Chapter 188

Blue stood on the balcony, watching the sunset on the horizon. His hand was placed in a sling to support his wrist, a stress ball in his good hand, squeezing gently.

For a week, he'd stayed locked in his room because he realised that the best way to protect himself was to stay away.

He couldn't keep up the pretence of not feeling anything each time he saw Maren with Lyra, it broke him more and more. So, he chose to lock himself in, the pain in his wrist a welcome distraction to the pain in his chest.

The time was finally here, and even though he dreaded it, he was also looking forward to it. He wanted to return to his normal life, to his arts. He'd missed that part of him so much. Back then, he was just a simple man with a simple hobby.

But not anymore, he was soon going to become free, and this time, he would cherish every single moment of his life, choking himself over and over again. He didn't need Maren to love him to feel valued, no, he valued himself more than anything in the world, and Maren could kiss his ass for all he cared.

"Blue," Bianca called behind him.

She had come to get him.

"He's not returned yet?" He asked without turning back.

Bianca went over and placed a hand on his shoulder, "Come on, he will show up. Not showing means he wants you as his mate which is a lie, and..." she gently turned Bkue to face her, her eyes gleaming with mischief, "Even if he did want that, that time had passed, am I right?" She asked, grinning.

Blue smiled, "You're right. Maren? Who the hell is that?" He asked, chuckling.

Bianca smiled and pulled Blue into a side hug, "You're such a cute, yummy fellow. Trust me, you'll find your real soul mate back home." She kissed his cheek and stepped back.

"Are they ready?" Blue questioned.

"Damon and Dane? Yeah... I understand why you have to leave tonight, but, I'm really going to miss you," she sounded sad, her eyes moistening slightly.

Blue inhaled shakily, "I'll miss you, too, and everyone else... except him and her, of course," he smirked and took Bianca's hand, leading her toward the wardrobe.

"Now, quit being emotional and help me get this luggage downstairs." He opened the wardrobe and pointed at his small luggage.

"Aye eye, Captain," Bianca smiled and bent over, carrying the light luggage with ease.

"Wait," Blue suddenly held her hand, pausing her steps.

"Yeah? Forgot something?" She asked, raising her brow.

"Not quite," he squared and opened a small section of his luggage, pulling out a paper and a few pictures, "Just making sure he really becomes history after tonight," he waved the pictures and a hand sketch he took of Maren in front of Bianca.

"Wow... those are beautiful," Bianca marvelled.

Blue scoffed, not for once glancing at the pictures, "Of course they are, I'm good at what I do. Unfortunately, these belong here now," he walked over to the corner and threw them into the small bin, turning away before his eyes betrayed him and peeked.

Bianca sighed, "Yeah..." She gently picked up the luggage and resumed walking out of the room.

Those pictures and images weren't just beautiful because of Blue's talent. They were beautiful because it was drawn with the soul and heart... with love.

But, just as Blue had said... unfortunately, they belonged to the bin now.

She really wished Lyra had never surfaced, everything would have been so blissful between Blue and Maren,  maybe Blue would have become a merman and might even be with child like Nixxon.

She just wanted more babies to spoil, now, Lyra had interrupted he plan and for that she would make the bitch pay through her nose tonight.

The moment Blue stepped out behind Bianca, was the same time Maren emerged naked from the water, his face devoid of any emotions as his eyes locked on him.

It felt like Maren's eyes were lasers, seeing right through his flesh and bones.

"Come on," Bianca gently tugged Blue away and toward the shore as Armani handed Maren a pair of clothes.

Blue didn't mean to, but he glanced back, and when he did, Maren's face was no longer emotionless, it was broken, helpless, scared.

He tore his eyes away, none of those emotions were his business, after all he was the one being rejected, he would never stoop so low as to run back into Maren's arms.

Everyone was already gathered, standing a good distance away from the white, chalky circle that Neireda and drawn on the sand.

Blue approached apprehensively, looking at Neired for instructions.

"Step into the circle, Blue," Neireda instructed.

Blue took a deep breath and slowly lifted his legs into the circle, his eyes glancing at Lyra who stood separately from everyone, her eyes flashing with malicious content.

He clenched his fists, looking away. There was no need to entertain her madness, everything was about to end in a few minutes.

"My Prince, please step into the circle," Neired spoke softly, looking behind Blue.

Blue stiffened, this was the closest he was going to stand with Maren in a long time. His heart, a traitor, started to beat faster and faster as he felt Maren coming up behind him.

Maren stepped into the circle, his eyes looking at no one else but Blue. He thought that hours of swimming on the coast would numb his heart and body, but it did nothing.

He felt a huge weight of pain settle uncomfortably in his chest, pressing down like it wanted to shatter the beating muscle. The sling hanging over Blue's shoulder and holding up his arm was a brutal blow to his guilt.

He had done that, a final hit, and this time, it was physical.

Blue could feel Maren staring, but he never looked at him, he kept his eyes darting between Neireda and the ground, his nails digging into his palms to restrain himself.

"Are you both ready?" Neireda questioned, the soft waves a good company to her surreal voice.

"Blue, we wouldn't have needed any of this if –"

"Yes, I am ready," Blue confirmed, interrupting whatever nonsense Maren wanted to say.

Maren frowned, his hands shaking as he almost reached out to hold Blue, but, he no longer had that right, especially not with what they were about to do.

"Then, we shall begin, but before that, we need to clarify that the basis of your separation is indeed genuine," Neireda turned to Lyra.

"Please, come forward, Lyra," she beckoned gently.

Lyra quickly made her face with her fake sad look, her eyes immediately moistened to make her look vulnerable and scared.

"Stand here, please," Neireda pointed to the curve of the circle, where Lyra would stand between Maren and Blue without entering the line.

Lyra obeyed, her watery eyes gazing at Maren for attention but he never looked at her, not once did he take his eyes away from Blue.

'Look all you want, Maren. Just a few minutes more and you'll never look at him the same way again.'

"Lyra, what is about to happen is a sacred ritual, and a damaging experience to the souls of the individual involved. In front of everyone, we would like to ask one more time, if you still claim that Blue assaulted you on his own free will..." Neireda moved slowly, circling them.

Maren's eyes suddenly caught something in Neireda's hand, it was the pixie-dust sack he had seen with Dante earlier that day.

Now, his interest was piqued, he needed to know what was inside the sack.

He didn't need to guess for long because in the next second, Neireda paused behind Lyra and smoothly pulled out an oval-shaped crystal stone.

His breath hitched, he knew what that was. Every menfolk knew what that was.