Chapter 65
(Zion’s POV)
Lily froze on my lap.
Her entire body went still, like she had seen something. I followed her gaze toward the cafeteria glass, but there was nothing there. Just light, shadows, and the hum of voices.
“Lily,” I whispered, brushing my lips near her ear, “what’s wrong?”
She didn’t answer, but just shook her head slightly. “It’s nothing.”
But I felt the shift in her energy; the tightness in her shoulders. The guarded way she looked down at her phone instead of at me. Something had scared her, and she wasn’t saying what.
When the bell rang and the break ended, she slid off my lap without a word. Her hand didn’t reach for mine like it should.
Aria and Tobe left chatting. Dev followed them, silent as always, but I noticed the way his eyes flicked to Lily. The way his gaze lingered just a little too long.
I reached for her hand, needing to feel her skin in mine but she flinched. It was subtle but enough to indicate that she didn’t
want me.
I clenched my jaw.
The image of Dev kissing my innocent sister flashed through my head again… I’d swallowed that moment, buried it for her sake, even tolerated the guy for her and now, this?
I said nothing.
But she did “I think I’ll go home with Aria and the boys today. It will be nice to spend more time with them.”
My jaw ticked. She barely looked at me when she said it. I nodded sharply, before turning ro leave the cafeteria ahead of her.
By the time we got to class, I sat beside Kade who threw me a questioning look. I ignored it.
I didn’t look at Lily for the rest of the day but I could feel her eyes on me; soft and guilty glances I pretended not to notice.
The teachers were in a frenzy, talking about our final exams. Notes, revision schedules… it all blurred into background noise.
Because the one person I wanted near me was drifting and I didn’t know why.
When the bell finally rang, I didn’t wait. I left.
Let Dev, and her friends take her home. If she wanted space then she could have it.
I drove back to the palace with the windows open, trying to calm the storm building inside me. Ragnar was restless too, pacing and growling.
The moment I stepped into the royal residence, the guards bowed in greeting.
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13:38 Wed,
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Chapter 65
“Welcome, your highness!”
“Welcome, Prince Zion!”
I ignored them, and approached the main foyer before climbing the stairs two at a time. My footsteps echoed in the quiet hallway.
I stopped on seeing Lucien’s door half open..
The room was empty. He had been gone since the night Lily left the palace.
We used to be close, maybe if things were different, he would still be here and still have my back. But that ended the moment he touched what was mine.
I stepped away from the door… My mate came first. Always.
Later that night, when everybody had gone to bed and the guards were taking their final rounds, I summoned Thamorum. One of my family’s most trusted royal warrior.
He came like a shadow; cloaked in black, and silent as smoke.
We met in my room, by the low fireplace. The warmth did little to calm the weight in my chest.
“What’s the update?” I asked, keeping my voice low.
Thamorum nodded. “We have a lead, Your Highness. It is small, but I think it counts.”
I straightened. “Go on.”
He reached into his cloak and pulled out a folded paper. “We were able to track the shoemaker of this special model.”
I took the note, unfolding it slowly.
“Good. Bring him to me.” I said sharply.
“Alive?”
“Alive.”
Thamorum gave a final bow and disappeared into the shadows.
Alone, I sat by the fireplace and pulled out the sketchpad from my drawer. I flipped to the page Lily and I had drawn together- her memory of the bastard’s shoes….
They didn’t know it yet, but they’d started a war. And I don’t lose.
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13:38 Wed, Jul 30 D
