Chapter 176
Bastien
My head is swimming with too much information. I don’ t remember any of the events Selene is describing, and so much of it defies everything I believe to be true. Still the ev idence in front of me is overwhelming. The videos Selene showed me prove that Arabella has been lying to me, and as strange as it seems, it’s actually a relief. Things have felt off ever since I arrived here, as if I’ve been trapped in some strange fog. I thought it was simply a side effect of losing my memory, but now I suspect it’s Arabella’s doing.
As I look down at my beautiful mate, Axel rages in my head, urging me to claim her, protect her and punish her for risking her safety all at once. However there’s not time for any of that now. “You need to get out of here.” | com mand, rising from the couch and pulling her up with me. “You can go down the fire escape.”
“Come with me.” Selene begs, “she’s going to know ! was here either way.”
“I’m not running away like a coward.” I announce.
“Oh but it’s alright if I’m a coward?” She demands, full of sass.
“You are far more precious than I am.” | inform her, eye ing the slight swell of her belly. “I’ll find you after I’ve dealt with Arabella.”
“Just, do me a favor and keep this.” She requests, push ing the cell phone into my hand. “You can reach me through Helene. You can also track me that way – we‘re set up to share our locations.”
“Alright.” | agree, opening the window and lifting her out onto the fire escape. “Now hurry, and be careful.”
“Bastien wait!” She exclaims, before I can close the win dow.
“What’s wrong?” | pause, scanning her lovely face, which looks deeply conflicted.
in a small
this from the moment she walked in the door, at first feeling terribly twisted for being so attracted to someone so evil, and now relieved beyond belief that it isn’t true. I slant my mouth over
arms. I only release her when I hear Arabella’ s keys jingling on the other side of
encourage her, finally closing the window, “I’ll come for you.
down the fire escape, I shove the cell phone under my mattress and return to the living room.
a lot cleverer than you gave
so?” Arabella questions,
you told me about her was wrong.” | continue, stalking my way around
to trick you again already?” Arabella sighs,
this up,
it herself the other night – you saw her magic. Everyone in Elysium is under
remember meeting her the other night?” | demand. “Re mind me why I
away from me into the kitchen, “Please don’t let
is you!” | thun der, “How have you been doing it? A potion?
haven’t!” Arabella whines, adopting a put upon expression, “How could you think I would do such
up Bella!” | order sharply,
strange city, she actually looks like herself again. The weak, frightened little girl image nev er did sit right with the woman I remembered. The furious blonde on the verge
on doing this forev er? For the rest of my life?”
defense, I didn’t plan on the rest of your life
her honestly, “You have no idea how much guilt | carry because of his death, but killing me won’t bring him back. And he wouldn’t want you to tarnish your own soul for his sake. How many innocent people have you hurt
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Wtn7sc6DV+m2mA3j1aaWCF2jex2EL4Sr9B/5FRy3sniTXifqax1+AEtkxI+K9MdDdXkc5t8Q3Vs837I7KacsZpKR/eMpNsKCt/+ZSW6/
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