Chapter 144
Nyssa pov
“Miss, are you sure you don’t need me to call Sir Zayn?” Sandra was the first to break the silence, and Cassian immediately followed, his voice tinged with worry.
“Yes, you just spat out blood and you fainted yesterday! I doubt you’re anywhere close to okay,” he said. When I lifted my head to look at him, A could see the concern etched across his face. “Maybe I shouldn’t have sald anything,” he muttered under his breath, and I noticed Drake
nodding in agreement beside him, wearing the same expression.
I didn’t answer right away. I focused on steadying my breathing, taking slow, controlled inhales. I really was fine. I had long since gotten used to the force slamming into me whenever I spoke about the past. And while it wasn’t as agonizing as the pain from the dream, where it felt like my soul was being ripped out–it still hurt.
This time, however, I hadn’t tried to swallow the blood back down, which made it look far more serious than it was.
“M–My lady, I’m sorry. I truly am sorry for what I did, and I swear I’ll take whatever punishment you give me. But please… please see a doctor. I don’t know what I’ll do if something happens to you,” Serena’s voice broke into my thoughts, and everyone turned to her almost immediately.
As I stared at her, I couldn’t help the frown that formed on my face. My hands trembled slightly, but in the next second, I curled them into fists and forced a smile. I shook my head and reached out to wipe her tears.
“What are you saying, Serena? Why wouldn’t you just tell the truth, that you weren’t the one who gave Ashvein to the guard to pass on to the rogue?” 1 I said softly.
felt her stiffen under my touch. Her eyes widened instantly at my words, and she stammered out, “W–What?”
I smiled at her, then turned to Cassian and Drake, who were now watching me with confusion in their eyes.
“Now that I think about it,” I began, “what you’re accusing my servant of can’t be true, Beta Cassian, Gamma Drake. Serena was with me the entire day after I was attacked by those two rogues. She hadn’t left my side even for a second. Is it possible the guard mistook her for someone else?”
I lied smoothly, remembering that Serena had, in fact, been with me for most of that day except for the brief moment she excused herself to take care of something. Now that I thought about it, she had seemed nervous and on edge. I hadn’t paid much attention to her expression at the time, but looking back, something about it had definitely felt… off.
But none of that mattered now. What I needed to do right now was get Serena out of this mess.
“Maybe the guard meant another Serena? You know there are a lot of servants with that name in the packhouse, so he might’ve mistaken her for someone else,” I said with a calm smile, watching as Cassian raised a brow before exchanging a look with Drake.
When neither of them responded, I let out a light laugh and sat up straighter.
“I mean, think about it. This is Serena we’re talking about. You two may not know her well, but I do. I know her well enough to say with certainty that she would never do something like that.”
I tried to explain, keeping my voice steady, but again they didn’t say a word. I noticed Cassian’s frown deepened slightly.
“Oh, my lady… I’m so sorry. Please forgive me… please,” Serena cried out, but I cut her off and continued.
“She was with me that day. And when did the rogue die again? Wasn’t it sometime in the afternoon? Then it couldn’t have been Serena. It really couldn’t.”
I laughed nervously, though my heart pounded so hard against my chest it felt like it might explode.
I knew Serena had done it. But i wouldn’t say that.
If we were still back in the Emberfang pack, I wouldn’t be too worried, not even about my father. But now that the Lycan King was involved…
and he’d been the one to capture the rogue… I knew it wouldn’t end well for Serena.
And then, Cassian spoke. His voice was low and steady, the weight behind it undeniable.
“The guard said it was really your servant. He described her clearly, how she handed him the Ashvein and told him to give it to the rogue. He also claimed he didn’t know it was a banned drug and didn’t think too much of it when she gave him money… My lady, it was Serena who
gave it to him.”
The moment the words left his mouth, my heart dropped to the pit of my stomach, and my hands began to tremble.
Since the guard had testified that it was Serena who gave him the drug and everyone in the packhouse knew exactly who she was because she was my servant, it would be nearly impossible to shift the blame elsewhere.
It already seemed like they had confirmed it, like there was no doubt in their minds that Serena was the one responsible. I was sure that no
matter what I said now, it wouldn’t change anything.
Still, I couldn’t let them take Serena away. I’d heard how cruel Darius was to traitors.
People said that because the elders of this pack had betrayed him and killed his mate, Darius had become ruthless. Whenever he dealt with traitors, he showed no mercy. He killed without hesitation–without a second thought.
And if Serena were taken for interrogation, I wasn’t sure they would go easy on her.
My breathing quickened as my gaze dropped to the bed, and my hands trembled slightly as I struggled to think of a way to get Serena out of
this situation.
Think of something, Nyssa. Anything.
I told myself, fear shooting down my spine.
Then, in that moment, I remembered, Sheila. She had been smart enough to come up with a plan to kill Kieran and Aria that day. Surely, she could help me with this too.
But before I could even get a word out, the very second I opened my mouth, Serena spoke, her voice soft and trembling.
“M–My lady, Beta Cassian is right… I was the one who gave the guard the Ashvein.”
