Chapter 390: Maya Is Asking To See Lilith

Nicholas’s irritation turned to cold dread.

Maya.

Lilith’s best friend. The one who had visited the estate multiple times. The one who would absolutely notice if something was wrong.

"Tell her Lilith is unavailable," Nicholas said.

"I did," Eli said. "She’s not leaving. She’s saying...." He hesitated. "She’s saying something feels wrong. That Lilith hasn’t answered her calls in two days. That she needs to see her with her own eyes or she’s not leaving."

"Then escort her off the estate," Nicholas said.

Eli shifted uncomfortably. "I tried that too. She..." He stopped. "She said if we don’t let her see Lilith, she’s calling the Council of elders. Filing a formal inquiry into Lilith’s wellbeing."

Nicholas felt rage spike through him. "She’s threatening us?"

"She’s scared," Eli said carefully. "She knows Lilith would never ignore her calls. She thinks something’s wrong. And she’s not entirely wrong."

Sebastian made a sound like a wounded animal. "We can’t let her see Lilith like this. If she sees...if she knows...."

"She’ll tell everyone," Nicholas finished. "The Council. The allied packs. Everyone will know Lilith is dead."

And that would create problems Nicholas could not handle right now.

Political complications. Questions about the curse. Demands for explanations. Challenges to pack leadership from those who saw weakness.

All of it exactly what Nicholas did not need while waiting for Victoria to potentially resurrect his mate.

"I’ll handle it," Lucian’s voice came from the doorway.

Nicholas looked up and saw his youngest brother standing there covered in sweat and blood from his knuckles where he had been hitting things hard enough to break skin.

Lucian looked feral. Dangerous. Barely holding onto control.

"Lucian..." Nicholas started.

"I’ll get rid of her," Lucian interrupted. "Permanently if necessary."

"You’re not killing Maya," Nicholas said firmly.

Lucian’s smile was sharp and absolutely humorless. "Why not? She’s threatening us. Demanding things we can’t give. Making problems we don’t need."

"Because she’s Lilith’s friend," Nicholas said. "And when Lilith comes back...when Victoria resurrects her, Lilith will never forgive us if we hurt Maya."

"IF Victoria resurrects her," Lucian corrected. "Big if, Nicholas."

"I don’t care," Nicholas said. "You don’t touch Maya. You go out there. You tell her Lilith is fine but unavailable. You send her away. You do NOT kill her. Understood?"

Lucian stared at him for a long moment. Then he smiled that terrible smile again. "Fine. I’ll play nice. But if she keeps pushing..."

"You still don’t kill her," Nicholas said.

Lucian made a sound like a growl but nodded.

He turned and left the ice room.

Nicholas looked at Sebastian. "Go with him. Make sure he doesn’t actually kill her."

Sebastian nodded and followed Lucian out.

Nicholas stayed with Lilith.

Holding her cold hand.

Praying that Maya would leave quietly.

Praying that Victoria would succeed.

Praying that this nightmare would end soon.

***

*Ten minutes later*

Lucian found Maya standing in the main hall looking small and scared and absolutely determined.

She was pretty in the way most she-wolves were, delicate features, long dark hair, eyes that probably looked warm when she was not terrified.

Right now she just looked like prey.

Zev stirred in Lucian’s chest, recognizing easy target, wanting to chase and catch and....

Lucian shoved the wolf down brutally.

"What do you want, she-wolf?" Lucian asked, and his voice came out harsher than intended.

Maya flinched but did not back down. "I want to see Lilith. Now."

"No," Lucian said.

"I’m not leaving until you let me see her," Maya insisted.

"Then you’ll be here a very long time," Lucian said. "Because you’re not seeing her."

"Why not?" Maya demanded. "What are you hiding? Why won’t you let me...."

"Because she’s unavailable," Lucian interrupted. "And you need to leave. Now."

"I’m not leaving!" Maya’s voice rose. "Lilith hasn’t answered my calls in two days! She always answers! Always! Something’s wrong and I need to see her!"

Nicholas appeared at the top of the stairs. Still composed. But Lucian could see the rage underneath.

"Maya," Nicholas said, his voice dangerously calm. "You need to go."

"Not until I see Lilith," Maya said.

"That’s not happening," Nicholas said.

"Then something IS wrong!" Maya said. She looked between Nicholas and Lucian with fear in her eyes. "You’re hiding something. You’ve done something to her. You..."

"We haven’t done anything," Nicholas said.

"Then let me SEE her!" Maya shouted.

"No," Nicholas said firmly.

Maya’s expression shifted from fear to desperation. "Please. I’m begging you. Just let me see her for five minutes. Let me know she’s okay. Then I’ll leave. I promise."

"No," Nicholas repeated.

"WHY NOT?!" Maya screamed.

Eli appeared from the hallway. "Alphas, maybe we should...."

"Escort her off the estate," Nicholas told Eli. "Now."

"NO!" Maya lunged toward the stairs like she was going to physically fight her way to Lilith.

Lucian moved on instinct.

He caught Maya mid-stride and slammed her against the wall hard enough to knock the breath from her lungs. His hand closed around her throat....not squeezing, not yet, but the threat was clear.

"You need to stop," Lucian said quietly. "You need to leave. Or I will make you leave. And you won’t like how I do it."

Maya’s eyes were wide with terror but she still whispered: "Did you kill her?"

Lucian felt Zev snarl in his chest. "What?"

"Lilith," Maya gasped. "Did you kill her? Is that why you won’t let me see her? Because she’s dead?"

Lucian’s hand tightened on her throat.

"Lucian." Nicholas’s voice cut through the rage. "Let her go."

"She just accused us of murder," Lucian said without taking his eyes off Maya.

"I know," Nicholas said. "Let her go anyway."

Lucian held Maya against the wall for three more seconds. Then he released her and stepped back.

Maya slid to the floor gasping.

Nicholas descended the stairs and looked down at her with an expression Lucian could not read.

"Lilith is fine," Nicholas said, and the lie came out perfectly smooth. "She’s resting. She’s been using too much magic and her body needs time to recover. She can’t see visitors right now."