Chapter 48 Relief
~ Lyra's POV ~
All morning, I had not been able to relax. Anxiety clung to me like a second skin, tightening my chest and refusing to let go. The trial weighed heavily on my mind, and every passing minute stretched my nerves thinner. I needed information. I needed to know what was happening, how it was going, whether Taren was safe or already condemned. Yet nothing reached me.
The warrior who brought my food that morning had his face set in an expression that clearly warned me to keep my distance. He did not smile. He barely acknowledged my presence beyond a cold greeting before informing me that my food had arrived. His tone was sharp and dismissive, as though I were an inconvenience rather than a living person.
Still, that did not stop me from asking him if he had any information about Taren. I needed to know something, anything. He answered without even looking at me, stating that whatever was going on was not supposed to be a concern of mine.
The anger that surged through me at that moment was sharp and overwhelming. I clenched my teeth so hard my jaw ached. I wished, with a frightening level of intensity, that I could ram his face into a pile of cow dung so the filth would finally match the ugliness of his expression. However, for the sake of peace and my own sanity, I swallowed my rage. I ignored him, ate my food in silence, and returned to waiting, though every second felt like torture.
When the door opened again, it was the same warrior wheeling in another tray of food.
“Good afternoon, miss. Your lunch is here,” he announced, his voice just as cold and uninviting as it had been that morning.
I frowned immediately. That was the first time lunch had been brought to me since I arrived. Until now, it had always been breakfast and dinner only. Something had changed. I did not know when it had changed, or who had ordered it, but the shift unsettled me.
“Thank you, but I am not hungry. Please take the food back,” I said, keeping my voice deliberately neutral despite the storm brewing inside me.
His face twisted in disbelief, as though I had just committed some unforgivable offense.
“Wonders shall never cease,” he scoffed. “A prisoner rejecting food. Do you not know you should be grateful for the generosity our Alpha is extending to you? Are you trying to take it for granted?” he asked, shooting me a deep frown.
“Pardon me, sir, but do you force food down your throat when you are not hungry?” I asked calmly, even though irritation pulsed beneath my skin. I truly did not understand why my refusal to eat was suddenly such a problem.
“Do not ask me stupid questions,” he snapped.
I forced myself to swallow the sharp words that rushed to my tongue, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing me lose control.
“Okay,” I said simply.
I walked back to the bed and dropped onto it, deliberately relaxed, then fixed my eyes on him. I stared without blinking, silently daring him to say more. He was clearly fuming, his fists clenched at his sides, while I remained unbothered, my calm only fueling his anger.
Eventually, he got tired of the silent standoff. He turned on his heel and stormed out with the food, slamming the door behind him. The sound echoed through the room, leaving a heavy silence in its wake.
I sighed deeply and let my body fall back onto the bed. My thoughts drifted once more to the trial. What was happening? Why had no one come to tell me whether Taren was free or still imprisoned? The uncertainty gnawed at me relentlessly. Anxiety clawed at my chest until it felt difficult to breathe.
Hours passed before the door opened again.
This time, I jumped down from the bed the moment I saw who had entered. It was Kael. The mere sight of him made my heart stutter. Right behind him was Taren, wheeling in the trolley. Relief crashed over me in a powerful wave, so intense it nearly brought me to my knees. My heart leaped with joy, and warmth flooded every part of me.
“Taren,” I called out, my voice trembling with unmistakable relief.
“Good evening, my lady,” he greeted in his familiar voice, and the sound of it confirmed that I was not imagining things.
“Oh, you are free,” I said breathlessly.
Without thinking, I moved toward him, my body acting on pure instinct. All I wanted was to hug him. It felt like the most natural thing in the world. The movement was innocent, driven by relief and gratitude. I did not even realize what I was doing until Kael’s hand shot out and stopped me, placing a firm barrier between Taren and me.
My head snapped toward Kael, confusion written all over my face. What I saw there made me freeze. He looked furious. His jaw was tight, his eyes dark and sharp.
“What was that all about?” he asked, his glare burning into me.
“What was what all about?” I asked honestly, still not understanding what had just happened.
“What were you trying to do just now?” he demanded.
I glanced at Taren, who looked uncomfortable, before turning back to Kael. “I wanted to hug him. Is that a crime?” I asked, genuinely baffled. I had grown comfortable with Taren. He felt like a friend. There had been nothing inappropriate about it.
“Yes. It is a crime,” Kael answered, and his response shocked me.
“Since when?” I shot back, my own frown forming and settling firmly on my face.
“Since now,” he said firmly. “It is forbidden. Do not push my limits. We already talked about this.”
“We did not talk about this,” I protested. “You only said I should stop speaking in his defense too much or else you would…” I stopped myself abruptly, unwilling to finish the sentence with Taren present.
Kael lifted a brow, clearly waiting for me to continue, but I refused to give him that satisfaction. I would not say anything that could put Taren at risk again.
“Fine,” I said at last, stepping back and glaring at Kael with undisguised disdain.
When I turned back to Taren, I saw suppressed shock on his face. I offered him a small smile, hoping to ease the tension.
“I am so happy you are free at last,” I said sincerely. “I was really worried.”
“Thank you for your concern, my lady,” he replied, giving me a small bow and a polite smile. “It is well appreciated. I was told you did not have lunch. You must be very hungry now.”