The Warrior’s Broken Mate novel Chapter 66

Lyra POV

I sat there, staring at the red witch, while Elias stood right in front of me, his eyes shifting back and forth between her and me. He clearly sensed that something important was happening.

I was still a little disoriented. Moments ago, I had been trapped inside a burning room with no escape, and now suddenly I was back in my bedroom, as if I had just woken from a terrible nightmare. But this wasn’t a dream at all. And why were there so many people here, surrounding both me and the red witch? Why on earth would she be here if it were just a dream?

“Yes, Lyra. You do know who I am.” The woman said calmly as she pulled her hood down, revealing her face.

“That’s the red witch. Everyone in the pack knows her name.” Elias said cautiously.

“Blair,” I said quietly.

“It’s good to see you again, Lyra. I always believed you’d get out of that house eventually,” she said with a faint smile.

“Yeah, but it certainly wasn’t because of you.” I snapped.

“You know I wasn’t able to help you back then,” Blair replied without hesitation.

“You used to be my friend,” I said, hurt.

“Wait–how do you two even know each other? She’s not a werewolf,” Elias said, confused.

“My dad brought her to that house when I was a kid. And don’t be fooled by her appearance- Blair is fifteen years older than me. She’s also the black witch’s sister,” I explained.

Everyone turned to look at Blair, unsure of what to say.

“I’m nothing like my sister, you know that, Lyra,” Blair said quietly.

“I used to believe that, but your reputation has definitely caught up with you since then,” I said honestly,

“I didn’t have the power I have now back then. My sister had it all, which is why your father ignored me but kept a close watch on her. She never knew about you because of that,” Blair explained.

“And then you left. Just like her,” I said, glancing at Rowan.

Blair froze when she noticed Rowan standing there, clearly unaware that she was still alive.

“So, she’s another one who abandoned you in that house,” Elias growled.

“They would have killed me, and they would have killed Lyra too. You know that,” Blair said calmly.

“I don’t know anything about that. Dad wanted my power and might have killed you outright,” I said bitterly.

“Luna, she just saved your life,” Stephanie said firmly, stepping between us.

I looked down at my burnt hands and scorched shirt and remembered what had happened in that room.

“What the hell was that?” I asked.

“The black witch put a hex on you. She can’t do it again. I placed a protection spell around you, so even if they try to find you, they won’t be able to,” Blair explained.

“Are you saying there’s a chance they know where we are now?” Elias asked nervously.

“Unlikely. The castle has a protective barrier. They might be able to focus on one person and see them, but they can’t pinpoint your exact location,” Blair reassured us.

“Why did you help me?” I asked.

“She owed me a favor,” Stephanie answered, and I looked between Stephanie and Blair.

“But why did you really help me?” I pressed.

“I did owe Stephanie a favor, yes. But when she told me who you were, I knew I couldn’t turn my back on you again. I left you once before, but I won’t do it a second time,” Blair said with conviction.

“Alright, I didn’t know that part,” Stephanie said, throwing her hands up in exasperation.

“I know they’ll come after you again, Lyra. You need help. I want to help you–find your powers, discover who you truly are,” Blair said earnestly.

“Is this just your way of saying ‘screw you‘ to my dad and your sister?” I asked, narrowing my eyes.

“No. That’s just a bonus. This is me trying to make up for what I didn’t do back then. Please?” Blair pleaded. I glanced at Elias, and he immediately sensed what I was feeling.

“Why don’t you all give us some space? Don’t go anywhere, Blair. Lyra just needs time. After everything she’s been through, she needs time to process it all,” Elias said firmly.

“That sounds like a good idea. Let’s go,” Luke agreed, ushering everyone out of the room. The door clicked shut behind him.

“Come on. Let’s get you into the shower,” Elias said, helping me off the bed. I noticed how wet the sheets were.

“You were sweating like crazy,” he told me as soon as he saw what I was staring at.

“I was trapped in a room that was on fire. I couldn’t get out. I kept burning myself,” I explained quietly.

“That explains the burns and your clothes. Everything was releasing from your body while you were unconscious,” Elias said.

I was speechless, overwhelmed by the thought that Elias had watched me suffer like that and couldn’t do anything.

He put his arm around me and kissed my forehead.

“Don’t do that. Don’t feel guilty because of me. Your father’s the one who did this, not you,” Elias said gently. I nodded in agreement.

We went to shower, and I changed into some clean, dry clothes. Elias stripped the bed and replaced the sheets. I stepped out onto the balcony to breathe in some cool, fresh air against my skin.

It was refreshing after everything that had happened tonight. When Elias finished changing the bedding, he joined me on the balcony.

“So, are you going to tell me the story of Blair?” he asked. I looked out into the forest again, memories pulling me back to those days living with my father.

******

I was ten years old, bruised and cut all over, weak from the wolfsbane but still cleaning the packhouse. I was in the kitchen when I heard my father welcoming guests.

I went to the door, and two women walked inside. They shook my dad’s hand, and he was clearly pleased to see them. They wore normal clothes, no cloaks or anything magical, just ordinary. But something about them drew me in–I could feel their power radiating like waves. It was magnetic. Blair caught my gaze and stared right at me. I quickly ducked back into the kitchen.

I resumed mopping the floor, but shortly after, Blair entered the kitchen.

“What’s your name?” she asked.

“I’m no one,” I mumbled, keeping my head down.

“You are definitely not no one. I could feel you from across the room,” she said, and I stopped cleaning.

“I’m not a witch,” I said.

“No. You’re more than that. You’re special. I think it was a good thing I came here,” Blair said.

“Why?” I asked.

“Because now I get to know who you really are,” she replied.

“I’m no one,” I repeated.

“You’re not no one. And I’m going to prove it,” she said before spinning on her heel and quickly leaving the room again.