Chapter 19 - Trust, betrayal, and a scar that won’t be ignored

Nyra's POV

There were still whispers in the hall, a thousand voices entangled in a web of confusion.

Yet, for some reason, they were scarcely audible to me.  Everything but the goosebumps that wrapped over my flesh was drowned out by the noise of my pulse in my ears.  

The mark Hades had given me started tingling from the moment Kade and Vaela's bond broke.  As if unseen fire had etched itself into my skin, a line of heat scorched my collarbone.  

Desperate to hide the glow I feared others may see, I placed my palm against it through the thin fabric of my dress and ran.  Not here. Not now.  With each sharp breath, I hurried through the crowd, trying to hide my panic.

I needed space, air.  With hope gnawing at my chest, my palms touched the thick doors. Finally.

"Going somewhere, little rat?" I raised my head, only to see the Alpha's chosen standing just inches away, blocking my escape. My once hopeful countenance was now replaced with dread. Anger glowed in her eyes like a predator who'd just cornered their prey, and her normally perfect poise was broken. I inhaled deeply and said, I just needed to get some air. Alone," I emphasized.

Her voice was as piercing and cutting as ice as she closed in on me, "Don't act naive around me.  Do you really think I didn't notice how you acted all night?  Why did you loom over the hall like a shadow?"

I blinked, pretending to be perplexed,  "I don't understand. What do you mean?" I said in a velvety voice. The mark still burned my skin like a secret begging to be exposed, betrayal inscribed all over my body.  

Fearing that Vaela could somehow perceive it, I adjusted my weight.  

"Shut up, Nyra. You did something. I know what I'm saying," Vaela growled.  "Everything was going well. The mating ceremony would have been successful, but you screwed it up!  Everyone knows that I am his fated mate. So, what the hell did you do!"

Everyone knows, but the gods don't? I mused idly.

"Hey, I'm talking to you!" She barked, poking my chest with her sharp fingers. 

"Everything was perfectly fine until you came from wherever you appeared!" My throat became constricted. I was tempted to laugh at her ridiculousness, but decided against it. 

"I had nothing to do with what happened today."

Vaela twisted her lip with disgust, "Liar. You're a pathetic liar."  People began to move toward Kade and the Elders, their focus on the dispute at the head of the hall, and the crowd surrounding them began to shrink.  

Nobody wanted to watch a humiliated, almost-Luna, and a servant girl.  

Except for Morgra. Before I saw her, I could already sense her.  Darkness was sewn into the sorceress's bones, and she stood a few steps away.  

Her eyes gleamed with laughter as if she had planned the whole incident as she leaned carelessly against a column.  

Vaela tensed as she followed my eyes.  Her anger momentarily turned to prudence.  

Then she leaned down and whispered something poisonous.  "If I find out that you had anything to do with this, you'll curse the day you were born and beg for death."

She pushed by and vanished into the commotion of aristocrats discussing curses and misfortunes.  

I subconsciously let out a shaky breath.  There should have been some relief, but there wasn't because Morgra was still here.  

As our eyes locked, the sorceress's grin grew more intense.  A smile of knowing. I knew I was in trouble. I spun around and ran. The hallways were annoyingly serene with dim candles creating lengthy shadows on the stone. 

It was not the best place to run, so I thought hiding would be better. 

I slid down until my knees hit the floor, pressing my back against the wall.  I peeped at the mark as I tugged at the neckline of my dress.  It pulsed in time with my heartbeat, shimmering softly beneath my skin like silver threads. 

Why me? 

Why now?

My mind was jumbled with bits and pieces I wasn't quite ready to confront.  Kade's eyes had been on me during the battle with the wraiths. 

I thought about the unified movement of our bodies as we fought, when his fingers touched mine, the heat that had coiled in my chest—  "No."  I whispered, closing my eyes tightly. I shut out the memory. 

"It won't be any less true if you run away."  Like vapor, the voice moved across the hallway.  I opened my eyes, and Morgra appeared, her dark robe skimming the floor, each step purposeful and eerily elegant.  

I dragged myself to my feet.  "Queen of—"  

"No. Spare me the titles."  She cocked her head, examining me as if I were a conundrum.  

"You were astute to leave before the appropriate questions were asked."  

My nails dug into my palms as I clasped my hands in front of me.

"I didn't do anything.  I promise.  

Morgra let out a low laugh that sounded like silk-wrapped broken glass.  "Oh, child.  Do you think I'll believe that?  Her eyes shifted to my collarbone. I stiffened, raising my dress to cover up, but I was too late.

"Interesting," said Morgra softly, eyeing the mark on my skin.

"Did I not warn you?  I warned you not to sabotage tonight's ceremony."

"I didn't mean any harm."  My tone faltered.  I took a step forward, with desperation written all over.  

"Please.  You must believe me.  I wouldn't ever go against your orders. Never."  

Slowly, like a viper circling its victim before attacking, Morgra circled me.  "So, what's that mark?"

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.  How was I supposed to explain that I didn't understand the mark either? It bound me to the exact man I had vowed to stay away from.

My eyes pricked with tears as I said,  "I have no idea why it happened.  However, I didn't ask for it."

There was a long pause.  Morgra came to a halt before me, her face unreadable.  Then, without warning, she raised a hand and gently stroked a lock of my hair back.  

"You're shaking," Morgra murmured.  "It's okay. Fear is a sign that you are still aware of our mutual agreement."

I gulped the huge lump in my throat and nodded fast.  Morgra's grin widened.  

"There is one way to show your loyalty. Would you be willing?"  

I felt sick to my stomach.  

"Yes."

With her breath icy against my ear, the witch leaned in closer.  

"Find Kade's real mate and kill her."