Fated To Three, Betrayed By All… Until She Rose.-Chapter 234: The fall from grace.

Zevran.

"Where’s Chalice?" Kael barked loudly as he strolled into the living room, his expression thunderous as his deep eyes darted from one end of the room to the other; but upon seeing Caelum and I busy reading through some old documents, he stopped and stared at us for a while before frowning.

"Where’s Chalice?" He asked again, "did any of you give her the permission to leave the house?"

Like she ever needs our permission before sneaking out despite all our warnings.

However, I didn’t say this out loud but simply dropped my gaze, my voice cold as I answered; "No,"

And truth be told, I was already beginning to feel irritated. I was annoyed that he was this worked up over none other but Chalice.

I turned to look at Caelum who for some reason didn’t seem fazed at all, then I asked him; "Did you let her out of the house?"

He snorted; "Does anyone have to let her out before the wench does what she likes?" He snapped back, causing me to seal my lips shut before lifting my gaze to meet Kael’s.

He frowned. "She disregards our orders." He seethed,

"She always does that." Caelum cut in, "I wonder why you seem so surprised now."

"Why are you acting like it’s a normal thing for her to do? And sounding like we should simply let her be because it isn’t the first time she’s done something like this?" Kael hissed back, and I, already knowing that a fight was probably brewing, said nothing.

I leaned into my chair and crossed my arms over my chest.

"I’m not saying that she should go unscathed or that I am unbothered by her callousness," Caelum sharply cut in then, his eyes swirling with an emotion I couldn’t quite name. "What I am saying is that she needs to be shown the consequences of her actions. We let her do things without remorse. Goddess, this isn’t the first time she’s been breaking out of the house even though she’s been on house arrest for quite a while now!"

At his words, mine and Kael’s eyes met. But just as I was about to chirp in, the door slammed open and a familiar yet unpleasant scent seeped into my nostrils.

Just the smell of her made my body crawl and I frowned when the reason for my sudden discomfort strutted into the room like she was out for some fashion show.

Only that she was dressed too shabbily for someone who’s on a runway.

I lifted my head to meet hers just before my eyes raked along her body; And goddess, I couldn’t help but scrunch up my nose. I tried not to frown but I couldn’t help myself when she smiled brightly at me, such that her face almost split into two.

She greeted; "Hi husbands!"

Oh, heavens!

And goddess maybe it was due to the fact that I had almost forgotten that I was a married man, but I found my frown deepening. I didn’t even bother to hide my irritation as I spat;

"Where are you coming from?"

And guess what?

As soon as I asked that question, she had the audacity to look surprised.

Her hands flew to her chest and her jaws dropped as she stared straight at me. But even from here, I could swear that I could hear her heart beating rapidly and slamming against her chest like a wild bird in a cage.

Even from here, I could smell something on her... wild and distinct... and obviously masculine. But I didn’t care.

Not anymore.

I seethed; "Are you dumb now, Chalice? Or has that hair dye taken a few parts of your brain, rendering you unable to speak?"

"Do you not know that she only acts like this when she’s been up to no good?" Caelum added, and I noticed the way her eyes flashed for a second before a deep sense of disappointment settled on her face.

"I took a walk around town." She whispered, but I’d rather believe that the sky was red than believe those words.

"For someone who’s on house arrest, you sure think you have the right to ’walk around town’." Kael snorted now, and I did not miss the way her breath caught in her throat or the way she took several steps back as if wanting to be away from us.

And God, I wish I could grant her that one thing!

"Who did you go out with?" That was Caelum, the mad man who probably wants to get further into her skin.

Chalice’s face brightened up with a smile as soon as he asked that, and I couldn’t help but feel that she had the wrong thoughts about this— that she probably thinks that he cares more or that he was jealous.

She immediately dropped her gaze and began to speak in a low tone, her voice echoing about the tension-filled room as she spoke; "I went with Abby to see some clothes,"

"And you didn’t bother to get any one?" He continued, earning himself another smile.

My smirk grew when she shrugged, completely taking on the picture of feigned innocence. She dropped her gaze shyly and bounced from foot to foot, her voice small as she said;

"No. I don’t have enough money."

"You would never have enough money." He finished, and that... that made me chuckle.

I couldn’t hide my smile when Chalice whipped her head upward, her eyes wide as if she’d just been struck. She glanced between Caelum and I, then she cried out;

"What do you mean by that?"

"Nothing." Caelum was fast to respond but before she could reply him, Kael drawled; 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

"You left without informing anyone."

At that, she froze, slowly turned to him and bowed her head as she murmured; "I didn’t want to disturb anyone with my shenanigans."

"Do you not realize that you’re not allowed to leave the house?" He barked, causing her to flinch; But from here, I couldn’t tell if she was faking that as well or if she was indeed scared.

She shuddered; "I know, but..."

"Yet you left!" He snarled and this time, she shrunk into herself even more.

"I’m sorry, Kael."

"Yes I know you’re sorry," he drawled, "...but to ensure that you do not leave the house whenever you wish next time, you would be punished."

As soon as he said that, the room descended into silence.

Chalice, who looked like she couldn’t believe her ears, took another step back. Tears fell down her face but they had no effect on me anymore. Even Caelum wasn’t watching the scene anymore as he now busied himself with the paperwork from earlier.

"I’ll inform the kitchen staff to withhold your lunch and dinner for today, your breakfast and lunch for tomorrow as well... and then, you’re to mow the lawn all through the night until it’s neat— as neat as the gardeners would do it."

"No," Chalice cried, "I’m pregnant! I’m expecting your pup!"

"I am also expecting my pup!" Kael snapped back disinterestedly before turning away.

However, he’d just walked a few steps when he suddenly turned to her and hissed; "Also, you’ll come with us to Gavin’s engagement party tomorrow evening when you’re done with all of that."

And to my utmost surprise, she didn’t complain or throw a tantrum. She simply ducked her head lower and asked; "Will Leilani be there?"

Of all questions, that was the last one I’d expected to hear so I frowned.

"Why?"

"Nothing. I just want to know if she’ll come."

"I don’t know."

"Okay." She murmured and with that, turned and walked up the stairs while I had no other option but to watch her suspiciously.

Only the heavens knows what she’s planning this time!