Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Larisa’s POV

Sleep? Yeah, it didn’t come at all that night.
Every time I tried to drift off, there he was—Damien, caught between the smoke and the moonlight. His eyes, sharp like a knife, still softened when they landed on me. It was a look I’d almost forgotten, like I was more than just what they labeled me here: a burden, a duty, a pawn.
As I lay there, I watched the sky change—first ink-black, then pale grey, and finally gold. Another day of pretending. Of putting on a polite smile for the guards who watched my every move. Training under the watchful eyes that seemed to just wait for me to crumble. Acting like the monster I was trapped with wasn’t just biding its time to push me to my limit.
But things felt different now.
I had a reason to fight.
I had someone reaching out to me.
And I was done just waiting around.
The woman from last night hadn’t come back yet. But her words lingered in my mind.
“Be ready when the time comes.”
What if that moment never happened? What if Damien thought I was too far gone to reach?
I had to make contact. I had to show him I was still here, still me, still fighting from behind these bars of gold.
But how?
I thought about the few places where I had a bit of freedom—those tiny cracks in Killian’s control.
And then it hit me.
The garden.
Killian loved to show off. For appearances, he let me stroll through the garden in the afternoons. It was one of the rare moments when I felt human, even if just for a bit. The guards always trailed behind, pretending to give me space, but their eyes were glued to me.
Still, it was the only time I got to be outside.
And that meant it was my chance.
I waited until after breakfast. The guards had changed—new faces today, not as familiar with my routine. Perfect.
I slipped a piece of paper into the hem of my sleeve, carefully rolled up and flat. I’d spent most of the night writing it, erasing, rewriting. No names, no specifics—just a message that only Damien would understand.
“The moon doesn’t belong to the sky. It’s waiting in the garden.”
That was it.
A bit poetic and odd, but it would do. He’d get it.
He had to.
I walked into the garden as usual, arms crossed against the spring wind. The scent of roses tried to mask the churn of sickness in my stomach—fear, anxiety, desperation. The pups kicked lightly, as if they could feel the storm brewing inside me.
“Ten minutes,” the guard called from behind. “Don’t wander.”
I just nodded, putting on a face like I didn’t care.
Every step felt like it echoed through the silence.
I reached the willow tree in the far corner—the only spot in the garden that provided any cover. Its branches hung low, almost like it was hiding a secret.
I crouched down, pretending to tie my shoelace. My fingers shook.
This is it.
I slipped the note beneath the root, wedging it between moss and bark. Hidden, unless you were looking for it.
Then I stood up, brushing off my hands like nothing had happened.
But my heart was pounding, like war drums in my chest.
Back in my room, I couldn’t stop pacing.
Had I done enough? Would Damien’s spy come back? Would she even know where to look?
Or worse... what if someone else stumbled upon it?
I barely noticed the hours dragging on until a quiet knock came at my door that evening.
Just one.
Not Killian’s knock.
My heart nearly stopped.
“Larisa?” It was that whisper again—the same voice as the night before. “Are you alone?”
I rushed to the door. “Yes.”
She slipped inside quickly, closing the door behind her. Dressed in dark clothes, quick movements, sharp eyes. I didn’t know who she was, but there was a trust there I couldn’t quite put into words. Maybe because she looked like someone who had crawled through hell and come out the other side.
“Did you leave the message?” she asked, already checking the windows.
I nodded. “Under the willow tree. Where no one could see me.”
A small smile crept onto her face. “Smart girl. Damien will get it before dawn.”
“Is he okay?” I whispered, my heart clenched tight.
Her eyes softened. “Not until he has you back.”
I swallowed hard, feeling that lump in my throat.
“Tell him...” I hesitated for a moment. “Tell him I’m not giving up. Not anymore.”
She reached into her pocket and pulled out a tiny silver pin, handing it to me. “Keep this hidden. If things go sideways, just press the back. He’ll know what to do. It’ll light up on his end.”
I took it and tucked it into the waistband of my pants. “So, when are we leaving?”
“Soon,” she replied. “We’re almost there. But we need one more thing from inside.”
I frowned. “What do you mean?”
She hesitated, her brow furrowing. “Proof. Something that’ll change the pack’s loyalty.”
“What kind of proof?”
“Something that exposes Killian. Anything really—his records, a confession, maybe a document. We know he’s been working with rogues behind the scenes. If we can show that... they won’t follow him anymore.”
I nodded slowly, the wheels in my head turning. “I can find something. I just need a little time.”
“We’re running out of it,” she said, urgency creeping into her tone. “But not much.”
Then her gaze flicked toward the door, and I noticed her body tense up.
Footsteps.
Heavy ones.
Getting closer.
“Guards,” she hissed.
She pressed her hand against mine. “Stay strong, Larisa. You’re doing better than you think.”
Before I could respond, she disappeared again, melting into the shadows like she’d never been there.
I turned back to the mirror, trying to fix my expression just as the door slammed open.
Killian.
His eyes swept across the room.
Then he smiled, but that smile? It didn’t reach his eyes.
“I heard you had a visitor,” he said, his voice unnervingly calm.
I froze.
Every instinct told me to lie.
But all I could manage was a shaky smile in return.
“Oh?” I tilted my head, trying to play it cool. “Was it someone important?”
He stepped closer, lifting a lock of my hair, his voice dropping to a low, chilling whisper.
“I hope, for your sake, it wasn’t someone you’ll miss.”