Lethal Temptation (by Michelle Ray) novel Chapter 294

294 Unresolved Wounds

Mara

“Have you been able to reach Martha?” Lucian asked quietly, his voice softer than usual, as though even

saying her name might shatter the fragile balance in the room.

I shook my head. “No.”

The word came out heavier than it should have, and for a moment, the silence between us deepened. I

hadn’t expected it to be easy.

Martha wasn’t the type to disappear by accident. If even Darian, her own son, determined and relentless, had failed to reach her, then it was clear she wasn’t simply hiding. She had severed her ties completely, withdrawn not just from Vander but from all of us.

Darian had gone to Goldenpeak two months ago, full of hope, convinced he’d find her at the foundation she had poured herself into.

But she hadn’t been there. He returned with empty hands and a hollow expression, and that told me more

than his words ever could.

She had vanished, and not by chance.

It felt deliberate. Like she had taken a blade to every connection Vander represented and cut herself free. That was what unsettled me the most. Because I knew, deep down, she loved him. Dearly. For all the pain, all the humiliation, all the years she had endured, her love for him had been undeniable. And still, she had

chosen absence.

“She’s not in Goldenpeak,” I said at last, breaking the quiet. “That’s confirmed. But I’m reaching out again. Olivia’s in town. I sent her a message last night, and it was delivered this morning. I’ll call her after breakfast. If anyone knows where Martha is… it’s Olivia.”

Lucian exhaled slowly, rubbing the back of his neck, the gesture weary, almost defeated. His eyes flickered

with the weight of unspoken fears.

“I just hope she hasn’t left the island,” I added, my voice low, hesitant. “Your father fears it. And honestly… It’s possible.”

The thought unsettled both of us. If Martha had gone beyond our borders, it meant she wasn’t merely seeking space. She was seeking escape. From Vander. From his reach. Perhaps from the island itself.

Lucian nodded slowly, the lines around his mouth deepening, the weight of it all still etched into his

expression. He carried his father’s burdens even when he swore he wouldn’t. That was the kind of son he

was, loyal, even when loyalty cost him peace.

“Olivia’s still training female fighters in Mistwood, right?” he asked after a moment, trying to shift the conversation to something lighter, though the strain in his tone betrayed him.

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<294 Unresolved Wounds

Clam

“Yeah,” I said with a faint smile. The thought of Olivia always brought a small spark of warmth. “And being paid well for it. She’s even training the Alpha’s Luna. She told me I inspired him.”

That drew a smile from Lucian, one that softened his face and momentarily chased away the storm in his eyes. But even then, the worry lingered, tucked into the corners of his expression where no smile could

reach.

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