Chapter 16 SET ON FIRE
CHAPTER SIXTEEN | SET ON FIRE
DAMIEN
After whispering into Lyra's ear, Hailey got up, pretending Lyra had slapped her. We both saw everything and exchanged a look.
“I am sorry. I just thought we should reconcile before your execution,” Hailey said.
“What execution?”
We had already told her Lyra would be pardoned, and yet she was saying something entirely different to Lyra. That meant she was planning something else.
Not only had we caught her lying, we had also caught her pretending.
She left, and Lyra was left alone with the food. She took a sniff before turning to the side.
My gut told me something about that meal wasn't right. Not just because Hailey lied about the supposed execution but also because she took so long to deliver the food.
“She can't eat the food,” I said, springing to my feet to stop her from taking a bite, but my brother placed a hand on my shoulder.
“Look.”
It was subtle, so subtle that anyone would have missed it, but we didn't. We saw her turn, pretend to eat the food, and in reality pour everything into a bowl of water and close it.
I smiled, relieved that my mate wasn't just beautiful, she was also intelligent.
After she crawled to the door, calling out for guards to help because her stomach hurt, no one came. That was very strange. More than half the guards had been posted to watch her. Where had they suddenly gone?
She screamed as if she were hurt, but we knew the truth since we had seen her throw the food into the water bowl. She was most likely playing along with something.
“Don't you think we should go and check on her?” Damian asked after she fainted.
“Hold on,” I ordered.
A few minutes passed and nothing happened. We decided to check for real when we spotted someone we had never seen before.
I quickly pulled my brother and we hid behind a storage room. The stranger opened the cell, carried Lyra, and walked out of the house.
As much as I wanted to shoot him and take her from his arms, I held back. We needed to get to the bottom of this no matter what happened. So I let him lead us to the person after her.
It was Hailey the man had taken Lyra to.
She laughed, calling her stupid for falling for the trick.
“What should I do to her?” the man asked.
“Set her ablaze,” came Hailey’s response.
The words had barely fallen from her mouth before Lyra jumped to her feet, screaming.
“Stay away from you monster.” She wanted to run, but she was caught immediately.
“Has the poison not kicked in yet?” Hailey sneered.
Damian was impatient. He wanted to burst in and save Lyra, but I knew we couldn't go in yet. We needed to listen a little longer.
So when he tried to move, I held him back and signaled him to stay put.
“I didn't eat the food. You must be crazy to think I'd trust you again after everything you've done,” Lyra spat.
Hailey rolled her eyes, irritation flashing across her face. “It doesn't matter. You're going to die in my hands. Don't worry, it isn't your fault that I'll kill you. It's mine. I just can't watch the love of my life be with someone else.”
Lyra picked up the first thing she could find, a small stick on the floor that wouldn't scare dogs. “Stay away from me or you won't like what I do to you,” she threatened.
The man brought out petroleum and matches, ready to set her ablaze. They only needed her to stay still now.
“You can't do this to me. The twins will ask for me. They will forgive me and you'll regret this. They'll know the truth about you.” Her voice broke as she spoke, and my heart broke too.
How had we missed all the signs that Hailey was a lovesick psychopath? Even though she had shown warning signs, we still chose to believe her over our mate because she was a sister to us.
“Oh honey. They already forgave you. And that is why I must kill you myself. I can't let you live. You're a threat to my happily ever after. Once you die, I can finally be with my one true love, Damien.” A dreamy look was in her eyes and she placed a hand on her chest, excited.
I almost gasped when she mentioned my name. Even Lyra was shocked. We had thought she loved Damian and not me.
“And when they ask about you, I'll have the perfect answer. My friend here,” she patted the big man, “is going to punch me in the face so hard that I'll pass out. The twins will find me and I'll tell them you attacked me and ran off. They'll look for you for a while, not knowing you’re six feet under already.” She clapped, laughing uncontrollably.
I couldn't take it any longer. I knew for a fact Hailey had been framing Lyra all along. I couldn't believe we fell so easily for it.
We had failed her as her mates. We were no better than the members of her old pack.
When the huge man tried to pour petroleum on her, I shot him without hesitation.
Hailey screamed, tracking the shot to where we had come out of hiding. Horror flickered across her face before it was replaced by sadness.
She rushed toward us, her perfect act back on. “Oh my goodness. Thank God you're here. I found Lyra trying to escape with this guy and they planned to hurt me.” She cried, falling into Damian's arms, thinking he would welcome her again.
It still baffled me how she was in love with me and not Damian. She had always been extremely close to him, and she would rather be stuck in a room with me than with him. I always thought she was intimidated by my presence.
Lyra looked down, thinking we would believe her and take her side. Instead of saying anything, Damian held Hailey down while I went to get the same fuel they planned to use on Lyra.
“What is going on?” Hailey asked, still acting innocent.
No words were needed. I poured the fuel over her while she screamed.
I looked Lyra in the eyes, letting vulnerability show for the first time since we met. “I am so sorry… we are sorry.” With that, I struck the match and threw it at Hailey.