Chapter 85\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2013Elara\u2013\u00a0<\/p>\n
61\u00a0<\/p>\n
55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
I thought for a moment that Theo would fight for me if I gave him one last chance.\u00a0<\/p>\n
If I showed him that if he didn\u2019t come back to me, I would marry Lucien.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I looked at him during the vow-taking ceremony hoping he\u2019d stop me from marrying Lucien.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He didn\u2019t return my gaze; instead, he clasped Kaia\u2019s hand and looked at her as if she were the most beautiful thing in the world.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Annoyed, I married Lucien.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After the ceremony, the atmosphere shifted to a party mood while I sucked up all my hurts to smile at the guests.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just then, my mother came to me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLara, your friend is here to see you,\u201d Mother said, pointing to her back.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My eyes traced her back and I saw someone familiar.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I hopped to my feet with joy.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cRabiya!\u201d I leapt at her, my heart thundering with joy. \u201cHow come you didn\u2019t come sooner?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rabiya and I hugged for a long two minutes and I didn\u2019t want to let her go.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI was caught up with something back home. I needed to handle it first.\u201d She raised her hands, \u201cBut see, I\u2019m here now. We can enjoy your wedding together\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m glad you could make it,\u201d I said hugging her again.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou are my best friend, I wouldn\u2019t miss your big day for any reason,\u201d she said, looking around. \u201cToo bad, you didn\u2019t get the one you wanted\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her words reminded me of what I\u2019ve lost and fueled my determination.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s never too late to get what I want, Rabiya\u201d I muttered, my eyes searching for Theo. \u201cYou know me, I don\u2019t give up easily\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course, I do\u201d Rabiya remarked, parting my hand. \u201cI was wondering why my best friend gave in so easily and decided to marry the substitute. I knew you had something planned\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rabiya knows me so well, she has seen me fight and succeed many times. So, she knows how hard I fight until the very end.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHow is everyone back in the states?\u201d I asked while leading her to sit.\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:43 Tue, Jan 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 85\u00a0<\/p>\n
:\u00a0<\/p>\n
61\u00a0<\/p>\n
55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are doing shit like they always do\u201d she responded and we both chuckled. \u201cThe only reason I came is because of my brother, I haven\u2019t been back to this country for over ten years and now I\u2019m here because of my brother, and of course, you, darling\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rabiya pulled me into a hug, getting playful and shaking us both.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou still haven\u2019t changed, have you?\u201d I laughed, breaking the hug.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can say I\u2019m trying to but I just can\u2019t help myself\u201d she replied and I nodded, agreeing. \u201cSo, where is that ex-boyfriend of yours? The one you are still so hung up on\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
When she asked, I instinctively turned around searching for him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I couldn\u2019t see him for a minute, Kaia must have taken him out somewhere.\u00a0<\/p>\n
That annoying stray acts as if she wants to enter his skin and live there.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just then, I saw Theo and Kaia walking towards the self-serve brunch table.\u00a0<\/p>\n
They looked a little too happy together for my liking.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I tapped Rabiya, pointing towards them.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThere he is,\u201d I said and Rabiya\u2019s eyes followed my direction. \u201cWith that stupid stray he chose over me\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rabiya saw them and she puckered her lips.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOh he\u2019s handsome,\u201d she said, almost drooling over him. \u201cNow, I see why you can\u2019t let him go. Wait, you let him go once, haha I\u2019m so silly.\u201d she laughed, slapping herself for making mistakes. \u201cBut seriously, you have good eyes for men\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIf that\u2019s a compliment, well thanks\u201d I smiled.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then I saw how the look on her face suddenly changed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong, Rabiya?\u201d I asked, seeing her face.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She bit her lips, cracking her head.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m trying to recall something. That woman with Theo, I think I know her from somewhere\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere?\u201d I eagerly asked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the problem. I don\u2019t know where\u201d she raised her head and glanced at Kaia, walking away with Theo. \u201cBut, I\u2019m sure I\u2019ve seen her before\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHow could you have seen her? You haven\u2019t been in the country for ten years and that bitch is a stray. Who knows where she came from?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Speaking of Kaia irritates my soul, I wish I could take it out on her. But, I had to hold my peace to avoid pushing Theo farther away.\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:43 Tue, Jan 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 85\u00a0<\/p>\n
:\u00a0<\/p>\n
(61)\u00a0<\/p>\n
55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cTrust me, Lara, I know what I\u2019m saying. I have seen that woman before\u201d Rabiya was dead serious and I couldn\u2019t help believing it as well.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cKeep trying to remember where she saw her,\u201d I suggested. \u201cJust try, okay?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She nodded. If it turns out that Rabiya is telling the truth, I could finally have a lead on how to dig into Kaia\u2019s past and expose her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After a while, I took Rabiya back to my mother to be fed and shown to her room.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I was returning to my seat when I felt a hand tugging at me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lucien barely let me breathe before he caught my wrist and tugged me away from the crowd.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cStop pulling me like that,\u201d I hissed, heels digging into the grass.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He only smirked, that infuriating, smug, I-know-exactly-what-I\u2019m-doing grin.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cRelax, wifey.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stiffened. \u201cDon\u2019t call me that.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOh?\u201d Lucien stepped closer, lowering his voice just enough to feel intimate and enough to annoy me. \u201cBut we are married. Officially blessed by the high chief. Witnessed by the entire pack.\u201d His grin sharpened. \u201cAnd your little ex-boyfriend Theo.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My jaw twitched. \u201cDon\u2019t start.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He laughed under his breath. \u201cI\u2019m not the one who looked at another man during the vows.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My face flushed with anger and embarrassment, everything mixed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou did,\u201d he said simply, eyes glittering. \u201cRight before you said yes. You looked straight at Theo.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I opened my mouth to deny it\u2026 But I shut it again.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Because he was right.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lucien leaned in, his voice dropping. \u201cFunny how he didn\u2019t look back.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I blinked. \u201cHe did-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d Lucien\u2019s smile was slow and poisonous. \u201cHe looked at Kaia.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
A sting shot through my chest.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Unexpectedly. And painful.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lucien saw it. Of course he did, he always sees everything.\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:43 Tue, Jan 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 85\u00a0<\/p>\n
He raised a brow. \u201cPainful, isn\u2019t it? Being second choice.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cShut up,\u201d I snapped, but it came out too soft.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lucien chuckled like he\u2019d won something.\u00a0<\/p>\n
61\u00a0<\/p>\n
55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t worry. I won\u2019t make fun of you too much.\u201d He tapped my chin lightly. \u201cAt least you have me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I slapped his hand away. \u201cI don\u2019t want you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWell,\u201d he said lightly, turning toward the path leading to the pack house, \u201cthat\u2019s unfortunate.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He paused, looked over his shoulder, and gave me the wickedest grin I\u2019d ever seen on a man.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause,\u201d he said, voice smooth as sin, \u201cwe\u2019re sharing a room tonight.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I froze. \u201cAbsolutely not.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lucien shrugged, with all faux innocence. \u201cWhy not? We\u2019re husband and wife now. A mated pair. Tradition says we share a room.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stepped in front of him, blocking his path. \u201cDon\u2019t get any ideas.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWho?\u201d He pressed a hand to his chest. \u201cMe? I\u2019m an angel.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I glared. \u201cLucien. I mean it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He leaned down until his breath brushed my ear. \u201cOh, I know you do.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then he pulled back with a smile that was a little too knowing, a little too satisfied.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBut don\u2019t worry,\u201d he added, turning toward the reception again. \u201cI won\u2019t touch you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
A small breath of relief left me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lucien glanced back, eyes dark with something unreadable.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNot unless you ask.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My stomach flipped. And she hated that a tiny part of her wondered if I might.\u00a0<\/p>\n
By the time we reached our new shared room, my nerves were stretched thin.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lucien opened the door like a gentleman.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He wasn\u2019t a gentleman, but he liked pretending like he was.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter you, wifey.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:43 Tue, Jan 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 85\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI told you to stop calling me that,\u201d I muttered, brushing past him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The room was warm, dimly lit with candles and petals, far too intimate.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The bed felt enormous under normal circumstances; now it looked criminally small.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lucien closed the door behind us with a soft click.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My spine went rigid, and I couldn\u2019t breathe.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He chuckled. \u201cRelax. I\u2019m not going to bite.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYet,\u201d I muttered under my breath.\u00a0<\/p>\n
61\u00a0<\/p>\n
55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lucien stripped his jacket off, rolling his sleeves up, revealing the sharp cut of his forearms; he was tattooed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Every movement was casual. Confident. Infuriating.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou take the left side,\u201d he said, walking around the bed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I blinked. \u201cJust like that?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, unless you want the right side.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s not the problem!\u201d I screamed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He raised a brow, smirking. \u201cThen what is?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re acting like this is normal.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is,\u201d he said calmly. \u201cWe\u2019re married.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I threw a pillow at him. Hard.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lucien dodged it with a low laugh. \u201cTemper, you have such a hot temper, wifey.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I turned my back to him, climbing into the bed and yanking the blanket up to my chin.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just sleep. Ignore him. And pretend like he isn\u2019t there.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The mattress dipped slightly as Lucien got in on the other side.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He was a little too close, the warmth of his body spread to me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I squeezed my eyes shut.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A moment passed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I could feel him grinning.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Without looking, I snapped, \u201cStop smiling.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:43 Tue, Jan 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 85\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not,\u201d he said, voice dripping with amusement.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou are. I can hear it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He shifted a little, settling against the pillows. \u201cSorry. I\u2019m just enjoying our first night together.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My whole body flamed. \u201cThere is nothing to enjoy. We\u2019re sleeping and that\u2019s it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSure,\u201d he said lightly. \u201cWhatever helps you rest.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I gritted my teeth. \u201c\u2026 You\u2019re still smiling.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lucien exhaled a laugh. \u201cI\u2019m simply happy you\u2019re finally beside me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My breath hitched, and I hated that it did.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re impossible.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you\u2019re dramatic,\u201d he countered. \u201cI told you, I won\u2019t touch you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I slowly turned my head, glaring through the dark.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He lay on his back with his hands behind his head, looking far too relaxed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLucien?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, wifey?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My eyes twitched. \u201cIf you snore, breathe too loudly, or cross this invisible middle line-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m going to die?\u201d he offered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cPainfully.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cGood to know.\u201d He smirked again. \u201cSleep well, Wifey.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I rolled back over and buried my face.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBy the way,\u201d Lucien murmured, \u201cyou don\u2019t have to be afraid of me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I froze.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He wasn\u2019t taunting and teasing me now.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not afraid,\u201d I whispered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cGood.\u201d I heard him turn onto his side, facing away as he meant it. \u201cThen sleep.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He didn\u2019t say anything else, and I finally breathed\u00a0<\/p>\n
A61\u00a0<\/p>\n
61\u00a0<\/p>\n
55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
Tue, Jan 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella\u2019s storytelling style is immersive and addictive\u2014perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Shadows Follow Lonely Minds \u2014 Christopher Harris 85 Chapter 85\u00a0 \u2013Elara\u2013\u00a0 61\u00a0 55 vouchers\u00a0 I thought for a moment that […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[80],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27330","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-nightshade-heir-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27330","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27330"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27330\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27330"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27330"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27330"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}