Found By The Lycan King
19: Palpable Lies

ADRIANA'S POV

I sat on the floor, feeling the weight of Donovan's anger bearing down on me. I had never seen him so furious before and I couldn't understand why he would force me to say nothing when Xander would come here. I had only come to visit Aiden, and now I was being consumed by Donovan's rage.

Suddenly, the door burst open and Xander stormed in, followed by Daciana. His eyes were blazing with rage and he was growling like a caged beast. Donovan quickly called for them to come and witness what I had done.

As I sat there on the floor, my heart pounding in my chest as I remembered Donovan's words. He was going to tell them that I had been caught in a compromising position with Aiden, and I knew that Xander would be furious. He might even kill Aiden for it. He chuckled before reminding me that Xander was already very close. A shudder slid its way down my spine.

Daciana ran towards me and grabbed me by the arm and pulled me to my feet.

"What is the meaning of this?" he roared. I was too scared to speak, so I just sat there trembling. Then I heard a voice from behind me.

"Xander," said Donavan. "Finally you have arrived.” Donavan chuckled.

"Donovan, what's going on?" Xander demanded, his eyes blazing with anger. Donovan opened his mouth to explain, but before he could say a word, Xander lunged at him, attacking him without warning. I screamed and scrambled to my feet, trying to get out of there.

I watched in horror as Xander lunged at Donavan, his fists flying. Donavan was quick to react, dodging Xander's punches and retaliating with a few of his own. The two men were locked in a fierce battle, their fists and feet clashing in a flurry of motion. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest as I watched the fight unfold.

Daciana and I were rooted to our spots, watching the shocking scene. I wanted to intervene, but I was too scared to move. I could only stand there, helplessly, as the two men fought. Xander was the first to land a solid punch, sending Donavan reeling backwards. Donavan quickly recovered, however, and retaliated with a powerful kick to Xander's midsection. Xander stumbled backwards, but quickly regained his footing and continued the fight. The two men continued to exchange blows, neither one gaining the upper hand. Donavan was fast and agile, while Xander was strong and determined.

Daciana raced across the clearing, as she tried to reach the two men in time. She could hear the sounds of their snarls and growls growing louder with each step she took, and she knew that they were on the brink of tearing each other apart. When she finally reached them, she threw herself in between them, her arms outstretched in a desperate attempt to separate them. But it was too late. Donovan lunged at Xander, with a fierce roar, and Daciana cried out when a searing pain hit her side as his claws raked across her flesh.

She fell to the ground, gasping in pain, as Xander lunged at Donovan, his own fury matching the other man’s. But as she lay there, the deep gashes were closing up before my very eyes, the flesh knitting itself back together as if by magic.

"Stop!" I cried out, running to Daciana who told me she was OK. The men paid me no heed, locked in a fierce battle. They were more animal than man now, I shouldn't have been surprised. I tried to intervene, but I was pushed away. I could see the fury in their eyes, and I knew that I was in danger. The tension in the air as the fight continued was tangible. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Xander managed to land a powerful punch to Donavan's face, sending him crashing to the ground. Xander stood over him, panting heavily, as Donovan lay motionless on the ground. I let out a sigh of relief as I watched Xander walk towards him. I had been terrified that Donovan would hurt him, but thankfully, Xander had managed to come out on top. I was relieved, but also a little bit sad and guilty. I had been hoping that the two men could have resolved their differences without resorting to violence. Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ FɪndNøvel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

I was practically turning two people who were like brothers against each other because one hated me so much while the other would do anything to protect me. I was covered in a cloud of guilt. Daciana slowly got up and Xander immediately ran to her side, tugging me away. I fell on the floor on my ass, the impact painful. He asked if she was okay, his expression filled with worry and concern. Daciana scowled, still feeling the tingling sensation in her side as the last of her wounds healed.

"I'm fine,” she assured him, as she turned to face him. "Donovan, what were you thinking? You could have killed me!"

Donovan hung his head. "You should blame the bastard, Daciana.” he said as he finger brushed the blood on his cheek before sucking his thumb, no bit of remorse in his voice. "I don't want to hurt him. Don't want to make him look weak in front of that thing.”

Daciana released me and turned to face Donavan. He was still seething with anger, but he seemed to be calming down a bit. "What the hell is wrong with the both of you!" She yelled at them while I was ensconced at the corner, my ass feeling numb after I had fallen on the floor. "And you Donovan-"

"Perhaps you should hear me out. He attacked me without asking what was going on. That shows how senseless and dumb he is and-" Donovan hurled insults at Xander but he remained calm even though he was boiling inside.

"Explain yourself," Daciana said. Donavan took a deep breath and began to explain. He told Xander that he had seen me with one of the warriors and had come to investigate.

He said that he had tried to stop us, but that I had run away before he could do anything. Xander listened intently, his expression slowly changing from rage to understanding. When Donavan had finished lying against me, I was already crying because he had warned me sternly that he would deal with him if I dared say anything to contradict him.

Daciana turned towards me, a look of disbelief on her face. "Adriana, is that true?" She asked, looking very stern. I had never seen her look that serious and angry.

Donovan began to walk towards me, his eyes slanting at the corners as he gazed at me murderously. "Are you going to lie? Will you?"

He continued to pester me with questions for some time but Daciana was not convinced. So he continued to press me, and his voice grew louder and more insistent. I was becoming increasingly uncomfortable, and I began to cry without defending myself. She took it that I was guilty.

At that moment, Xander came towards me, pushing Donavan away. "Daciana, is that true?" He asked, looking at me sternly. He was unusually calm, it was a kind of calmness that heralded a foreboding.

Without warning, he slapped me across the face. I was stunned. I had never seen Xander so angry before. I fell to the floor, losing my breath for a second. "I warned you Xander, I warned you but you wouldn't listen.” Donavan was talking to Xander in the background but Xander shouted at him asking him to back off.

"He's lying.” I croaked, my voice no more than a pained whisper. Daciana was equally shocked, and she quickly stepped in to stop Xander. She apologized to me and promised to get to the bottom of the situation. I was too shaken to speak.

I just nodded and got to my feet, before trying to run off but Xander grabbed my hand and tugged me back forcefully. An excruciating pain filled my arm from the impact. "You will pay for this." He said, before grabbing me by the scruff of my neck, that feeling of guilt descending on me for my actions. It was at that moment that I knew that I had gone too far. None of this would have happened if I had stayed back. But I was consumed with the thought of seeing Aiden. I was now regretting why I had even gone to see him in the first place.

I lay on my bed, my cheek still stinging from Xander's slap. I couldn't believe what had just happened. One moment I had been standing there, trying to defend myself but afraid of what Donavan would do to me, and the next thing I knew, I was being dragged out of the room by Xander.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I thought of Xander believing the lies that Donovan had told him. I knew that I had to make him understand, to make him believe me.

"Xander," I said softly, my voice trembling with emotion. "Please, believe me. Donovan was lying. I would never do anything to hurt you."

Xander looked up at me then, his eyes filled with a mixture of anger and hurt. "I want to believe you, Adriana,” he said, his voice rough with emotion. "But how do I know that you're telling the truth? How do I know that he wasn't lying? Donovan would never lie to me, even though he hates you?" "But?-"

"Shut up!" My heart ached at his words. I could see the pain and confusion in his eyes. "I'm telling you the truth, Xander. I would never-"

I lay on the floor, my head spinning from the force of Xander's slap. I could feel a sharp pain in my head and I knew that I was bleeding. I looked up at Xander with a mixture of fear and confusion. I couldn't believe that he was capable of hurting me like this.

Xander loomed over me, his face twisted with anger. "You should have known better than to lie to me, Adriana," he growled. "I will not tolerate betrayal. You will stay here, locked in this room, until I am satisfied and nobody will save you this time, nobody."

"Xander, please, listen to me," I begged, tears streaming down my face. "I did not betray you. Donovan was lying. I was in the dungeon, but it was not for the reason that he said. I was visiting Aiden, the warrior."

Xander's eyes widened with anger, "You were visiting Aiden? How dare you betray me like this? Aiden is my enemy, and you were consorting with him behind my back!"

I shook my head. "You still lied to me, and kept something from me. And for that Aiden will pay, I will make sure of it."

I felt my heart sink as I realized that Xander was not going to listen to me. He was so consumed with anger and jealousy that he couldn't see the truth.

"Xander, please, you have to listen to me. Xander was beyond reason. He grabbed me by the arm, pulled me up from the floor, and pushed me back on the bed.

"You will stay here, locked in this room until I decide what to do with you. And I will make sure that Aiden pays for his treachery.” He slammed the door shut and I heard the sound of a key turning in the lock. I lay there on the bed, tears streaming down her face, as I realized that I was done for.

My ears cooked when I heard Daciana's voice outside the room. She was talking talking to Xander But Xander was adamant. "I can't trust her anymore. Not after what she did. I will deal with this my own way."

I could hear Daciana's sigh of frustration, "Xander, please, let me talk to Adriana. Let me at least explain the situation to her, I beg of you."

But Xander's voice was final, "No, Daciana. Leave this be. And don't go anywhere near her. She stood be left alone.”

I could hear Daciana's retreating footsteps as she walked away, her disappointment and frustration palpable from the distance.

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