense of what had just been said.
Threats? Sure, I had braced myself for those. Consequences for having Nicole here? I was hall expecting them to come crashing down at any moment. But this? Someone was after my life? The absurdity of it was almost comical, and yet, the gravity in Nicholas’s eyes told me he wasn’t joking.
I found my voice, though it came out shaky, unsure of the words that would follow. “Someone is trying to kill me?” I asked, just to make sure I had heard him right. “Or… someone is trying to kill me because I’m involved with you?”
A bored look crossed his face, “You must have really painted me as the villain in your story,” he drawled, his voice laced with something close to mockery “I had feelings, they would be really hurt now, Adeline.”
In
I narrowed my eyes at him. He towered over me, effortlessly filling the room with his imposing presence. Before I could even think about stepping back, he took a slow, deliberate step forward, closing the distance between us. Without waiting for an invitation, he stepped into my room, his size and authority filling the space. Who was I kidding? Like I had any say in what happened in this house,
With a frustrated sigh, I closed the door behind him. I needed to know more. What exactly was going on here?
“If my words won’t end with you threatening me to jump out of a window, can I please know why someone is trying to kill me? Who’s trying to kill me and why?” asked, the frustration and confusion evident in my tone. “And, Your Highness” I added, a deliberate snark in my voice. “Would you be so kind as to tell me how you came to this conclusion?”
Nicholas’s lips curved into a smile, a humorless, cold thing. He waved a dismissive hand, as it my questions were of no consequence. “I wonder how many months it will take before I can break that attitude of yours,” he said nonchalantly, completely ignoring my question. “Well, I’ll look forward to it,” he added, with a touch of amusement.
I felt my patience wearing thin, but I bit my tongue. It wasn’t like I could do much als Nicholas, in his quiet dominance, had already shown me how out of my depth I was. Still, I wasn’t about to make this easy for him.
“Anyway,”
he continued, pulling me out of my thoughts, “I have something for you. An apology for what happened last night.”
The words felt like a cold warning. A gift? An apology? The thought barely had time to register before I felt an uneasy shiver crawl down my spine. There was something about the way he said it–something that made my defenses rise instinctively.
Before I could respond, there was a knock at the door.
Nicholas’s eyes gleamed with something akin to amusement, but his smile twisted into something darker–something more sadistic. He didn’t need to say a word for me to know that he was enjoying my discomfort. “Well, aren’t you going to open it?” he asked, his volco sot, almost coaxing, though his eyes were filled with sharp anticipation
Thesitated, but I knew there was no avoiding it. The knock on the door felt like the hammer of fate, and I was the unwilling subject. Reluctantly, I walked over and opened it
There, standing in the doorway, was a man holding a box. His eyes were downcast, and his demeanor was respectful, almost too respectful. He bowed his head slightly before speaking, his voice low, “His Highness asked me to deliver this to you. He hoped you would like his gift.”
His Highness. The way he said it made me sick to my stomach, like Nicholas wasn’t in the room. The man turned and quickly walked away, leaving me standing there, still in a daze.
I glanced back at Nicholas, who was watching me with quiet expectation. “Well?” he asked, the edge of command in his voice,
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Chapter 17
I turned the box over in my hands. I could already feel the weight of it. What was in this thing? My mind raced with possiblities, none of them good. And yet, I didn’t dare leave it unopened, not with Nicholas standing there. So, with a resigned breath, I placed the box on the small table beside me, my finds shaking slightly.
“I’d rather not,” I said quietly, my voice hoarse. “I really don’t want anything from you.”
His eyes narrowed instantly, cold and unforgiving “I don’t give gifts often,” he said, his tone turning sharp. “And when I do, I expect them to be appreciated. Now open it, Adeline.”
Iflinched at his words, but there was no denying that i had no choice. The way he said it–the finality in his voice–made me feel small, like a toy he could break if I didn’t comply. I steeled myself, though, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of seeing me cower.
With trembling hands, I lifted the lid of the box. As soon as it was open, I felt my stomach drop. My breath caught in my throat.
There, lying in the bottom of the box, were a severed hand and tongue. They were still fresh, blood glistening on the edges of the limbs, making my stomach churn. For a moment, I couldn’t move. I couldn’t process what I was seeing. I was paralyzed, staring at the gruesome contents of the box, unable to tear my eyes away.
It felt like time stood still.
Nicholas’s voice cut through the silence. “You don’t like it?”
Finally, I tore my gaze from the grotesque sight, forcing myself to look up at him. My heart was hammering in my chest. “That is… you cut off… hands… tongue. Why?”
Nicholas stepped back slightly, as if admining his work “Because he used those hands to kidnap you. And he threatened you with that tongue. So 1 removed them,” His voice was strangely soft, almost soothing, like he was explaining something simple, but the words themselves made me want to scream. “I did it for you, Adeline”
I felt a wave of nausea rise in my chest. I wanted to scream, to run, but my body refused to move. I was trapped in the room with him, and there was nowhere to go. My voice came out in a strangled whisper, “You are… you are….!
“Evil?” Nicholas finished for me, a smile curving at the corner of his lips. “I know. It’s a difficult thing to accept, but you’ll get used to it.”
this?
I shook my head, my mind struggling to wrap around what he had just said. Did he really think this was okay? Did he expect me to be grateful for…
Nicholas took a step back, as if he had already lost interest in my reaction. “Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way,” he said, his tone casual,“before removed his tongue, your would be kidnapper now dead made a confession that led me to an interesting discovery. Although I’m not surprised, the evil in you, no matter how much you try to hide it, will always claw its way out.”
I could hardly breathe, I needed to stop him. What was he talking about?
“You did something remarkably annoying to piss off a very powerful Lycan,” he continued, his eyes gleaming with amusement. “The would–be kidnapper now dead? Well the name is catching on,” he smiled at his own joke, as if this were some twisted comedy. “But unfortunately, it turns out he was just a lowlife putting forward a facade of power. What I do know is that a Lycan wants you dead long before I knew of your existence but I still don’t have a
name
The words hit me like a punch to the stomach. Someone wanted me dead? And it was a Lycan? What did I do to deserve this?
elt the surge of panic begin to rise in my chest. But fought it down. I had to stay calm. I couldn’t afford to show weakness, not now.
Telt
“Thaven’t offended anyone,” I managed to say, my voice firm despite the shock, “I don’t know what lies that man fed you, but i haven’t done anything wrong. But if someone is really after me, then I suggest you learn how to do more than just threaten and punish me. You wouldn’t want the realm to think you’re weak and incapable of protecting your own Luna, would you now?”
His eyes flashed with something darker, but didn’t flinch. Instead, I smiled subtly, trying to maintain control. “Now, if you’ll excuse me,” I said, forcing the words out as if this were just a normal conversation, “I have to get ready for dinner. It’s exactly 8:00 pm sharp, Your Highness.”
His eyes narrowed again, but this time, his lips turned up in a small, amused smile” see you’re learning,” he said softly. “Well, this should be interesting.
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Chapter 17
I’ll see you at dinner”
For a moment, I thought he might snap, might do something violent, like wrap his hands around my neck and squeeze the life out of me right then and there. But instead, he tilted his head slightly, like he was studying me, Without another word, he turned to leave
As he reached the door, he paused. His eyes flicked down to the severed hand and tongue, and then, to my surprise, he smiled again.
“Gifts are for keeps,” he said, his voice low and dangerous. “I expect you to hold on to them for as long as possible.”
The unspoken words hung in the air between us, chilling me to the bane. Or else.
The door clicked shut behind him, and I was left standing there, frozen in place and it felt like an eternity before I caught up ith reality and I turned trying
to f
find phone and the moment I did, I scrambled for it scrolling through my contacts and dialed.
rak, “You were right. I have made a mistake and I need your help to get out of this marriage.”
He picked up on the first ring but I didn’t ait for him to speak,
