Eighteenth Birthday - Chapter (57)

Ch. 18th Birthday 57 18th Birthday 57

Chapter 57

(Lily’s POV)

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The sobs wouldn’t stop. I curled under the duvet with fists clenched against my chest. My entire body trembled from the pain of everything… my life was so unfortunate.

Zion slowly climbed under the covers and pulled me gently into his arms.

“I’m here,” he whispered. “You’re not alone, Lily.”

His voice melted something in me. I buried my face in his chest, inhaling his scent; earthy, warm, and safe.

At some point, I began to drift off, the soft rise and fall of his breathing lulling me.

The door creaked open gently.

Aunt Lamia’s voice came through in a whisper. “How is she?”

Zion answered softly, but I didn’t catch it all. My mind was slipping… drifting into slumber.

***

+20)

I was sixteen again wearing a pink gown with glitter dusted across my cheeks. Balloons floated overhead, and music played somewhere in the background.

A large cake sat in the center of the garden, and beside me, a younger version of Zion stood, smiling shyly.

We made a wonderful birthday pair.

“Let’s make a wish,” he had said, but I whispered back

“I need to pee, Zion. I’ll be back in a minute.” i said quickly and took to my heels.

I walked down the empty corridor toward my room. Everyone; the maids and guards was outside celebrating, so the hallway was still and quiet.

Then it happened.

I felt a sharp sting to my neck. My breath hitched, and I crumpled to the ground weakly.

Black dots covered my vision… The last thing I saw was big familiar brown shoes, like Daddy’s before I succumbed to the darkness.

When I woke up from the hall, I felt oddly fine as though nothing had happened at all.

I thought I had dreamt it… so I ran to the mirror to check for marks. There was none. My body looked normal, so I smoothed my gown, used the restroom and rushed back to the party.

Everyone had been looking for me.

The King, my father, had called me to the podium. Zion was standing beside him, holding my hand gently. Our guests were

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Chapter 57

smiling.

Then it started.

A strange twisting inside me. Like something was being ripped out.

And then the pain.

A scream tore out of me, and everyone froze. My limbs contorted, skin stretching as bones cracked and reshaped. I was shifting, and I couldn’t stop it.

People screamed.The guests ran, and the guards panicked.

The Queen was horrified, and stared at me like I was a stranger. Even little Zelda ran and hid under a table.

Two voices echoed in my head.

“I’m Vaelith, your demon. Nice to meet you.”

“I’m Ravena, your wolf. I’ll try to keep her in check.”

That was the first day I met my other sides.

I woke up with a start.

My breath came fast, and the sheets stuck to my skin with sweat.

My mind spun.

It wasn’t the first time I was stabbed.

It had happened before, and the shoes were like Daddy’s…

I pushed myself up on the bed, heart hammering.

Who had been stabbing me?

And why?

I panted, wiping sweat from my brow. It was mid–evening now, and the sun was retreating behind the hills.

A sick knot sat in my stomach. I needed to find out who had been hurting me… Zion must hear of this. But where is he?

I looked around my room, and saw no one. Had he left already?

As if to answer me, grunts and growls pierced the air. It was coming from outside.

I ran to the window, heart leaping to peek at what was happening.

There they were; Zion and Dev circling each other like wolves on edge. Their muscles were tensed, and the energy between them was sharp enough to cut air. Their shirts were tossed to the ground…