Chapter 179: Stopping Lila’s Plans
{Third Person}
The question was asked lightly, almost casually, yet Torin instantly felt his stomach tighten.
The timing was too perfect.
His eyes widened slightly. "What?"
Lila continued smiling ever so sweetly. "I asked if you regret being with me."
Torin immediately understood that she had noticed his gaze that had strayed and stayed too long on Amara.
Of course, she would notice since they were sitting together. Lila noticed everything, especially when it involved Amara.
Panic flashed through him briefly. The last thing he wanted was another argument with her, here and now, so he quickly forced a smile onto his face.
"Of course not."
Lila continued watching him. Torin suddenly felt as though he were standing before a judge rather than his lover.
"You hesitated," she drawled.
"I didn’t."
"You did."
Torin swallowed a gulp. "I was just taken aback by the question."
The explanation sounded weak even to his own ears.
Lila’s smile remained unchanged. Unfortunately, her eyes were becoming colder, so Torin hurried to continue.
"You know I chose you."
The words came out quickly, perhaps too quickly. Lila said nothing, so Torin pressed on.
"If I wanted to be with Amara, I would have stayed with her."
The statement finally produced a reaction. Lila’s expression softened slightly. Torin noticed immediately and silently thanked the heavens. He was making progress.
"Then why were you staring at her?" Lila asked.
Torin resisted the urge to sigh because there was no correct answer. Any answer involving concern, guilt, or regret would only create more problems, so he chose the safest response he could think of.
"I was looking at everyone."
Lila raised an eyebrow. Torin immediately regretted saying it. The excuse sounded terrible, even he knew that.
For several seconds, Lila simply stared at him. Then, unexpectedly, she laughed. The sound caught him off guard.
It wasn’t a cheerful laugh, nor was it particularly warm; it was the sort of laugh that made people nervous.
Lila leaned back in her chair and took another sip of wine. "You’re a terrible liar, Torin."
Torin’s heart nearly stopped. Fortunately, Lila did not continue the discussion. Instead, she returned her attention to the royal table, but her thoughts were becoming increasingly dangerous.
The more she watched Amara and Alexander together, the more irritated she became.
Every smile Amara wore seemed to mock her. Every glance exchanged between the pair made her feel as though fate itself was favouring the wrong person.
By now, she was convinced that keeping Amara’s secret served no purpose because why should she?
Why should she continue protecting someone who had taken the kind of things she wanted?
Lila’s fingers tightened around her wine glass. No. Amara’s secret needed to come out. But the only question was how.
Her first thought was Alexander.
After all, she had already attempted to hint at the truth months ago. The memory still irritated her.
It was either that Alexander had not understood her meaning, or he simply had not cared.
This time, she would try a different approach. A different person. Someone who might actually act on the information. Someone who would see the value of such a secret.
As the thought crossed her mind, her gaze drifted across the hall and then stopped on Zarek.
A slow smile spread across Lila’s lips as she thought, ’Perhaps he would be interested. Perhaps he would understand exactly how valuable such information could be.’
The more she thought about it, the more appealing the idea became.
At that very moment, another pair of eyes settled on her.
Alexander. He had noticed her long ago because she was predictable. Throughout the evening, he had watched her growing agitation.
He had seen the bitterness every time her gaze landed on Amara. He had noticed the frustration she failed to hide. And now, he saw something else.
The moment her eyes settled on Zarek, and the moment that smile appeared.
A cold understanding immediately settled in his mind. Whatever Lila was planning, it would not end well.
Without drawing attention to himself, Alexander shifted his gaze toward Barron. Their eyes met instantly.
Alexander did not need words. A slight movement of his head was enough, and the next second, Barron excused himself from his current conversation and made his way over.
As soon as he arrived, he leaned down slightly. "What happened?"
Alexander’s gaze briefly returned to Lila. Barron followed it. At first, he looked confused, then realization dawned.
"Lila?"
Alexander nodded once. "That girl is up to something."
Barron’s interest sharpened immediately as Alexander continued. "Stop her from meeting Zarek."
A grin slowly began appearing on Barron’s face. Now this was becoming interesting.
For several seconds, he studied Lila from afar. Sure enough, she seemed to be preparing herself to leave her table, likely to approach someone.
And considering where she kept looking, and from what Alexander had just told him, Barron could already guess who.
His grin widened. "What exactly do you want me to do?"
Alexander didn’t even need to think about it. "You once mentioned teaching her a lesson while she was in our kingdom."
Barron’s eyes brightened. "I remember."
"The night she spent in a cell doesn’t count."
Barron’s grin widened further.
Alexander took a sip from his cup before calmly continuing. "So go ahead."
Barron looked almost delighted. "Go ahead?" he repeated, pretending not to understand a thing. He wanted everything to be spelt out to him.
"Do whatever you think is appropriate." Alexander’s expression remained perfectly calm. "Just make sure it doesn’t create problems between the Human Kingdom and our Kingdom."
For a brief moment, silence settled between them. Then Barron smiled, a sort that usually preceded trouble.
"Be assured." His tone was far too cheerful. "This cousin of yours will make you satisfied."
Alexander did not ask for details.
That alone should have worried Lila. Unfortunately for her, she remained completely unaware that two men were quietly discussing her fate while she sat there plotting her next move.
Barron, meanwhile, was already considering his options.
And judging by the look in his eyes as he straightened, he intended to enjoy every moment of whatever happened next.
---
The moment Lila excused herself from her table, Barron moved as well. She had barely taken a few steps when he appeared in front of her.
Lila stopped abruptly. For a second, irritation flashed across her face. She had somewhere to be, and whoever was blocking her path had chosen a very inconvenient moment to do it.
Then she looked up properly. Recognition immediately replaced her annoyance.
"Lord Barron." A pleasant smile appeared on her lips as she dipped her head politely.
Barron returned the smile with equal warmth. "Lady Lila."
"I didn’t realize you were here."
"That would be difficult, considering we are attending the same banquet."
Lila laughed softly at the remark. This time, it was genuine. After all, this was Alexander’s cousin. A powerful noble from the Werewolf Kingdom.
The same man who had introduced himself to her during the previous banquet.
But what Lila did not know was that this very same man had also been the masked individual who visited her cell and spent an entire evening driving her to the brink of madness.
As far as she was concerned, there was every reason to maintain a good relationship with Barron.
"I hope you’re enjoying your stay in the Werewolf Kingdom," Barron said.
"Very much." The lie came out effortlessly. But if Barron noticed it, he gave no indication.
"That’s good to hear."
For a few moments, they exchanged harmless conversation. Nothing important. Nothing that would attract attention from anyone watching them.
Then Barron tilted his head slightly. "Would you mind accompanying me somewhere?"
Lila blinked. "Somewhere?"
He nodded. "I would like to show you something."
Her first instinct was to refuse. Almost immediately, her eyes drifted across the hall toward Zarek. The Second Prince was still seated among a group of nobles.
Lila hesitated. She had intended to speak to him tonight. Still... an opportunity to spend time with Alexander’s cousin was hardly a bad alternative.
When she looked back at Barron, he was waiting patiently for her answer. Finally, she smiled.
"I would be delighted."
Barron offered her his arm, and she accepted it without hesitation. Together, they left the banquet hall.
At first, she assumed they were merely moving to another section of the palace. However, as the distance between themselves and the banquet increased, she began to feel a little curious.
The music became fainter and the voices disappeared. Soon, only the quiet sounds of the evening remained.
They walked through a beautifully maintained section of the palace grounds before arriving at a smaller building situated away from the main festivities.
Lila slowed her pace. She was just merely curious, not frightened. "Where are we going?"
Barron glanced at her and smiled. "Somewhere quiet."
The answer was frustratingly vague. Lila considered asking another question, but decided against it.
A few moments later, they arrived. The sight waiting for her was unexpected.
A long, open corridor overlooked a section of the palace gardens. Two elegant chairs had already been arranged there beside a small table. Crystal glasses sat neatly beside several plates of carefully prepared snacks.
Everything looked as though it had been arranged in advance.
Lila’s surprise must have shown because Barron chuckled softly. "I hope it meets your expectations."
"It is lovely," she admitted.