Asher felt a dull pressure in his chest.
An invisible vice that tightened around his heart.
He breathed hard.
"No…" he whispered.
— Something is wrong...
It wasn't physical.
It was worse.
A bad feeling, brutal, visceral.
As if something was breaking...away from him.
The door creaked.
Asher looked up.
Isabella entered, her face closed, her gaze shifting.
—Isabella...
His voice was hoarse.
- Please.
She sighed, already annoyed.
—I already told you no.
"Ray told me to watch you, not argue.
She turned around to leave.
—Wait.
She stopped, without turning around.
—If you leave now...
Asher swallowed.
— You will have Miria's death on your conscience.
Isabella froze.
—What did you just say?
She turned around suddenly.
— Explain yourself.
Asher looked up at her, his gaze burning with urgency.
— Miria is fragile.
—And Ray crossed a line.
— You're talking nonsense.
- No.
His voice trembled.
— I know her better than anyone.
Isabella hesitated.
- Speak.
Asher took a deep breath.
— Miria knows everything.
— On me.
She frowned.
— All what?
— My true nature.
—I'm a hybrid.
—Half-vampire…half-wizard.
Silence fell.
- What…?
—And Miria is a witch.
—The others knew it too.
— That's why they never attacked me, nor dared to do anything to me...
Isabella took a step back, shocked.
—Wait...
"You mean everyone knew except… me?"
—And Ray?
Asher nodded.
- Yes.
Isabella turned pale.
— Why... Ray and I... didn't know anything?
Asher clenched his fists.
— Miria was testing Ray.
Isabella blinked.
— Test… how?
—She wanted to know if he really loved her.
— If he would be ready to reveal his own secret to her.
— His Lycan heritage.
Isabella turned pale.
- And ?
— He never did.
—So he failed.
Isabella's phone vibrated.
She jumped.
Ray.
She picked up.
- Yes ?
Ray's voice was urgent.
"Keep Asher where he is.
— I'm going to the hospital.
—The hospital?
- For what ?
A silence.
— Miria attempted suicide.
The world seemed to waver.
- What…?
- For what ?
- I don't know.
— I'll find out.
— Don't do anything stupid.
He hung up.
Isabella stood still, the phone shaking in her hand.
Then she slowly turned around...Took out a key.
The chains fell heavily to the ground.
Asher almost collapsed, too weak to stand.
Isabella caught up to him and put her arm around him.
—Isabella...?
— I'm getting you out of here.
Asher took a hard breath.
— Thank you...