Chapter Twenty-two: Hidden truths

The ride Back to the Aphelion estates was silent.

Myra sat quietly, her arms crossed, her head on the window and her eyes fixed on the trees they were passing by. Every few minutes king would look at her, a smug, knowing smirk on his face.

God, she would love to punch that smile off his face. She hated how much he was enjoying this, the fact that she knew he would never let the fact that her body reacted to him go.

She hated this. She hated the fact that a mere human had so much hold over her.

They pulled up in the Aphelion estates, quickly she got out of the car and marched in, she wouldn't have to see his face till school tomorrow and there she knew she could ignore him.

She claimed the stairs, heading to her room when she heard– "You forgot to say goodbye darling" she turned her, glaring daggers at him who was at the bottom of the stairs. "Or were you running?" that smug look back on his face.

She couldn't let him win. She descended the stairs, a forced smile on her face "Goodbye" she said through her perfect white teeth.

King smirked, he took a strand of her hair and kissed, "That's better" he grabbed her chin and forced they're eyes to meet, his thumb pressing her lower lip, "I will see you tomorrow, mon petite minou"

He released her and left.

Myra stood there watching his retreating form. Such audacity! An unconscious smile on her face as she ascended the stairs.

__

Later That Night

After dinner, Nathan and Arielle had gathered everyone in the living room for an announcement. Whatever it was, they were eager to get it over with.

They had better things to do than sit here and watch these two giggle at each other all night.

Myra sat on the couch, arms folded against her chest, eyes narrowing slightly. "Would you two just say what you have to say?"

Lisa and Ezra nodded in agreement, and though Madeline and Sebastian remained silent, their expressions showed they were just as impatient.

Nathan cleared his throat, fingers still intertwined with Arielle's. "Family, we have a special announcement to make."

Ezra groaned. "You said that ten minutes ago. Get to the point."

Arielle and Nathan exchanged a quick glance before he finally said,

"Arielle is my mate."

Silence.

Eyes widened. Mouths slightly parted. Shock.

Not a single person spoke.

The devil's daughter had a mate? Nathan's mate?

No one had ever imagined Arielle Hades—Lucifer's own bloodline—being bonded by fate to someone.

Arielle, seemingly unfazed, tilted her head. "Come on, you guys, say something."

Maddie was the first to recover. She smiled, getting up to give them a hug. "Congratulations, you two." She pinched Nathan's cheek, her voice teasing. "You better take care of her. The last thing I want is Satan showing up at my doorstep asking questions."

Nathan groaned, swatting her hand away, while the others finally snapped out of their shock.

Sebastian ruffled Nathan's hair with a proud smile. "Look at you, all grown up with a mate." Then, turning to Arielle, he added, "I couldn't ask for a better person for my son."

Nathan's lovestruck grin widened, his fingers squeezing Arielle's hand. "Neither could I."

Lisa, however, still hadn't recovered.

"You can't be serious." Her eyes narrowed at Arielle, suspicious. "This is Arielle Hades. The same girl who once threatened to feed me to demons over a hairbrush."

Arielle smirked. "Ah, good times."

Lisa's lips parted slightly in disbelief. Of course, Arielle wasn't going to deny it.

"Good luck, Nathan. You're going to need it."

Laughter filled the room.

"So, what now?" Myra asked. "Are we supposed to throw a party or something? I'm a little confused…"

Nathan chuckled, pulling Arielle close. "No." He pressed a kiss to her forehead, making everyone cringe—well, except for the adults, who found it adorable. "We just wanted you guys to know."

Lisa faked a dramatic gag. "Ugh. Enough with the PDA, will you? Disgusting."

Ezra sighed, throwing his head back against the couch. "Great. Another cringy couple in the house." He turned to Madeline and Sebastian, who pretended they knew nothing of what he was saying.

The teasing went on for a bit—until Ezra said something that changed everything.

"I mean, look how weird this is with Arielle. Imagine if Myra found her mate."

The laughter stopped.

Silence settled over the room.

Madeline and Sebastian's faces drained of color. Myra felt it immediately—the shift in the air, the tension thick enough to cut with a blade.

Then—

Pain.

A deep, sharp ache tore through her chest. She swallowed hard, forcing herself to stay still, to act like nothing was wrong.

Nathan furrowed his brows. "Mom? Dad? What's wrong?"

Madeline forced a smile, but they could all see through it.

"We're just tired," Sebastian finally said, his voice composed—but too calm. "We'll be retiring for the night. You four should go to bed early, okay?"

With that, he gently took Madeline's arm and led her out of the room, leaving behind four very confused teenagers.

Ezra frowned. "Did I say something wrong?"

Nathan shook his head. "I've never seen my mom's mood change that fast…"

Myra didn't say anything.

Instead, she stared at the door they had walked through.

Something was wrong.

She could feel it.

Madeline's pain—that sharp, unbearable pain—was because of something Ezra had said.

And it was about her.

The Aphelions were hiding something.

And she was going to find out what it was.

---

Madeline sat curled up on the bed, her head resting on her knees, staring out at the moonlit balcony.

"I think she noticed something was wrong," Sebastian murmured.

Of course, Myra had noticed.

Everyone had.

They saw the fear in her eyes when Ezra had spoken about Myra's mate.

She clenched her hands.

If Myra ever found out the truth—

The bed dipped slightly as Sebastian sat beside her. His scent was familiar, comforting—but it didn't ease the fear coiling in her chest.

"Should we tell her?"

Madeline's entire body tensed.

She slowly turned to face her husband.

"No."

Her voice barely came out as a whisper.

Her hands trembled slightly as she whispered, "If she finds out… I might lose her again."

Sebastian's expression hardened. He understood. He felt her pain, because he felt it, too.

They couldn't risk it.

Not yet.

The truth had to stay buried—

For all their sakes.