Chapter 32

Chapter 32:

I 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 engaged 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 p>

“Kael, please!” I stepped in. “I’m—I’m sorry for whatever he did. Could you let it p>

“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 p>

“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 p>

Discover more at gαℓησνℯℓs․com

Kael lunged forward, but Nerion quickly clamped a hand on his shoulder.

With Nerion’s intervention, Kael was finally pulled away from the bar, leaving Jace alone. Once I confirmed that Jace was safe, I allowed myself to get mad at him.

“It’s late. You should go p>

I walked ahead of him, but he quickly caught up outside the bar. “Fuck, I didn’t get to finish my drink. Who knows when I’ll next get a free drink?” he grumbled 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 p>

“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 p>

“Look, I don’t know what happened, but I damn well know you’re not innocent. I told you what Jaris said to me earlier. He doesn’t want a scandal in any way p>

“Well, your hair and face look perfectly fine, so I don’t think you’re the one who got endangered in a fight. And trust me, I wasn’t screaming your name while I was fighting p>

“Jace p>

“Goodnight, Lyric. Go on and have a beautiful sleep.” He walked ahead of me, but then suddenly paused and turned to me. “But know this, the wine here is damn good. So, prepare to see more of me.” He added with a grin before walking off.

I was worried that Jaris would confront me about the fight and that I’d be in more trouble, but fortunately, he didn’t.

That was a relief, because I had a bigger problem to worry about. Roderick’s threat still hung over my head.

I stayed awake 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 under the impression 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 go over well.

I couldn’t let Jaris discover the truth. I kept thinking about it until I eventually fell asleep.

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 p>

“I’ll be going to get some herbs and other things we’ll need to make you feel better,” I happily informed him.

He picked up his writing tablet and wrote something down. “Will I really get better?” There was so much hope in his eyes. I was determined to do everything I could to make sure he wasn’t disappointed.

My smile broadened as I tousled his hair. “Yes, darling. You won’t have to go through those painful episodes again p>

“Oh! That’d be so great, Aunty!” Xyla clapped her hands. “I really hope this works out p>

“Step away from them,” a cold, familiar voice suddenly said.

Looking up, I saw her entering the room like a queen. She was dressed in corporate attire, her heels clicking against the floor. Her eyes blazed as she glared at the proximity between me and the kids. I was sitting next to Xylon.

Calmly, I stood up.

“Who let her in?” She looked around at the two nannies in the room. “Aren’t you aware that my kids shouldn’t be disturbed while they’re eating?” Xylon and Xyla didn’t just stop eating; their expressions soured.

“Please, don’t blame the nannies. I think I have the right to be around Xylon, especially. Maybe you should speak to the Alpha for better clarification.” Her eyes burned with even more resentment. “I don’t need to speak to anyone. You don’t have the right to be around my kids without my consent p>

Huh? “I just told you—I’m taking care of p>

“Then you treat him when it’s necessary, instead of throwing yourself at my kids p>

My jaw dropped in shock. What p>

She shifted her gaze to the nannies. “Bring them to the car. Let’s go p>

She walked out of the room, her arrogance radiating from every pore of her skin.

Marta was something else. I sincerely hoped she wouldn’t make things harder for me here.

An hour later, I was ready to go get Xylon’s herbs. My mind drifted to Roderick and his ridiculous threat. Although, I’ll admit, I was a little scared.

Nerion was waiting outside with the car.

“Aloha, Jaris wants you to go out with this,” he handed the keys to me. “And this.” He handed over a card next.

It was a black card. “You can pay for anything you want with it. The pin is two-two-five-five p>

Now, this was interesting. Black cards were only used by the wealthiest Alphas. From what I’d heard, only five Alphas in the world owned one, and it granted unlimited funds.

I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, considering Jaris was the leader of the highest-ranking pack.

“Thanks for the card, but I think I can make use of my car,” I said, referring to the one that had been brought to me earlier that morning. Jace and I had arrived in his own car the previous day.

“No offense, but the Alpha doesn’t want you driving around in that when there’s something better,” Nerion replied, surprising me.

Huh? What was he talking about? Although it was my father’s least expensive car, it wasn’t bad at all.

“No argument, Lyric. Just drive, please,” he said, his tone almost pleading.

I rolled my eyes and made to open the door.

“Do you need someone to come along?” Nerion asked, holding the door open for me.

Ugh. He was so gentle. Why couldn’t his colleague, Kael, be like him?

“No, thanks. I’m good p>

The door shut, and I hit the road.

Okay, I won’t lie—this car felt good to drive.

It was a long drive from Darkspire to my destination, and I was relieved when I finally arrived.

It was known as Botanical Bliss—the largest herb store in the country.

Xylon’s condition was very complicated and life-threatening. I’d never dealt with it before, but somehow, I knew the right things to get that could help.

It was strange, though. This wasn’t how the gift usually worked in my family. Normally, they’d have to do research to know what was needed. But that wasn’t the case for me. I already knew exactly what was required just by assessing the situation.

It was always stunning.

I picked up a basket and went through the list I’d drafted as I walked by the shelves.

“Lyric,” someone suddenly called from in front of me.

I stopped abruptly, realizing I would have bumped into the person if I had taken two more steps.

To my surprise, it was Alpha Zarek.