Chapter 85 Chapter 85

Chapter 85 Chapter 85
~NYRA~

The maiden who had been captured for questioning was dead. She had died the night before, and from what Mikael told me, Chila was in this condition because of me.

I was the one who was supposed to be poisoned, not my maid. I hadn't even settled with the news when Josie forcefully dragged me into a deserted corner; her claws dug deep into my skin, and no matter how hard I tried to fight her off, she tightened her hold around my wrist.

Was this red-haired vampire finally going to get rid of me in the midst of all this chaos?

"Leave me alone!" I yelled at her. Her response was a sharp slap across my face; I felt the imprint she left behind.

My ears rang so sharply that I had to cover them with my hands. "Great! Now you are finally quiet," she sneered.

"What do you want from me?" I questioned, still trying to steady my racing heart. I knew this pure-blooded vampire would want to take advantage of this moment, and if I didn't tread carefully, I was going to end up like the maiden in the cell.

She focused on her claws, looking at them as if each were a priceless jewel. "You know something, Luna dearie," her tone was mocking. Her gaze now fixed on me as she patted my cheek softly, as if that were going to numb the pain she had caused.

"I wished you had died from that little poisoning," Josie uttered coldly.

I swallowed. "What are you talking about?"

"But that failed plan of mine has brought me such great news — Nyra, or should I say wolfless Nyra!" Her last words came out as a whisper. She glanced at me; the fierceness of her expression was as crushing as her words.

My heart dropped.

"It's okay… you don't have to be afraid that I know your little secret!" She smiled again.

"You tried to kill me, Josie!" I said, even though that was quite stupid of me. Why would she be confessing now? This was bad.

Was she going to blackmail me using my wolfless situation as leverage?

"Kill you?" She snorted. "No, darling — I was just trying to get rid of the baby I thought you had."

I balled my hands into a fist and swung towards her face. She was fast enough to stop the hit; I squeezed my eyes shut, expecting her to retaliate. However, Josie swatted my hands away as she would a child's.

"You are cruel! How could you try to harm an innocent baby?" I cried out, my tone laced with pure disgust.

"Point of correction — there was no baby. And second, if you are talking about someone cruel, it should be your sweet, loving, caring mate. Mikael," she said.

"Aren't you tired of pinning the blame on others?"

Josie cackled; her vicious laughter grated on my ears. "Pinning the blame? How? Didn't I just tell you what I did — and I was about to inform you how you lost your wolf?"

"What do you know?"

"Good! Now keep calm while I tell you," she flipped her hair back. "Your mate is behind it," she uttered, and it was my turn to laugh.

"Really? Are you seriously playing with me right now?" I held my stomach.

Josie's energy was quiet; her confidence was superb. The way she watched me — like the fool I was, someone insignificant and not worthwhile.

"How do you think I found out? Of course you wouldn't believe that your mate is involved, but I know exactly what he did and why he did it," she pointed her finger. "You, my dear, have an anti-celestial mark, and his godfather needs your blood for healing," she revealed, clicking her tongue.

"It's impossible. Mikael would never do that to me," I insisted. Josie snorted, rolling her eyes.

"You think so? Why then didn't he ask his precious witch to find a solution to your problem?"

I clenched my teeth. "Because it has happened to me before — I lost my wolf a few days after Mikael mated me."

She chuckled. "The first time was a mistake; he sealed your wolf with his mark. But the second time… was on purpose. He doesn't want your wolf to be found."

I shook my head. "All lies. You tell nothing but lies — I don't believe you."

"Of course you wouldn't. Why don't I help you bring your wolf back, and then you can ask her yourself?" she offered, drawing a bottle from her pocket.

She waved it in front of me. I didn't want to trust her — she had tried to poison me before.

"Believe me when I say this is free from poison," she said. I stared warily at her; my mind urged me to take it since I was so desperate to have my wolf back, but my heart pleaded for me to turn away.

Josie was not to be trusted. But what could I do when she possibly held the solution to finding my wolf? I couldn't help but think this was poison — she was dangerous.

No, I must not take it.

And just like that, I snatched it from her hands and drank it. Whatever the case, if I died, I died.

I yanked the cover open and gulped the contents. I squeezed my face when a sharp pain struck my chest — and just like that, it disappeared. Something had unlocked within me.

Emilia?

'Nyra,' she answered. Joy flared and I screamed.

'Oh — you are back! You are truly back. Where have you been?

With you. I have been here, Nyra — I just couldn't reach out to you.

My eyes flew to Josie. What do you mean?

Mikael blocked me from having contact with you. I don't know why he did it, but he did. I stumbled, my hands shaking uncontrollably.

Mikael?

Mikael, who said he would find a way to bring my wolf back?

The man who had promised to stay at my side?