Chapter XXV

Lily found herself reluctantly confined to a seemingly off the grid safe house.

As she impatiently tapped her fingers on the armrest of the sofa, her mind raced with thoughts of what Alexander, vampire and werewolf hybrid was doing.

She still haven't came to terms that he was what he is.

Her eyes scanned the room, landing on a dusty bookshelf filled with forgotten tales and antiquated mysteries. This safe house had become their temporary refuge from the world of secrets they had immersively embraced.

But for Lily, the waiting game was starting to wear thin.

Sighing deeply, Lily's mind wandered back to where everything had started.

The thought of Alexander's hands ignited a fiery passion within her. She craved more moments like those - where danger danced gracefully with excitement.

Suddenly, a faint sound caught her attention outside the safe house's window. Her pulse quickened as she imagined Alexander's triumphant return, bearing news of their next thrilling endeavor. Lily leaped up from the couch and rushed towards the window, pulling back the curtains with eager anticipation.

But instead of Alexander's familiar figure standing before her, there was only silence and darkness. Disappointment washed over her momentarily until determination sparked in her eyes.

"I want some coffee."

Lily sat alone at the kitchen table, lost in thought as she stirred her coffee. She found herself lost in a whirlwind of emotions as she reminisced about the electrifying touch of Alexander,

Her bodyguard, Lucas, entered the kitchen and took a seat across from her, munching on a piece of toast.

In an effort to make conversation, Lucas asked how Lily was doing.

However, Lily's response was less than enthusiastic, claiming that everything was "same old, same old."

Lucas sensed that there was more to the story and asked if there was anything new to report.

Lily let out a deep sigh, knowing that Lucas was trying to pry information out of her.

Lily's mind wandered back to that fateful encounter. The way Alexander's fingertips lightly grazed her arm sent shivers down her spine, igniting a fire within her soul that she had never experienced before.

She bit her lip nervously and looked away, her expression a mix of shame and sadness. Lucas arched an eyebrow, triumphant. “So it’s Alexander,” he said softly. She nodded.

Lucas asked how her boyfriend was doing, trying to show genuine interest in her life.

However, Lily seemed hesitant to answer, making it clear that she didn't want to share any further details with him. Lucas respected her wishes and tried to change the subject, but not before reassuring her that he was there for her if she ever needed to talk.

Lucas leaned back against the wall, a smirk playing at his lips. “I always knew there was something between you two,” he said, his voice low. “But I didn’t think it was this serious.”

Lily felt a flush spread across her cheeks as she thought about Alexander. She couldn’t deny the attraction she felt towards him, but she still didn’t know what his true intentions were.

“What are you going to do?” Lucas asked, his eyes locked onto hers.

Lily shook her head, her mind racing with thoughts and emotions. She didn’t know what to do. She was caught between her feelings for Alexander and the dangerous situation that he was in.

“I don’t know,” she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper. “I just want everything to go back to normal.”

Lucas nodded, his expression softening. “I know,” he said. “And I’m here for you. Whatever you need.”

Lily felt a sense of gratitude wash over her

, knowing that she could rely on Lucas. As much as she valued his support, however, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was alone in this. She didn't know who to trust or who to turn to.

As if sensing her thoughts, Lucas leaned closer to her. "You don't have to face this alone," he said. "I'll be here for you, every step of the way. That's why Alexander have me here."

As she sat there as she looked at Lucas. He had always been there for her, even when things got tough. She knew that she could count on him, no matter what.

As the night wore on, Lily found herself torn between her feelings for Alexander and the danger that surrounded him. She didn't know what to do, but she knew that she had to make a decision soon.

Suddenly, the sound of shattering glass broke through the silence. Lily's heart leapt into her throat as she realized that they were under attack.

Lucas quickly transformed himself into a werewolf and motioned for Lily to follow him. They nervously advanced towards the noise, their hearts beating wildly. When they arrived at the corner, they spotted a group of armed men in the middle of the room.

Lucas valiantly charged forward to fight the men, but he was outnumbered. In the blink of an eye, everything went dark.

Lily woke up in a dark room, her head throbbing with pain. She tried to get up, but her hands were tied behind her back. Panic crept up her spine as she remembered the attack at the safe house.

The door opened, and a group of men entered the room. They wore masks, making it impossible for her to identify them. One of them stepped forward, his eyes narrowing as he looked at Lily.

"So you're the king's beloved," he said, his voice laced with malice.

Lily's eyes widened with fear. "Wh-what do you want?" she stammered.

The man stepped closer, a cruel smirk playing at his lips. "We want to send a message to the king," he said. "We want to show him that he can't just do whatever he wants."

Lily's heart pounded in her chest as she realized that she was being held captive by the king's enemies. She didn't know how to escape or what they wanted from her. All she could do was wait and hope that someone would rescue her soon.

Days passed, and Lily grew weaker and more desperate. She was barely given any food or water, and her captors had made it clear that they would only release her if the king gave them what they wanted.

Lily had no idea what that was, but she could only hope that Alexander was doing something to save her.

She clung to the memory of his warmth and kindness, praying that he would come for her soon.Suddenly, there was a loud crash from outside the room. The men turned towards the door, their attention diverted for a moment.

Seizing the opportunity, Lily kicked one of the men in the shin and sprinted towards the door. But another man grabbed her by the hair, yanking her back.

"You're not going anywhere," he snarled.

Lily cried out in pain, but she refused to give up. She twisted and turned, trying to break free from the man's grip. Lily tried to pull away, but the man's grip was too strong. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. She had to stay focused and find a way out of this.

As the days went on, Lily was subjected to torture and interrogation. The men wanted her to reveal everything that she knew about the king's plans and secrets.

However, she was not personally acquainted with the monarch, nor was she cherished by him. Unbeknownst to her, the king had already been wedded.

The men laughed as they watched Lily squirm in terror, the ropes around her wrists digging deeper into her skin with every movement.

One of them grabbed a wooden rod and raised it above his head. She closed her eyes and braced herself for the worst, expecting to feel a searing pain that would never leave her body.

But nothing could prepare her for what transpired next—the men threw her to the ground and proceeded to beat her mercilessly, demanding information about the king as each blow landed harder than before.

Despite the pain, Lily remained resolute. She refused to give the men any information, no matter how much they hurt her. The thought of betraying the king - even if she didn't know him personally - went against everything she believed in.

As the days turned into weeks, Lily's health began to deteriorate. She was barely given any food or water, and the beatings had left her with countless injuries. She was covered in bruises and cuts, and it was getting harder and harder to keep fighting.

Lily lay in her dank cell, a tomb of solitude and despair, when her ears suddenly perked up.

There it was again; something so faint she almost missed it, but enough to spark a glimmer of hope. Was someone calling her name? Her heart raced as the sound grew louder and she sprang to her feet, imagining an escape from her prison walls.

But as she approached the door, she realized that the voice was coming from within her mind. It was Alexander's voice, reaching out to her telepathically.

"Lily," he said urgently. "Can you hear me?"

Lily's heart leapt with joy as she recognized his voice. "Alexander!" she exclaimed, hoping that he could hear her too.

"I'm going to get you out of there," he said firmly. "Just hold on a little longer."

Lily felt a burst of hope as she realized that she wasn't alone. Alexander was coming for her, and he would do whatever it takes to save her.

Days turned into weeks, and Lily began to lose track of time.

She was weak and sore, and the beatings had left her body battered and bruised. But she refused to give up hope.

She knew that Alexander was out there, fighting for her.