Chapter 150 Broken promises
My heart was slamming in my chest now, but I forced myself to act normal, maintaining a neutral expression. Innocent until proven guilty.
“Do you remember the last time we spoke about the Ascendant ritual?”
My heart stopped. What?
“I meant it when I said anyone can be our Ascendant. Anyone will be our Ascendant.”
I blinked, confused.
He reached out then and took my hands in his, caressing my knuckles with the pad of his thumbs.
“As we speak, there's someone waiting back in Hollywood to take your place. She will become our new Ascendant.”
“Oh.” My stomach lurched. For several seconds, I could only stare into those midnight blue eyes. Then my brain booted to life again. Was I free then, discarded, would I have to move out while she takes my place?
I cast a sideways glance in Mordaine’s direction, but his head was still bent. And right now, he was moving the paint brush a little more aggressively over the cottage.
My eyes strayed towards the window as my tongue moved along my lower lip. My nightmare was finally over. I will not die. I can go on and win the tournament and live my life to the fullest extent.
But then I will have to leave them too.
One of the benefits of being an Ascendant is that you receive undivided attention from the Hearthrown Alphas. The new woman will have them all to herself with space for no one else.
A hollow ache formed in my chest now, spreading fast to the surrounding areas with an accompanying heat.
“You're certain this will work?” I returned my gaze to Hale, “You told me the women who broke their promise…”
“You are not breaking your promise, sweet Lys,” he brought my knuckles up to his lips. We are simply transferring your burden to another consenting woman.”
Warmth pooled in my chest. This man loved me.
It was messed up: their rituals and cosmic debts and poly relationship. But he loved me. He told me he would find a way, and it seems he just did.
“That damn wind.” Mordaine jumped to his feet suddenly, his face tight as he moved towards the balcony. “Knew I should have shut it earlier.”
My brows knitted as I watched his back. Is it possible that the nonchalant man cared after all? Was it hurting him to see me leave as much as it did me?
He slid the glass door shut, and turned the lock with a decisive click.
Cool fingers gripped my chin then, turning my gaze back to that aristocratic face that looked sculpted and chiseled by the gods. “There is a relatively small price, my fairy.”
I nodded with eagerness, my eyes locked on his. Of course there was a price. With these men, everything had a price.
“Tell me.” I moved my hands around his, and squeezed. Finn was so quiet he might have as well not been in the room.
“I understand that what I am about to tell you might come as a shock. But can you at least give it deep thought before making a decision?”
“I promise.”
Mordaine lowered to the furry rug again. And finally, Finn met my gaze and gave me an encouraging nod.
Hale brought my hands to his lips, pressing warm kisses to the inside of my palms. Then he lifted his head and met my gaze. “You’ll have to sacrifice Rhea.”
Time froze.
For a long stretch of seconds, I doubted I had heard him well. I must have zoned out, or most likely his kisses had dulled my brain to comprehend his last sentence.
“I'm sorry.” My smile wobbled. “You lost me.”
Finn leaned in from my left and took my hand then. I turned to him, blinking. He knew. Whatever this was, he knew.
“Rhea would have to die with the new Ascendant.” Hale’s deep velvet voice cut across the room, and my head jerked back to him.
Seconds passed, and then I sprang to my feet as the words dropped in my brain like a glass ball. The gravity, staggering.
I backed away from them, eyes wide, as my feet upset tiny churches and town halls and bakeries and Santa with his reindeer. For the first time ever, I felt unsafe around these men.
“Lys.” Hale was on his feet, reaching for me with panic etched all over his face. “You promised... you promised to think…”
“What is there to fucking think about?” The foul word flew out of my mouth. Unbidden. “Rhea and I are one… You are my mate, Hale.” My shoulders sagged, my voice a stunned whisper. “How can you suggest this? You said you would never reject me.”
“Lys.”
The closer he tried to come, the more steps I took away from him. “I will have you anyway I can. Our love has never relied on our wolves or the stupid mate bond.”
I halted.
“Stupid mate bond?” My voice came out hoarse, my mind barely recognizing the man before me. I nodded then, biting my lip hard. “You are a god after all. You have long forgotten what it's like to be an Alpha.”
Even as I said the words, I hated myself for doing so.
I spun for the door, fleeing the suite.
The hallway carpet bellied the sound of my footsteps. It did not matter that I was in a flimsy playsuit and fur slippers, I ran all the way to the elevator, and jabbed the button repeatedly, glancing over my shoulder again and again, worried Finn would come running.
The doors slid open, and I collapsed in the silver box as the doors shut and the cart dropped.