Lyla's POV

The woman was fast in her steps, finally delivering her poetic justice as she pushed me into the hall.

It didn’t take seers to know where King Ares was seated.

Hatred swam in my belly instantly.

“Well!?” The woman harshly spoke but I remained unaffected.

“Or do I call my mistress again? Maybe this time she would —“

I walked out on her, my steps calculated and my eyes staring straight at where I was expected to go.

A multitude of scents, all from people who didn’t care about the likes of me was nothing compared to the strong scent that King Ares emitted. It was a wonder how people weren’t instantly appalled or maybe it was simply my hate for him.

The crowd seemed to pave a way for me as I walked majestically, a food tray outweighing what I was normally supposed to carry well balanced on my hands.

I was not going to look weak.

His head was bowed, his mouth moving, his eyes emotionless as he spoke quickly to Clara whose eyes beamed with joy.

It was said that King Ares never smiled, never laughed, never showed any form of emotion and the only time he wasn’t stoic was when he was chopping heads off or he was doing his business.

Although it was all rumors but I believed them and in turn each rumor fanned my divine hate for him.

He slowly lifted his eyes away from Clara and settled them on me as I approached.

A slight look crossed his face, his eyes softened as he inhaled deeply.

The color of his eyes were alluring and for the first time I realized this was as close as I have ever been to him. Why did a killer have eyes that shimmered under the light, gold that swirled in green? Soft and kind?

I shook my head quickly. Violently. Goddess forbid I start thinking such thoughts for a killer. My sister’s killer.

There was no kindness in his heart. No refuge. No emotion. Only death and destruction.

“Hurry up!” Clara suddenly yelled, her guards at alert, arm on their swords.

I must have misheard it but Ares gave a low growl and Clara flinched.

It didn’t matter when I dropped the tray, my body stank of dirt and slavery but Ares’ eyes never left my face.

His eyes searched mine and I hated how the closer he got, the more my nose drank his air. My body craved the attention from his eyes.

Disgust filled my stomach and I attempted to walk away from the scene, the weight of the wristband on my hair suddenly more aware.

But as I turned, a strong grip held me by the wrist stopping me from moving.

I whipped my head and was shocked to see Clara’s mouth twist into a scowl. I was face to face with a stranger.

“The king has not had his meal. Where are you going?” The man stood tall and proud with spotting grey hair but something about him was mischievous and cold.

“Let her go,Tristan” Ares commanded coolly and casually grabbed a glass of wine from the tray.

I snatched my hand from the stranger, a fair warning in my glare. One that he returned.

I looked over at Ares, a subtle scoff escaping my lips.

If he thought I was going to thank him, I’d rather have him choke on his wine.

I had barely thought about it when it came into existence.

At first it was a light cough then gradually, the cough became thicker and worse.

My brows furrowed.

Was this a joke?

Ares' eyes met mine for a brief moment and my face paled instantly.

His eyes rolled to the back of his head and just like a dream, he slumped.

A gut-wrenching scream escaped Clara’s lips at once and the audience scattered into pandemonium.

“Killer!!”

“Assassin!!”

“Traitor!!”

Names bounced off of people’s lips in an instant, their fingers curved towards me.

I stood still, my body shaking like a leaf as people passed by me in whooshes.

What the hell just happened?

A firm hand grabbed me suddenly and when I looked back up it was the same man…Ares’ voice suddenly echoed “Tristan”.

“You’re coming with me!” He commanded and for the first time, all of my nerves shut down. I didn’t start fighting with him till he had successfully dragged me out of the hall towards a cold basement.

“I didn’t do it!!” I screamed but his grip on me was too strong. Too firm.

“I didn’t —“

“Urgh!” I screamed in pain as he threw me with full force into a cage like apartment and locked the door.

I wanted to stand up but winced. This fall was harder than Clara’s own.

I struggled to stand up, my knowledge of medicine already letting me know that I’d fractured a rib.

I walked to the iron bars, my eyes tearing up.

“Please! Believe me,” I begged but Tristan just looked behind me, a snarl on his face.

“If he dies, then so do you” He threatened and without sparing me another glance walked away.

I was breathless and weak, my hold on the iron bars loosened and I slithered to the floor.

My body ached and my eyes burned with unshed tears.

How had I gotten here? A day that had originally began with being the best doctor this pack had ever produced to becoming a king killer?

Or had I cursed him when I wished him to choke?

I had barely gotten any answers to the questions that throbbed my head when high heels clicked dangerously against tile, echoing in the damp room.

I struggled to get back on my feet but Clara beat me to it. The gates of my dungeon were thrown open and aggressive hands grabbed me by my shirt’s collar.

Buttons snapped and my chest was freed from the tightness of the uniform.

“How dare you!?” She shrieked. I flinched, my mouth cracked open to tell her that I didn’t do it but instead, a resounding slap whizzed past my ears and echoed.

My face burned and my eyes widened.

“Did you do this as payback!?” She asked, pushing me away from her whilst breathing heavily.

“You found out I trashed your parents house and decided to get me back for it?” She asked and my world paused.

“Y–you—“

“And you thought by poisoning the king it would give you power?” She interrupted then scoffed with disgust. “ Look at you — she pointed out my disarray with so much anger — You’re Filthy. Powerless. A common worm trying to spit fire. A nobody! Did you even consider that Ares is no ordinary man? That he’s a king? Your king and My husband!!!” She screamed louder but my brain had shut down.

“And for your information, he’s going to get well and when he does?You’re going to pay for this,” she said and just like Tristan, she walked out of my cage and spared me no second glances.

I staggered as gradually my breathing became haggard. My throat clogged.

I was so stupid.

Stupid enough to really believe Clara when she threatened to destroy my fathers house when I’ve known her for three years.

She had always been an evil spawn. I should have ran to my parents when she first threatened me.

How had I not known?

Tears spewed from my eyes and my head throbbed, my hair loosened and the wristband came undone, snapped into two. Irreparable.

What have I done?

As I lay my back against the wall, my body out of its own self consciousness. A mask of myself breathing as I awaited the next step. Possibly death.

“He’s dying?!” A voice in the dungeon tried to whisper but his voice echoed. I snapped back to reality, my eyes searching for the source of the voice to see two eyes twinkling in the cold dark damp place.

Guards.

“Shh. It’s not confirmed yet but king Ares may die tonight,” he finished and I gasped.

My legs sprung to action, my hands hitting the iron bars in desperation.

I didn’t kill Ares. I hated him with every fiber of me but I would never kill him.

“I didn’t do it!!” I screamed but the guards also didn’t pay me a second glance. Hot tears gathered in my eyes, my vision blurred when all of a sudden the image of Ares’ eyes on me floated to the surface of my mind.

The sweat on his head. The way his eyes twitched and his body trembled in that moment before he slumped all came back to me.

It was all familiar.

The guards stood up, their legs pointed towards the exit. I gasped when everything clicked in place.

The guards stopped in their tracks, their necks turned to me in annoyance as I carefully lifted my head, my eyes zeroed in on them.

In one final breath,

”Give word to Clara Henshaw. Tell her I have the cure,”