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Chapter 83
Zora
“I did not give anything to Bryce. He is lying against me, Darius. Mother asked me before she left to get help, and I told her the same thing. I did not do this. I have never given Bryce anything or sent him on an errand before. I was stunned when I was arrested, and his name came up as my accomplice.” Abelardo said to his brother.
“Why would Bryce lie against you?” Darius asked, and Abelardo looked at me.
“She wants to be rid of me. Can’t you see what she is doing? Mother told me how you treated her and insulted her because of this woman. Did it ever occur to you that she and her so- called ex might be trying to divide the strength of the north? Bryce might have collected money or something from Casey and Elbert to do this. They need a reason to go to war. They might have done this to try to create the opportunity to attack. Do you not think it is weird she would just fall in love with you and want to spend the rest of her life with you? All three of you are blind. You destroyed their homes and took them away from their mates. No matter how fucked up their marriage situation was, you can’t dispute that they loved their mates. Do not let them turn you against your people, Darius. I might be a douchebag, and you and I might not see eye to eye on many things, but I did not do this. I did not send Bryce anywhere. I do not know why he will speak my name,” Abelardo said and bowed.
“Your explanation isn’t good enough for me, Abelardo. I will
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give you time to think about things, and then I will return. If you do not tell me the truth, I will hand you over to the council and wash my hands off the case,” Darius told him calmly.
“Mother was right when she said she needed to go get help because she doubted you would help me, since your woman controls you now,” Abelardo said, looking at me scornfully.
“Matter of fact, she is right. I am a fool for my mate, and it will always be that way. You are lucky she isn’t evil or vindictive. You wouldn’t have been here if that was the case,” Darius told Abelardo, and tears streamed down Abelardo’s face.
“I didn’t do this, little brother. I swear on my wolf and everything I hold dear that I did not do this. Someone or some people are trying to set me up. Please do not let them win,” he pleaded with Sylvestre in tears, and somehow I suspected the man was telling the truth.
It broke my heart to see them like this.
I decided I would come and speak to him alone.
“Let us go,” Darius said and turned his back.
“Please, Darius, I am begging you,” Abelardo said in tears.
“The punishment of treason is death. I didn’t do this,” he pleaded, and I placed a hand over Darius’s shoulder.
“You can’t leave him here unprotected. He could be telling the truth. If he is, the culprits might try to finish the job,” I linked him, and Darius looked at me. His eyes lingered on me, and he looked at Abelardo and then at Marcel.
“Lock him in a protection cell,” He ordered Marcel and led me
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out.
I noticed we were heading for the exit, and Marcel and Raphael were not behind us.
“where are we going?” I asked Darius.
“To see Larry,” he said, and I shook my head.
“I doubt it will yield anything,” I said, and he frowned.
“We are at a dead end. I need to know who is who in this, Zora. My reputation and the peace of our world are at stake here,” He said, and I pulled him close to me. I could feel his panic.
“Let us speak in private, please,” I pleaded with him.
He agreed, and we returned inside and headed to our bedroom.
The moment we entered, I went to sit on the couch because I
was tired.
“Like I said, Darius, this might be a wild goose chase. Either to throw us off or keep us occupied. I do not think Abelardo did it. I do not like your brother, but doubt he is lying. If he is telling the truth, it means Bryce is compromised. Focus more on Bryce to get real information. At the same time, Kara, Eloise, and I will visit Brighton,” I said, and his eyes widened.
