Chapter 0465

Athena

"You vanished with Hannah, leaving only a note behind." My gaze remains fixed on him. "You return claiming to have solved your issues, yet you withhold the specifics. Are you truly healed, Luc? Or will you continue denying the truth like always?"

"Alright, I understand your anger!"

'Biggest understatement ever.' Nyx scoffs internally.

"I returned home. That's all. I went back hoping to find answers, but her brother," He gestures toward the dungeon door, "Materialized inside my house and pressed a fucking kitchen blade against Hannah's throat. He manipulated her into injecting something into me."

"Hannah injected you?"

"At some point, yes. She doesn't recall when. She doesn't even remember doing it." He retrieves a small black sphere from his pocket, holding it up to the light. "Like I said, it's been handled."

"What is that?"

"Something I haven't deciphered yet. It appears inert while I hold it. Yet when it struck the tray, it resonated like metal. Inside me, it was draining my energy. Making me progressively weaker."

"Has she been coerced into doing this to others? What about her? Is that why she lost her powers?"

He shakes his head. “I scanned her thoroughly, found nothing. Levi is meticulous.”

'There must be a flaw somewhere.' Nyx murmurs. 'Nobody's perfect. Everyone makes mistakes eventually.'

"Are you certain Hannah is clean?" I press.

He nods. "He terrifies her. Makes her anxious, nervous. She couldn't hold a conversation without constantly scanning the room. His effortless manipulation has deeply unsettled her."

His eyes sweep over me. "Now, are you going to reveal your plan?"

"I haven't fully figured it out yet."

"Right." Skepticism drips from his tone. "But it involves Evelyn, doesn't it?"

I remain silent.

"I'll take that as a clear refusal to elaborate further." I watch him stride away just as Alexander materializes beside me.

He doesn't speak, but his hand finds mine, pulling me gently toward the forest.

"What happened with Grant?" He asks once we're deep enough among the trees for privacy. "I know you had valid reasons. Where's the body?"

"Zachary handled it. I noticed blood on your fingers and asked him to identify the individual and clean up before anyone noticed."

"Grant made it abundantly clear he didn't want me here. Or any of the Lycans."

"The tear in your shirt is from him, right?" Alexander queries.

I glance down at my top. "His blade. Luc shot him."

"Okay." He settles on a fallen log, reaching for my hand. A slight frown creases his brow.

"Why bring me out here?"

"You needed a moment. A moment you wouldn't get surrounded by others."

"I'm fine...."

"I didn't say you weren't. Sometimes peace and quiet are necessary for clarity."

I sit beside him on the log, feeling tension leave my body. The past few days have been a relentless barrage of news. Before processing one event, another erupted. I haven't had time to process the new pregnancy either.

"I need him dead." The words escape quietly. "I can't continue living like this."

"We'll find a way." Alexander assures. "There's always a method to defeat someone."

"I want to attempt something." He waits for me to continue. "He's lost Evelyn. I see it when I look at her. She was slow to realize, but now she knows. She was disgusted Levi targeted Liam."

"You truly believe her?"

"Frustratingly, yes." I sigh, uncertain how he'll react. "I want Theodore to take Evelyn to him. I believe both hold the key to helping me kill him."