Chapter 166
Rocco’s Perspective
I found myself frozen in place, standing rigidly between Lyra and Kira, my body instinctively forming a barrier to keep them apart. The sharp, metallic scent of blood—my sister’s blood—hung thickly in the air, stirring something primal beneath my skin. Behind me, Lyra lay sprawled on the cold cave floor, her breaths shallow but steady, a fragile rhythm that barely reassured me. In front of me, Kira stood unmoving, her gaze icy and unyielding, like a predator sizing up her prey.
The silence pressed down on us, heavy and suffocating. I could feel Andy and his team encircling us, their movements cautious but ready to strike at Kira’s command. My muscles coiled, preparing for the inevitable confrontation that was about to unfold.
“Kira’s voice cut through the tense quiet, calm yet razor-sharp. ‘When did you find out Lyra was the one who framed me?’”
I swallowed hard, my eyes darting between Kira’s cold stare and Lyra’s pale, wounded face. Despite her weakness, Lyra’s eyes flashed a warning, a silent plea, even as blood soaked through her white robe and pooled on the stone beneath her.
Kira waited patiently, her face a mask of unreadable emotion. This was the woman who had once looked at me with warmth and love, now regarding me as if I were a stranger—no, worse—a sworn enemy.
I struggled for breath, my thoughts clouded by the unbearable weight of their presence.
“After the last Triads high council meeting,” I finally admitted, drawing in a steadying breath. “The red-masked leader requested a private meeting.”
Closing my eyes for a moment, the memory surged back with painful clarity.
“She led me to a hidden chamber. When she took off her mask… I saw it was Lyra. My sister. The one I believed had been dead for ten years.”
Kira’s eyes narrowed just slightly—the only sign that my confession had pierced her icy exterior.
“I joined the Triads to find a way to bring you back, Kira,” I continued, desperation creeping into my voice. “For three years, I’ve hunted for ancient rituals, lost powers—anything that could resurrect you. I never stopped searching.”
My fists clenched at my sides, trembling with the weight of my truth. “When I found out Lyra was behind the mask—behind everything—I couldn’t… I just couldn’t accept it. That’s why I stepped down from security for this ritual. I wasn’t ready to face that reality.”
I searched Kira’s face for any sign of softness, any flicker of belief. But all I saw was cold detachment.
*Does she believe me? Could she? After everything, would I even believe myself?*
The burden of my choices pressed heavily against my chest. For three years, I had chased the impossible hope of resurrection, convinced it was the only way to make amends for my failures. But was it truly for Kira? Or was it a desperate attempt to soothe my own guilt, to numb my pain?
My heart twisted painfully as another thought emerged. Even if Kira had truly been dead, would she have wanted this? Would she have approved of the lines I crossed, the sacrifices I made? The answer was brutal and undeniable, cutting deeper than any blade.
A cold, bitter laugh escaped Kira’s lips. “How ironic. If you really stepped down from security, then why are you here, Rocco?”
I opened my mouth to respond, but the words caught in my throat. Why was I here? The question echoed relentlessly in my mind.
“I… I don’t know,” I confessed, the truth raw and vulnerable on my tongue. “I just knew I had to come.”
“Still clinging to the hope of bringing me back?” Her voice dripped with scorn. “Or were you more concerned about your precious sister?”
Her words stung deeply, but I forced myself to meet her gaze. “I only wanted to bring you back,” I whispered. “I never stopped loving you.”
Something flickered in Kira’s eyes—anger? Pain? I couldn’t tell.
“Love?” she said, voice hardening. “Your idea of love is certainly… unique, Rocco.”


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