Chapter 168 TRADED TRUST
Chapter 168 TRADED TRUST
MALIA’S POV:
Morning breaks in a haze of soft gold, spilling through the curtains and I wake up trapped in a cocoon of suffocating heat, wrapped tightly in Lucien’s strong arms.
Before I even open my eyes, I feel his soft, lingering kisses tracing the skin of my collarbone, moving slowly up to my neck, and resting over my jaw.
"Morning, Little Mate…” Lucien rasps, his deep voice is thick with sleep and warmth as he pulls my naked body impossibly closer, burying his face in my hair and drawing in a deep breath. A few fragmented pieces of his thoughts filter in…
’I still can't believe you're really mine, Malia… That you chose to stay with me.’
A sudden ache pierces through my chest until it feels as if a blade is twisting in my ribs. I had barely slept throughout last night because every time I closed my eyes, the image of the blood-filled glass vial hidden in my vanity burned against my eyelids.
The sheer weight of my deception kept me awake, staring at ceiling while the man I just betrayed slept peacefully beside me, holding me like I was the most precious thing in the world to him.
I force a weak smile, turning my head to press a gentle kiss onto his Lucien’s cheek, I have to play my part to perfection after all so he doesn’t suspect anything. "Good morning, Lucien..." I whisper back.
I have to get that vial to the servants' quarters as soon as possible… Before I lose my nerve! Before this sickening guilty feeling makes me throw myself at his feet and confess everything!
Suddenly, a harsh, familiar snarl tears through the back of my mind and I recoil!
‘Traitor! Snake!!’ Whore snarls, thrashing wildly against the mental walls with which I locked her away last night. ‘You betrayed Mate!’
‘Shut up!’ I snap back internally, driving her deeper into the dark, cold corners of my consciousness even as the guilt twists deeper into me. ‘I did what I had to do! Stay out of this!’
Of course, Lucien doesn't notice the war waging inside my mind and he suddenly sits up… I watch a dangerous grin spread across his handsome face and before I can react, he scoops his arms beneath my thighs and lifts me off the bed bridal style!
“Lucien!” I gasp, wrapping my arms around his broad neck out of pure instinct as he carries me across the room and into the bathroom.
He lowers me into the massive, steaming marble tub that the servants prepared earlier and the hot water swirls around our skin, but even the heat does nothing to melt the cold lump of dread in my stomach now. All I can think about is the vial… Lucien pulls me into his arms again and the air turns thick with steam as he pulls me down against his thick hardened length. Surprisingly, He simply starts to bathe my body slowly in the warm water and the simple gesture makes me feel like I’m drowning in my own emotions… This affectionate side of him is making this hard for me.
After we’re both clean, Lucien carries me out of the bathroom and sets me on my feet gently. Then, he leaves a brief kiss on my forehead and his hands linger on my waist like he hates the very idea of pulling away. I can still feel his hard erection straining against me.
"I have to leave to take care of something important…” Lucien says suddenly, brushing a loose strand of hair behind my ear.
I nod, swallowing the lump in my throat. “Uh… Sure. Is it alright if I go see my friends today? I’m still worried about the silver poisoning from last time…”
I would be going to the servants' quarters instead…
Lucien leans down and presses another firm kiss to my forehead. "You can go wherever you want now, Malia. You already chose to stay with me so I know you're not going to run away anymore."
My heart drops into my stomach. "Right..." I whisper, forcing a smile. "I'm never leaving your side again…”
"Meet me back here when you’re done,” he adds suddenly and his silver eyes flash with a strange light. “I… I have something important for you."
"Okay.” I say quietly and he finally pulls away to get dressed.
Immediately He leaves the room, I rush to get dressed and my fingers tremble as I retrieve the small leather pouch from the vanity. I slide the glass vial filled with Lucien's blood into the pocket of my dress, smoothing down the fabric until there isn't a single bulge.
I step out of the grand doors with my knees shaking and my heart literally banging against my chest! I feel like a criminal!
As I approach the main doors, I see two towering Lycan guards and they both exchange puzzled looks as I get closer but when I walk past them, they simply bow their heads in respect, stepping aside without asking a single question!
It appears Lucien trusts me so much he didn't even have the guards follow me… A fresh wave of nausea washes over me. I had lied through my teeth and told him I love him.
I hurry down the paths, bypassing the main courtyard and slipping into the smaller path that lead straight to the servants' quarters where several female wolves shuffle around in muted silence with their heads low, performing menial chores. There are a few guards at the entrance too and I turn away before they can see me.
I spot an older female werewolf carrying pots and pans outside alongside other maids and I walk up to her, my voice comes out barely a whisper. “Um, Excuse me... I'm looking for a servant named Meredith?”
The older wolf doesn't even lift her head to look at me, she just hurries away from me in fear and most of the servants around her also scurry away!
Oh no… This was not in the plan!
“Wait, Please!” I follow the women to a side entrance watching their retreating backs… Seriously? Were my efforts all for nothing? How do I get the vial to Kieran now…
“Are you Malia?”
I jump at the sudden whisper and whirl around to see a small, hunched figure step out. It’s a young werewolf girl with dirty brown hair, sunken cheeks, and dull eyes.
"Are you Malia?" she whispers again with her voice sounding raspy and thin.
“Uh… Yes," I say carefully, "Are you Meredith?"
She nods nervously, taking a quick, paranoid glance around before stepping closer to me. "Do you have it?"
My breath hitches and I reach into my dress pocket, my fingers wrap around the glass vial and I pull it out just enough for her to see the dark, crimson liquid shining in the dim light. She nods eagerly, stretching out her hands and I carefully hand it over to her, my hands shaking so violently I almost drop it.
Meredith snatches the vial from my palm with lightning speed, immediately tucking it deep into the folds of her apron.
"How..." I swallow hard. "How are you going to get it to Kieran? Is he still here in the valley?”
Meredith turns her sharp, sunken eyes onto me and her expression turns cold and unreadable.
"If I were you, Alpha's daughter," she whispers ominously, leaning in close, "I'd worry less about how this gets to where it's going... and worry a lot more about your own neck."
Before I can even process her strange warning, Meredith turns on her heel and scurries away into the doorway, disappearing like a ghost into the shadows.
I stand there alone with my heart feeling cold and empty.
It's done…The plan is in motion, Kieran would have Lucien’s blood and make the weapon to destroy the Lycans. The women will get rescued and I will avenge my dead family…
I turn around and walk back towards the grand manor with my feet feeling like heavy blocks of lead now.
I did the right thing… So why does this feel like a nightmare? Why do I feel so sick?