Chapter 30 Tell me the truth
Asha
I race back into the living room, my heart still pounding in my ears. I look around for any sign of Auren. My insides are trembling violently, hoping he's already gone to bed.
I tiptoe through the dark room to the stairs, cautious of how my feet sound beneath me. I'm almost close to the stairs when—
"And where are you coming from?" His deep voice vibrates through my bones.
Fuck it.
I bite my lips and slowly turn around to find him sitting on the couch, his legs spread out.
"I—" I quickly find the words to say, "went out."
"Why did you go out?" He presses on.
"Just for fresh air," I straighten my back, slipping my hands into my hoodie pocket.
In that moment, the lights come on. I almost jerk back in shock, but I try as much as possible to hold my ground.
Auren stands up from the couch, advancing towards me menacingly, "You never go out for fresh air," he wraps his hand around my chin, "Since when did you start?" His eyes darken.
"There's always a first time for everything, right? Why are you throwing a fuss about this?" I wrap my hand around his, pulling it away from my face.
He clicks his tongue, then a smirk spreads across his face, "I see you're growing too bold, young lady."
"I'm not," I roll my eyes, taking a step back from him, "Now if you would excuse me, I want to head to bed."
I whirl around, silently grateful that I was able to navigate through this mess quickly. But before I can take another step further, he grabs my hand.
"Who do you think I am? A fool?" His voice drops.
My heart falls to my stomach. There's this layer of venom beneath that calm voice that makes my skin crawl with nervousness.
I laugh nervously, "I didn't mention such. Why would you just assume?" I look over my shoulder.
"I am a Lycan lord. A lord of crime," he steps closer, eating the space between us, "I know when someone from my circle is about to betray me."
My blood runs cold. I open my mouth to say something, but the words stick to the back of my throat.
"You really don't know what I can do, do you?" He spins me around so hard, I almost trip over my toes.
He catches me by the waist, and pins me to the nearest couch beside us.
"I will not ask you this again," he growls, "Where did you go to?" He snarls.
My legs tremble beneath me almost giving way.
Tell him the truth.
Lucien's calm voice says in my head.
Haa! That raging bastard! He never told me Auren would be able to catch on so easily! How am I supposed to trust anything else he says?
"Don't keep me waiting," he grips my chin, "Where did you go to Asha?"
"I already told you, I w-went out to the park for fresh air," I gasp in panic.
His thumb presses into my lips until it hurts in the best-worst way.
"Oh gosh," he lets his head fall, his shoulders trembling with suppressed laughter.
He raises them to look at him, "You must really think I'm a fool," he lets go of me.
"This is your last chance," he pulls out a pocketknife, "Tell. Me. The. Truth. Now."
My heart flies to my throat at the sight of the knife. Bile rises at the back of my throat, and knocks a heavy amount of bitterness into my system. I grip the couch behind me for support because I'm pretty sure my legs would give out in the next few seconds without support. Sweat clams my palms and the back of my brain. Nothing makes sense. Nothing has been making sense.
"I'm giving you three seconds to spill the truth, or I'll slice you open and make you see your intestines."
"What the—"
"One."
"Auren I already—"
"Two."
"You're not listening to me!"
"Three—"
"I went out to see Rheagar!" The words burst out of my throat with a force I didn't know I had there.
Heavy silence falls upon the room. Auren slightly narrows his eyes, then places a hand on his chin.
"What do you have with him?"
Tears burn at the back of my eyes, "It was a blackmail," my voice cracks.
"Blackmail! However did you get in contact with him?" He eyes me suspiciously.
"It was at that cafe," I croak. "Somehow he knew my location, and came to meet me there. He warned me, saying, If I told you, he'd kill me," the words come out in a broken sob.
He stares at me with disapproval on his face, "Did you seriously think he can kill you? While you're with me?"
My eyes widen a little, "What?"
"You have my wolf sitting pretty inside you. You think I'd let him touch you? Haa, that son of a dying bitch," he laughs dryly.
My shoulders are still trembling with fear, and aftershock of what just happened.
"So— you won't ki..ll me?"
He gives me a disapproving frown, "Don't test my patience. You know what you carry. I won't lose it all because you decided to be silly," he clicks his teeth.
Relief washes over my soul, reviving it like it has been starved of water for years.
"Since you're already in this game. Play it till the end," he closes the space between us again.
"How?" I exhale heavily through my mouth.
"Make him think you got me," he palms his forehead, "That bloody fool," he mumbles.
"So I can give him real Intel?" I furrow my brows.
He arches his brow, then strokes his chin, "Tell him whatever I tell you."
I purse my lips, "Okay," I nod.
My phone pings. I look at the screen to see a notification from that same unknown number.
'Tick tock, sweetheart. Send the first drop by 8 AM or these photos get delivered with breakfast.'
I show the message to Auren, "Here."
He gives it one look, then meets my eyes, "I know what to do."
"What?"
"Sell myself to get that motherfucker out of hiding, and you, my dear," he cups my cheeks, "you will be my access to him. Understand?"
Shakily, I nod.
"Good girl," he ruff
les my hair, "Now, you can go to bed."