Fated To Three, Betrayed By All… Until She Rose novel Chapter 94

**Healing Slowly But Surely**

**By R. Joseph**

Getting under Chalice’s skin.

Leilani.

As I stepped out of Jarek’s house, my mind felt like a whirlwind. The emotions swirling within me were contradictory; on one hand, I was relieved that he had finally let down his guard and shared the turmoil he was experiencing. But on the other hand, a heavy weight of anxiety pressed down on my chest. I was consumed by a deep, gnawing fear—not for myself, but for him.

What if we couldn’t find a permanent solution to his condition? What would happen then? The thought haunted me, and I felt a chill run down my spine. To make matters worse, I had left my coat behind, a small token intended to remind him of my presence, my scent, should he find himself lost in another episode of despair. Yet, he had insisted I not stay, worried that my presence might somehow cause me harm.

The unpredictability of it all was paralyzing.

My hands trembled slightly as I navigated the roads back to my house. The snow fell gently, blanketing everything in a soft, white layer. Lately, it seemed like the snow had taken a liking to our town, falling almost daily. As I blinked away the tears that threatened to spill, I made my way home, stopping briefly at Walmart to pick up some groceries.

Just as I pulled into my driveway, I noticed a figure by my porch, clad in a pink woolly coat and hunched over what appeared to be a collection of items. My curiosity piqued, I turned off the ignition and stepped out of the car, a frown knitting my brow as I approached the scene. But when I recognized Chalice, I halted, my grip tightening around the paper bags filled with groceries as I wondered what on earth she was doing here.

“What are you doing here?” I demanded, my voice sharper than intended.

At the sound of my voice, Chalice froze. She whipped around to face me, and I couldn’t help but stifle a laugh at the sight of her—she had been busy tearing apart a bouquet of red roses. The petals lay scattered around her like confetti, and her hands bore the marks of her struggle, blood seeping from where the thorns had bitten into her skin.

Despite the evidence of her self-inflicted wounds, she wore a smile, wiping the blood on her coat with a nonchalant flick of her wrist. “I came to see you. And then I noticed this secret lover’s gift, so I thought I’d destroy it.”

My eyes flitted between her and the mangled bouquet, but I felt no remorse. Instead, a smirk crept onto my lips. “Thanks for taking care of that,” I said, “though I would have preferred if you had just tossed it in the trash.”

Her expression darkened, and she spat, “You—”

I interrupted her, rolling my eyes dramatically. “Yes, me. Did you honestly think I’d be upset to find out you destroyed that? It just proves how petty you can be!”

“Bitc—”

“Oh, please! You know I’ve been getting those flowers constantly, and I just toss them away. It’s almost amusing to see you injure yourself to achieve what I’ve done without a second thought, all in the name of hurting me.”

Her face flushed a furious shade of red. She scoffed, angrily stomping on the remnants of the flowers scattered at her feet, then turned to me, malice flickering in her bright blue eyes.

“This isn’t why I came here today!” she shouted, her voice a mix of frustration and desperation.

I crossed my arms over my chest, a soft smile playing on my lips. I relished how my calm demeanor seemed to infuriate her even more, and I found joy in knowing that she was fuming, even though I hadn’t said much at all.

“Then enlighten me, Ms. Blackthorne,” I drawled, feigning innocence. “What brings you out of your little cave today? Is there something of great importance you wish to share with me—”

“I want you to stay away from Kael, Zevran, and Caelum!” she interrupted, her voice sharp and filled with urgency. My frown deepened momentarily, but then a slow smile unfurled across my face.

And without meaning to, I burst into laughter. It was loud and unrestrained, enough to draw the curious glances of a few neighbors passing by, their smiles reflecting my own amusement.

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