Chapter 188: 188-same blood
188
~Lisa’s POV
The moment I pulled the heavy door open, I stopped.
Someone was standing there.
A tall figure leaned casually against the stone wall, his arms folded, his eyes watching me. They weren’t the sharp eyes of the guards, nor the familiar gazes of Damon, Kael, or Rowan. This was a face I had never seen before in this palace, weathered with age but strangely full of energy, his smile curved in a way that was both charming and unsettling.
He looked at me curiously, like I was some puzzle piece that didn’t quite belong.
"Who..." I stammered, blinking quickly. "Who are you?"
His chuckle echoed softly in the corridor, but it wasn’t warm. It was the kind of laugh that carried weight, making my skin prickle.
"So it’s true," he said again, his tone calm but with something sharp underneath. "The human girl. The one who managed to get herself pregnant with my brothers’ child."
The words stabbed through me like knives. My breath caught, and I stepped back instinctively, pressing my palm against my stomach. Brothers? The confusion swirled inside me, clashing with the unease of being watched by a stranger.
"What?" My voice cracked. "What did you just say? What do you mean by brothers? And how do you even know about my pregnancy?"
His eyes, dark, narrow, and unreadable, studied me as though I was some puzzle he had already solved. Then, slowly, he tilted his head, lips curving in a smile that never reached his gaze.
"My name is Fridolf," he said. "The triplets’ great-uncle."
I froze. My heart seemed to stumble inside my chest. Great-uncle? Damon, Kael, and Rowan... they had never mentioned him. Not once. The way he said it so casually made the air around me grow heavy.
I swallowed hard, lowering my gaze quickly. I didn’t know the proper way to address him, but instinct told me to show respect. My knees trembled as I bowed slightly, my voice coming out quiet and uneven.
"Great-uncle... forgive me. I didn’t know."
The silence stretched thin. I slowly straightened again, my hands clasped tightly together, trying to hide the shaking. But his eyes... his eyes were still on me. Sharp. Unblinking. Like a predator watching prey.
The intensity of his stare made my skin burn. I shifted uncomfortably under it, my chest tightening, every second dragging out longer than the last. It wasn’t just curiosity; it felt heavier, like he was digging beneath the surface of my skin, searching for something hidden.
I fought the urge to wrap my arms protectively around my belly. My lips parted as if to excuse myself, to find a way to slip past him, but no words came. His eyes wouldn’t let me move, and the silence between us pressed down on me until I could hardly breathe.
The longer he stared, the more my skin crawled. His gaze wasn’t soft, wasn’t kind. It was heavy. Piercing. I shifted uneasily, taking half a step back.
"I should... I should go," I said quickly, trying to move past him.
But before I could, he shifted as well, blocking my path with deliberate ease. His smile remained, but there was something predatory underneath it.
"You look uncomfortable," he said slowly. "Why? I only said who I am. Unless..." His smile deepened. "...you’re hiding something from me?"
My lips parted, but I had no words. My heart thundered in my chest.
Before I could even try to answer, the door behind me opened again.
"Uncle?" Damon’s voice broke through the tension, and I turned to see him stepping out of the chamber. His eyes widened at the sight before him. "What are you doing here?"
Fridolf’s smile shifted immediately, smooth as water. "Just passing by," he said casually. "I didn’t want to intrude. But I must admit, I was surprised to see a strange girl coming out of your room." His eyes flicked toward me with something too sharp to be innocent.
I felt Damon’s presence move closer to my side, his arm brushing mine in a subtle protective gesture. His jaw tightened as he looked from me to Fridolf.
"This is..." Damon began, ready to introduce me.
But Fridolf lifted a hand, interrupting him with an easy laugh. "No need," he said smoothly. "I already know who she is." His eyes lingered on me one last time, then he stepped aside, nodding toward Damon. "Carry on with whatever you were doing."
And just like that, he walked away, his boots echoing softly against the stone floors.
I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding, pressing my hand lightly against my stomach as if to calm myself. Damon’s eyes followed Fridolf until he disappeared around the corner, suspicion tightening his face.
"Strange," Damon muttered under his breath.
I shifted, about to walk away myself, eager to escape the tension that still clung to me. But Damon’s hand shot out, curling around my wrist gently but firmly.
"Lisa," he said, his voice low, almost pleading.
I froze, meeting his eyes reluctantly.
"Don’t just walk away." His grip softened, thumb brushing lightly against my skin. "Listen to me. About earlier...about Kael, about Rowan...I know they were harsh. But you should allow them to come with us."
My brows shot up. "What?" My voice was sharp with disbelief. "Allow them? After what they did to me?"
Damon sighed, his eyes flicking shut briefly as though gathering patience. "They’re my brothers," he said finally. "And the baby... You have to remember, Lisa, it’s theirs too."
My lips curled in bitterness, and I pulled my wrist slightly, but he didn’t let go.
"I don’t care if they share the same blood," I snapped. "This child is mine. Not theirs. Not yours. Mine."
"I know," Damon said quickly, his voice urgent. "I know, and I’m not saying otherwise." His eyes softened, steady on mine. "But Lisa...please, listen. You’ll be the one to pick the baby’s things. No one will interfere. I promise you. Just... let them come. If only for appearances."
I stared at him, my anger warring with exhaustion. My lips trembled.
"You promise?" I whispered, my voice breaking despite myself.
His hand squeezed mine gently. "I promise," he said firmly. "You’ll choose everything. Not them. Not me. Just you."
For a long moment, I searched his face, desperate to see even a hint of deception. But there was none.
Finally, I let out a shaky breath, lowering my eyes. "Fine," I muttered. "But if they try to interfere..."
"They won’t," Damon said quickly, cutting me off. His voice carried quiet certainty, though I wasn’t sure if he was reassuring me or himself.