Chapter 34 034

Chapter 34 034

Claire's POV

I wasn't sure if this dream of mine was real and if I truly have the ability to save Lucien, but I didn't care, I was ready to do anything just so that I could save his life.

I rushed to the metal bar and began to slam very hard on it.

"Let me out! Please, somebody!" I screamed at the top of my voice, even though it hurt to hit so hard on the metal, It didn't matter to me.

When I first met Lucien, I wanted nothing more than to escape him. His arrogance, his cruelty, the fact that he was planing to kill me and would do anything just to find that way to achieve tang made me more scared of him.

But now? Now something had shifted inside me, twisted into something I could not name. The thought of him dying made my chest tighten until I could not breathe. My life had become tangled with his somehow, bound by invisible threads I did not understand because even with how many times he had insisted he wanted me dead.

He never showed it, he took me into his home. Give me a good room better than what I had with my parents, make me sit on the sample table with him like I was his equal, there was no way I would deny that.

"Help! Anyone!" My voice cracked, as did my throat became sore from screaming.

I knew how this looked. I knew they all thought I was responsible for poisoning him. But none of that mattered. Nothing mattered except getting to that garden and finding those plants before time ran out.

Footsteps echoed down the corridor and I pressed my face against the bars.

"Please, I need to get out. I need to see—"

"What are you doing?" Shark appeared, his expression weary. Not angry like Austin, just tired. "You do realize that screaming would only make Austin more furious, I think right now you should remain calm and I hope that I can be able to plead on your behalf."

His tone was gentle, almost apologetic. It caught me off guard.

"Shark." Sweat dripped down my forehead. "I can save him. I know how to save Lucien."

He stared at me for a long moment, then laughed. But there was no real humor in it, just sadness. "Claire, even the best doctors cannot do anything for him. You are just….." He paused, seeming to regret his next words. "You are just an ordinary human."

"I know how it sounds." I gripped the bars so tight my hands turned white. "But I am telling the truth. There is a cure. I saw it. I know exactly what to do."

"Saw it?" His brow furrowed. "What does that mean?"

How could I explain? How could I tell him about the vision, the voice, the garden bathed in moonlight? He would think I had lost my mind.

"Just give me a chance." My voice broke. "Please, Shark. Let me try."

He rubbed his face with both hands, conflicted. "If I take you there and you cannot save him... Claire, Austin will become even more enraged. He might kill you on the spot. Or worse, he might torture you first."

"I do not care." The words came out fierce, certain. "Whatever he wants to do to me afterwards, let him do it. But I have to try."

"Austin will……"

"I said I do not care!" Tears burned my eyes. "Do you understand? I do not care what happens to me. Just let me see him. Let me try."

Shark studied my face for what felt like forever. I watched as his expression suddenly became tender and he decided to believe me. Or maybe he just saw how desperate I was.

"You really mean that." It was not a question.

"Every word."

He pulled out his keys and my heart raced with anticipation and anxiousness. The lock clicked open and I stumbled out, nearly falling. Shark caught my arm, and helped me maintain my balance again.

"Can you walk?"

"I can run if I have to."

We moved through the corridors quickly. My body screamed with every step but I pushed through it. The pain did not matter. Nothing mattered except reaching Lucien's chamber.

As we turned the final corner, I saw Austin standing outside the door. His posture went rigid when he spotted us.

"What is this?" His voice was low, dangerous. "Why have you released her, Shark?" There was rage in those eyes and when he stared at Shark, I could see the warning in them and I knew shark was risking so much just to let me out.

"She says she can save him." Shark stepped partially in front of me. "She knows of a cure."

"A cure?" Austin's laugh was harsh, cruel. "Are you hearing yourself? You are a fool for believing her lies. She is just trying to escape, trying to—"

"I am not trying to escape!" I cut him off, knowing that I didn't have much time and didn't want to stand here and listen to what he has to say . "I want to save him. I need to save "

"Oh, you need to?" Austin moved toward me and I forced myself not to back away. "You poison him and now you play the savior? What game are you running?"

"No game. There is a plant in the garden. Silver leaves with purple veins. If I can get it, if I can brew it correctly—"

"Enough!" Austin's hand shot out toward me.

Shark moved between us. "Brother, wait."

"Move aside."

"Come on, right now I don't think that there is any harm to let her try, and he Alpha is already dying" Shark's voice stayed calm, reasonable. "If she fails, you can do whatever you want with her. But if there is even a chance—"

Shark was still trying to convince him when we were suddenly interrupted by footsteps that walked towards the hallway.

We all turned.

I could feel a cold shiver run down my spine as the figure slowly emerged.

Cal walked toward us, his presence filling the corridor like a gathering storm. His expression was unreadable, his eyes cold as winter lakes.

Nobody moved, I held my breath not sure that I could even if I wanted. There was definitely a reason he was the reason to ask the prince of hell, the aura around him was so intimidating and not to mention that he was coming at a very wrong time.

Austin's hand fell to his side. Even Shark went still.

Cal's gaze swept over us all, lingering on me for just a moment.