Chapter 189

Chapter 189
He watched her slowly drop the crystal stone behind an unsuspecting Lyra, then she resumed circling them like nothing had happened. 

Neireda paused on the side of the circle, facing Lyra, "For the last time, Lyra, in front of the ocean, the Princes, and their families and friends, I ask you; do you swear by the seven seas that Blue assaulted your human body on the day you surfaced the ocean?" Her voice was calm, but everyone could feel the compelling power beneath it.

She wasn't asking a friend, she was asking as the sea's most powerful witch. 

Lyra let her tears stream down her face, her eyes snapping up to Blue's face.

"Yes! I swear on the seven seas. This human, Blue had assaulted me on the first day I surfaced in the ocean," She pointed a trembling finger at Blue.

Silence fell.

The only sounds were the churning water in the ocean.

Lyra felt a sense of danger, she glanced at Maren, expecting to see his usual pity in his eyes, instead, she found rage, anger, unbridled hatred, and very, very, blazing golden eyes.

And, he was looking at her, his golden eyes as sharp as a two-edged sword.

Blue was surprised at the reaction, he, too, was expecting their usual lovely victim and supporter act, but when he saw the change in Maren, his heart leapt.

He couldn't mistake that look, it was a look of realisation, a furry born from the feeling of deception and regret.

"Maren... I know my situation angers you, but that is why you have to hurry and sever your bond. Cht hin away from your life, he deserves to be alone –"

"Step back, Lyra," Maren commanded, his voice surprisingly calm for the fury he was emanating. 

Lyra blinked slowly, unsure why Maten asked her to step back but she did, and that was when she saw it.

The oval-shaped crystal stone wasn't clear anymore, it was red, a blazing hot red, indicating the malicious intent of the person close to it.

"No," Lyra gasped, "No!" She kicked the stone far away from her, her body trembling as she risked looking up at Maren's face, her face ashen. 

"Don't worry, I've got many," Dante walked over and emptied another sack of crystal stones beside Lyra's feet, "I told you you'd be sushi," he whispered and returned to Armani's side. 

"Maren... no, this... this –"

"This is what, Lyra? I dare you to say that the stone of truth is wrong," Maren strode toward her, his eyes blazing with hate.

"Maren... I, I did it for you... For us, I love you, my Prince," She sobbed, falling to her knees.

"Do you realise what you've done?! What have you cost me?!" Maren growled, taking the final step toward her but Lyra suddenly lunged, a dagger in her hand as she dove toward Blue.

Bam! 

A thud.

"Argh!" Lyra screamed in pain, her hand clutching her bleeding thigh.

"That was personal, I've been meaning to do that for ages," Bianca smirked, returning the gun to a shocked Armani. 

"Cool," Armani mouthed. 

"Maren, please, help! You know I can't heal fast, I'm not royal. Please, Nixxon, your golden blood can get me out of this misery, please!"

"If you mean to say that my pregnant mate should cut himself open and bleed onto you, umm... let me think..." Vernon tapped his chin with a finger, "Ah, the answer is no. We need all the blood we have for our baby. Try Neireda," he pointed to the witch.

"Oh, I'll help," Neireda walked forward and squatted in front of Lyra.

Lyra scrambled toward her, her bloodied hand clutching the witch's leg, "Please, please, Neireda, heal me, I don't want to die, please!" She cried, her lips trembling with fear.

Click!

A metal collar snapped around Lyra's neck.

"No! Take it off me, take it off me!" Lyra trashed around, the fear of the collar overriding the gunshot on her thigh.

"No, that's the perfect punishment for aspiring sorcerers who use their power for evil," Neireda stood, stepping away from her.

Lyra stilled, "You... you knew?" She asked shakily.

"I am the most powerful witch, Lyra. Of course I knew, from the moment I set my eyes on you, your darkness was oozing,' Neireda said, "You broke into my home, stole potions from my vault, stole my books and enlightened yourself on how to tap into people's emotions and control them, how to wipe out certain memories. Of course, I knew, Lyra." Neireda sighed. 

It was all clicking in Maren's head, his Cher felt heavy with guilt. All that time, Bkue cried his soul out trying to tell him the truth, but he had dismissed his mate and believed some evil mermaid. He even asked to break their bond.

"Then, that night..." Maren started, his voice slightly trembling as he gazed hatefully at Lyra, "That night he accused me," he paused, not daring to say Blue's name, he felt unworthy of that name on his tongue.

"Did we?" He asked slowly, fearing her answer.

Lyra groaned painfully, shaking her head, "We... we just kissed –"

"Bitch!" Bianca threw a stone at her, hitting the back of Lyra's head.

"I kissed you?" Disgust laced Maren's voice.

Lyra nodded, "Yes, but it was only because you were under my hypnosis, but, Blue felt the pain through his bond and... he screamed. You heard his screaming and pushed me away. I had to erase your memory, that's why you had the headache that night," 

"No, no, no, Bianca, you already shot her. Stay," Vernon pulled Bianca back as she lunged to go give Lyra a serious beating.

Maren felt hollow. 

That same night, instead of confirming his mate and apologising for kissing someone else, he had broken his wrist. 

He had hurt Blue so much, he felt shame and regret coil deep in his stomach. 

"I'm ready for the ritual," Blue finally spoke, his voice quiet, slowly looking away from Lyra's bleeding figure.

Everyone stilled. 

He knew they were expecting him to run back to Maren, but he was about to disappoint them.

He was glad everyone knew the truth now, especially Maren. But, he wasn't about to get back with a person who had zero trust in him. 

The ritual will hold, and after that, he'd go home, he didn't care what they did with Lyra, he just wanted to escape all the chaos. 

Maren turned, the gold disappearing from his eyes. 

"Blue..." he called, stepping forward in slow, cautious steps, "Blue..." he fell to his knees, looking up at Blue with tears falling like rain down his cheeks.