Chapter 150
Lily POV
“I—I don’t know what you mean,” I stammered, trying to pull away, but his grip was like iron.
In one fluid motion, Lucas shoved me backward, sending me sprawling onto the bed. The key slipped from my grasp, still attached to the chain around his neck.
“You think I’m stupid?” he snarled, looming over me. “You think I can’t tell when you’re playing me p>
Fear coursed through me, but I refused to cower. “Lucas, you’re misunderstanding p>
“Shut up!” His hand struck my face with such force that stars exploded across my vision. Pain bloomed across my cheek. “I gave you everything! A chance to accept your fate gracefully, to be treated with respect, and this is how you repay me p>
I tasted blood, my lip split from the impact. “Lucas, please p>
He seized my shoulders, shaking me violently. “After everything I’ve done for you! I could have kept you tied up, could have treated you like the prisoner you are, but no—I showed you kindness, and you throw it back in my face p>
His next blow caught me in the ribs, driving the air from my lungs. I gasped, pain radiating through my torso as I tried desperately to protect myself.
“You’re still thinking of him, aren’t you?” Lucas demanded, grabbing my hair and yanking my head back to force me to look at him. “Your precious Kai. The man who couldn’t even protect you from being taken right under his nose p>
“He’ll find me,” I said through clenched teeth, clinging to the hope that had kept me going through seven days of captivity. “He’ll come for me, and when he does p>
Lucas’s laugh was harsh, cruel. “You think he’s coming? He hasn’t found you in a week! I made sure to cover my tracks well. By the time he figures it out—if he ever does—it’ll be too late. You’ll be mine p>
He released my hair with a shove that sent me tumbling from the bed onto the hard floor. I landed awkwardly, pain shooting up my arm as I tried to break my fall.
“I was going to do this the right way,” Lucas continued, pacing above me like a caged animal. “Give you time to adjust, to accept your new reality. But you’ve forced my hand, Lily p>
Terror gripped me as he crouched down, seizing my chin in a bruising grip. “Tonight, I’m going to mark you. No more waiting, no more games p>
“No,” I whispered, tears burning my eyes. “Lucas, please don’t do this p>
His expression softened momentarily, thumb brushing across my injured lip with deceptive gentleness. “It doesn’t have to be painful, Lily. If you submit willingly, accept the bond p>
“I will never willingly be yours,” I spat, summoning what little defiance I had left. “I belong to Kai. Only him. Always him p>
Rage transformed Lucas’s features into something monstrous. He backhanded me across the face, the force of the blow sending me sprawling across the floor. Before I could recover, his boot connected with my side, once, twice. Pain exploded through me, stealing my breath.
“You stupid, ungrateful bitch,” he snarled, each word punctuated by another kick. “I’m offering you everything! Power, protection, a place by my side as Luna of Golden Moon p>
I curled into myself, trying to protect my vital organs as the blows continued to rain down. My vision blurred, consciousness wavering as pain overwhelmed my senses.
“S-stop,” I managed to gasp between broken sobs. “Please, Lucas, stop p>
Finally, mercifully, the assault paused. I lay trembling on the floor, tasting blood, my body was aching with pain. Through swollen eyes, I watched as Lucas knelt beside me.
“Look what you made me do,” he said, his voice suddenly gentle, almost regretful. He brushed hair from my face with a tenderness that made me want to scream. “This isn’t how I wanted things between us, Lily. I never wanted to hurt you p>
I said nothing, focusing only on drawing breath into my battered lungs.
“I’m going out,” Lucas announced, standing abruptly. “I need to calm down before I do something I’ll truly regret. When I return, we’ll complete the bond—one way or another p>
He moved to the door, pausing with his hand on the knob. “Don’t try anything stupid while I’m gone. There’s nowhere for you to go, no one who will help you. You’re mine now, Lily. The sooner you accept that, the easier this will be for both of us p>
The door slammed behind him, the lock clicking into place. Only then did I allow myself to fully break down, sobs wracking my bruised body as I curled into a fetal position on the cold floor.
“Kai,” I whispered into the empty room, his name a prayer, a lifeline to which I clung desperately. “Please find me. Please p>
But even as I called for him, doubt crept in like poison. It had been seven days. What if Lucas was right? What if Kai couldn’t find me? What if he thought I’d abandoned him?
I forced myself to sit up, wincing as every movement sent fresh waves of pain through my body. My face felt swollen, my ribs screaming in protest. But I was still alive. Still fighting.
And as long as I drew breath, I would never stop fighting to return to Kai.
I dragged myself to the bathroom, needing to assess the damage, to clean my wounds. In the harsh fluorescent light, my reflection was almost unrecognizable—split lip, swollen cheek, the beginnings of what would be a spectacular black eye.
“You’re stronger than this,” I told my battered reflection. “Stronger than him p>
Tonight, Lucas would try to mark me, to claim me as his mate against my will. I had to find a way out before then. Had to escape, or at least fight back enough to stop the marking.
Because if Lucas succeeded, if he forced that bond on me, there would be no going back. I would rather die than belong to anyone but Kai.
As I splashed cold water on my face, wincing at the sting, I made a silent vow: This wasn’t over. Lucas might think he had broken me, but he had only made me more determined.
Somehow, I would escape. Somehow, I would find my way back to Kai.
Or I would die trying.