Chapter 141
Helios tried to remain calm as he saw the sheels empty next to him, but he could not breathe. The guilt was eating him alive. He sat by the window, trying to keep his mind on positive thoughts but at the moment he knew there were no positive thoughts to push to the fore front of his mind that would overshadow what he was feeling. It was somewhere around midnight and he could not bring himself to go back to the bed to sleep. The sight of the bed alone was something that made him want to haul his gut out.
The first light of dawn filtered through the window, casting a pale glow across the room. Helios woke with a start, his body drenched in sweat. For a moment, he lay still, his mind. hazy and disoriented, the events of the previous night rushing back to him in a confusing swirl of emotions.
He had slept on the window, feeling the pains from the weird position he had stayed in, but it did not compare to how shitty he felt.
“Lucia?” he called out, his voice cracking with desperation.
Silence was his only answer. The reality of the situation hit him like a cold wave. It wasn’t Lucia he had been with; it was Lyra, the siren who had deceived him it was kind of obvious since Lucia was still beside him but he had a little hope. The realization brought a sickening feeling to his stomach, a weight of guilt that threatened to crush him.
He swung his legs over to the other side of the stool he had sat in and buried his face in his hands. How could he have been so blind? So foolish? He had allowed himself to be seduced, to be taken in by a deception that now felt painfully obvious. His thoughts raced, a chaotic blend of self–recrimination and fear of the consequences.
“Lucia,” he whispered, the name a bitter taste on his tongue.
Standing, he moved to the window, looking out at the palace grounds. The sun was just beginning to rise, casting long shadows across the courtyard. Maids, servants, everyone who lived in the castle were going to go about their routine, unaware of the turmoil within him.
He knew he couldn’t keep this a secret. Lucia deserved to know the truth, and he needed to face the repercussions of his actions. But the thought of seeing the hurt and betrayal in her eyes was almost too much to bear.
Taking a deep breath, he splashed cold water on his face from the basin in the corner, trying to clear his mind. He had to find Lucia, to tell her what had happened before Lyra could strike again. He couldn’t let his moment of weakness endanger her further.
As he dressed, his mind wandered back to the moments he had shared with Lyra. How real it had felt, how genuine. Yet, in hindsight, the signs of her deception were glaring. Her touch, her voice–everything had been a calculated ploy to ensnare him. The guilt gnawed at him, a relentless reminder of his failure.
Steeling himself, Helios left his quarters and made his way through the quiet halls of the academy. Every step felt heavy, the weight of his guilt pressing down on him. He didn’t know what he would say to Lucia, how he would begin to explain the betrayal. But he knew he had to try.
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He found Lucia in the library, seated at a table with a stack of books in front of her. Her expression was focused, her brow furrowed in concentration as she read. The sight of her, so calm and unaware, made his heart ache even more.
“Lucía,” he said softly, approaching her.
She looked up, her face lighting up with a smile that quickly faded when she saw the anguish in his eyes. “Helios, what’s wrong?”
“He took a seat opposite her, struggling to find the right words. “Lucia, there’s something I need to tell you. Something happened last
night…”
As he spoke, he saw the confusion in her eyes turn to horror and disbelief. He recounted the events as best, he could, his voice
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Sun, May
Chapter 141
trembling with emotion. He told her about Lyra’s deception, about how he had mistaken the siren for her, and the guilt that now consumed him although as he spoke, the more he felt like a fool.
When he finished, there was a long, heavy silence, Lucia stared at him, her eyes wide with shock. “You… you thought she was mer
Helios nodded, his throat tight. “I’m so sorry, Lucia, I should have known. I should have seen through her disguise.
Tears welled up in her eyes, and she looked away, her hands trembling. I can’t believe this. How could you, Helios? How could you not know?
“I was a fool,” he said, his voice breaking. I let my guard down, and now I’ve put you in even greater danger?
Lucía stood, her expression a mix of hurt and anger. “I trusted you.
He reached out, but she stepped back, shaking her head. “No, don’t need time to process this. You should not have said anything Honestly? You should have let the guilt eat you up
Helios watched as she turned and walked away, leaving him too stunned to speak with how bitter she sounded. She never spoke that way before, not even when she was expériencing grief.
“you know this is unfair right?” he said stopping her in her tracks. A part of him knew he should shut up, wait for her to calm down and then come back to beg, but no, the bigger part of him, the more stupid part did not listen to him. Instead he opened his mouth and continued to speak.
“when you kissed the stupid prince then, I did not react this way. I mean yes it took me a while but I was not a..”
“not. Another. Word. Helios” she said grinding her teeth. “and I really don’t want to see you for a while” she said rushing out as her eyes turned blurry
Why have you forgotten about the woman he already cheated on her with
Linda G
when did he go back to the academy?
