Crowned by the enemy Alpha

Scared

CHAPTER 14

~LYRIA~•

I leave the dungeon with my hands shaking, my heart pounding against my ribs like it’s trying to escape my chest.

Did I really just say those things? Did I really threaten to behead anyone Damon sends after me?

The words replay in my mind, and I wait for the regret to come. The shame. The fear of what I’ve done.

But it doesn’t come.

Instead, I feel… powerful. Like I’ve finally taken control of my own story instead of letting others write it for me.

I’m so lost in thought that I don’t notice Clara until I’m nearly at my chamber door. She’s pacing back and forth in the corridor, wringing her hands, her face pale and streaked with tears.

I clear my throat, and she jumps like I’ve fired a weapon.

“Luna!” She rushes toward me, dropping to her knees before I can stop her. “I’m so sorry! I’m so, so sorry! I thought—I saw the blood and the sword and I thought Sentinel Vera was going to kill you! I didn’t know—I never meant…”

“Clara, stop.” I place a hand on her shoulder, trying to calm her. “It’s alright.”

“It’s not alright!” Tears stream down her face. “Sentinel Vera is in the dungeons because of me! Because I ran to the Alpha and told him she attacked you when she was only….”

“Training me,” I finish gently. “We were just training. Well, testing really. Vera was making sure I could defend myself in a real fight.”

Clara stares up at me, her eyes wide. “You were… joking?”

“Not joking exactly. But definitely not trying to kill each other.” I help her to her feet. “You couldn’t have known. You saw blood and reacted to protect me. That’s not something to apologize for.”

But Clara’s face only grows more distressed. “But now Sentinel Vera is locked up! And it’s my fault! When she gets out, she’s going to…..” She swallows hard. “She’s going to kill me.”

I can’t really argue with that. Vera is known for holding grudges, and Clara did get her thrown in the dungeons.

“I’ll help you,” I say.

Hope flickers in Clara’s tear-filled eyes. “Really? You’ll help me?”

“On one condition.”

“Anything, Luna! Anything at all!”

I lean in close and whisper in her ear, my words so quiet that no one else could possibly hear them.

Clara freezes. Her eyes go impossibly wide, and all the color drains from her face.

“Luna, I…..that’s…..you can’t be serious.”

“Shh.” I press a finger to my lips. “Keep your voice down. Can you do it or not?”

She looks around nervously, as if the walls themselves might be listening. Then she swallows hard and nods.

“I can do it,” she whispers back. “But if anyone finds out….”

“They won’t. Not if we’re careful.” I step back, speaking at a normal volume again. “So we have a deal?”

Clara bows her head. “Yes, Luna. We have a deal.”

“Good. Now stop worrying about Vera. I’ll make sure she understands you were only trying to protect me.”

“Thank you, Luna.” Clara wipes her eyes, trying to compose herself. “Is there anything else you need? Should I draw you a bath? Bring you tea?”

“No, I’m fine. You can go.”

She curtsies and hurries away, still looking shaken but slightly less terrified than before.