Chapter 149
Lily POV
The mirror in the bathroom of my bedroom was the only thing keeping me sane.
Lucas had showed up two days ago, bruised and thoroughly injured. He had tried to force himself on me. He had tied me up and tore my clothes, while screaming that Kai would never have me.
I had cried and begged and promised, but all my pleas had fallen on deaf ears. Just when I thought he would finally have his way, he’d stopped and then left without a word.
I removed the mirror from the bathroom – where it was hinged to the wall, it wasn’t so strong, so it was easy peasy for me. I placed the mirror in the bedroom and stood in the middle of the room.
I caught my reflection in it as I stood in the middle of the room, my wrists sore from where he’d tied them days ago. My face was hollow, my lips were cracked from dehydration. But my eyes – they still burned with something he hadn’t managed to strip away.
Hope. And rage.
I let my fingers trail over the hem of the shirt he’d forced me into this morning – his old hoodie from Golden Moon. It still smelled like him. It made my skin crawl. But I didn’t flinch. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.
Tonight, I will escape.
He’d shown up earlier and muttered something about cooking for me. He left me in the bedroom and went to the kitchen.
I heard the soft creak of the floorboard just outside my room. He was coming. My pulse quickened, but I slowed my breath. I quickly picked up the mirror and returned it back to the bedroom. Then rushed back to the bedroom again and sat on the edge of the bed. This had to work.
If I let my fear show, he’d pick up on it. Lucas might be delusional, but he wasn’t stupid.
The door opened.
He stepped in, half-shirtless, his jeans slung low like he thought it was charming. It used to be. Years ago. But now, every inch of him screamed obsession instead of affection. His wounds from days before had healed up too, some parts leaving behind scars.
I wanted to ask him what happened but that wasn’t important right now.
“Hey” he said quietely. “The food will be ready soon. Wait a while p>
I forced a smile, softening my gaze the way I knew he liked. “I thought you were coming back for a long time. You left angry just the other night p>
“Changed my mind,” he said, stepping closer as his eyes raked over me like I was his possession and not a prisoner. “Couldn’t stop thinking about you p>
I titlted my head slightly, just enough to make my hair fall over my shoulder. “I was…thinking too p>
His eyes gleamed. “Oh p>
I walked toward him slowly. “About us About everything. Maybe I was wrong to fight it p>
Lucas narrowed his eyes, suspicion flickering in them. “Where’s this coming from, Lily p>
I reached up and touched his chest lightly, keeping my fingers steady even as the bile rose in my throat. My heart thundered in my chest as I leaned closer to Lucas, fighting every instinct that screamed at me to run. The room felt suffocating, but I forced a smile onto my face, willing my body not to betray the revulsion churning inside me.
“I’ve been thinking about what you said,” I whispered, trailing my fingertips along his arm. Each touch made my skin crawl, but I kept my expression soft, inviting. “About the marking p>
Lucas’s eyes darkened with desire, his body tensing beneath my touch. “Have you now p>
I nodded, swallowing the bile rising in my throat. “Maybe I’ve been fighting this for too long. Maybe I’ve just finally realized, you’re the only one who ever really chose me.” I moved closer, my gaze deliberately falling to his lips. “Maybe there’s a reason we keep finding our way back to each other p>
His smile was triumphant, predatory. “I always knew you’d come around, Lily. You and I are meant to be together p>
His breathing slowed. I could feel his heartbeat under my palm. It was fast and he sounded excited.
The key to the room hung from a chain around his neck. I’d noticed it two days ago when he had gotten into a frenzy, realized it was my only chance at freedom. If I could just get close enough p>
He lifted my chin with a finger. “Say that again p>
“What?” I tried to sound sultry.
“That part about choosing you p>
“You chose me,” I whispered. “Even when I didn’t deserve it p>
That wasn’t a lie. I didn’t deserve him. No one did.
“You know,” I murmured continuing, my fingers now tracing the collar of his shirt, inches from the key, “I remember how it used to be between us. The intensity p>
Lucas’s breathing quickened. “We could have that again. Better than before p>
I leaned in, letting my lips hover near his neck, near the silver chain. “Show me,” I whispered. My fingers slid down to his chest, feeling the hard metal of the key beneath his shirt. Just a little more p>
“I knew you’d give in eventually,” Lucas said, his hand coming up to caress my hair. “Your mate isn’t coming for you, Lily. He probably thinks you’ve abandoned him p>
The mention of Kai sent a stab of pain through my heart, but I pushed it down. I couldn’t afford to lose focus now.
“I don’t want to talk about him,” I said, injecting a note of petulance into my voice. “I want to focus on us. On what could be p>
Lucas’s smile widened. “That’s my girl p>
He leaned down and kissed me.
I didn’t move.
I let him think he’d won. I needed him off guard. Just enough. I could feel his erection, pressing against my thighs, and his hands were roaming my body with reckless abandon. I let him. His hand slid to my waist, pulling me in.
I didn’t want him to think he was the only one that wanted me. So, I let my finger ghost over the waistband of his jeans, steering clear of his erection.
He pushed himself into my hand, letting go of my lips for a second as he murmured. “Touch me, Lily… please…hold me, stroke me… see how much I want you p>
I suppressed a shudder at his words, forcing myself to move closer. Instead of doing what he wanted, I slide my hand up to his neck as if to pull him in for a kiss. My fingers brushed against the chain, and I carefully hooked one around it.
“I’ve missed your touch,” I lied, my other hand moving to cup his face, distracting him as I gently began to pull the chain upward, drawing the key out from beneath his shirt.
Lucas’s eyes fluttered closed as I leaned in, his guard dropping just enough. The key slid free, hanging in the open now. I only needed a moment to slip it off the chain—
His hand suddenly clamped around my wrist, painfully tight. My heart stopped beating as his eyes snapped open, all traces of desire replaced by cold fury.
“What do you think you’re doing?” His voice was deadly quiet.