Chapter 96\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2013Kaia\u2013\u00a0<\/p>\n
61\u00a0<\/p>\n
55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
When I woke up after a few hours, my body was surprisingly not in pain anymore. I didn\u2019t even feel weak at\u00a0<\/p>\n
all.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My limbs ached and my stomach finally wasn\u2019t ripping itself apart.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Strangely, I thought I was going to die earlier.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Thank the goddess, I don\u2019t feel like I\u2019m being crushed to death anymore.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My throat felt dry. I stretched my hand to get the jug; I needed to drink water.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But, I couldn\u2019t reach it so I tried to stand up, I staggered and almost hit the floor.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHey, Luna!\u201d Maliya shouted from the door. \u201cWhat are you doing? You should be in bed resting\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMaliya, I told you not to call me that, didn\u2019t I\u201d I said, returning to sit on the bed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou did, but I can\u2019t bring myself to keep calling you by your name when you\u2019re going to become the Luna soon\u201d Kaia looked at me, admiration etched on her face.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cStill, I\u2019m telling you, just call me Kaia\u201d I urged. \u201cIf you call me Luna when it\u2019s just the two of us again, I will punish you\u201d I fake-threatened.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat,?\u201d Her eyes popped out. \u201cI mean yes Luna\u2026No, Kaia\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s much better,\u201d I smiled at her. \u201cWhat is that?\u201d I asked, pointing to the tray in her hands.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOh this,\u201d Maliya lifted the tray to me. \u201cI brought you dinner, you haven\u2019t had anything to eat the whole day. You can\u2019t heal if you don\u2019t eat\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re so thoughtful, Maliya,\u201d I beamed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you, my lady,\u201d Maliya smiled. \u201cIt\u2019s my duty to take care of you, please let me do it\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Maliya put a cloth on my lap and set the tray in front of me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I picked up the spoon and took a few bites.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When I raised my head, I saw Maliya looking at me like a mother watching her child eat, I was touched.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I cleared\u00a0<\/p>\n
it?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
my throat. \u201cMaliya, I realised we don\u2019t know much about each other. Would you like to talk about\u00a0<\/p>\n
Maliya\u2019s eyes glinted at hearing this. \u201cOf course, my lady. What would you like to know about me?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cEverything,\u201d I said excitedly. Then, I stopped myself. \u201cI mean anything you\u2019re willing to tell me\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:46 Tue, Jan 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 96\u00a0<\/p>\n
(6L)\u00a0<\/p>\n
55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is pretty much nothing interesting about me though,\u201d Maliya informed me, lowering her head.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter, right? We are what we experience. Good or bad, we can\u2019t change it, we can only share the story\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you say so,\u201d Maliya nodded. \u201cWhen I was eight years old my parents died in a rogue attack on their way back from a trip,\u201d she breathed, looking at me. I could almost see pain in her eyes. \u201cMy grandpa raised my little brother and me, he was poor and surviving on menial jobs which weren\u2019t enough to make ends meet. In the end, he took loans from some loan sharks to raise my sister and me. When he couldn\u2019t pay back, the loan sharks harassed and beat him up until he wa bedridden with broken bones.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cStill, they didn\u2019t stop coming to ask for their money. I couldn\u2019t watch my grandpa going through that after everything he did to raise my brother and me. When I turned eighteen, I took up menial jobs to repay the loan but it wasn\u2019t enough to satisfy the angry thugs\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOne day, I applied to the pack to work as an assistant. Alpha Theo hired me to work as Lady Elara\u2019s assistant. It\u2019s been three years now, the loan is almost repaid and my brother is in college\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
When she finished talking, she had tears in her eyes and I could understand everything she went through.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou are a strong person, Kaia\u201d I stood her hand and patted it. \u201cNobody could do what you did for your family. You stepped up when you didn\u2019t have to, I\u2019m proud of you\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you, my lady. This means a lot\u201d Kaia said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, how was working with Elara like?\u201d I asked before I could stop myself.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLady Elara was very difficult to work with,\u201d Maliya muttered. \u201cShe would scream and hit us over little mistakes\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d I remarked, shocked. \u201cDid you tell the alpha about this?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d she looked serious. \u201cLady Elara had everything under her control, if we reported her to the alpha, she would lie and get the person who dared to snitch fired. I didn\u2019t want to lose my job, I had a brother and grandpa depending on me\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is not okay,\u201d I was seething with rage. \u201cHow could she abuse her powers like that\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s nothing, just another day of being a glorified maid. Haha,\u201d she chuckled, trying to make light of the\u00a0<\/p>\n
situation.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know?,\u201d I began, looking at her. \u201cI didn\u2019t grow up with parents either. I don\u2019t even know who my parents are, where they are, or why they abandoned me. My grandma raised me all alone, selling herbs and treating people. I worked hard to rise from my ashes to become the person everyone envied. I topped the warrior academy ranking and represented my pack. I didn\u2019t realise falling after rising so high would be this awful\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Maliya grabbed my hands, comforting me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you say you topped the warrior academy ranking?\u201d Kaia asked, her eyes glinting. \u201cDid you know Alpha Theo topped it as well?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:47 Tue, Jan 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 96\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?,\u201d I said. \u201cWhat are you talking about?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
(61)\u00a0<\/p>\n
B 55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m telling the truth, Kaia,\u201d Maliya firmly said. \u201cAlpha Theo was at the warrior academy and topped the ranking, sharing it with someone he wouldn\u2019t name\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWow, really?\u201d I still looked shocked. \u201cI had no idea Theo was at the academy.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s fine, it happens sometimes. No need to beat yourself up\u201d Maliya\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI will ask Theo about it when he comes back\u201d I muttered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s a great idea,\u201d Maliya nodded.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just then, we heard a voice murmuring outside the door.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s going on?\u201d I muttered to myself more than to Maliya. \u201cWould you take a look please?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Maliya went to check, and when she returned, Elara was with her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Maliya excused herself, pretending to go get water from the kitchen.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When she left, the room became pin-drop quiet.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elara walked in, her eyes widened in exaggerated shock.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOh! Kaia, you\u2019re awake.\u201d Her voice was a little too bright, too smooth. \u201cI came as soon as I heard what happened. I was worried.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I froze. Why was she here?\u00a0<\/p>\n
She stepped further in, hands clasped in front of her like some delicate, concerned angel.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Worried about an old friend. We are not friends so I don\u2019t know where this is coming from.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou fainted, right? They said Maliya found you collapsed. What happened? Are you feeling any better?\u201d\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her eyes flicked over me like she was checking for cracks.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A strange prickle ran through my spine.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2026 I\u2019m alright now,\u201d I managed. My voice sounded a little weak and cracky.\u201dJust stomach pain. I think I overworked myself.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elara tilted her head with a soft smile that didn\u2019t reach her eyes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOverworked? During a festival arrangement? Kaia, you should take better care of yourself.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her tone was gentle, but something about it made my muscles tense.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I swallowed. \u201cI will.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:47 Tue, Jan 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 96\u00a0<\/p>\n
As soon as she shut the door behind her, the breath rushed out of my lungs.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t realise I\u2019ve been holding my breath, that woman was bad news, I can\u2019t stand her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u7530\u00a0<\/p>\n
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18:47 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
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Shadows Follow Lonely Minds \u2014 Christopher Harris 96 Chapter 96\u00a0 \u2013Kaia\u2013\u00a0 61\u00a0 55 vouchers\u00a0 When I woke up after a […]<\/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-27341","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\/27341","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=27341"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27341\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27341"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27341"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27341"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}