Chapter 185: Missing Piece
\[Lucian’s POV\]
I nod in agreement over what Pandora’s father is saying to me, because honestly I’m the same way, so we would get along splendidly.
“I have no intention of betraying any of your trust.” I say slowly.
“I never said I trusted you.” He counters, ruining the bit of peace we managed to achieve. “I only said that I would give you a chance to prove yourself to me.”
“That’s something.” I chuckle and immediately regret it as pain shoots through me.
Dammit. How much longer till this damned silver will be out of my system? I hated being so weak, but I guess it was better than the alternative.
“Can you tell me what exactly happened to you?” Pandora’s father asks me. “I know that you were injured with silver, but how exactly did that end up happening? You were perfectly fine when you and your brother came to visit me.”
“Yes,” I agree. “And the one who did this to me was that very brother that you speak of. You see, I was following him after our attempt at peace failed. I knew that he wouldn’t give up so easily, so I couldn’t possibly let him do anything without my knowing. It was while I was tailing him that I was found, and then he or the ones he was colluding with shot me.”
Nodding, Pandora’s father takes in what I’m saying, and when he continues to stare at me, I know that he isn’t going to let me off that easily. I was certain that he wanted to know everything.
“He was meeting with mercenaries.” I explain, remembering the scene. “They lived on the border of Onyx Moon’s ground, and they were more than willing to help attack Crimson Moon.”
“Were they now?”
As he speaks, I can feel Pandora’s father’s aura press against me, and I can see the anger forming in his eyes.
“Do you remember exactly where they are?” He asks.
“I do,” I confirm.
“Good,” he sighs, taking a seat. “Once you’re able, you will be showing me exactly where these brave bastards are staying.”
“HE CAN’T!”
Pandora’s voice rips through the air, and as I jump up, she rushes in with her mother in tow.
“How can you even ask him such a thing?” She demands, turning her angry gaze on her father. “He’s already this bad off and you…”
“Pandora,” her mother murmurs, clamping her shoulders. “Your father knows what he is doing.”
“I’m sure he does,” she huffs. “But, Lucian, he’s…”
“More than capable of showing him.” I tell her, enjoying how worried she is for me but hating being considered so weak. “This was just a minor setback.”
“You don’t know who is waiting in the shadows.” Pandora huffs, narrowing her gaze on me. “You almost got yourself killed last time, and who is to say that this time you won’t succeed?”
“Are you saying that I’m incapable of protecting the boy?” Her father demands, and I bite back on the laugh that wants to escape me.
Who knew that a confident man like him would be offended by his daughter doubting his abilities? Most certainly not me, but if I were in his position, I would probably do the same thing.
“I think that being overly cocky will get you killed.” Pandora responds defiantly. “Just because you think that you’re stronger than the enemy, it doesn’t mean you are, and we don’t know what is waiting. The best thing to do right now is to remain in place as a whole so that we can take down whatever enemy comes our way.”
“You,” her father growls. “Will be staying in the panic room for the time being.”
“What?” She gasps, eyes widening. “You can’t possibly…”
“I can,” he counters. “As you said, we don’t know what kind of danger is waiting, and I’ll be damned if I allow my daughter, who doesn’t even have her wolf, to be in the way of danger.”
“But, Father.”
“No arguments, young lady. You will be accompanied by the rest of our young pack members. And until I say otherwise, you will remain there.”
Frowning, I listen to what is being said while wondering just how big this panic room is and why they didn’t do something like this in the past.
They had to be caught completely unaware. I think, trying to make sense of how it could have happened. I was certain when the attack first started they could have taken the young there, but that didn’t even happen.
So, what took place before that? What piece were we missing to this puzzle? And then it hits me as a recent memory slams into me.
“The cook,” I hiss, remembering Tonya’s betrayal.
“What was that?” Pandora’s father asks, looking at me. “What about the cook?”
For a moment, I don’t speak as I consider whether or not he would believe me if I were to accuse the man of being part of the enemy, but I couldn’t possibly keep this suspicion to myself either.
“Has he been investigated?” I ask slowly. “Has anyone who works in the kitchen been investigated?”
“Investigated?” He repeats, his brow raising. “Why on earth would we…”
“Honey,” Pandora’s mother murmurs, touching his shoulder. “I think we should believe whatever it is that they say. After all, they haven’t been wrong yet.”
“If Lucian says that the cooks need to be investigated, then we should believe him.” Pandora agrees.
The room around me grows quiet as Pandora’s father considers what is being said and, I’m sure, weighs in on the possibilities, and when he finally gives a nod and seems to concede, I feel a wave of relief rush through me.
With this, we should have all the pieces in place to stop an all-out decimation from happening. And once the mercenaries helping Lux were found and questioned, Lux and my father would be dealt with accordingly.
And then what? I wonder, considering whether or not I would return to the future when I no longer had an earthly body. What will happen next? Will I remain here and grow with a Pandora that I don’t even know, or will she choose to stay here in this time and place with me?
Just the thought of not having her beside me leaves me feeling the emptiness that I felt before her, but I know that I can't possibly force her to do such a thing. In the end, I wanted her to do whatever it was she needed in order to be happy, even if it didn't involve me.