All Chapters of Rejected and Banished: Claimed by the Lycan King: Chapter 81 - Chapter 90

LYRA'S POVI did not sleep that night. Not for one minute. The conversation with my father kept playing over and over in my head. Each thing he said was worse than the last. I thought about the war, the prophecy, the poison, and the Order of Ash. I thought about how someone might have been trying to hurt my children before they were even born. Every thought led to another question. Every answer made me think of something scarier.I stood on the balcony of the nursery for a time, looking out at the kingdom in the moonlight. The world looked peaceful and quiet. It was not. It was a lie. Because all I could think about was that I did not know who my enemy was anymore. For months, I thought it was Serena. Now I was not so sure. What if Serena were not the one in charge? What if she were a part of someone else's plan?This thought made my stomach hurt. The wind blew against my skin. Behind me, my twins were sleeping peacefully. They did not know what was going on. They were innocent. This

KAELI watched as the color slowly disappeared from Serena's face. It was a change, but I noticed it. I see everything. The way her eyes widened slightly, the way her jaw tightened, and the way her fingers curled into her dress. I saw the fear in her eyes.I had finally scared her. This realization gave me a sense of satisfaction. For months, I was the one who was scared and confused. Now, for the first time, things had changed. Not much. Enough.The silence between us was uncomfortable. Neither of us moved. A bird chirped somewhere nearby. The sound seemed loud. Then Serena smiled. It was a smile, perfect and practiced. The kind of smile that would fool people.Serena said I say things sometimes. I almost laughed. Instead, I just looked at her, confused. I asked her what she meant. She just said I do. I frowned, looking at the flowers. Told her I did not remember saying anything. It was a lie. I meant every word, every expression, and every pause.She reached for my hand. I let her. H

LYRAI didn't sleep. I just sat beside my sons, watched them breathe all night. One slept with his tiny fist curled against his cheek. The other threw his blanket off. I covered him again and again.They are children. Not prophecies. Not heirs. Not prizes. They are children.The more I looked at them, the more I thought about my father. I thought about lies and betrayal. I kept hearing my mother's voice: He knew.Two words.. They hurt me so much. He knew it wasn't a suppressant. He knew there was danger. He knew it could hurt my babies and me. He gave it to me anyway.I remembered the pain, the blood, and the emptiness afterward. I remembered waking up and realizing one heartbeat was gone forever. I remembered holding my stomach and begging for a miracle.Dawn came slowly. The twins were still asleep. Ares appeared at the doorway, looking exhausted. I suppose I did too."Lyra," he said, his expression concerned."I am fine, " I lied.He didn't argue. He sat beside me and said, "I know

SERENAI forgot how to breathe.The music was still playing.People were. Glasses were clinking.Somewhere someone was telling a joke.The world was going on as usual.For me everything had changed.Kael was looking at me.He knew things.Not everything, enough.Far too much.My fingers gripped my wine glass tightly.He smiled that smile of his.I hated that smile.It wasn’t a smile from a man.It was a smile from someone who was watching and thinking.Waiting.I forced a smile back at him.“That’s wonderful " I said.My voice sounded normal thank the Moon Goddess.He tilted his head a bit.“Is it?" he asked.I nodded.“Of course. You’ve been struggling with your memory."There was silence.He looked at me looked at me.Then he smiled again.“Have I?" he asked.I felt a chill.The question seemed simple. It felt wrong.Deliberate.Like he wanted to hear my answer.I swallowed.“Yes " I said.He thought about this.Then nodded slowly.“Interesting " he said.One word.I hated that word

KAELI could not sleep.I had my kingdom back. That did not make a difference.Serena was gone with the poison had. The voices had disappeared.I should have been relieved, I should have felt victorious.I did not.I sat alone in my chambers staring at the fire feeling emptier than I had in months.The silence was real. It was unbearable.There was nothing to distract me from my thoughts now.No hallucinations, no confusion, no lies, memories.The memories were cruel.I remembered everything every moment of madness every time I had mistaken Serena for Lyra.I remembered every time I cried because I thought Lyra had left me every time I begged for someone who was not there.I remembered it all. It was painful.The embarrassment should have been the part, but it wasn't.The worst part was realizing that even when I was poisoned and broken my heart had still searched for Lyra, not Serena, Lyra.I closed my eyes. Immediately I saw her, her silver eyes, her stubborn expression, the little