The Lycan Prince’s Puppy (by C Tamika) novel Chapter 335

Violet

We stood outside the palace gates, far enough to have some privacy. It was the safest way to talk, and a lot had to be said.

All eyes were on Nate, full of curiosity as they waited for him to speak. He almost looked overwhelmed by it, like he didn’t know how to begin, and it was understandable.

The news that Beta Jack was probably aware of what we had done wasn’t nothing.

“Your dad knows, doesn’t he?” Lian spoke first. “That you’ve got something to do with her disappearance?”

She blinked as she waited for his answer.

Nate’s shoulders dipped in relief. “Yes.”

Lian had probably seen this coming the second she spotted the nerves hiding behind his calm eyes. As expected, Trin and Lian both took the news calmly, but Sora…

Sora went pale.

“Oh dear Goddess,” she breathed. She started pacing, her hand through her hair. “It’s over…we’re done for. We’re all going to Prison Island, where we won’t be able to take a shower and—“

“My dad won’t let that happen,” Nate cut in, his voice gentle but firm. “I won’t let that happen.”

He glanced around. “I just thought you should know where things stand.”

Those words didn’t seem to do much for Sora, and she kept pacing. Kylan let out an annoyed breath beside me, but I couldn’t blame her. She was scared, nervous, and she had every right to be.

“I am one fucking second away from sending her to Prison Island myself,” he muttered. He scoffed right after and raised his chin at her like she had just proved his point about why he disliked everything about her.

I pressed my hand to his back and gave it a rub to keep him grounded. Nate drew a breath, then looked straight at me.

“I won’t be able to lie to him,” he said carefully. “So I will tell him everything. All of it, but only if that’s okay with all of you—especially you, Violet.”

A lump formed in my throat as I gave him a steady nod. “I trust you, Nate.”

I reached out my hand, and he took it, his lips curling into a small smile. Those words did something to him, and I should’ve told him before. After hiding the truth of who I was, it felt important that he heard them from me.

“And you don’t have to worry, Sora,” I shifted my attention to her. She stopped pacing to stare at me. “None of this will fall back on you. I swear that on my life.”

Everyone looked at me, wide-eyed. “I’m sorry for dragging you into this mess,” I continued. “But none of this is your fault. It’s—”

“No, you’re right. It isn’t.” Lian cut in sharply. “It’s Kayden’s.”

“It might be, but we let it happen,” Sora’s voice trembled. “And he’s the prince so he won’t face consequences…”

Kylan kept quiet, and he looked down. I knew he believed none of this was my fault, but his expression had only changed when Kayden was mentioned. He stayed quiet instead of joining them in blaming Kayden.

Because while he didn’t agree with how Kayden did it, he would’ve done the same thing if it meant protecting me. He would’ve killed Chrystal.

Trinity, who had also stayed quiet, had wanted her dead for a long time.

And even I had come to terms with the fact that I would’ve killed her myself that day, if it meant surviving her.

Guilt rushed through me as those thoughts occupied my mind, and my eyes flickered back to Nate. He was another reason why Kylan had stayed quiet.

He didn’t want to badmouth Chrystal in front of him.

Nate let out a weak chuckle. “We can blame him for what he’s done,” he said, “but at the end of the day…it was her fault.”

We all stared at him, unsure of what to say. Kylan had also lifted his head.

The way he had said it…

So calm, and accepting. A sigh escaped from his lips, and he gave us a shrug. “Anyway, I said what I had to say,” Nate said. “I’ll tell my dad, and I’ve got the situation under control.”

He tried to sound strong, but I could still hear the ache in his voice. Even if he thought Chrystal was mostly to blame, it would make sense that he still missed his sister.

There was an uncomfortable silence that stretched for far too long.

Trinity cleared her throat. “So about the no shower thing and Prison Island,” she gritted her teeth. “I had no idea, but if it does come to that…please just kill me.”

We all shared a look before we burst out laughing. I knew she was serious, but she couldn’t have said it at a better time because that was exactly what we needed.

“I have something to say too,” I chuckled.“Something I don’t want to hide anymore.”

Kylan quickly nudged my shoulder. “Are you really going to tell her?” he whispered. Her meaning Sora.

I ignored him.

I was going to tell her because they all deserved to know, and that was my decision.

“First, I want to thank you,” I began. “For being there for me, protecting me while you had no reason to risk anything for me…but you did.”

My throat tightened. “So in return…I want to be fully honest with you.”

Sora fumbled her hands. “There’s more?”

I let out a small chuckle, and my eyes searched for Kylan.

“We should go somewhere else,” he suggested. “She’s going to need a while.”

I gave a small, nervous laugh. “What he said.”

--

That’s how we ended up in the palace library, the same place where we did our research about the box.

Lian nodded in agreement. “Nate is right,” she narrowed her eyes, “We can guard the box this time while you go through.”

“That would help a lot,” Kylan agreed.

We took a risk the last time, but that would be the first and only. It was really necessary for someone to be on the other side.

“Can’t we involve more people?” Nate asked. “Baelor is a threat to everyone. Every kingdom. Every life.”

Kylan shook his head. “They would never believe us,” he said. “They would lock every single one of us up before we could even get close to proving anything.”

Nate paused. He knew Kylan was right.

Of course, that thought had also occurred to me, but I had also concluded that that wouldn’t be the right move.

If the king was sane, we could’ve told him, but then again, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he already knew.

He most likely already had his own agenda.

Kylan crossed his arms and leaned against the wall. “Letting all of them out of the Veil is as good as a death sentence, and we cannot let that happen,” he said. “I’m going to be realistic. I don’t know if we can keep everyone out, but we at least owe it a try. There are two good people inside that Veil, and they have been holding it together for years—“

Sora slammed her hand on the table so loud it caught everyone’s attention.

“Sora—” I reached out, but she shook her head, telling me not to speak. Then she clamped both hands over her ears. “No…No…No...no—no—”

She backed up fast, then turned and practically ran out the library doors. Kylan’s jaw tightened, and he moved off the wall to follow her, but before he could, Lian stepped in front of him.

She placed her hands on his chest, but pulled back instantly when she realized what she had done. “Your Highness…” she bowed her head. “She’s just nervous, but she won’t—“

Kylan cut her off, cold. “You'd better keep her under control before I do it. If I have to put a leash on your girlfriend, I will.”

Lian glared at him. “She doesn’t need to be kept on a leash. She isn’t a dog,” she said. “We might be a bit harder, but this is a normal and justified reaction to someone being told that the devil is on the way. Don’t you think?”

“No, I don’t,” Kylan replied. “I understand what it’s like to want to protect someone, but I do not think that reaction is normal.”

Lian glared at Kylan for a second longer, then hurried out after Sora.

The air in the room had shifted, but I was with Lian. She was right, that was a justified reaction.

Kylan turned his head, and his eyes pierced through mine. Then his legs moved, and he stepped toward me until he was close enough to reach my ears.

I felt his warm breath near my skin. “Just because you care for someone doesn’t mean you owe them every piece of yourself,” he whispered, his voice softer than expected. “The wrong reaction from the wrong person can destroy everything…and I don’t believe you should’ve told her.”

Although he had said it so quietly that only I could hear, I took a step back and looked across the room. My eyes went from Trinity to Nate, back to Kylan.

“I think you’re wrong,” I stated. Kylan looked at me, taken aback. “I respect your opinion, but I don’t regret telling her because I know I can trust her.”