Chapter 164
Lily POV
After Luna Helen swept out of the room with her usual flair for dramatic exits, Celeste closed the door and leaned against it, looking exhausted.
“Well, that was unexpected,” I said, still trying to process the bizarre interaction with Kai’s mother. “Is she… warming up to me p>
I expected Celeste to laugh, or at least acknowledge the strange shift in her mother’s behavior. Instead, she straightened and fixed me with a blank look that reminded me of Luna Helen.
“I just confirmed with your doctors,” she said, completely ignoring my question. “You’re being discharged this evening p>
“I am?” This was news to me. “They didn’t mention anything about it earlier p>
“I may have… rushed things,” Celeste admitted, glancing away. “Given the circumstances, it’s better for you to be out of here p>
“Great!” I perked up, setting aside the soup container. “Then I can help with p>
“No,” Celeste cut me off firmly. “You can’t p>
I blinked, taken aback by her tone. “But I want to help Kai. If there’s a way to break this curse p>
“Lily, please.” Celeste ran a hand through her hair, a gesture so like her brother’s that it made my heart ache. “There are things happening that you don’t fully understand. Dangerous things. The best way you can help Kai right now is by staying safe and far away from him p>
I bit back a frustrated response. “Can you at least tell me how he’s doing? Is he really okay p>
“He’s… managing,” Celeste said carefully. “The memories returning all at once was difficult, but he’s strong. He’s focused on breaking the curse p>
“And this grimoire your mother mentioned—you really think it has the answer p>
“It’s our best hope,” she replied, then abruptly changed the subject. “You should rest. Save your energy for the discharge process p>
Her dismissal hurt me, but I wasn’t going to just let it slide. “Celeste, please, I need to understand what’s happening. Kai came to see me, but he didn’t explain everything p>
“He what?” Her head snapped up, eyes went wide with alarm. “When p>
“Just before your mother arrived,” I admitted. “He said he needed to see me, to explain about the curse, but we didn’t have much time and he had to go back before the nurses starts looking for him.
Celeste swore under her breath. “That idiot. He knows being near you makes the curse stronger. He’s putting you both at risk p>
“He didn’t stay long,” I said defensively. “And nothing happened p>
“This time,” she muttered, then sighed heavily. “Look, I know you want to help, and I know you care about Kai. But the best thing—the only thing—you can do right now is stay away from him until we break this curse p>
I recognized the steel in her voice, the same unyielding determination I’d seen in Kai when his mind was made up. Perhaps stubbornness ran in the family.
“Fine,” I conceded. “So what happens after I’m discharged? I go back to my apartment p>
Celeste shook her head. “No, that’s not safe either. Lucas may be gone, but there are still threats. Kevin, for one p>
“Kevin? Your cousin?” I frowned. “What does he have to do with me p>
“We think he’s the one that sent those assasins to attack Kai. Nothing has been proven yet, nothing is certain yet but, he’s our number one suspect p>
I frowned. “I find that difficult to believe. The fact that Kevin doesn’t behave like any of you guys. He’s so chill and sweet to me p>
“If he’s willing to send assassins after Kai, he won’t hesitate to use you as leverage.” She fixed me with a serious look ignoring my confession about Kevin. “A lot has happened, Lily. I’ve discussed it with my grandparents. You’ll be staying with us until this whole issue is resolved p>
“But I have school,” I protested, thinking of all my classes and extra-curriculars I had taken this semester that was already in jeopardy after my unexplained absence. “And all my things are at my apartment p>
“I’ll take care of your school situation,” Celeste assured me. “As for your things She held out her hand expectantly. “I’ll need your key to go pick them up p>
I stared at her. My apartment was my sanctuary, my private space. The thought of someone else—even Celeste—going through my belongings felt invasive.
“Can’t I just go myself? After I’m discharged p>
“No.” her tone was clipped giving no room for argument. “It’s not safe. If Kevin has been watching Kai, he’s likely been watching you too. He might have people monitoring your apartment, waiting for you to return p>
The thought sent a chill down my spine. I’d spent so much time worrying about Lucas that I hadn’t considered other threats might be lurking.
“But p>
“Lily.” Celeste’s voice softened slightly. “Please. Kai is half out of his mind with worry for you. Don’t make this harder than it already is p>
I felt guilty instantly. The last thing I wanted was to add to Kai’s burden. With a resigned sigh, I reached under my pillow where I’d been keeping my personal belongings and retrieved my keys. I separated my apartment key from the ring and handed it to her.
“The dresser in my bedroom has all my clothes. And there’s a framed photo on my nightstand p>
“Of you and Kai at the pack celebration last spring,” Celeste finished with a small smile. “I remember. I’ll bring it p>
I nodded, grateful for that small understanding.
“Is there anything else you need urgently?” she asked.
“My laptop. It’s on the desk in the room. And my phone charger, next to the bed.” I hesitated. “And my journal. It’s in the bottom drawer of my nightstand p>
Celeste nodded, pocketing the key. “I’ll get everything. Try to rest until I come back. Discharge paperwork usually takes forever, even with… my arrangements p>
She looked so tired, so worn down by worry, that I impulsively reached out and squeezed her hand. “Thank you, Celeste. For everything you’re doing for Kai. For both of us p>
Something flickered in her eyes—guilt? Worry? It was gone before I could identify it. “He’s my brother,” she said simply. “And you’re… important to him. That makes you important to me p>
It wasn’t exactly a declaration of love, but coming from Celeste, it was significant.
“I’ll be back in a few hours,” she promised, moving toward the door. “Get some rest p>
After she left, I sank back against the pillows, my mind whirling with all that had happened in the span of a few hours. Kai was awake and remembered everything. A curse kept him from being with me. Luna Helen had made me soup and touched my hair with something approaching affection. And now I was going to return back to Celeste’s house just like I did when I first came to Royal Hunters.
It was too much to process at once. I picked up the soup container again, groaning with delight as I took a spoonful of the flavorful soup.
I must have dozed off at some point, because a knock at the door startled me awake. I set aside the now-empty soup container and straightened up, expecting to see Celeste returning with my belongings.
“Come in,” I called. The door opened, revealing a tall figure that made my breath catch in surprise. “Uncle Tobias p>