Chapter 73\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 73\u00a0<\/p>\n
Selene\u00a0<\/p>\n
The next day, the carriage rolled to a slow stop, the wheels sinking into the snow. I stared at the towering palace gates. The sight before me squeezed something sharp and unpleasant in my chest.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My hands clenched tightly in my lap.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This place was a graveyard of every past mistake I had ever made.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nights spent practicing until dawn, trying desperately to be perfect; days spent chasing scraps of Adrian\u2019s attention like a starved fool; smiles plastered on my face while my heart cracked over and over again. All those years I wasted trying to fit into a palace that never felt like home. A mate bond that never felt like love. A title that never protected me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I had no home then, not in the temple, or in this palace.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHey,\u201d a lazy voice cut through my spiraling thoughts. \u201cWhat happened to you, kid? You look like you want to murder\u00a0<\/p>\n
someone.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I snapped out of it, turning my head slowly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lucas leaned against the carriage seat, arms folded behind his head, not even pretending to look respectful. His red hair glowed faintly in the dim carriage light, and his eyes observed me with interest.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Beside me, Evelyn stiffened before snapping. \u201cHow many times must I tell you not to speak to the lady with that tone? You\u2019re just a bodyguard. Know your place.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lucas cracked one eye open at her, unimpressed, and shrugged. Then he shifted deeper into the cushions, closing his eyes again with infuriating ease.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, yeah, I know I\u2019m just a bodyguard,\u201d he said, voice dripping with mockery. \u201cNo need to remind me every time you breathe. Besides\u2026\u201d His lips twitched. \u201cShouldn\u2019t you be thanking me? I saw your face. You wanted to ask her if she was okay but didn\u2019t want to overstep. You should thank me for saying it for you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Evelyn\u2019s face went red, her eyes widening.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I sighed heavily.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It hadn\u2019t even been a week, and the two of them were already ready to strangle each other. If Evelyn ever found out who she was talking to like that, I was certain she would faint on the spot.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Maybe I should keep Lucas\u2019s identity quiet a little longer for her heart\u2019s sake.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I turned to him and said, \u201cI didn\u2019t want to bring you with me. But you promised you\u2019d be on your best behavior if I allowed you to come to the palace.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Even as I said it, I mentally cursed myself for the hundredth time.\u00a0<\/p>\n
What kind of idiot brings a phoenix into the most politically sensitive place in the entire pack? If he lost control, if anyone found out who he really was, they wouldn\u2019t just try to kill him. They would accuse me of treason.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Honestly, I couldn\u2019t even blame them. If I were the Alpha, I\u2019d accuse me too.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As if sensing my thoughts, Lucas spoke without opening his eyes. \u201cI know. Don\u2019t worry. I won\u2019t cause a scene. I didn\u2019t come here to play games. I came for my own personal mission.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
12:58 Tue, Dec 23 M\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 73\u00a0<\/p>\n
Evelyn blinked, confused and slightly alarmed. \u201cW-what mission?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lucas opened his eyes, smirked like the devil discovering a new sin, and said one word with absolute seriousness.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cFood.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Evelyn froze. \u201cFood\u2026?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lucas nodded. \u201cWhat else? If the food at the temple is that good, then the food here should be even better.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Evelyn\u2019s mouth dropped open. Honestly, mine almost did too.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He came here for food?\u00a0<\/p>\n
I knew he\u2019d eaten like a starved beast yesterday, Evelyn nearly cried at how fast the pantry emptied, but still, I\u2019d thought, at the very least, he wanted to roam the palace for his own hidden agenda. Maybe observe the territory, plan some future revenge. But no, his grand plan was lunch.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A laugh burst out of me before I could stop it. \u201cHahaha-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The moment the sound left my mouth, Lucas froze.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His lips parted slightly, and his red-gold eyes locked onto me with an intensity that made the carriage suddenly feel too small. He looked stunned to see me laugh. Then, the second he realized he was staring, he snapped his gaze away and cleared his throat sharply.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Evelyn leaned toward me, scandalized. \u201cMy lady, it\u2019s not funny! Why did you bring him again? You should\u2019ve brought Silas. I doubt this man even knows how to fight or protect you if something goes wrong!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My laughter faded into a softer chuckle as I shook my head. \u201cSilas had to practice. I gave him tasks before coming. And besides, nothing will happen. I don\u2019t need protection.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Evelyn muttered under her breath, \u201cI wish we could un-bring him.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
That made me smile. \u201cOh, don\u2019t be mean, Evelyn.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I tilted my head and looked at Lucas, whose eyes were closed again. \u201cAnd don\u2019t underestimate him. He\u2019s more powerful than\u00a0<\/p>\n
he looks.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Evelyn followed my gaze, stared at him for a long moment, then shook her head firmly. \u201cI doubt that.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Before I could respond, the carriage pulled to a stop.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The door swung open to reveal the head eunuch standing outside, several maids behind him. The moment they saw me, they lowered their heads deeply.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cGood morning, Lady Selene.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My face stayed neutral. I shifted, preparing to step out, but Lucas moved first. He rose to his feet without hurry, or care, and stepped out of the carriage before me as if it were the most natural thing in the world.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Evelyn gasped so loudly the palace guards glanced over. \u201cWhat on earth is he doing?! How can he get out of the carriage before you, my lady!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t react. I\u2019d long accepted that Lucas never followed rules that weren\u2019t his. But what happened next, even I wasn\u2019t prepared for.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Instead of wandering off or making some obnoxious comment, Lucas turned, stood at the carriage entrance and extended his hand toward me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 73\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHere,\u201d he said simply.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stared at his outstretched hand, taken aback.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The phoenix\u2026 offering me a hand?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Beside me, Evelyn gaped at him as if her brain couldn\u2019t process what she was seeing. She raised an eyebrow at him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lucas rolled his eyes. \u201cI\u2019m now your bodyguard, aren\u2019t I? If I want free food, I should act like one.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then, with complete shamelessness, he added, \u201cBesides, I saw your kind do this the other day. The woman was blushing because of the man. I wanted to see why.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
A laugh almost slipped out of me again, but instead I smiled and placed my hand in his.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNot every woman blushes because of a man.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lucas smirked. \u201cI see.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He helped me down from the carriage with surprising gentleness for someone who would burn the world for fun.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I reached out and helped Evelyn down. Ahead, the head eunuch and the palace maids stared at us, watching every small\u00a0<\/p>\n
motion.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The eunuch stepped forward. \u201cPlease follow me. Lady Selene. The Alpha is waiting for you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I nodded silently.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As we walked through the palace grounds, guards and maids stopped what they were doing, turning to watch. Their eyes followed me, some curious, some fearful, some openly hostile. I ignored all of them. My head stayed high, my steps steady. The white fur coat trailing behind me..\u00a0<\/p>\n
We reached the entrance to the main hall. The eunuch stopped and lifted his voice. \u201cAlpha, Lady Selene is here as you ordered.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
A deep voice answered from inside. \u201cLet her enter.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The guards opened the towering doors, and I stepped in.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The throne room was massive, the air heavy with power. At the center, seated on the golden throne, was Alpha Rhydian. His golden robe draped around him. Despite his handsome appearance, he looked tired, as if he hadn\u2019t slept for days. Probably because he hadn\u2019t, thanks to the phoenix standing behind me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Beside the Alpha sat Luna Riley, elegant as always, her posture flawless and her gaze sharp and calculating. On either side of the throne stood the ministers, their eyes locked onto me the moment I entered, and it was anything but welcoming. They were waiting for me to slip, to give them even the slightest excuse to declare me unworthy. Among them, I spotted my father, his eyes just as cold and scrutinizing as the others.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Hope Is Not Optional \u2014 Manuel Flores 73 Chapter 73\u00a0 Chapter 73\u00a0 Selene\u00a0 The next day, the carriage rolled to […]<\/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":[82],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27867","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-ruthless-tycoons-obsession-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27867","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=27867"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27867\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27867"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27867"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27867"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}