Chapter 147: Shattered Illusions
Josie
Liam’s voice was the last echo in my head before everything unraveled.
His spell glowed—sharp, bright, almost mocking—and in a snap, Michelle was free. Free, after everything. Before I could even react, he made them vanish in a puff of smoke, like they had never existed at all. My fingers reached for the air, too late, grasping at nothing.
My chest tightened, my breath catching as rage and disbelief coiled through me.
And then... I felt it. A familiar ripple, like a hand brushing against my soul.
"Kiel?" I whispered, my throat dry.
When I turned, he was there—well, not him exactly, but his spirit. His outline shimmered faintly, almost transparent, the edges of his form flickering like candlelight.
"Are you... are you really here?" I asked, my voice trembling, fear and relief clashing inside me.
He gave a small, almost guilty smile. "Not fully. I couldn’t come in. But the tree... it let my spirit through. Just enough to reach you."
My heart clenched. Even like this, he still came for me.
"You’re powerful, Josie," he said, his tone low and earnest. "But I don’t want you facing this alone. Let me help you."
I swallowed hard, my throat aching. "Okay," I breathed, and nodded.
Kiel’s spirit turned, gliding through the tunnel’s shadows, and I forced my legs to follow. Each step was heavier than the last, my body still reeling from what had just happened. My fingers grazed the walls, roots and stone scraping against my skin, grounding me in the moment.
And then the tunnel opened.
The roots parted, spilling me into the light. My knees buckled the second my feet touched open ground.
"Josie!"
Strong arms caught me before I could crash. Varen’s familiar scent and steady warmth wrapped around me, his chest firm against my cheek. My entire body shuddered with relief and exhaustion.
But out of the corner of my eye, I saw it—Kiel’s spirit sliding back, moving like a tide retreating to shore, and then snapping into his body where it lay nearby. His chest rose sharply, as if taking his first full breath.
"Josie, what happened?!" voices surrounded me.
Too many voices. Questions overlapping, pounding against my skull. My head spun, and the weight of it all crushed down until I couldn’t hold it anymore.
The world tilted. I fainted.
---
When I woke again, the ceiling above me was familiar—my own. My bed cradled me, but my body trembled as if it didn’t belong to me.
For a moment, panic clawed at me. Where was I? Was I safe?
"Hey—hey, easy," Varen’s voice soothed. He sat at my side, his hand steady on my arm.
"Josie, you’re safe," Kiel’s voice added. He was there too, leaning close, his eyes sharp with concern.
I blinked, my breaths shaky. "I... I thought—"
"You’re fine," Varen interrupted gently, brushing hair from my face. "We’ve got you."
The fear slowly dulled, though my heart still raced.
"What happened?" Kiel asked softly. His gaze searched mine, desperate for answers.
I bit my lip. The weight of truth pressed heavy, but I couldn’t keep it locked away anymore. "It was Michelle," I whispered. "She attacked me from the very beginning. Liam... he was with her." My voice cracked. "He pretended to be good, but he was working with her all along. I don’t even know why."
The silence that followed was crushing.
"Because," Thorne’s voice cut in, deep and cold, "he wanted to mislead us."
I turned toward him. The moment my eyes met his, my breath hitched. He looked different—darker. Dangerous. His presence filled the room like a storm cloud. His eyes weren’t the calm steel I remembered—they were darker, sharper, holding shadows I couldn’t name.
Kiel shifted beside me, guilt carved deep into his features. "This is my fault," he murmured. "All of it."
The words struck something raw in me. My chest burned.
"You always say that," I snapped, knocking his hand away when he reached for mine. "You say it’s your fault, and then you break my heart all over again. Do you even know what that does to me?"
His jaw tightened. "Josie, please—"
"No!" My voice cracked, sharp. "Stop saying it’s your fault. Stop pretending you care when you keep tearing me apart."
His eyes closed, his shoulders tense. When he opened them again, there was fire inside. "It’s not what it looks like. None of it. I can explain."
I folded my arms across my chest, refusing to let him see how much I still ached for him. "Then explain. But make it quick."
Varen’s hand brushed mine, grounding me. "She’s giving you the chance, Kiel. Don’t waste it."
Kiel’s lips pressed into a thin line, but he nodded. His voice was low, rough with emotion. "I pretended, Josie. I lied. But not to you—not about you. I wasn’t expecting Michelle. I wasn’t expecting any of it. Do you understand? I hated her. I hate her."
His eyes burned with a fury that made me believe him.
I sighed, a shaky, frustrated sound. "Then stop putting me in situations where I have to question you. Stop making me feel like I’m second to her. I can’t keep living like this, Kiel."
The silence was thick, choking me.
And then—Thorne coughed deliberately, dragging us all back. His smirk was sharp. "If you’re done with this cliché display," he drawled, "we should talk about what I actually came here for."
My brows furrowed. "What do you mean?"
He leaned back, crossing his arms. "I sent someone else on a task. My Beta. Smarter than most of you give him credit for."
Varen’s patience snapped. "No need for theatrics, Thorne. Just say it."
Thorne’s eyes flicked toward Kiel briefly, then back to me. "I may hate my brother, but I can’t stand watching him sulk like some lost pup. So, we dug deeper."
He reached into his coat and pulled out a small object. A drive. He held it up between two fingers, the metal gleaming faintly under the light.
"All the information you need is here," he said coldly. "Every disgusting detail. Michelle worked with that doctor to... expand her stomach monthly. To make it look like she was pregnant. A sadist, through and through."
My stomach turned, bile rising in my throat. The room tilted slightly as the weight of the revelation sank in.
That woman. That monster.
Before I could gather my thoughts, Kiel moved—sudden, urgent. His hand cupped my cheek, and before I could protest, his lips were on mine.
The kiss stole my breath. Fierce, desperate, full of every emotion he couldn’t put into words.
"Kiel—" I gasped when he finally pulled back. My heart was racing, my face burning. "What was that for?"
His forehead rested against mine, his eyes soft but intense. "Because you’re the only reason she’s ruined now. Because without you, she’d still have power. And because I love you, Josie."
For a heartbeat, the world stopped.
And then—Thorne’s voice ruined it, sharp and cutting. "I’m still standing here, you know."
I blinked, heat rushing to my cheeks. Despite myself, a laugh broke free, small but real. I couldn’t help it.
Even in the chaos, even in the mess of it all—he could still make me smile.