Chapter 333
Chapter 333:
Alistair’s head turned with the force of the blow. He didn’t flinch. He didn’t raise a hand to defend himself. He just turned back to face her, a red mark blooming on his cheek.
“I deserved that,” he said quietly.
“You’re both monsters,” Skye whispered, her voice trembling. “You play with life and death like it’s a game of chess. I’m done. I’m done with both of you p>
A sleek, vintage Rolls-Royce pulled up to the curb silently, gliding like a phantom. The rear window rolled down with a soft hum.
Julian Vance sat inside. He looked frail, wrapped in a cashmere coat, his face gaunt. A handkerchief was pressed to his lips, spotted with red. But his eyes were sharp, intelligent, and oddly kind.
“Get in, Skye,” Julian said. His voice was weak, but it carried authority. “The air is toxic out here p>
Skye hesitated, her hand on the door handle. “Why should I go anywhere with you, Julian? Last time we spoke, I was evicting you from your own building p>
“Because I have something you want,” Julian said, coughing into the silk cloth. “I have the truth about why your parents really died. And I have the only key to the lock Liam and Alistair have been trying to keep shut for twenty years p>
Skye froze. The mention of her parents hit her like a physical blow.
“What do you know about my parents p>
“Get in,” Julian urged, his gaze shifting to Alistair, who had stiffened by the SUV. “Before the Devil decides to intervene p>
Skye looked at Alistair. He stiffened, his jaw clenching, but he didn’t move to stop her. He knew he had lost the right.
Skye opened the car door and slid onto the soft leather seat. She slammed the door shut, putting a wall of glass and steel between her and the man she loved.
The car pulled away, merging into the early morning traffic.
Julian reached into a cooler and handed her a bottle of water.
His hand shook slightly, a tremor she hadn’t noticed before.
“You think they’re monsters,” Julian said, not looking at her.
𝖳𝗵𝘪ѕ s𝘵ory b𝘦lо𝘯𝗀𝘴 𝘵о 𝘣𝗲.𝘤𝘰𝗺
Skye uncapped the water, her hands shaking too. “They are p>
“They are products,” Julian corrected. He coughed again, a wet, rattling sound that made Skye wince. “You don’t know what made them that way p>
“I don’t care,” Skye said.
“You should,” Julian said. He turned to look at her, his gaze heavy. “Ask Alistair about the night his parents died. Ask Liam about the Pact p>
Skye froze, the water bottle halfway to her lips.
“The Pact p>
Julian nodded slowly. “The reason your parents are dead, Skye. And the reason Liam and Alistair have been fighting a war you didn’t even know existed p>
The Rolls-Royce didn’t head toward the city center. It turned toward the outskirts, navigating through the industrial decay of the Old District, a place locals called “The Hollows p>
“Where are we going?” Skye asked, watching the skyline fade behind them. The silence in the car was thick, broken only by the rhythmic hum of the tires and Julian’s labored breathing.
“To the beginning,” Julian answered. He coughed again, wiping a fresh smear of blood from his lips. “To the place where the innocence of three boys was burned away p>
The car slowed and turned through a set of rusted iron gates. Beyond them lay a ruin. It was a massive estate, or what was left of one. The main house was a charred skeleton, black beams jutting into the sky like broken ribs. Ivy had overgrown the scorched stones, trying to hide the scars of a fire that had burned hot and fast.