Chapter 54

Mia's POV

We decided that Mason and Mabel were the best suited. Maya was Mason's mate, and Mabel knew the way. According to Mabel, the tunnel system was like a maze and it was easy to get lost.

Besides that, we also needed to pack out all the necessary things from the cottage to give the illusion that we ran away. There was a cavern that would hold them till it was safe enough for us to return to the cottage.

After they left, a heavy silence descended on the chamber. The tension was very palpable and so thick a claw could probably slice through it. For some reason, I suddenly felt uncomfortable with Lycidas and avoided looking at him.

The silence stretched on and finally, I could not endure it any longer. I just had to look. When I did, I found out he was staring at me quietly in…

I had expected amusement, but what I saw instead was confusion. And it knocked the air out of me.

"Do you hate me?" he asked quietly.

"Yes, I do," I gritted out.

"Why?" he asked, bewildered. "We have n