Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Xavier's POV

Two days. Two whole gods damned days had passed, and still nothing. Nothing had come from her. A small part of me had hoped that she would have written back by now. Not hope, the word didn't fully express how much I wanted her to write back. I honestly believed I would get a letter the day after I'd sent mine. But on the other hand, Lyra wasn't like other women. She was a force to be reckoned with, and if I was being honest, a small part of me would have been disappointed had she written back immediately. Had she done that, all it would prove to me was the fact that I'd probably been wrong about her and the fire she possessed. But right now, I was more than glad, and a bit anxious too.

A low chuckle bubbled at the base of my throat. Here I was, frustrated, and yet, the thought of it all made me chuckle, like a fucking school boy waiting for candy. You couldn't blame me, that was the kind of hold Lyra had on me now. And worse case scenario, she had no idea.

I stood by the window of my chambers, watching the horizon with an intensity that could’ve cracked stone. The moon had risen twice since I sent the raven to Redmoon, and yet, there was no response. Not even a whisper of parchment, or rumors from the staff that she was coming. I'd even sent spies to Red Moon, but they all came back with the same message.

She wasn't coming, not yet. She wasn't even considering it at this point.

My gaze dropped to my fingers. I was holding the pen I'd used to send the last letter. I'd never seen the need for calligraphy before, but Lyra, she'd opened my eyes, and heaven knows I would write her a million and one letters if I could. All she had to do was ask.

I exhaled through my nostrils, and all it did was remind me of the silence all around me. It was eating me up badly, and I found myself thinking about how lively the fortress would be if Lyra had arrived.

“She’s not coming,” Cassian had said last night, just before I’d dismissed him from my sight entirely. Fool. He didn’t understand that Lyra wasn’t like the others, and he would never.

She wasn’t meant to come groveling. She was meant to come fighting. She was meant to come like a fiery furnace, burning everything in her path, everything but me. And still, I waited. I didn’t sleep, neither did I eat.

Instead, I asked the same question to every patrol leader who returned from their rounds.

“Any sign of her?” I was sure each one of them was tired of my incessant questions, but they didn't express their irritation. They never did, and they never would, if they valued their life that is. “Tell me you saw her this time.”

“No, Alpha.” They gave the same empty answer every damn time. “She didn't come around today.”

I was this close to giving up hope for the day, when the door to my war room slammed open with a force that made every candle tremble.

“Alpha.” One of my men stumbled in, breathless. His eyes were wide, and he was bleeding from an obvious cut on his cheek.

“Have you no manners?” I snarled immediately. “We're rogues and wild, but I don't think all of those qualities are responsible for you losing a few brain cells. What happened to knocking?”

“Forgive me.” He bowed immediately. Blood dripped to the ground thanks to his gesture, but I didn't pay it any mind. “It's urgent. I just had to.”

“What is it?”

“She’s here.” the words had barely slid past his lips before I froze. “She's finally here.

His words were low, and cautios, but they hit like lightning in my chest.

“Where?”I stood slowly. “Where is she? Where did you find her?”

“Downstairs.” He was panting, but I didn't care. “she was intercepted near the eastern pass, and we thought…”

“You what?” His hesitation didn't sit right with me, but I didn't lose my temper. Not now. “What did you do?”

“We didn’t know it was her.” He was barely audible, but I could still grab a couple of words. “But she fought back. Hard”

“And where is she now?” My eyes narrowed, as he hesitated again. This definitely wasn't a good sign.

“Where?” I growled again, the edge of my voice slipping into something primal.

“The dungeons,” he said finally. “She’s unconscious. There may have been a scuffle.”

For the next couple of seconds, my mind went blank. My blood turned cold, and then in a minute, it turned hot and scalding. It boiled deep in my veins, and I could feel the heat spreading through my being. I felt like I was combusting, and would blow up in a matter of seconds. While that sounded like a fine idea, I walked forward slowly.

My footsteps were controlled, not because I was calm, but because the rage rising inside me would burn down this whole fortress if I dared to let it out.

“Take me to her.” my voice was as cold as ice, and he didn’t hesitate this time.

We walked fast through the corridors, the guard leading me deeper into the underbelly of the castle. The farther we went, the darker it got, and with each step, my control frayed.

Why the hell was she down here? Why wasn’t I alerted the second they knew who she was? The dungeon of all places? Why? How dare they flunk my orders like it meant anything?

I kept my many questions to myself. If there was one thing I was sure of, it was the fact that they were going to answer for it, one way or the other, and knowing me, the only penalty for this, would be to pay with their blood.

We'd barely reached the final corridor, when the scent hit me first. It wasn't the scent of dust, neither was it that of the damp stones echoing around. It was blood.

Lyra's blood.

“Tell me exactly what happened.” I stopped. “What the hell did you do to her?”

“She resisted. “ He was trembling now, but I let him speak. “She, she drew a blade, and she cut one of us. We didn’t know who she was at first—”

I didn’t hear the rest. I didn't have to. I was well aware that the fell she was in was nearby. If I turned to the right, I would see her, bloodied, probably a mess and what not, but that was the last thing I wanted to see right now.

My hand snapped around his throat and slammed him against the nearest wall so hard the stone cracked behind his skull.

“You. Touched. Her?” My voice was quiet now. It was nothing short of a lethal growl, and I didn't stop. “How. Dare. You?”

“Alpha, please….” He clawed at my wrist, his feet dangling in the air. “I didn't mean….”

I increased the pressure on his windpipes and believe me when I said the way his eyes widened gave me a small wave of satisfaction. His fingers dug into my skin, but I didn't care. Not one bit.

“You threw my Luna into the dirt?” I whispered, my vision tinted red. “You made her bleed?”

I didn't wait for a response this time. Instead, I slammed his head against the wall one more time. The dent behind him widened only by a fraction, but I didn't miss the loud crack that reached my ears. The sound echoed loud and final as his neck snapped clean in my hand, and just like that, the atmosphere stilled.

Only when I'd felt every bit of life slip past his pores, did I let his limp body drop to the floor without another glance.

The corridor was silent for the next couple of seconds, and I took my time to take it all in. And then I heard it. A small groan that seemed to be coming from the dungeon.

My eyes snapped toward the end of the hall by the right, and towards the only lit cell. Lying against the cold floor, barely conscious, and with a smear of blood trailing from her temple, was Lyra. Her cloak was torn into shreds, and I didn't miss her ankle being twisted at the wrong angle.

Her eyes darted around, like she was still trying to make sense of where she was.

Lyra.

I was by the bars in an instant, gripping them like I could tear them open with my bare hands. She stirred again, her lashes fluttering. I had no idea what she was looking for, but the moment her gaze landed on me, she stilled.

A mix of emotions washed over her. It started from confusion, and before long, it gave way to fear. She wasn't afraid at the guards, neither was she afraid of the thought of being kidnapped. She was afraid of me, because of what she'd seen.

She’d seen what I did, and I hated it.

“Lyra…” I dropped to my knees by the bars, voice a whisper. “Lyra, I…”

I didn't get to finish as her lips parted like she wanted to speak. Or scream, I couldn't tell. I barely had any time to react as her eyes fluttered shut one more time, before she passed out.

Shit.