Chapter Forty-Nine

Chapter Forty-Nine

Author’s Pov

Anastasia’s nails dug into the velvet armrest, her face twisted with fury. 

“I told you it won’t work,” she snapped, pacing the room like a caged animal. “Lucien was actually supposed to be gone longer. The rogues were supposed to tear that boy apart before he even had the chance to scream.”

Across from her, the man lounged in a chair, expression unreadable. The shadows seemed to cling to him, swallowing his features in a way that made him look almost unreal. 

“You were careless,” he said, his voice low, calm in a way that made her angrier. “Lucien was more capable than you thought.”

Anastasia stopped, turning sharply to glare at him. “I planned this shit for days. You think it’s easy acting all nice to that boy and taking him out under Lucien’s nose?”

The man shrugged, as if her rage was nothing but a mild breeze. He didn’t even think it was as deep as Anastasia was taking it. Maybe Lucien helping the boy out was just a coincidence. It couldn’t be that the king had left that dinner just to save him. How did he even know he was in danger? 

But knowing Anastasia, he thought she was just being furious because Lucien wasn’t paying her much attention than before. 

“Try again,” he said simply. “Or I will step in.”

Her heart kicked hard again her ribs.

“No,” she hissed. “I can handle this.”

A slow cruel smile spread across the man’s face. “You can’t afford another failure, Ana. I don’t care about what is going on between them, I just want that boy gone. If Elias keeps breathing, everything you’ve worked for—“ he trailed off, letting the threat hang. 

Anastasia exhaled shakily, forcing herself to calm down. 

“There’s an event coming up in a few weeks. The mid season gala. I can arrange for an accident.”

The man’s smile widened, sharp as a blade. “Good. Make sure it’s flawless and bloody enough that no one questions it.”

Anastasia responded, “Lucien won’t die of his illness when this boy is gone right?”

The man smirked, “He has been living for years without the blood.”

Anastasia’s stomach twisted, but she nodded anyway. She didn’t have a choice. Not anymore. The human boy was getting on her nerves. The way Lucien hadn’t even bother to check on her when he rescued Elias was so disappointing for her. She had no idea what was going that could make Lucien that obsessed. 

She would have killed Elias from the very beginning. 

But it wasn’t too late. Elias would be gone. The blood would be gone. And everything would go back to being normal. 

————-

Elias 

I adjusted the collar of my shirt nervously, my heart thudding in my ears. Lucien had did something so great this morning—he sent a guard to tell me about Mira and Isla’s arrival. My friends….they were back. I was nervous as fuck, it took more than the two days Anastasia had told though. 

I bolted toward the kitchen, barely remembering to thank the guard as I went. 

And there they were. 

Mira was standing by the countertop, arms crossed, face stony. Isla was a few steps behind her, offering a small, polite nod. They weren’t alone, they had other three maids with them. 

“Mira,” I breathed, my chest tightening. “Isla.”

Mira didn’t say a word. 

Isla muttered, “Hey,” but she didn’t move closer. 

The coldness hit me harder than any slap could. 

I knew I owed them a big apology for what I did. The mastermind behind all these got on my good side just minutes after but my friends were left with scars on their necks. 

Lucien was something else. 

I opened my mouth, then closed it again, fumbling for words. “I—I’m so sorry,” I finally managed. “I know it’s my fault. You both got in trouble because of me, and now—“

Mira picked up a loaf of bread and started sliced by it aggressively, her back turned to me. 

“I just….can we talk?” I tried again, feeling more pathetic by the second. “Privately.”

“I have work,” Mira said flatly.

My heart sank. 

I couldn’t take this. 

What would I do without them? 

What had Lucien done?

“Please,” I whispered, looking at Isla, practically begging with my eyes. 

I had no idea what to tell them but I would figure that out. 

Isla hesitated, then sighed dramatically. “Fine. Come on, Mira. Don’t be a drama queen.”

Mira rolled her eyes but finally slammed the knife down a little too hard and followed Isla into the hallway. I trailed behind them like a kicked puppy. 

When we were a safe distance from the kitchen, I turned to face them. 

“I’m really sorry,” I said again, my voice cracking slightly. “I never wanted to get you both in trouble. I never wanted to get you hurt. I just—“

And to my horror, I felt tears prickling in my eyes. Maybe I was being dramatic and maybe not but my chest twisted at the thought of being in the same place with them and not relating. There were the only reason for my sanity. 

I swiped at them angrily. “I miss you both so much.”

There was a heavy pause. 

Just staring at me. 

My chest was pounding. It was over. They hated me. 

Then suddenly, Mira and Isla burst out laughing. 

I blinked. “W-What?”

“You should have seen your face,” Mira gasped, clutching her stomach.

Isla wiped a tear from her eye, grinning. “Goodness, you are so easy, Elias”

I stared at them, stunned. 

“You are not mad at me?” I asked, my voice small. 

Mira smirked. “Uhm, we were never mad at you. How could we be? You are like….a sad little kitten.”

Isla nodded seriously. “Yeah. A soggy, sad little kitten who needs constant supervision.”

I scowled. “You are both evil.”

“You love it,” Mira said smugly, ruffling my hair like I was five. 

I swatted her hand away, but my heart felt so full I could barely breathe. 

“I missed you guys so much,” I said, voice wobbling despite my best efforts. 

Isla pulled me a hug without warning, squeezing me tightly, Mira joined a second later, sandwiching me between them.

“We missed you too, Idiot,” Isla said into my shoulder. 

“Okay, enough,” Mira mumbled. “I don’t want to be part of this romantic shit.”

We chuckled. 

We pulled eventually, and I wiped at my face, embarrassed. 

“What have you been up to?” Isla asked, raising her eyebrows. 

I shrugged, “Nothing much. Lucien saved me from getting attacked. Oh, and guess what? Anastasia is kind of a friend now.”

“Oh?” Isla raised an eyebrow.

“Yeah, surprised yeah?”

Mira’s entire face changed. 

“Princess Anastasia?” She repeated, voice sharp. 

I nodded eagerly. “She’s been nice. Really cool.”

Mira exchanged a look with Isla.

I could understand. Really. 

“Nice, huh?” Mira said slowly. “That’s impossible. Have you forgotten?”

“I know okay? Just that, maybe she changed.”

Isla looked uncomfortable. 

Mira crossed her arms. “Be careful around her, Kitten.”

To be honest, at first I doubted her so much especially after how she treated me when I got to the palace. But there wasn’t anymore reason to reciprocate the energy. Lucien had told me she had nothing to the with the rouges and I trusted his judgment the most. 

I frowned at Mira. “Why?”

Mira shrugged, but her mouth was a thin, tight line. “Just trust me. People like her don’t do anything without a reason.”

I wanted to argue. I really did. But a small part of me remembered everything she had done. But people see things in a clearer picture and act better right? 

“I will be careful,” I said finally.

“You better,” Mira said. “Because if anything happens to you, I’m blaming you personally.”

“And me,” Isla added. 

I laughed, feeling lighter than I had in days. 

God, I missed them. 

“So what were you guys doing?” I asked, suddenly curious about Ana’s message.

Mira’s eyes lightened up, “Nothing special but then—I have something you might be interested in.”

I cocked my eyebrows, “What?”

“Don’t—Don’t—“ Isla muttered constantly and I got more interested. Anything that was making Isla’s face heat up was worth listening to. 

“She fucking made out with a girl.”

“Mira!!! Fuck you bitch!!”

Oh goodness….

Wow.

I had nothing good to say other than—

“Was it good, Isla?”