THE LAST BETRAYAL

As I stood in Damian's arms, an odd weight descended upon my chest. Despite his steady, certain warmth pressing against me, my mind was anything from at ease. I ought to have retreated, asked for more room, and informed him that I needed some time to reflect.

However, I didn't.

Because despite everything I now understood, I still felt a strong desire to stay.

Something deeper, stronger, and more horrifying blazed inside me along with his betrayal.

Love.

And for that, I detested myself.

How was it possible for me to love the man who had destroyed my father? The man who had planned the destruction of everything I had once valued?

He cautiously and hesitantly ran his fingertips over my cheek. Nearly terrified. "I won’t lie to you again, Lyra."

I forcefully swallowed, looking for deceit in his face, but all I saw was the awful, unvarnished truth.

"I need time," I said to myself.

He gave a nod. "I’ll wait for as long as it takes."

We were both aware that we were short on time.

I couldn't sleep that night. I lay awake with Damian's revelation replaying itself over and over in my head. Damian had destroyed my family, just as my father had destroyed his. We were caught in a vicious loop, a never-ending conflict that neither of us had chosen.

I wasn't in bed with Damian. Since his confession, he hadn't been. I wasn't sure if he was punishing himself or giving me space.

I noticed a vibration coming from my nightstand. My phone came to life.

**Unidentified Number:** *Enter the backyard. Right now. Prior to it being too late.

I felt cold.

My heart was pounding when I sat up. Something about the message shot a caution through my body, even though I didn't recognize the number.

I ought to wake Damian.

I should disregard it.

However, I had to put on a robe and leave the room due to an odd pull inside of me.

I stepped outdoors into the cool night air, my bare feet making a sound against the stone walkway. The garden lay in front of me, still and shaded.

Then I caught sight of him.

Half-buried in the shadows, a figure stood by the stone fountain. The low light struck his features as I approached.

Liam.

"What are you doing here?" I muttered.

His eyes were furious, his face strained. Lyra, you must pay close attention. You are unaware of something that has the power to alter everything.

My stomach turned over. "What are you talking about?"

He paused, then let out a harsh sigh. "The arrest of your father. The events that transpired—it wasn't just Damian."

I gasped. "What do you mean?"

He tightened his jaw. "The strings are being pulled by someone else. Someone who wanted Damian and your father to fail."

I felt a surge of uneasiness. "Who?"

Liam pushed his lips together before he spoke.

"Victoria Wolfe."

The ground beneath my feet changed.

The mother of Damian.

No. That was not feasible.

I gave a headshake. "She wouldn’t—"

Liam stated bluntly, "She never wanted you in the first place," Additionally, she never showed forgiveness to your father for the fate of Damian's family. She was the one who made sure your father had no escape, but she allowed Damian to think that this was his war. She issued the final directive to destroy him.

In my ears, my heartbeat screamed.

Damian believed he was in charge and that this was **his** retaliation.

However, it wasn't.

Never had it been.

He was led to believe that he was acting freely since Victoria had planned everything. In actuality, though, she had utilized him in the same way that she had utilized my father.

I balled my fists up. "Does Damian know?"

Liam paused. "Not just yet. However, when he does—" He gave a quick breath. "Lyra, I'm not sure what he'll do. You must be prepared.

I had hated Damian and blamed him for so long. I was aware of the true enemy now, though.

And this house was where she was. observing. Awaiting.

I pivoted and made my way back to the home.

Returning to Damian.

He was sitting at the edge of the bed with his head in his hands when I entered the bedroom. His blue eyes were dark with something unreadable when he looked up as soon as I entered.

"Where were you?" He spoke in a gruff, worried voice.

With the weight of my discoveries bearing down on me, I swallowed. "There’s something you need to know."

He knitted his brows. "Lyra, what’s wrong?"

With shaking hands, I took a step closer. "It wasn’t just you," I said. "It wasn’t just your revenge that destroyed my father."

A shadow swept across his face. "Lyra—"

"Victoria," I swore out the name. "She was in charge of everything. You were used by her, Damian.

His whole body froze.

He remained motionless and silent for a considerable amount of time. And then he stood up gently. "What did you just say?"

I let out a trembling breath. "The state of Victoria. Everything was manipulated by her. She tricked you. She—"

Damian moved so quickly that I could hardly see him.

He was in front of me one moment. Then he struck the wall with his fist.

The room reverberated with the hit.

I winced.

His jaw was clinched so tightly that it appeared painful, and his chest heaved. He snarled, "Tell me everything,"

Yes, I did.

Everything Liam had said, I told him. Every little thing. Each deliberate action.

Damian's expression darkened as he spoke.

His hands were shaking when I was done.

He continued, "She used me," in a voice so low it made my skin crawl. "She made me believe—" His breathing was labored and erratic as he interrupted himself. "I was a pawn in her game."

He retreated when I grabbed for him.

"Damian," I said in a whisper.

As soon as his eyes met mine, I noticed something I had never seen before.

Not rage.

Not revenge.

Cold, unadulterated rage.

I said, "What are you going to do?"

He opened his mouth to respond, but before he could—

**BANG.**

Through the house came a gunshot.

My blood became icy.

Damian's head jerked in the direction of the entrance.