I didn’t look away when her eyes found mine. But I did notice something else. When Jace turned slightly to ask me a question, and Marta caught a glimpse of his face, she stopped walking.
Jace looked away, continuing his conversation with the bartender. But Marta looked like she’d seen a ghost.
Her lips parted open. Quickly, she turned around and scurried out the door.
In seconds, she was gone.
Huh? My brows furrowed in confusion. What was so wrong with her? Was Jace the reason she had that reaction? Or was it something else?
He finished placing his order and properly faced me.
Jace, do you know-“I was interrupted by my phone ringing.
I thought of ignoring it. But when I noticed it was Roderick, I excused myself to take the call.
“Roderick. I want to believe you’re calling to ask me to meet you at the temple.” I looked around the balcony to ensure there was no one around.
“Spare me the drama, Lyric. When were you going to tell me you were engaged to Jaris?” He sounded pissed. What? Was he insane?
“And why do I need to tell you anything? You have no position in my life, Roderick.”
“Damnit! Stop saying that!”
Roderick was furious. He had the right to be furious because I was engaged to Jaris? Oh! He was a joker.
“He doesn’t know we’re still bonded, does he?” He grumped.
“We’re not bonded! We already rejected each other five years ago! As soon as that little step is completed-“
“It is never getting completed, Lyric. And you know you can’t be with someone else if we aren’t through. It’s forbidden.” “Yes! Which is why we’ll be breaking the bond before the ceremony.”
He laughed. The asshole actually laughed like it was funny.
“Now, this is what will happen,” the laughter was gone from his voice. “You have until the end of today to tell Jaris the truth and end things with him. If you don’t, I’ll come over myself tomorrow and spill the beans. Trust me, I’ll make it more embarrassing. What do you think the people of Darkspire would think when they learn you were trying to become their Luna while bonded to another? It’ll make you look desperate, Lyric. And I don’t think Jaris would want to be associated with a woman like that. So, I’m giving you the opportunity to make this less humiliating.”
My heart swelled with rage. I wanted to punch Roderick in the jaw. I wanted to see him beaten to a pulp.
“Fuck off!” I growled into the phone and angrily dropped the call.
Ugh! I hate him! How did I ever feel a thing for him before now?
I quickly called father to give him an update. He was pissed as he was worried and told me he was going to contact the Priestess at the temple tonight.
We were still talking when suddenly, I heard noises coming from the bar.
I dropped the call without bidding bye to father as I rushed toward the bar, thinking about Jace.
LYRIC
1 stepped out of the bar for a few minutes, but Jace was already in trouble.
Broken tables. Smashed glasses. Chairs flipped upside down.
The place was in chaos as people struggled to separate the two men engaging in a serious brawl.
Jace and Kael.
By the moon, not again!
“Jace! Jace!” I shouted, pushing my way through the mess.
“Having a friendly conversation!” he yelled back, just before dodging a punch.
I grabbed his arm, trying to pull him away, but he shook me off like a damn wet leaf. They kept going at each other, tossing chairs, knocking over drinks-basically turning the bar into a battleground.
How in Selene’s name did this happen?
It took Nerion’s intervention to bring an end to the madness.
I stood in front of Jace, panting and glaring at both him and Kael. How could they do this in front of so many people?
“I need an apology from him. This instant! Before he steps a foot out of this place!” Kael demanded angrily. Boy, was he pissed.
Jace wiped blood from his lip with the back of his palm.
“Apology? Sure. I’m sorry that your feelings are more fragile than a soap bubble.” As usual, Jace’s mouth knew how to make situations worse.
“I am telling you,” Kael pointed a finger at him. “If you don’t apologize to me, you’re not leaving.”
“Kael, please!” I stepped in. “I’m-I’m sorry for whatever he did. Could you let it go?”
“Please, stay out of this, Lyric. I don’t have an issue with you. Your friend, however, seems to like them a lot, and I’m here to show him just how much he can get from me.”
“Oh, come on!” Jace raised his hands. “If you want to act like a little bitch, at least wear a dress to complete the look.” Kael lunged forward, but Nerion clamped a hand on his shoulder.
Finally, with Nerion’s intervention, Kael was pulled away from the bar, leaving Jace alone. Now that I confirmed that Jace was safe, I let myself be mad at him.
“It’s late. You should go.”
I walked ahead of him, and then he caught up with me outside the bar.
“Fuck, I didn’t get to finish my drink. Who knows when next I’d be seeing a free drink,” he grumped to himself. What?
“Is that seriously all you’re bothered about?” I whipped around so fast my hair nearly slapped him. “Come on, Jace. What you did in there wasn’t cool!”
“And how’s it my fault? The dude attacked me, Ly. Was I supposed to just cross my arms and thank him for reconstructing my face?”
“Look, I don’t know what happened, but I damn know you’re not innocent. I told you what Jaris said to me earlier. He doesn’ t want a scandal in any way.”
“Well, your hair and face look perfectly fine. So, I don’t think you’re the one who got engaged in a fight. And trust me, I wasn’ 1 screaming your name while I was fighting.”
*Jace!”
“Goodnight, Lyric. Go on and have a beautiful sleep.” He walked ahead of me. Suddenly, he paused and turned to me. “But know this, the wine here is damn good. So, prepare to see more of me.” He added and walked off.
I was scared that Jaris would confront me rega Successfully unlocked!more trouble, but fortunately, he didn’t.
It was a good thing because I had a bigger problem to worry about. Roderick’s threat still hung over my head.
I stayed awake until late into the night, thinking of a way out of it. I couldn’t bring myself to tell Jaris the truth. No. He was already of the opinion that I was loose and all. Confessing to him that I was someone else’s rejected mate and was still currently bound to that person wasn’t going to look good on me.
I couldn’t let Jaris discover the truth.
I kept thinking until I slept off.
By morning, I went to check on Xylon. He and Xyla were having breakfast in the dining room, looking smart in their uniforms. They were both excited to see me.
“So, today, I’ll be going to get some herbs and other things we’ll need to make you better.” I happily informed him.
He took up his writing tab, penning down on it. “Will I really get better?”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.