Chapter 44%
“Come on,” Rudina said, gathering up the leftover fabric. “Let’s get this back to your chamber before Nok sees it. He’s not allowed to peek, right?”
“Right” I agreed, carefully folding the dress.
As we walked back, Rudina glanced at me and said, “You’re really happy, aren’t you?”
I paused for a moment before nodding. “I am.”
She smiled softly. “Good. You deserve it, Lyria,
“Thank you”
I sat on the edge of my bed, the dress carefully laid out beside me. The room was quiet, filled only with the soft rustle of fabric as ! ran my fingers over the embroidery. Rudina had left a while ago, leaving me alone to battle my thoughts.
But peace didn’t last long.
“Lyria,” a voice echoed in my mind through the mindlink: Damon
I froze, my fingers stopping mid–motion. I didn’t respond, but I didn’t block him out either!!
“I know you’re there,” he said, his voice stained. “Please, just listen to me.”
I stayed silent.&
“Tm sorry,” he began. “For everything. I know it’s too late, but I need you to hear this, I was wrong. I was blind, selfish stupid, You didn’t deserve any of it”
His words came fast, tumbling over each other like a dam had broken.
“I see it now, Lyria. I see what I lost. And it hurts more than anything I’ve ever felt. You were my mate–my fated mate. And I failed you. Over and over.”
I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. His words didn’t touch me like they once would have. They felt hollow, even as he poured his heart out.
“You gave me everything.” he continued, his voice cracking “And I gave you nothing in return. I was a fool. I let Lilith come between us. I let pride and power blind me. But I never stopped thinking about you, Lyria. Never
I let out a slow breath, but still, I didn’t speak.it
“Why, Lyria?” he asked after a long pause.
“Why him? Why Nok? You barely know him! We were fated, destined from the start. We grew up together. We were supposed to be together.
That’s when I couldn’t stay quiet anymore.”
“Fated?” I said, my voice cold as I opened the link. “Destined? Damon, don’t talk to me about fate. Don’t talk to me about destiny when you throw it away without a second thought
He stammered. “. I didn’t mean to-”
“You didn’t mean to?” I cut him off. “You didn’t mean to cheat? You didn’t mean to humiliate me? To make me feel less than dirt while you paraded Lilith around like she was your goddess?”
“Everyone supported you. Even your mother and mine!“8
“Lyria, I–8
“No,” I snapped, standing up. “You don’t get to speak right now. You don’t get to ask me why I chose Nok, But since you’re so curious, let me tell you something”
I paused, my heart pounding as I found the right words.
“Even in his slumber” I said slowly, my voice steady, “Nok is greater and better than you’ll ever be. In every way.”
The link went silent for a moment, as if Damon couldn’t believe what he’d heard. Then, his voice came back, desperate.!
“That’s not fair, Lynia,” he said, almost pleading. “You don’t even know him like you knew me. We have history. We’ve been through so much together. Doesn’t that mean anything?”
“History? That Lyria is dead while on that ship” I scoffed. “Yes, Damon, we have history. A history of you tearing me down, of you choosing someone else over me every single time. That’s the history we have.”
“I was wrong!” he exclaimed. “I know that now! I can make it right. Just give me a chance.”
I shook my head, even though he couldn’t see me. “There’s no making it right, Damon. You had your chances. I gave you everything. and you threw it away. Nok he doesn’t have to try to prove himself. He just is. He respects me, values me, and treats me like I matter. That’s something you never did.”2
“And I am not just meeting him, we were lost as pups together. Many years ago“!!
“Lyria, wait,” he said quickly, his voice rising with urgency. “There’s something you need to know=“}
“No,” I said firmly. “I don’t need to know anything from you. Not anymore.”
“Please, just-“E
I severed the link, cutting him off mid–sentence.
I sat back down on the bed, my hand’s trembling slightly. Damon’s voice echoed faintly in my mind, but I pushed it away!
WONEME
“I don’t care…whatever happens, should happen to you” I hissed.
