Semua Bab Lucian's Undoing : Bab 81 - Bab 90

CHAPTER 81The scent of blood thickened the air.Kairis stepped into the sitting room, eyes dragging over the crimson splatter that painted the floor, the walls, the curtains. The corpses were still warm, twitching faintly as post-mortem nerve endings fired their last jolts.She crouched by the closest one, white-gold armor now stained deep red, helm cracked from the force Elias had used to crush his skull inward. A clean kill, really. Efficient.Martha stood at the edge of the room, wringing her hands, her face pale. She looked like she might faint.“Please don’t scream,” Kairis said without looking up. “It’s just blood.”Martha squeaked and backed further into the hall, pressing a hand over her mouth.Kairis hummed under her breath and leaned in, pushing the guard’s cloak aside to inspect the sigil stitched onto his inner vest. “Holy Order. Low-ranking. Probably new blood sent in to earn favor.”She shifted to the next one, dragging her fingers through the blood pooling beneath his

CHAPTER 83The library was silent, lit by a low golden glow from the chandelier. Elias stood in the center, eyes scanning the tall shelves with growing frustration. His fingers trailed along the spines—ancient texts, godly records, myths, prophecies… nothing. Not a single mention.He dropped into a chair and opened another thick tome. Still nothing. No Valarieth. No reference. Not even a whisper.“How can a name that loud just vanish?” he muttered, slamming the book shut.The whisper of that memory still clung to him—robes, marble, Selene. And Amaria’s voice, clear and scolding. Behave like a god for once.He stood abruptly and headed downstairs.The others were in the lounge. Kai and Dorian curled together on the couch, Lucian perched on the armrest, his eyes flicking up the moment Elias stepped into view. Kairis stood by the window, arms folded, a fresh cup of tea in her hand as if nothing fazed her—even the recent massacre.Elias cleared his throat. “Hey.”Everyone turned to him.“

CHAPTER 85The doors of the manor slammed shut behind them.No one spoke.Tension simmered in the air like a storm held at bay. Elias walked ahead of the others, his spine rigid, his mind reeling. Alistair’s words still rang in his ears. The cryptic warning. The way he looked at him. Like he knew him—more than anyone else did.Lucian's voice broke the silence, low and too calm. “You shouldn’t have gone.”Elias froze mid-step.He turned slowly. “Excuse me?”“You heard me.”Lucian stepped closer. “I told you to stay out of it. You’re still unstable—”“Unstable?” Elias scoffed. “So I’m unstable now?”“That’s not what I meant.”“Then say what you do mean,” Elias snapped.Lucian’s jaw tightened. “I mean you need to listen. You’re not thinking straight, and this isn’t a game. That man is dangerous. You’re acting like a—”“Like a what? A child?” Elias barked. “Is that what you were about to say?”Lucian folded his arms. “If the shoe fits—”“Don’t you dare,” Elias seethed. “I am not your resp

CHAPTER 87Pain dragged him back to consciousness.The cold floor beneath him bit into his skin, his head lolled forward. Everything ached—his limbs, his neck, the place in his shoulder where they'd jabbed him with something burning.But what hit him hardest wasn’t the pain.It was the voice.“Well, well. Sleeping beauty awakens.”Dorian’s breath caught.That voice… no. It couldn’t be—His head snapped up, and his heart froze.Tristan.Dressed in black, eyes gleaming with something dark and twisted, he stood a few feet away with a cruel smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.“You,” Dorian rasped. “You… bastard.”Tristan tilted his head mockingly. “That’s no way to greet an old friend. Or did you forget how close we used to be?”“You tried to kill Elias,” Dorian growled. “You’re not my friend. You’re nothing but a traitor.”Tristan grinned. “Still so loyal. How sweet. But you really should learn to choose better people to worship.”He strolled closer, hands clasped behind his back

CHAPTER 89“I say we go now,” Kai said firmly, stepping closer to the still-glowing rift.Lucian caught his arm. “No. We need supplies, proper enchantments—”“We don’t have time, Lucian!” Kai snapped. “You saw the echo. That was a warning.”“And if we rush in blind and all die, what use will that be to Dorian?” Lucian countered, voice rising. “You’re being emotional.”“Oh, I’m sorry,” Kai shot back. “Am I supposed to be calm after my boyfriend was kidnapped by a possessed lunatic?”Kairis sighed. “Here we go.”Elias stood silently between them, chest tight. Something was wrong. Something was pulling—“I’m not waiting around for you to brew a magical backpack,” Kai growled. “Every second we waste, he could be—”Suddenly, Elias gasped.His hands flew to his chest. A sharp, burning pain lanced through him like molten fire. His knees buckled.“Elias?” Lucian moved to catch him, but Elias stumbled back, eyes wide, breath caught in his throat.“Dorian—” he whispered, voice strangled.Then h