Chapter 4: The Vial

Arianna's POV:

A part of me knew this day would come. 

It had always been lurking in the back of my mind, this gnawing fear that one day Kyan would spiral so hard and would decide to rape me. 

I will be damned if I let him. 

But what could I do? I could barely breathe, talk less, or fight back. 

His gaze dropped lower and the hunger in his eyes turned darker, more predatory, as he shamelessly scanned my exposed chest. 

I felt bile rise in my throat. 

I couldn’t just surrender like that. My gaze fell on the rusty dagger. I had to find a way to get my hands on it.

Kyan smirked, "You’re not much to look at," he drawled mockingly, though his gaze betrayed his words. "But I suppose you’ll do just—”

He paused. His smirk faltered.

“What’s this?” he muttered, brows furrowed. 

I blinked, still too disoriented to respond.

Kyan’s expression twisted and his grip on my neck tightened. 

“You stole this,” he hissed. 

My eyes went wide. That was what he was talking about? 

My mother's necklace? 

“No,” I managed to rasp,” It…it was my—”

“Liar!” His shout cut through the room like a blade, “You thieving little bitch.” He grabbed the necklace roughly, “You think you can steal from this—”

And then it happened.

A burst of energy exploded from the necklace. It surged through him like a lightning strike, throwing him backward with a force that left him sprawling on the floor.

I dropped to my knees, my hands flew to my neck. clawing at the bruises already forming. My throat burned like hellfire. 

But…what the hell just happened? 

I did not know the necklace COULD do that. 

Kyan groaned from the floor, stirring and I immediately wrapped my hands around my exposed breasts. He was holding his arm, which looked unnaturally stiff.

Rolling onto his side, his face scrunched up, “What the hell did you do to me?” 

I scooted backwards, “I didn't…I never knew it could—”

“Guards!” He yelled, and started staggering up to his feet. 

Oh, shit.

Before I could say anything, the door burst open with a sound so violent I swore it shook the walls. 

Kyan glared at me like I was the source of every problem he’d ever had. “Grab her!” he snarled, “Beat her. Use the whip, the canes—whatever. Just punish that whore.” 

“Please,” I started to beg. Not that it would matter; this wasn’t a man who knew mercy.

One of the guards, a younger one with wide, uncertain eyes, suddenly spoke up, “Prince, your highness, the Alpha King… he ordered the slaves to leave. She’s already…” His gaze darted to me. “She’s already severely injured. We worry further punishment might kill her.” 

The air went still.

The silence wasn’t comforting, though. It was sharp, like the edge of a blade. 

“Idiot,” Aster groaned in my head. “Why would he say that out loud? Does he have a death wish?”

Apparently, he did.

Kyan turned on him like a storm, his fist slamming into the guard’s face. The poor guy yelled in pain, staggered and fell, clutching his now-bleeding nose.

“You dare question me?” Kyan hissed. 

“Great. Now there’s blood everywhere,” Aster muttered dryly. 

As if this place didn’t already reek of misery.

Before Kyan could unleash more of his fury, the sound of heels clicking against the floor interrupted him. 

Lilian stepped into the room, her gown bunched in her hands, two of her guards flanking her. 

Her nose wrinkled as she surveyed the scene, her lips curling in disdain as her gaze swept over the fallen guard.

“Really, Brother?” she said, “This? Is this how you’re spending your time?”

Kyan turned toward her, “What are you doing here, Lilian?”

Ignoring his question, she motioned to one of her guards, who handed her a balled-up piece of fabric. Lilian tossed it toward me.

“Hurry up and get dressed. Everyone’s waiting on you.” She said, and then wrinkled her nose again, “This place stinks,” she said with a dismissive wave. 

Her gaze moved to Kyan again, “Marisa’s been looking for you everywhere. Did you forget you have a date, Brother?”

Kyan’s jaw tightened, his lips pressing together. For a moment, he just stood there, glaring at her, then at me, before letting out a frustrated growl.

Lilian walked up to him and whispered something in his ear. Kyan's expression immediately brightened, as if he was eagerly anticipating something. "Really? Marisa agreed?" he asked.

Lilian winked at him. "She's right on your bed."

Sounds like he and Marisa are up to some new trick. This was disgusting. Then Kyan hurried off, not even sparing me a glance.

Lilian gave me one last look, before turning on her heel and leaving with her guards.

The other of Kyan’s guards helped the bleeding man to his feet before they shuffled out, leaving me alone in the wreckage.

What the hell just happened?

But at least I was finally alone. 

I let out a shaky breath and I reached for the fabric Lilian had thrown. It was simple, but clean, better than the torn one with blood and grime on my skin.

As I unfolded it, something small and glassy tumbled out, hitting the floor with a soft clink.

A vial.

Frowning, I picked it up, then noticed the folded note that had fallen with it.

“What’s this?” I whispered as I unfolded the paper. 

Your mother is not a traitor. She’s still alive.

The room seemed to tilt, my breath catching in my throat.

My mother…alive?