The Rise Of The Ugly Luna novel Chapter 74

74

LYRIC

The party was beyond magnificent. It was heart–warming to see how much Jaris was loved by his people.

There was a lot to eat, drink and talk about. The people of Darkspire were quite united. I could tell from how they gathered in groups and made jokes like one big family.

A family I’d never had.

“Hello, Luna.” Someone nudged me from behind.

I rolled my eyes as Jace stood beside me.

“Hi, dad.” I lifted my glass to my lips to take a sip, but he snatched the flute from me, drinking instead.

“I like how you pay me some respect. It shows I trained you well.”

“You’re an asshole, Jace.” I slapped him on the shoulder. “You just coming?”

“Yeah. Had to stay back with my dad to discuss certain things.”

Kael walked up to us, holding a flute that was almost empty.

“Congratulations, Lyric.” His tone was clipped. The man was effortlessly grumpy even when he was attempting to be nice.

“For what?” I chuckled. “Alpha Jaris was the one who displayed his smartness, not me.”

“Well, it’s what they say. When the Alpha gets celebrated, so does his Luna.”

His Luna.

The words warmed my heart more than I cared to admit.

I flicked my gaze toward Jaris in the corner, and there he was, staring back at me even though he was in the midst of six elders. I knew he was there because I’d been stealing glances at him the whole time.

He looked away as quickly as I did, but not before heat radiated through my core.

Gods, I needed to find a way to stop this. I couldn’t keep doing this to myself.

Kael’s eyes roamed over Jace’s body. “Why don’t you try to get a bigger size of this next time? I don’t even understand if you lack the common knowledge of your measurement.” He was referring to Jace’s suit.

Jace glanced down at suit and scoffed. “Dude, get out of my face before I smash yours against the wall.”

Kael looked at me. “How do you cope being his friend, Lyric? I’d rather be alone than have to spend a second with someone like him who hates correction as much as he hates having a brain.”

Oh, for Moon’s sake!

“Guys, this is a party.

can’t do this here.”

But Jace was not one to loso

personality so well.”

a barb. “It’s hilarious that you think being alone is preferable when it clearly suits your

I looked around the room. Or rather, looked at Jaris. He was staring at us–me.

I swallowed the tight lump in my throat, then whispered. “Alpha Jaris is watching.”

Kael’s features softened. He looked disgusted, then did something Jace and I would never have imagined. To our utmost shock, he lifted his hand to Jace’s hair, stroking it.

My mouth fell open as Jace’s brows shot up to his hairline. For three seconds, he was too shocked to react.

When he regained composure, he slapped Kael’s hand away. “What the fuck, man? Have you lost it!?”

This time, I was speechless, my gaze flicking between the two men. Why would Kael do that in public?

“Relax. I hate it as much as you do.” The detest in his voice didn’t make me doubt him. “Like she said, Jaris was watching. I had to put on a show.”

“What fucking show? What business does your show have with touching me?” Jace was trying to keep his temper down. If we weren’t in a party, he’d have definitely reacted much worse.

“Why do you think you’re here in Darkspire, standing close to and touching Lyric however you want?” Kael rasped. “You really think Jaris decided to be so generous?”

Successfully unlocked!

“Well, I asked what your excuse was to him, but you didn’t fucking tell me.”

“You’re smart, Jace.” Kael shrugged, but he was pissed. “I guess you should know now.”

Seconds passed. The truth dawned on me same time Jace’s jaw dropped. He must’ve realized it was well.

1/3

74

“No. Don’t fucking say,” he shook his head.

Kael gave no response.

“I ain’t doing that shit with you? What are you, stupid?”

“Fuck, I’d never seen anyone more ungrateful than you, asshole.” Kael gritted.

“What the hell are you saying? Are your brain cells that dumb that you couldn’t come up with a better excuse?”

Kael stepped closer. “He asked, okay? He thought that was the only reason I’d want you here. It made sense when he brought it up. So I agreed for your sake. I told him I liked your stupid ass and wanted to have you close. That’s the only reason he doesn’t bother when you’re with Lyric.”

“Fucking hell!” Jace angrily dropped his glass on the table. His eyes blazed when he faced Kael again. “Well, you’re on your own, bud. And bear this in mind, the next time you touch me like you just did, I promise it’ll be the last time you have fingers.”

Thank goodness the hall was heavy with music. I wouldn’t want to imagine people’s reaction to a conversation like this.

“Jace…” I tried to speak to him, but he walked out on us.

Woah. I hadn’t seen Jace this mad in a while.

A while later, I went out to look for Jace. He had been gone for about fifteen minutes, making me worried.

Fortunately, I found him by the pool side, smoking. I froze. Jace doesn’t smoke unless he’s really pissed. Like, very very pissed.

At this point,I wanted to believe he was overreacting over what Kael did.

“Hey. Give me that.” I gently took the cigarette from me.

Putting it on the floor, I extinguished it with my heels.

I crossed my arms as I faced him. “Don’t you think your reaction was a little over the top? Kael was only trying to help.”

“Please, Lyric. Don’t start with me.” He pinched the bridge of his nose, his eyes closed.

He was clearly trying to control his temper around me.

“Okay, dad.” I huffed

There. That was enough to get a smile.

He took a deep breath, inserting his both hands into his pockets. He looked a bit calmer now.

“What happened?” My voice was mellow. “You know you can talk to me.”

Something must have happened in the past to get such a reaction out of him.

“Forget it.” He shook his head. “Sorry I took you out of the party. We should head back.”

Hm. Jace being polite to me. He was definitely not himself.

I knew him well enough to know if he didn’t want to talk about something, he wouldn’t. So, I let it be for now.

Grabbing him by the jacket, we started walking back to the party. But we stopped when we bumped into Marta.

She was making a phone call and appeared shocked when she saw us.

It took me a moment to realize she wasn’t being shocked at me, but the man beside me.

“Karen?” Jace called, squinting his eyes like he couldn’t believe it.

My brows furrowed in surprise. What was he saying? “That’s not… Karen.”

Jace looked at me like I’d just told him the moon was pink.

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