Chapter 25
Lyra's POV
The moment the signal flare tore through the night sky, I twisted the throttle all the way down.
The engine's roar exploded through the valley, wind forcing its way through the gaps in my helmet, pounding against my eardrums until they ached. The mountain road twisted beneath the moonlight like a silver-gray serpent.
I pushed forward with everything I had, hugging the optimal racing line through every turn.
But it didn't take long for me to realize that Vex's skill level far exceeded my expectations.
He rode just ten meters ahead of me, that black motorcycle moving across the mountain road as if it were flat ground. His line choices were impeccably precise, every deceleration and acceleration timed with what seemed like calculated perfection. More importantly, his familiarity with this mountain road had reached a frightening degree. Where the potholes were, where the pavement was rougher, which corners could be taken at more aggressive angles—he knew it all intimately.
The mountain road grew increasingly treacherous. On one side rose steep cliffs with exposed rock, on the other yawned a bottomless valley, the guardrails gleaming faintly in the moonlight. A single mistake, one moment of distraction, and I could plunge into the abyss, shattered beyond recognition.
But I couldn't lose.
I had to get information about Nightfall's supply chain from Vex.
With that thought, I gritted my teeth and began taking bigger risks, attempting to overtake him.
On the next sharp turn, I abandoned the conventional racing line and chose a more aggressive inside line. The motorcycle tilted to its limit, my knee nearly scraping the ground, the body of the bike grazing the guardrail as I cornered, metal friction sparking in the darkness. I could hear the guardrail's piercing screech, could feel death only centimeters away.
This gamble shortened the distance between Vex and me from ten meters to five.
But it still wasn't enough.
Another series of consecutive turns, and I lowered my body again, cutting into the corners at even higher speed. The rear wheel skidded across the ground, the motorcycle wobbling for a heart-stopping moment. I almost thought I'd lost control, but at the last second I stabilized the bike and burst out of the turn.
The gap narrowed further—only three meters now.
The final long straightaway appeared before me. This was my last chance to overtake.
I flattened myself against the bike, the engine releasing a deafening roar as the speedometer needle climbed rapidly. One hundred kilometers per hour. One hundred twenty. One hundred fifty.
Vex and I raced side by side, the finish line just two hundred meters ahead. I could see his profile beneath the helmet, could feel him accelerating with everything he had as well.
The last hundred meters, we flew forward almost touching each other. Fifty meters. Thirty. Ten...
In the end, Vex crossed the finish line first by less than half a bike length.
I followed immediately after, defeated by a margin of one second.
After bringing the bike to a stop, I removed my helmet, sweat sliding down my cheeks. My hands were still trembling slightly—the combined result of adrenaline and tension.
I'd lost.
The thought came with bitter reluctance. Just that close, and I could have gotten information about Nightfall's supply chain.
Vex also removed his helmet, revealing a face with sharp, defined features. He looked to be in his early thirties, with short black hair and keen, appraising eyes. He walked over, looking me up and down, his gaze now holding a measure of interest I couldn't quite read.
"Not bad," he said, his voice low. "It's been a long time since I've encountered a female rider with skills this good. The way you handled those corners just now—that took real courage."
I didn't speak, only watched him calmly, waiting for his verdict.
"According to our agreement, you lost," Vex continued. "So theoretically, you shouldn't be able to come looking for me again."
My heart sank, but I forced myself to remain composed, not allowing any disappointment to show on my face.
"However," he said, his tone shifting as a meaningful smile curved at the corner of his mouth, "I like people with guts."
"And honestly, your performance just now surprised me. So I can give you a second chance. One week from now, same location, second round. If you win, my previous promise still stands. I'll help you investigate any information you want."
I took a deep breath and nodded firmly.
"Deal."
"Good," Vex smiled. "Then I'll see you in a week. Prepare well—next time I won't be holding back."
With that, he put his helmet back on, started his motorcycle, and disappeared into the night with the roar of his engine.
I stood there, watching the direction he'd gone, my fists clenched tight.
One week. I still had one week.
Next time, I had to win.
I rode the motorcycle back to the apartment, expecting the place to be as empty as usual.
But the moment I pushed open the door, I unexpectedly caught sight of Kael's figure.
Kael stood in the kitchen with his back to me, holding a small bottle in his hand, pouring something into my water bottle. At the sound of the door opening, his movements clearly paused for a moment.
But he quickly recovered his composure, discreetly slipping the small bottle into his pocket before turning around, his face arranged in an expression of reproach.
"Coming back this late?" His tone carried obvious displeasure, preemptively questioning me. "Didn't I tell you to stay in the apartment? What exactly have you been doing these past few days?"
I forced myself to remain calm, pretending I hadn't seen anything.
"The injuries from the dungeon haven't fully healed yet. I went out to find a healer and got some herbs."
Kael's expression froze for an instant, something like shock and guilt flashing through his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by coldness.
He let out a cold laugh, his tone full of sarcasm.
"Stop pretending, Lyra. I never ordered anyone in the dungeon to go for the kill. With a werewolf's healing ability, those minor injuries of yours should have healed long ago."
He paused, his gaze growing even colder. "Besides, you were the one who poisoned Mira first. Suffering those punishments—you deserved it."
I laughed coldly in my mind. He'd sent rogues to assault me, and he still had the nerve to say he "never ordered anyone to go for the kill"? Or perhaps in his definition, as long as I didn't die, it didn't count as going for the kill?
I was about to respond when his phone suddenly rang.
He picked it up, glanced at the caller, and his expression immediately changed.
"Mira? What's wrong?" His tone shifted instantly from cold indifference to nervous concern.
Mira's weak voice came through from the other end. Though I couldn't hear the specific words, I could tell she was saying she felt unwell.
"Still dizzy?" Kael's brow furrowed deeply. "There might still be residual toxins. Don't move, I'll be right there."
He hung up the phone and turned to look at me, the tenderness in his eyes vanishing instantly, replaced by warning and threat.
"Stay home and behave yourself. Don't go running around. If I catch you doing anything dishonest again, I won't hesitate to have you thrown back in the dungeon for some proper reflection."
With that, he hurried out of the apartment, the door slamming shut heavily behind him.
I stood there, waiting several minutes to ensure he'd truly left, then immediately walked to the computer and pulled up the apartment's security footage.
I fast-forwarded to that earlier moment, watching Kael's figure on the screen.
In the footage, Kael pulled a small bottle from his pocket, unscrewed the cap, and poured roughly a third of the bottle's liquid into my water bottle.
I recognized that bottle—it was a container for Nightfall, identical to the one I'd seen before in the surveillance recordings.
And this time, the dosage Kael had used was much larger than before.
My fingers gripped the mouse tightly, a chill rising in my chest.
After closing the surveillance footage, I walked to the kitchen and picked up the water bottle.
Opening the lid and looking carefully inside, I could see the water showing a faint blue tint—the color Nightfall displayed before it fully dissolved.
I turned on the faucet and poured out all the water from the bottle, washing away any traces left in the sink. Then I scrubbed it several times, making absolutely certain there was no residue before refilling it with clean water and placing the bottle back in its original position.
I had to act quickly, to get leads on the Blood Moon Cult before Kael's suspicions of me fully solidified.