Demon Prince's Forsaken Bride-Chapter 48: A Mysterious Person (3)

’’It could be...’’

’’He is not one of us. The only two men amongst all of us are you and Rune. You are here and I could tell that person was not him nor was he anyone from this inn,’’ If that ring was anything to go by, then it should be the same person who had delivered her to the dungeon where she saw the general and others, then later she saw that ring on a palace guard.

Lareina leveled Azrael with a determined gaze, ’’You do not provide me with anything other than a few words when you claim that she is not your lover but someone you ought to protect. Yet, I am willing to provide you with the evidence to prove that Moira is far from what she pretends to be.’’

Azrael frowned. Just the mention of Moira gave him a mild headache. The urges he had tamped after speaking harshly to Lareina in the tavern rose inside his heart like a crawling monster again. His face remained impassive but his fingers curled into a fist to calm those destructive urges, to tamp down the anger and hate that suddenly rose inside him.

’’I am not going to trust you just based on your words and I would not want you to trust mine either. I have never found fault with her even when she dangled around you like a neckpiece right in front of my eyes, ’’ Lareina misunderstood his silence for his denial to go with her. She freed her wrist from his grip and took a step towards his resolutely, ignoring the remnant of pain in her ankle, ’’But now that I am claiming that she has ulterior motives and I have evidence against her, you must trust me. Just this once.’’

From where he stood, he could see her brows tugging together and her gaze was almost pleading but his body refused to obey him. As if he was possessed by another person, he merely wanted to hate her, and to hurt her as if it was ingrained in him. Yet, a small part of him was paying attention to every word she uttered, trusting her, willing to follow her.

When the silence prolonged, Lareina lost hope and closed her eyes.

’’Lead the way,’’ his gruff voice sounded.

Her eyes snapped open.

The weather was cold but his forehead was coated with a sheen. His chest was heaving as he breathed loudly and his disguised features were twisted in anger and pain. The sight of it sent a dull ache in her chest. Was he so affected just because she accused Moira? Or just the thought and possibility of Moira’s betrayal had him in so much pain? No matter whether it was the former or the latter, her heart felt a little uncomfortable. But the feeling quickly dispersed as she led the way for him.

Azrael followed her, his fingers clenched into a fist as he resisted the overpowering force that wanted nothing more than to hurt Lareina. His gaze remained on her ankle that had yet to heal and a little bit of sanity remained in his mind. Yet the moment he defied that invisible force, a hand seemed to have clutched his heart in his grasp, rendering him in unbearable pain. He gritted his teeth as his mind spinned a little.

By the time Lareina had approached the garden, Azrael had fallen back by a few steps. She had impulsively come running because he was with her.

She slowed down and waited for Azrael to be by her side. In any case, the man was powerful so it was better to have his backing.

Lareina was undoubtedly a dignified princess but she was flexible on the sly. There was no harm in putting down the rigid dignity in face of danger. She might not want a man who was involved with another woman but she very much wanted her life and was unwilling to throw it away like grilled meat on fire.

’’That way,’’ Lareina cleared her throat and led the way once he stood by her side but when she approached the bush where she had hidden earlier, nobody was there.

She had expected this already when they had been delayed for so long but she still felt disappointment.

Azrael was quiet.

Lareina lowered her eyes. And suddenly something clicked in her mind, ’’The snake... that bit me. It was killed by that person. It should be here,’’ she immediately walked around the bush but under the pale glow of moonlight, there was no snake, not even a hint of blood remained to be seen on the patches of grass.

Silence settled between them.

Lareina knew what was coming so she held her breath, her mind calculating how those people had even managed to clean this mess before they left.

’’He could not have gone far.’’

She was startled. When she turned to Azrael, his expression was composed as ever as if he was not the one who looked so angry just a few moments ago while following her.

’’I would look around this place. If you are suspicious of Moira, go check where she is,’’ the string of calm and organized words sounded like a general’s instructions towards his soldiers.

Lareina hesitated only for a moment before she decided to follow his words. At this point, it really did not matter whether he trusted her for real or not.

She had just taken a step when he spoke up again, his voice calm was water, no longer like a commanding general, ’’Go to Astra or Rune first. Let one of them accompany you before you look for Moira.’’

Hearing that, Lareina almost tripped. She grabbed the nearby bush. He could not be worried that she would be hurt by Moira, could he? He was probably worried that things would escalate between her and Moira so for that situation, he asked her to keep his subordinates around so they could mediate if the situation called for it. Convinced by her conjecture again, she left.