Chapter 80

Chapter 80: Chapter 80

Chapter 80

I was caught midair, bound as though an invisible chain held me in place. The inconvenience was met with my struggle, but it eventually proved futile, and I gave up.

Leo was maddeningly pissed, his nervous system unstable. I’d almost think he was exaggerating, but in truth, the consequence of what was occurring, especially at a time like this, wasn’t one he’d planned for at all.

"He’s been listening to everything we’ve said, that I’ve said?" He asked the question in a manner that told me he didn’t exactly want the answer.

Nathan simply nodded.

"So, now do you want me to kill him or let him go?"

"Shit..." Leo trembled. His eyes met mine before he looked away.

If I didn’t know what he truly wanted, I’d have imagined he’d voted for the latter. Leo took his time, his hand wiping down his lips as he mulled over his thoughts.

In the meantime, I used the chance to link my mind with Kai. I sensed him through the bond.

On the dance floor, he was bored. He’d been talking with a lot of people, and he’d been thinking about me. Constantly thinking about me.

But the moment he received the link I’d thrown into his mind, his body froze. I sensed his wolf rise to the surface, and he reached out to Marcellan and Clawface. They were coming for me.

And it was soon going to be game over for both Nathan and Leo.

"Kai..." I strained, my voice coming out inaudibly.

Apart from facing heavenward, the position I was in was the most uncomfortable, my body cramped as though I’d been magically folded into a ball. My blood wasn’t flowing as it should, and my heart was struggling to pump it through my body.

Yet I made certain not to show weakness or the agony behind his grip.

"Fuck, the entire plan’s gone to shit. You fucked it all up, and for what?" He glared at Nathan. "Whatever you do, you’d better pray I still get Kai’s attention, or else you’re done for. I’m out of here. I won’t be a part of this."

I wanted to talk again, but I couldn’t muster the words. Anything to keep Leo in the room so he’d be caught as well, but I failed at that.

Leo was about to leave when my body squeezed even tighter. He took one last look at me before he vanished. And just then, my vision darkened too.

∆∆∆

A lot of faces met my sight when I woke up. For a moment, I didn’t recognize them.

And then I did.

Marcellan, Clawface, and Kai. Off to the side was Sophia. I was seated on a couch in a dimly lit room, met with absolute quiescence.

"Goodness, thank you." I collected Marcellan’s hand to sit up. "Did I faint?"

"No, the question is, do you wish to kill me?" Kai murmured. He looked sorely worried, and I pitied him so much. I planned to speak, but he continued. "I’d warned you not to come along. You should be resting right now, yet we found you in a room by yourself. What happened?"

Oh, I hadn’t really thought about that.

"I... I don’t really know," I said under my breath. "I was with Sophia. I’d been drinking. Not alcohol, of course. And then..." My brows furrowed, my skin wrinkling as I tried harder but to no avail. "I’m sorry, I really can’t remember anything."

"Pregnancy sign, then?" Clawface was the one to speak. I trust that if it were Marcellan, he’d have said it in a way that’d make the group laugh. But coming from Clawface and his rigid manner of speaking, we were rather worried.

Incoming footsteps emerged, my focus drifting toward the hallway, and then I saw Leo. My recoil was met with Kai’s grip.

"He helped us find you," he said in a manner meant to soothe me. "Did you see what happened?" Kai threw the question at Leo.

Leo was wrapped in a blanket, and it left me narrowing my eyes, far too many questions settling in. What did he witness? Why was he like that?

"Yes," his voice was little, and the entire group gave him their listening ears.

Apparently, Leo was sure to take his time, dragging out his use of the pity card. I wanted to barf so hard at the situation. It looked far more ridiculous to me than expected.

"I couldn’t see his face. It was covered behind a veil. But he used... magic. I didn’t believe it at first. I thought magic was a myth, but I swear, he used it on... well, Alex."

And of course, he couldn’t bring himself to mention my name conveniently. Talk about a bitch being a bitch.

Leo stepped before me. "Do you remember anything?"

Something about that question sounded deliberate, but for reasons known only to myself, I answered.

"No, I don’t." I said with believable pretence.

He sighed. "I assumed so."

"That must be Nathan," Kai said, more directed toward me.

I nodded in response, swallowing an invisible lump. "So, he’s in the palace, and he attacked me."

"Then he made you forget that he did," Marcellan completed and threw a knowing gaze at me.

Before I knew it, Clawface was already leaving the room to do what was expected of him as my soldier.

Kai cupped my face, kneeling to my eye level. "I’m sorry, but I’ve got to go. I must capture that bastard."

I nodded simply. "Get him."

My words were like fuel for Kai’s resolve, affirming the punishment he had in place for that petty magician.

Kai turned to Marcellan as he rose to his feet. He commanded with such a booming voice that the bass reverberated throughout the room.

"Cut off all communication outside the palace. Keep the doors locked. No one goes in. No one goes out. And nothing enters or leaves."

It was plain and direct.

Marcellan left Sophia with me as he proceeded to execute the order. In the silent room, I was alone with Leo and Sophia.

She sat next to me and whispered, "You don’t really look good, Luna."

"Your lips look a bit dry," Leo commented as he sat beside me. "Take the blanket."

In truth, I needed the warmth, so I accepted the blanket from him. But still, I rolled my eyes.

"So, what... you’re being nice to me now?"

"If I were, is that an issue?" He answered my question with one of his own.

I flared my nostrils like a child. Sophia caught me and snickered inaudibly.

"Well," I said as I used the hem of the blanket to wipe my lips, unconsciously conscious of Leo’s remark, "yes, it is."

The air felt awkwardly silent, and Sophia remarked, "I hope they catch this..."

The sound of commotion outside the doors called our attention. From the look of things when we got there, it seemed clear the crowd had been oblivious to everything that was happening.

Entering through the door was Kai. The spill of crimson across his face—like a mark running from his left eyebrow down to his jaw—was remarkably frightening, his eyes glowing a shade of scarlet as he growled with every exhale.

His claws were evidently sharp, catching the beams from the chandelier, and behind him, Clawface, with his wolf out as well, dragged a presence into the room.

Almost dead. And half breathing.