Chapter 92 A Promise I Won’t Keep

Chapter 92 A Promise I Won’t Keep
NYRA

I didn’t hear the door open. It must've been so depressing for me the last few minutes now and that wasn't the craziest thing.

The strange part of it was Aria never moved quietly, at least not really. There was always the faint rustle of her clothes, the soft tap of her shoes, something to announce her presence.

This time there was nothing and it bothered me enough that I was starting to think that I was taking this too far even if I didn't voice it out.

“Planning something reckless again?” her voice came from behind me.

I flinched.

I hadn’t realized how deep I was in my thoughts until that moment. My hand stilled halfway to fastening the clasp on my sleeve, and I turned slowly to face her.

She stood by the door, arms crossed, one brow slightly raised. Watching me. For a second, I said nothing.

“I wasn’t planning anything,” I replied, a little too quickly.

The lie sat heavy on my tongue…Aria didn’t move. Didn’t blink. She just kept looking at me in that way she did like she could peel back every layer I tried to hide behind.

“Nyra,” she said softly.

That was all it took. I had thought that I could keep it all away from her but it turned out I couldn't. At least not from Aria.

I exhaled, my shoulders dropping as the fight left me.

“There’s a cave,” I muttered.

Her expression shifted instantly. “A cave?” She didn't seem to understand what I was driving at.

“Yes…In the woods,” I added, turning away from her as if that would make it easier. “Cyril told me this morning. Deep inside. Somewhere people don’t go.”

I could feel her staring at me even without looking.

“And you want to go I guess,” she said.

Not a question but it made me roll my eyes. Could werewolves read minds now too?

I hesitated then nodded. Silence filled the room, thick and suffocating.

“...Nyra, no.” Her voice was firm now. “Absolutely not.” She repeated.

I let out a small, humorless laugh. “You don’t even know what I’m thinking.”

“I don’t have to,” she stuttered. “I know you.”

That made me turn back to her.

“And what does that mean?” I challenged myself.

“It means,” she said, stepping closer, “that when you get that look in your eyes, the one you have right now—you’ve already made up your mind. And nothing anyone says is going to stop you.”

I didn’t respond. Perhaps because she wasn’t wrong.

“There could be anything in that cave,” Aria continued, her voice softer now but no less urgent.

“It’s outside our territory for a reason. If Samantha is going there, that should tell you something.” She chipped in.

“It tells me she’s hiding something,” I shot back.

“Or it tells you she knows something you don’t,” Aria countered. “And maybe there’s a reason for that.”

I shook my head. “I’m tired of being in the dark.”

“And I’m tired of watching you walk straight into danger!”

The words hung between us.For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Just then a knock filled the room and I heard it this time. We both turned toward the door.

Aria frowned. “Expecting someone?”

“Nyra?” A voice called out.

My heart stuttered. It was Rowan. I didn’t realize how tense I’d gone until Aria glanced back at me, her expression unreadable. Then she walked to the door and opened it.

He stood there, just as composed as ever, though his eyes immediately found mine.

“Can I have a moment?” he asked, his voice calm.

Aria hesitated, looking between us.Then she sighed. “Don’t kill each other.”

Despite everything, that almost made me smile. She slipped past him and closed the door behind her, leaving us alone.

The silence that followed was different. He stepped inside, slower this time, like he was measuring every movement.

“Why did you leave like that?” he asked.
Straight to it.

I blinked. “What?”

“The other night,” he clarified, his gaze steady.
“You walked out without saying anything after our night together.”

Oh! That? I thought to myself.

I looked away, shrugging lightly. “It was nothing.”

It wasn’t. But I didn’t want to explain it. Didn’t even know how to. His eyes stayed on me a moment longer, like he was deciding whether to push.

Then he didn’t. “I heard about the cave,” he said instead.

My stomach dropped. Of course he did…Cyril was going to tell him I should have known.

I crossed my arms, trying to keep my expression neutral. “People talk too much.”

“That’s not what concerns me.”

I didn’t like the way he said that. “What does, then?” I asked.

“You,” he replied simply.

Something in my chest tightened, but I ignored it.

“You’re thinking of going,” he continued.

It wasn’t a question. I hesitated just long enough to give myself away.

His jaw tightened slightly. “Nyra…” He exhaled, running a hand through his hair before looking back at me. “Don’t.”

That caught me off guard. Not because of what he said.but how he said it. There was no command in his tone. No authority either, it was just… concern.

“It’s dangerous,” he added.

“I’ve heard that before,” I muttered.

“This isn’t the same.” He muttered.

“Everything here isn’t the same,” I shot back. “That doesn’t stop anyone.”

“It should stop you.”

I laughed softly, though there was no humor in it. “Why?”

He stepped closer. “Because I’m asking you to.”

That made my breath hitch. For a moment, I couldn’t look at him.

“Promise me,” he said quietly.

The room felt smaller somehow.

I swallowed. “I—” My voice faltered. I forced it steady. “Fine. I won’t go.”

The words felt strange leaving my mouth.
Like they didn’t belong to me. He searched my face, as if trying to decide whether to believe me.

Then, slowly, he nodded. “Good.”

Neither of us moved. Then he turned and walked toward the door.

“Nyra,” he said, pausing briefly.

I looked up.

“Be careful,” he added.

Then he was gone. The door clicked shut behind him as silence filled the room again.

I stood there for a long time, staring at nothing.
Then I let out a slow breath.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered to the empty room.
Because I already knew I wasn’t going to keep that promise.

The decision had settled into me like something alive and it was unyielding. I didn’t waste time thinking about it again.

If I did, I might hesitate and I couldn’t afford that.

Not now.

Not when I was this close…

I slipped out of my room quietly, the halls still calm as I made my way through the manor.

Each step felt heavier than the last, but I didn’t stop as I headed to the healing quarters.

The corridor grew quieter the closer I got, the air carrying that familiar mix of herbs and something sharper beneath it.

I reached the door and pushed it open, just then I collided straight into someone.

The impact knocked the breath out of me.

“Oh—!”

I stumbled back, steadying myself as my eyes snapped up to meet theirs.

I froze.