Chapter 201 201

Chapter 201 201
Lorien POV
I bit back a laugh when Rion caught my eye.
He gave a subtle flick of his fingers beneath his chin, motioning for me to lift mine a silent reminder to keep my head high before strutting into the dungeon like the narrow hallway was his personal runway.
“What the hell?” Auren muttered, shaking his head with a low chuckle. “Never seen him walk like that before.”
Auren had warned me beforehand that he wanted me beside him during the interrogation with Lucen and Lysandra. He claimed my presence would provoke them, push them to anger, and make them slip up but that I needed to stay calm and keep my magic in check.
What he didn’t realize was that I wasn’t angry.
I was thrilled.
And, honestly, a little petty.
I wanted Lysandra to see me. To see the mark on my neck the one that screamed to the world that Auren was mine. I wanted to watch that smug, poisonous glint in her eyes turn to fury when she realized she’d lost. That no amount of charm or deceit could ever undo what now bound us together.
So, as we descended deeper into the tunnels, I tilted my head just enough to make sure not a single strand of my red curls hid my mark. The ponytail helped; it left my neck bare, on full display exactly as I intended.
Auren led the way, guiding me through a maze of damp corridors and iron-bound doors. The air grew heavier with every step until we heard it the shrill, grating voice echoing down the stone passage.
Olyssia hadn’t exaggerated.
I pressed my lips together to keep from laughing. This was karma, and I was more than happy to watch it unfold.
“How dare you?!” Lysandra’s voice sliced through the air, sharp enough to make the guards wince. “This is all a massive misunderstanding! When Auren realizes I’m still down here, heads will roll! Now, for the last time get. me. some. breakfast!”
“For the love of the Goddess, Lysandra!” one of the guards shouted back. “Just shut up for two seconds!”
She gasped as if mortally offended. “Enjoy your little power trip while you can! When I get out of here, you’ll regret this!”
She sounded like a spoiled child throwing a tantrum though, to her credit, being locked in a cell might justify some of it.
“Lysandra,” Auren called, his voice cutting through the noise.
The collective sigh of relief from the guards was almost comical. Even Lysandra made a small sound something between relief and delight when she heard his voice.
“That’s enough,” he said, calm but firm.
“Auren! Oh, thank the Goddess!” she cried, switching to a tone dripping with false fear and confusion. “What’s happening? Why am I still in here?”
“Don’t play dumb, Lysandra,” I said, stepping into view as we entered the dimly lit chamber.
Her wide-eyed, innocent expression faltered for a fraction of a second when she saw me then froze entirely as her gaze dropped to the mark on my neck.
The satisfaction that flared in my chest was intoxicating.
Lucen was sprawled on the stone bench in the next cell, one arm draped over his eyes. From the look of it, he was doing his best to block out both the torchlight and Lysandra’s incessant noise.
“Lorien. You’re back,” Lysandra said flatly, her voice losing all pretense of sweetness. Disgust crept into her tone like venom.
Lucen’s head snapped up at her words. I realized, belatedly, that the stench of the buckets in their cells had likely masked my scent until now. His eyes met mine briefly, relief flickering there before he let his head fall back against the wall with a weary sigh.
“I’m so happy you’re all right!” Lysandra gushed suddenly, rushing to the bars. “I was so worried! Auren, you have to believe me I had nothing to do with what happened to her! I would never hurt her!”
Her fingers wrapped around the metal bars, and I couldn’t help pouting a little when her skin didn’t immediately start blistering on contact. Too bad.
“I didn’t do anything!” she insisted.
“Okay,” Auren said simply.
I stiffened. Okay?
Surely he wasn’t buying this. Not now.
I wanted to glance at him, to read his expression, but I held my ground and stayed quiet. I trusted him. Auren wasn’t under her spell anymore and there was no way he couldn’t see through her act.
“So, you’re going to let me out?” Lysandra asked, blinking rapidly, her voice dripping with forced innocence.
“Let’s take this to a private room,” Auren said, signaling a guard forward.
The guard approached with a set of chains, the clinking sound echoing off the stone walls.
“This is unnecessary,” Lysandra snapped, gesturing at the restraints like they were beneath her.
Auren didn’t respond. He didn’t have to. The quiet authority in his presence said enough.
And I, standing there with my mark gleaming under the torchlight, smiled to myself. This was only the beginning.