Chapter 157: The performance of a lifetime

AYLA

"How exactly do you think you can help me?"

"You were right when you asked Lucius what would happen after he got what he wanted. I watched him answer you and I saw the truth of it for what it was."

I stared at her, my heart hammering in my chest.

"And what truth is that?" I asked.

"Lucius only wants you for what he can make you." she muttered. "He wants a puppet, nothing more and when you are no longer useful to him, he will end you."

She raised her head to pin me with a stare.

"I thought he wanted to restore what was taken from the Omegas. I thought perhaps he wanted to correct what was done to Morgana but I was wrong. He wants a reign of himself and himself alone"

"And now you want to help me?"

"Yes."

I narrowed my eyes at her.

Ever since I met Amara, she had done nothing but hurt me. She had taken my memories and she had helped Lucius manipulate me.

And now she was standing in front of me, telling me that she wanted to help.

It could be a trap...It probably was.

Maybe Lucius had sent her here and this was another one of his games.

"You expect me to trust you after everything you have done to me."

"I know you are not convinced." Amara rose to her feet and my body tensed.

She took one step closer, raising her hands, palms open.

"In the spirit of good faith, I am going to give something back to you."

I opened my mouth to ask what she was talking about but the words died on my tongue as she began to mutter and I felt something loosen in my chest.

I gasped, my hand flying to my heart. It felt like a fist that had been wrapped around my chest for days had suddenly opened.

Air rushed into my lungs.

Nyx.

I heard her growl low in my chest and I felt my eyes burn with tears.

Oh goddess. Nyx. Nyx.

She was back. I had not known how empty I was without her.

A deep purr rolled through my mind and suddenly, I was laughing. I did not even know when the tears began falling.

My hand pressed against my chest and I closed my eyes.

"I have missed you too."

Her response was another deep purr.

I could feel everything again. My focus was sharper, brighter as if I had been seeing through a film of dirty glass and someone had finally wiped it clean.

Amara stood at the foot of the bed, watching me. When I finally dragged myself back to the present, my face still wet, she was looking at me with something I had never seen in her before... a gentle smile.

"I am sorry," she said. "For binding her in the first place. But she is one powerful being. Nyx."

I went still. "You know her name."

"I served Morgana and Nyx was her wolf and her best friend. I figured since you are her reincarnation, you would carry the same wolf and I was right."

I thought about what she said for a moment about helping me. If this was a game she was playing, I would play it along with her. I could not remain here and wait for Lucius to decide what to do with me.

I needed a way out and right now, Amara might be the only person capable of giving me one.

That did not mean I trusted her but I was desperate.

I looked at Amara.

"Fine," I said. "I will accept your help. On one condition."

Amara inclined her head.

"You help me get out of here." I held her gaze, and I did not blink. "This place. Lucius. All of it. You get me out, and we are even."

"That is the goal." There was no hesitation in her voice. "I would not want Lucius to ever get what he wants."

"Then you have a deal and if this is another trick..." My voice dropped. "I will find a way to make you regret it."

She looked at me for a long moment then she nodded.

"Fair."

I exhaled.

I could not believe I was doing this.But what choice did I have?I needed herfor now.I could use whatever help she was willing to give me and when I got out of here, I would figure out the rest.

"So, what is the plan?" I asked.

"For now you are going to play the role Lucius’ wants. He cannot know I did not perform the spell or everything will be ruined. I am going to teach you how to harness your powers, Ayla as best I can. You will need it if you mean to face the real world."

Nyx growled low in my mind in agreement.

You trust her? I ask her.

Yes, I do.

Why? She bound you, Nyx. She is the last person you should trust.

She wants what I want... what we both want.

"Rest now." Amara said. "I will report to Lucius that you had awoken and the spell did take root. He would want to confirm this himself so I suggest you practice and you make sure he believes it."

She turned toward the door.

She took one last look at me before walking out of the room, the door closing behind her.

I lay back on the bed with Nyx curled up inside me.

"We are going to get out of here." she reassured me.

"I hope so, Nyx" I said out loud. "I really hope so."

I must have drifted, because the next thing I knew the door was opening and light was falling across my face, and a voice that was horribly familiar sang out across the room.

"Rise and shine, sleepy head."

Every muscle went tight but I forced myself still, opening my eyes as slowly as I could. I was supposed to remember nothing and I needed to keep it that way.

Immediately, I forced every reaction from my face.

Willow stood at the foot of the bed, arms folded, and she was smiling in that menacing way of hers.

I sat up in the bed and stared at her.

"Who are you?" I asked, keeping my eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

Willow’s smile only widened as she approached me.

"Unbelievable," she breathed. "When he told me you were no longer you, I swore he was lying."

Willow laughed.

"My apologies, miss." She dipped into a curtsy so shallow it was an insult, and her voice dripped with a condescension so thick I could have choked on it. "I am your new handmaid."

She straightened, and her smile was all teeth.

"My handmaid?"

"Lucius’ orders," she added, savoring every syllable. "I am to see to your every need."

My heart sank.

A handmaid?Willow? So he wanted her to watch me. Did he not trust Amara anymore?

She was looking at me now, waiting.

"And who the hell is Lucius?" I asked.

The door opened just then and Lucius walked in.

I immediately made a show of backing away from both of them, pressing myself farther against the headboard as I looked between them.

I let my eyes widen and my breath quicken. I made sure they could see the confusion and disorientation I was pretending to feel.

Lucius stopped, his eyes settling on me with suspicion in their depths.

He turned to Willow who lowered her head and bowed. She bent slowly, almost seductively, her eyes never leaving his face until the very last second.

My eyebrows nearly rose.

What the hell was that?

I looked between them.

Lucius finally looked back at me.

"Who are you?" I asked in a small voice.

He walked toward me and sat at the edge of the bed.

"I am Lucius," he said. His voice was soft and almost painfully gentle. "I am so sorry you woke up so disoriented, my love. You had a bad fall."

My stomach turned.

My love.I almost scoffed. A bad fall.That was what he was going with again?

Of course.

I had to bite the inside of my cheek to stop myself from cursing him out.

I forced my face to remain confused.

"A bad fall?" I repeated.

"Yes." He studied me carefully. "How do you feel?"

His hand moved toward me and his fingers settled lightly against my thigh.

Nyx immediately growled inside my mind.

Get him away from us.

I could feel the fury rolling through her and I shared it. Every part of me wanted to shove his hand away but I couldn’t.

So I forced myself to remain still.

"I feel like my head is splitting," I whispered, lowering my gaze. "I... I don’t recall."

Lucius frowned. For a moment, his expression seemed genuinely troubled.

"It must be worse than I realized." He pulled his hand away. "I should summon the healer to check you."

"No, that won’t be necessary."

He watched me, suspicion flickering in his eyes.

I rose onto my knees and wrapped my arms around him.

Lucius stiffened. I could feel how surprised he was at what I had done.

Good.

I pressed myself against him and forced every ounce of disgust from my face.

"I recognize you as my mate and that is all that matters to me." I whispered, looking up at him.

Lucius stared down at me, his expression softening then he wrapped his arms around me.

Everything inside me recoiled but I held on.

Because if this was the acting of my life, then I was going to give the performance of a lifetime.