Lycan's Prey by Jessica Hall

Chapter 239

“Second one is correct,” I tell her. She nods, her gaze moving to the window.

“Just not in Max’s room. He doesn’t need my blood spilled on his carpet.” She turns toward me and starts for the door. I step aside letting her pass and she moves down the corridor toward the stairs. We follow her, and Damian seizes her arm quickly as we pass my bedroom. I follow, knowing Damian will lead her to the dungeons.

Yet once we are down the stairs, instead of turning for the dungeons she turns for the back of the castle where the courtyard is. Damian jerks on her arm.

“I don’t want to die in the dungeons, can we do it outside?” she asks like she is asking for something common, not willingly going to her death. Damian looks at me, I can tell he feels conflicted, this woman has been in our lives for years.

“I’ll allow it, you won’t run,” I tell her, and she shakes her head.

“What would be the point, I wouldn’t get far.” I swallow, emotion getting to me.

Damian lets her go, and we follow her, maids step into her path as she leaves, she pretends nothing is going on, telling them goodnight. Chatting with them, but they realize something is wrong when they notice me and Damian following her. Mary, one of the kitchen hands is the last to stop her as we pass the kitchen, she is looking at two packets of chocolate when she spots Mavis. I know the two women

Chapter 230

are close. They knit together on Tuesdays, it used to drive Max nuts being dragged along. “Ah, the perfect person to ask.” She holds up both ingredients and I notice a heap of desserts being made on the kitchen bench for the wedding.

be best for the strawberry tarts, Mavis?” Mary asks, holding up dark chocolate and the

deep breath, she smiles at Mary. “The dark chocolate, it has a richer taste which will go

to walk off, she speaks again. “Where are you off to this

for a

a jacket, it is a little chilly outside

do,” Mavis tells her, and she continues to move towards the castle’s exit when

do you need something?” Mary asks.

wandering off back into the kitchen but I see her glance back at the door when she sets the chocolate down.

at the Castle one final time. Her face is calm yet filled with sorrow; there is a defeated

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Chapter 239

breath

ready,” she

my heart.

out and where we finally stop. Mavis takes a slow, deliberate look around, as if trying to etch every detail into her memory, when I feel the mindlink open up. All staff in a panic, whispers getting around quickly wanting to know if Mavis is okay. Mavis’s eyes move to the windows of the castle, and

all want to know what is going on. I turn my attention back to Mavis, knowing I have to end this, still everyone’s sudden presence makes that incredibly difficult when all my staff love this woman. We all do.

loved her, I love Max.” Mavis says, looking up at the moon. “Fear makes people do stupid things. I feared your reaction. I feared losing Max, he is the last

she says, turning her attention to me and my