Chapter 136
Lily POV
I shoved another pair of jeans into my backpack, rolling them tightly to make space. My heart pounded, but I forced myself to focus on the task at hand. The soft rustling of fabric was the only sound in the room—until Celeste let out an exaggerated huff from the bed behind me.
“You really shouldn’t be doing this,” she muttered, arms crossed as she watched me. “You’re actually doing this,” she repeated again. She was sprawled across my bed with her chin propped on her hand. The irritation in her voice was as obvious as the scowl on her face.
I continued stuffing clothes into my backpack, trying to keep my hands steady. “I am. You’ve made that very clear, Cel. And it’s going to be fine p>
“Fine?” She sat up, her dark eyes flashing. “Then why are you still packing p>
I sighed, zipping up the main compartment of my bag. “Because I have to do this p>
Celeste sat up, swinging her legs over the edge of the bed. “No, you don’t,” she argued. “Lily, for Goddess’s sake, my brother treated you like you were nothing but air for weeks, like a damn stranger and now you’re running off with him to find some information about his ex-mate? In what universe is that fine? This is insane p>
I laughed softly, shaking my head. “I know it sounds crazy, but I’m not doing this for her, Cel. I’m doing it for him p>
Celeste narrowed her eyes. “You really think that makes this better p>
I sighed, zipping up a side pocket filled with toiletries. “It’s not about his ex-mate, Celeste. It’s about figuring out what happened to him p>
Then I sat beside her, placing a hand on hers. “Kai is suffering. If there’s a curse plaguing him, I’m going to break it. I don’t care what it takes p>
“And what if what happened to him happens again?” She crossed her arms. “What if you find this Meredith woman, and she tells you something that triggers him, and suddenly he’s looking at you like you’re a stranger again? Or worse p>
The thought sent a chill down my spine, but I pushed it away. I couldn’t think like that—not now.
“That’s a risk I have to take,” I said, grabbing a sweatshirt and shoving it into the rapidly filling backpack. “Something’s wrong with him, Celeste. There’s a darkness there that doesn’t belong, and I need to help him face it p>
“It won’t ever be you, you know,” she said, her voice softer now, tinged with something that sounded almost like pity. “Whatever happened with his first mate—this Serena—it’s going to overshadow everything. You’ll always be competing with a ghost p>
I stopped packing and turned to face her. “I’m not competing with anyone. This isn’t about jealousy or some kind of rivalry. This is about Kai’s health—his sanity. If there’s a curse or some dark magic affecting him, I want it gone. Not for me, but for him p>
“And if there isn’t? If this is just who he is p>
The question hung in the air between us. I hadn’t allowed myself to consider that possibility.
“Then at least we’ll know,” I said finally. “And we can move forward with the truth, whatever it is p>
“Besides, he’s your brother. You should be egging me on to save him not trying to tear him down p>
“I would have if this was right. I am obliged by my powers to always be truthful, so I cannot understand why I cannot be. I honestly don’t get you. Or did he put you under a spell? Give me your hand p>
I shrunk away laughing, bumping my shoulder against hers. “You don’t have to just trust me p>
“I wish you would throw a tantrum, complain, fight or do something. You can’t just let him get away with this. He hurt you, Lily. He put you in the hospital. He asked for a breakup. Do you know how many times my heart broke watching the light dim out of your eyes? You don’t do that to someone who loves you p>
“He wasn’t himself, Celeste,” I sghed. “Kai was good to me before all of these. He was the sweetness man I’ve ever met. He treated me right. I can’t just judge him because of one event that didn’t go my way and now that we know so much, it was the curse. The violent spells and all of that. You know this, Celeste. Kai is not a bad person p>
Celeste made a frustrated noise and fell back on the bed. “I swear, Lily, sometimes I don’t understand you at all. Most women would run screaming from this mess p>
I laughed, the sound bursting out of me unexpectedly. “Maybe that’s why the Moon Goddess paired us together. I’m stubborn enough to stay when the sane choice would be to leave p>
“Stubborn is one word for it,” she muttered, but I caught the hint of a smile tugging at her lips.
She didn’t respond, and we sat in silence for a while, waiting for Kai to come pick me up.
I checked my watch and frowned. Kai was supposed to be here twenty minutes ago. Just as I was reaching for my phone to call him, it vibrated with a text. I opened it, expecting Kai to say he was outside. But as I read the message, my stomach sank.
I’m so sorry, Lily. Something’s come up, and I can’t make it to your dorm. Could you please take a cab and meet me at the eastern outskirts of the pack territory? I’ll explain everything when you get here.
I felt a prickle of unease, but quickly dismissed it. After everything he’d been through recently, a little disorganization was understandable.
Without hesitation, I typed back.
Of course. Be there soon.
When I looked up, Celeste was glaring at me.
“Is that him?” Celeste asked, nodding toward my phone.
“Yeah p>
“Let me guess,” she said, her voice was filled with annoyance. “Kai isn’t coming p>