CHAPTER <b>86 </b>


    Arthur and I realized we were trapped alone in that room–his other men had been captured by her soldiers somewhere along the way. But neither of us could look away from what was right before us: Medea’s lifeless body hanging there.


    “I hope you don’t think this cage will hold me for long,” I said.


    “No, just long enough to destroy his army,” she replied coldly, turning her gaze to Arthur.


    Suddenly, loud shouts echoed from outside. We hurried to the barred window and saw Arthur’s soldiers under attack by the forces of Sphinx and Pegasus. Though not outnumbered, Arthur’s men were caught off guard and were being assaulted from every


    direction.


    “My men will tear through that pathetic army down there,” Arthur dered confidently.


    “Maybe,” the witch sneered, “but not anytime soon–and not without heavy losses on your side.” Then, in a swirl of ck smoke, she vanished.


    “Can you get us out of this cage?” Arthur asked urgently.


    “I can, but I need a moment,” I replied.


    “What do you mean?” he pressed.


    “I don’t know what’s wrong with me,” I admitted, sliding down the wall until I was seated on


    the floor.


    “Is this because you threw up?” he asked.


    “Probably. I feel weak, really weak,” I said, struggling to catch my breath.


    “My men are under attack out there,” Arthur said grimly.


    “If I push myself <i>now</i>, it’ll only make things worse,” I told him.


    “Damn, you’re seriously sick,” he said, concern filling his voice,


    “I don’t know what’s happening to me,” I confessed.


    “Has this ever happened before?” he asked.


    “Never,” I answered.


    Arthur nced out the window again, his expression less tense now.


    < CHAPTER 86


    More Rewards <b>> </b>


    I forced myself up and approached the doorway. cing my hands on the iron bars, I closed my eyes and tried to summon my energy. I felt it building, focused in my palms–but the moment I unleashed a jolt, the bars shot back at me, throwing me across the room until my back mmed against the wall.


    “Lyra, are you okay?” Arthur rushed to my side.


    “That witch put a spell on these bars,” I said, slowly getting <i>to </i>my feet.


    “What does that mean?” he asked.


    “It means we need to find a smarter way out,” I said, leaning against the wall with a defeated look. But I knew this feeling wouldn’tst. I just needed time to figure things out. Right now, my mind was foggy.


    Arthur slid down beside me, distracted by the sounds of his men fighting outside for their lives. It was hard on him, but there was nothing we could do.


    I felt responsible for leading them into this trap–and helpless that I couldn’t reach them. I didn’t understand why I was suddenly sick or why my wolf senses were barely there.


    “I’m sorry,” I whispered.


    “It’s not your fault. Remember, I insisted youe. You were going to go alone,” Arthur reassured me.


    “I know. But that doesn’t stop me from feeling guilty. I can hear those men outside just as clearly as you–maybe even better, thanks to this damn werewolf hearing. And I want to be out there with them, helping.” I said.


    “I get it. You’re a good person,” he replied.


    <i>“</i><i>So </i><i>are </i><i>you</i>. Even if I doubted you at first,” I said.


    “You had good reason to. But thanks,” he said.


    “Don’t worry. I’ll figure a way out of here,” I assured him.


    “I don’t doubt it. You don’t seem like the type to give up without a fight,” he said.


    “Not a chance,” I said firmly.


    When the noise outside finally settled, Arthur peered out and saw his men were winning–but not without casualties.


    Then the Witch appeared again. I stood, watching, wondering what she’d do next.


    <i>2/4 </i>


    < CHAPTER 36


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    Arthur’s men hesitated before charging at her–but she turned into a swirling cloud of smoke. <fne01a> Checktest chapters at Find[F]ovel</fne01a>


    This time, the smoke lingered among the soldiers. It reached out with ghostly hands, grabbing them one by one and pulling them inside until they all vanished.


    Arthur shouted at the Witch from where we were, but it was useless.


    When the smoke cleared, the battlefield outside was empty.


    “Are they dead?” Arthur asked, voice tight.


    “I don’t know,” I said quietly.


    I stepped back to the barred doorway, ready to grab the bars–but Arthur caught my arm.


    “Don’t. Unless you actually know how to break these bars, you’ll just hurt yourself. That won’t help anyone,” he warned.


    I nodded, sinking back down against the wall. Arthur sat beside me.


    Before I knew it, I had fallen asleep sitting up–didn’t even realize how exhausted I was.


    It was a deep, dreamless sleep. When I woke the next morning, Arthur was standing by the window, looking at me oddly.


    “What?” I asked, sitting up slowly.


    Sitting was harder than it should’ve been. I nced down at my stomach.


    It looked bigger than it did before I fell asleep.


    “What the hell?” I whispered.


    “Lyra,” Noir spoke inside my head.


    “Noir, what’s happening?” I asked.


    “You’ve been gone over a month in our world,” she said.


    “So?” I asked.


    “The pregnancy is progressing at the same rate as in our world,” she exined. My eyes widened.


    “What is it?” Arthur asked.


    “My wolf just told me that. I’m over a month pregnant now. Werewolf pregnanciesst about four months,” I said.


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    < CHAPTER 86


    “You never told me you were pregnant,” he said quietly.


    “I didn’t know either. We need to get out of here. Now.” I said.


    He nodded, fully agreeing.


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