Fated To Three, Betrayed By All… Until She Rose.-Chapter 239: A toast.

Leilani.

"What do you mean by you were told that your attack had something to do with me...a nd my brothers?" Zevran whispered, all while still spotting his soft smile as he twirled me around.

My breath hitched when I spun, and I could swear that my knees turned to jelly when I fell into his chest while his arms remained on my waist, flexing as if massaging my muscles.

From his point, when I looked up at him, it felt like I was looking straight into a mighty tornado. And I say that because of the array of emotions I could see swirling around his eyes. They were consuming. Possessive. Dark. Disastrous.

But what was more disastrous was the way my body reacted to him.

I felt like a wanton, wanting more. Craving more. I leaned into him when his fingers grazed my skin in featherlight motions, moaned quietly when he buried his face into the side of my neck.

Goddess, goosebumps spread across my body when he pressed a little too closely to me. But pushing all of these away, I let out a loud sigh and muttered; "That was what I was told."

"By who?" He seethed, and even though his smile was still on his face, I didn’t miss the sharp edge his tone had taken.

I didn’t miss the way his hold tightened so infinitesimally. Didn’t miss the way his eyes darkened ever so slightly.

"I don’t want to tell you who." I sassed back.

At my words, he took a step back and smiled, and when I least expected, pulled me to him with so much force, he knocked the air completely out of my lungs.

The corners of my eyes darkened and goddess, I could almost swear that I felt lightheaded immediately; But before I could speak or maybe complain about his weird way of dancing, he drawled; "Which is weird because I would never do that."

"Huh?"

"I mean it is weird that you would believe I would pay people to hurt you when I would never do that." He explained and I stopped to give him the side eye. I mean, why not?

"Leilani..."

"You’ve hurt me before... countless times. So it’s only natural that I think the worst of you... and your brothers."

"But—"

"I did a bit of investigation and I found out that the money sent to those rogue Lycans who attacked me came from one of your company’s accounts." I bit back defiantly, even though deep down, I was far from defiant.

I was melting... turning into a warm poodle.

And I hate that I feel this way.

Maybe it was because I had interrupted him, or maybe it was the words that I said but I noticed the way he froze.

He shook his head. "But..."

"I know that you’re telling the truth," I cut in, interrupting him. "I can feel it in the bond... probably because I am standing this close to you. So I understand that you’re shocked because you’re innocent. But Zevran, I don’t trust your brothers."

"You can trust them."

"The money came from your company! So surely one of you paid for the hit."

"Or maybe we’ve been framed." He butted in and I swear, I couldn’t help but snap my lips shut as that was quite possible too.

However, just as I thought about it, another thought occurred to me. I raised my eyes to meet his gaze and whispered so low that only he could hear me. I asked; "Does Chalice have access to the company’s accounts?"

He frowned slightly then as if a light bulb had been suddenly turned on in his head, he muttered; "No. But she’s capable of asking the account manager to make some payments in our name. She’s the Luna after all."

I waited to feel jealous after hearing that. I waited to see if I would feel some type of way. If I would be hurt or feel that searing pain I used to feel all those years ago whenever they picked Chalice over me.

But guess what?

I didn’t.

I sighed. "I suddenly suspect her too." Then dropping my voice a bit lower, I added; "I have something I want to show you."

It was the video. The one I had taken of her and that Louis guy outside the boutique. The thought made a wicked smile spread across my face, and I smiled even wider when Zevran stopped dancing and looked out the door as if quietly saying: ’we can leave now if you want to.’

He asked; "Now?"

But I quickly shook my head. "Not right now. After the toast."

He quickly nodded and as the dance slowly came to an end, I realized to my utter bewilderment that he now clung to me like an extra accessory. His hands lingered on my waist or at my back as we continued to glide through the crowd of people.

And after a while... It was time for the toast!

Gavin stepped forward and my smile grew when he clinked his glass, his eyes shining with a kind of joy that I have never seen on him as he stared lovingly in Maya’s direction.

His voice carried through the quiet hall as he announced; "Ladies and gentlemen, let’s make a toast to family, to friends, to love... and to the people who’ve made our lives special!"

Everyone lifted their glasses but before anyone could respond, Chalice cut in;

"Ladies and gentlemen, let’s make a toast to family, and to my shameless sister who’d seize any given opportunity to jump at my husbands!"

The crowd froze. And I... I only smiled.

I noticed the way Maya and Gavin turned to look at me worriedly. I noticed the hush whispers now sifting through the air and into my ears. A lot of people had begun to speak but not in my favour— not like I needed them anyway.

Somewhere deep down, I wanted to turn away and leave. I wanted to run as far away from drama as possible but I’d rather eat shit then let Chalice win this one. So I smiled, raised my glass above my head and drawled;

"Ladies and gentlemen, let’s make a toast to bliss, love, opportunities... and to my lovely sister who would seize every given opportunity to try to kill me. But that’s not all... she is so obsessed with me that she decided to come here today looking like a downgraded version of me."

"You wish I’m obsessed!" Chalice spat back but I didn’t respond right away. I shrugged;

"You cannot deny that you’ve tried to kill me several times. Can you?"

She gulped and turned away. "I don’t know what you mean!"

"Then maybe you’d know when I juggle your memories a little bit. Ladies and gentlemen, I have a short video I’d like you all to watch with me." I continued softly, sounding so confident that one would think I was gisting about the weather and not completely about to ruin my sister’s life.

As soon as I said those words, silence settled in the room like a heavy boulder.

And I smiled when the color completely drained from her face.