Chapter 55
(Lily’s POV)
“You marked me last night, and I’d like to mark you too.” Zion said quietly.
I froze.
What?
My head whipped toward him. That couldn’t have come from me… I couldn’t have marked him, could I?
“No,” I whispered, eyes wide. “That’s not possible. I didn’t…”
But even as I said it, my wolf and demon howled inside me. Deep down, I knew we may have done that. I could feel it in my soul, in the way my heart stuttered at his words. The way my body hummed just being near him.
Still, I clung to denial.
“I don’t remember anything,” I said shakily. “The last thing I remember is someone… someone stabbed me with something, maybe a needle, and I blacked out.”
I said it out loud before I could stop myself.
Zion’s brows furrowed. He stared at me like I’d just spoken a language he couldn’t understand. ·
“You were stabbed?” he echoed, his voice turning sharp. “Are you sure?”
“Yes,” I said. “Why else would I black out like that?”
His frown deepened, worry flickering in his eyes. “I’ll look into it,” he said, jaw clenched. “But Lily…”
“No,” I cut in, my voice trembling now. “Just tell me. What did I do? What happened at the palace?”
He hesitated.
Then slowly, he told me everything.
How I flew into the air like a demon from the pits, crashing to the earth, charging at the elders, particularly Principal Thamior and choking him. As if that was not enough, I fought Ragnar and killed a royal guard…
By the time he finished, I was shaking.
Tears spilled freely down my cheeks as my knees buckled. “I failed them. The king even saw me as a threat… oh goddess, he vouched for me. The Queen would be disappointed too, and I ruined Zelda’s birthday party.
Zion reached out, pulling me into his arms. “Hey,” he murmured into my hair. “I know you didn’t mean to hurt anyone, Lily. You weren’t in control.”
“I should have been!” I sobbed. “I knew I shouldn’t have come to the palace. I should have stayed away, now I have brought calamity and now someone’s dead because of me. A family is going to be mourning because of their loved one…”
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Chapter 55
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Zion didn’t speak right away. He just held me, letting me cry until the worst of it passed.
Then, he pulled back and looked me in the eyes.
“I have an idea,” he said softly. “What if I marked you too? If my parents find out that we’re mates, and they know that we’ve mated and marked each other? It might pacify their hearts.”
I shook my head violently. “No! That isn’t happening… it would make everything worse. They, and everyone in the palace already see me as a beast. Now you want to tie yourself to me publicly? After what I did?”
“I don’t care what anyone thinks,” he said, almost too quickly.
“Well I do!” I snapped. “You’re the Prince! And I… I’m the monster who just killed someone in front of the royal court.”
The words hung heavy between us.
Zion stepped closer again, wrapping me in a gentle hug. “You’re not a monster, and I’m not letting you face this alone.”
I didn’t answer.
I couldn’t.
Slowly, we walked together in silence, side by side through the forest path leading back to the palace. I was grateful for the space he gave me. He didn’t push or pressure me. He just walked.
The tall golden gates of the palace finally came into view.
Zion paused and turned to me. “Wait here. I’ll get us clothes.”
He was gone in a blur of movement, and I stood there alone, Would the King even listen to me? Would the Queen or Zelda understand that it was a mistake? I hadn’t planned on hurting anyone.
A few minutes passed.”
Then Zion returned, holding two sets of clothes. “Found these hanging out back,” he said.
He handed me a dress and quickly turned his back as I changed.
Even after everything, he still had the decency to give me privacy. And I–I couldn’t help the blush that crept up my neck when I saw his bare back as he changed. The curve of his spine, the firmness of his shoulders….
I looked away quickly.
We dressed in silence, and then walked together toward the palace gates.
The guards stiffened when they saw me.
Their eyes narrowed, cold and unforgiving. I caught one of them muttering something under his breath. The maids weren’t much different. They bowed numbly to Zion but cast sideways glances at me like I was something rotten.
I tried not to flinch.
Inside, some warriors ushered us into the throne room.
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Chapter 55
The gigantic doors closed behind us with a loud thud, and there, at the far end of the room- sat King Eros and Queen Eden.
Their expressions were unreadable.
No smiles, just silence.
The King wasted no time. “You’ll be leaving the palace today,” he declared, his voice hard like iron.
My heart cracked.
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