Chapter 114 114

Chapter 114 114
LYKA

The soft indigo glow of the sun setting... or perhaps rising, I couldn’t quite tell... filtered through the thin curtains and spilled gently into the room, painting everything in a muted haze. The light crept across my face, forcing my eyes open as its brightness pressed against my eyelids. I groaned softly, shifting beneath the covers, my body heavy with lingering exhaustion. A slow stretch rippled through my limbs, my muscles protesting lazily after the long night. But then I froze. There was warmth against me. Not just warmth... a body.
My breath caught in my throat as awareness flooded in, sharp and unrelenting. Memories from earlier that morning came crashing into my mind like a violent wave, dragging every emotion along with them. The chaos. The fear. The moment I had nearly lost my life. And now… this. A bitter scoff formed in my mind.
How shameless can someone be? I thought. Sleeping with my mate after everything that happened… after I almost got killed.
The irony struck me almost immediately, and I nearly laughed at myself. How shameless are you, Lyka?
A small, knowing smile tugged at my lips despite everything. Carefully, I began to shift, intending to slip out of the bed without disturbing him. My movements were slow, calculated... almost cautious, as though I were trying to escape something fragile.
But before I could even lift the blanket fully off my body, a firm arm tightened around me.
I gasped softly as I was pulled back against him.
“Where do you think you’re going?” his voice came, low and laced with amusement.
I squeezed my eyes shut briefly, biting my lower lip in mild frustration. Caught.
“What are you doing?” I shot back, forcing a teasing tone into my voice as I turned slightly to face him. “I’m going to my room, of course. Or did you think I’m as free as you are?”
A deep chuckle rumbled from his chest, rich and warm. I felt the vibration travel through his body and into mine, sending an unexpected shiver down my spine.
“Look at how you’re blushing,” Derrick murmured, his voice dipping lower, more intimate. “You must have been pleased last night.”
Heat rushed to my face instantly, my cheeks burning as his words sank in. I hated how easily he could fluster me, how effortlessly he could pull reactions out of me that I couldn’t control. I turned my face away slightly, hoping he wouldn’t notice just how much his teasing affected me.
But Derrick didn’t continue. The laughter faded. The warmth in the air shifted... subtly at first, then unmistakably. Something was wrong.
I frowned, sensing the sudden change. The atmosphere in the room grew heavier, almost suffocating, like a storm quietly gathering strength before unleashing its fury.
“What’s going on?” I asked, lifting my head to look at him properly.
His expression had changed completely.
Gone was the teasing glint in his eyes. In its place was something darker… something calculating.
“I want to ask you a question,” he said slowly, his voice now controlled... too controlled. “And I want your honest answer.”
A flicker of unease stirred in my chest.
“Sure,” I replied, trying to keep my tone steady despite the tension creeping into my veins. “You can ask.”
His gaze locked onto mine, intense and unyielding.
“That sword,” he began. “I didn’t question you when you brought it back. I assumed you had your reasons… maybe more evil spirits to deal with.”
My fingers curled slightly against the sheets.
“But that explanation doesn’t sit right with me anymore,” he continued, his voice sharpening. “So tell me, Lyka… why did you really bring the sword?”
My heart skipped. Does he suspect something?
My thoughts raced, colliding into one another. The demon. Its recent behavior. The way things had been spiraling out of control. Was it obvious? Had I been careless? No.
I couldn’t let him see through me. Not now.
“What do you mean?” I said lightly, forcing a small laugh. “It’s nothing serious. I just kept it as a souvenir. You know… people might not believe me when I tell them I actually fought pirates. At least this way, I have proof.”
I chuckled softly, hoping the sound would make my lie more convincing. But Derrick didn’t laugh.
“Oh, really?” he said, his voice cold.
The shift was immediate.
“Are you done having a good laugh?”
My breath hitched.
I looked at him, truly looked at him this time... and what I saw made my stomach twist.
The air in the room had changed completely. It felt heavier, thicker, almost suffocating. And Derrick… he wasn’t just looking at me.
He was glaring.
“So,” he continued, his tone laced with scorn, “you kept it as a souvenir… so you can kill me whenever I act up. Is that it?”
Fear crawled up my spine. My throat went dry as I swallowed hard, unsure of what to say... or who exactly I was speaking to.
Because in that moment, I couldn’t tell.
Was it Derrick? Or… him?