Ch. 18th Birthday 37 18th Birthday 37

Chapter 37 

(Lily’s POV) 

The warmth from Lucien’s hug clung to me softly. It had been a casual, friendly gesture after he walked me to my room. 

It happened that just as I was about to step inside, he hugged me… But the warmth vanished the moment I caught at movement from the corner of my eye. 

Zion. 

He walked past us like a shadow, his cold eyes barely catching mine. Lucien greeted him with a small nod, but he didn’t respond or even blink. He just walked past and slammed his door harshly. 

I jumped, startled. 

Lucien’s brow creased with concern, but he didn’t say anything. “Goodnight, Lily,” he said softly before turning away. 

As soon as his footsteps faded down the hall, I turned and marched straight to Zion’s door. 

I knocked once, twice, thrice. 

“Zion, open up,” I whispered, my heart pounding. 

“Go away,” He replied sharply. 

I stood there, frozen for a while. Then I turned away, hurt spreading across my chest, but just as I took a step, the door flung open. 

Zion’s hand grabbed my wrist and pulled me in. 

It was the first time I’d entered his room. It was dimly lit, but the soft light couldn’t hide the sheer majesty of it. Large windows framed the walls, a vast canopy bed rested in the center, and shelves of books lined one side. It smelled like him- earthy, musky, and warm. I loved it here already. 

But he wasn’t smiling. 

Zion ruffled his hair and moved to the window. He stood there for a moment, facing the night. 

I stood near the door, unsure of what to do or say. We were like that for minutes. 

Finally, he broke the silence and turned. “Are you in love with Lucien?” 

I blinked. 

“What?” I said breathlessly, stunned by the question. How could he ask that? Wasn’t my love for him obvious? 

My silence lasted a second too long because his jaw tightened, and he yelled. “Wow! you don’t even know if you love him or not, right?” His voice was laced with bitterness. 

“Come on, Zi-” I began, stepping forward, but he raised a hand to silence me. 

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Chapter 37 

“Just get out, Lily. I’m not very patient” he growled, opening the door “I’ll give you time to think things through, and decide who you really want for yourself.. but not too long, because I’m gonna come for you either way.” 

Then the door slammed shut. 

I stood there in the hallway, trembling. My feet felt rooted to the ground, but my mind was spinning. 

And then, I saw her. 

Celeste. 

She was walking down the hall toward Zion’s door in a transparent nightie that left little to the imagination. Her lips were curled in a wicked smile as she passed. 

I stared in horror, as she knocked on his door. 

I couldn’t breathe. I didn’t want to see if he’d let her in…I couldn’t bear it. 

I ran back to my room, slamming my own door as tears spilled freely down my cheeks but Vaelith snarled inside me “Get up!” 

Ravena growled low and hard. “You’re letting her have him.” 

“She’s his girlfriend!” I snapped aloud, frustrated. “They’ve always been together!” 

“So?” Vaelith spat “You are his mate and you’re here crying like a coward.” 

I wanted to yell for them to shut it but my head was already pounding and my chest felt too tight. Moreso, my wolf and demon could be right… I had more rights to Zion than Celeste. 

I sat up, pushed my hair back and wiped my face. “Fine,” I hissed, swinging my legs off the bed. “Fine!” 

I stormed out of my room with determination, but when I reached Zion’s door… Celeste was gone. 

I didn’t know if she’d gone inside his room or if he’d turned her away. I crept closer, and pressed my ear to the door but there was no sound, voices or movement. Nothing. 

The silence was worse than anything I could have imagined. Celeste’s vanilla scent still lingered faintly at the door. 

Ravena whimpered, and Vaelith was furious “Go ahead and knock on the door! We need to know if she’s with him or not.” 

I shook my head, swallowing the hurt. “There would be no need for that, because if he isn’t also firm about who he wants, then he doesn’t deserve me.” 

I wasn’t about to act petty, or like a desperate mate. If he loved me, he’d protect what we had. 

“Arrrgh” I groaned, stomping my foot as I walked back to my room. Although I was scared of losing Zion, I willed myself to stay still in bed as I covered myself with a bedcover. Sleep called to me in no time… 

Suddenly I was jilted awake by a knock at my door. I looked drowsily at the dim light creeping through the window. It was still early, and barely dawn. 

I wondered if it was Zelda, and why she was knocking earlier than the usual time for breakfast. My wolf smelled a familiar 

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Chapter 37 

scent but hadn’t memorized it to know who it was. 

I dragged myself to the door. “Who is it?” 

“It’s Meriel, my lady,” a gentle voice replied. 

Meriel. 

The name was also familiar, I was sure I’d heard it sometime in the palace. I cracked open the door to find a petite maid with dark curls and soft eyes. 

“The Queen has summoned you to her chambers,” she said politely, bowing slightly before taking her leave. I watched her retreating figure in awe of what she just told me… 

The Queen had summoned me, but why? 

Does she suspect a thing with Zion and I? 

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