Their Secret Obsession by Pippa Moon

Chapter 0339
Chase's POV
Astaroth lingered in the doorway, his satisfied smirk sending a chill down my spine. The grand chamber felt oppressive, the air
thick with otherworldly energy that set my nerves on edge. I caught Liam's eye across the room; we both knew we needed to get
Lottie and the others out of here-and fast.
Astaroth's words hung heavy in the room, his tone dripping with sarcasm. But there was something else in his eyes-curiosity,
maybe even suspicion. I clenched my jaw, fuming internally at how he'd manipulated everything. He thought he held all the
cards, but thanks to Selene's parting gift-a blind spot in our minds shielding our agreement with her-there were things even he
couldn't reach. Liam and I had agreed not to think about it, just in case. Astaroth was powerful, and I didn't trust him as far as I
could throw him. "Feeling like a new man," Knox stretched, testing his limbs as he spoke with a grin.
"Glad to see you're back on your feet," I replied, forcing a casual tone. Inside, I was coiled tight, ready to spring. The only thing
left was to convince Lottie to leave this damned place. "Interesting recovery, considering the severity of your wounds." Astaroth's
eyes narrowed slightly.
"Must not have been that deep," Liam interjected, offering a nonchalant shrug. We both knew it was, and so did Astaroth, but
Liam was the smartest man I knew. He had said that for a reason, and given the look on Astaroth's face, it was to draw the truth
from him. "What?" Astaroth's gaze sharpened. He stepped closer to Knox, eyes flickering with something dark. "Oh, I doubt that.
I saw the blade myself-it should have killed you." A pulse of tension shot through the room. Lottie stiffened, her eyes snapping to
Astaroth. "How could you have seen it? You were with me," she demanded, suspicion lacing her voice.
The room fell into a heavy silence. Doubt crawled across everyone's faces like a shadow creeping in at dusk. Kane's brow
furrowed, his eyes narrowing as he studied Astaroth with a mix of confusion and mistrust. Adam shifted uncomfortably, his gaze

darting between Astaroth and Lottie. Even Knox looked taken aback, a flicker of unease crossing his features. The fragile trust in
the room was unravelling, thread by thread.
"I have... ways of knowing," he noted evasively. Astaroth faltered for a split second, a flicker of surprise crossing his face before
he masked it.
"Ways of knowing." Lottie laughed, shaking her head.

"It makes no sense; you said only I could save him... of course, because only you knew what blade was used on him. What
blade Sebastian had," she rushed out. Her eyes widened as she looked at me, her eyes filled with horror.
"Because you gave it to him!" she snapped, her voice sharp with anger. Her fists clenched at her sides, and her entire body
trembled. "You orchestrated this entire nightmare!" She stepped toward Astaroth, eyes blazing. "You manipulated us, played us
all like pieces on a chessboard!"
"That is not the subject at hand here, Lottie," Astaroth warned, but she kept going.
"Was any of it real?" she shouted, her voice echoing off the chamber walls. "Did I even kill Sebastian? Or was that just another
one of your twisted illusions?" Tears brimmed in her eyes, but they didn't fall. "Did Bash drag me out of my room that night, or
was it you? Was it all a lie?" Her doubt and rage melded into a storm of emotion, her breathing quickening as she glared at him.
I watched in alarm as tiny purple sparks began to flicker around her fingertips, her eyes glowing with an intensity I'd never seen
before. A surge of raw power emanated from her, and I realized with a jolt that she was tapping into abilities none of us fully
understood. If this escalated, there was no telling what might happen.
"Did you see that..." Adam gasped through our mind link, his mental voice tinged with disbelief.
"Yeah," I responded tersely, not taking my eyes off Lottie.
"What was it?" he continued, his thoughts racing. I could sense his anxiety spiking. Knox and Kane were also eyeing her warily,
clearly unsettled but saying nothing aloud. "What's going on with her?" Liam uttered, his gaze flicking between Lottie and
Astaroth. The purple glow in her eyes reflected off the polished floor.
"We need to distract them-do something!" I spoke urgently to my brothers through the mind link.

"Magic," I stated firmly, stepping slightly in front of Knox. "We used magic to heal him." My heart pounded in my chest. This was
our chance.
"Not now, Chase," Lottie warned, her voice edged with something unfamiliar. But Astaroth had already turned his attention to me.
Thank the goddess. "Magic?" Astaroth echoed, scepticism dripping from his words. "And where did you acquire such power?"
"Does it matter?" Liam retorted, his posture relaxed but eyes keen. "What's important is that Knox is fine, and we're leaving."
"I don't think so," Astaroth's gaze darted between us, calculating. "There's something you're not telling me," he declared slowly.

"Think what you want," I replied coolly. "Our business here is done." A muscle in Astaroth's jaw tightened.
"No one leaves until I get answers," he snapped, his anger tangible.
"I want answers, too!" Lottie screamed, her voice cracking. The purple sparks around her hands
intensified, casting an eerie glow.et
Everyone's eyes were drawn to her, a mix of fear and awe on their faces. Through the mind link, Adam, Liam, and I exchanged
nervous thoughts.
"This isn't good," Adam projected.
"We have to get her out of here before she loses control," Liam added, concern evident in his mental tone.
"Is that a threat?" Kane stepped forward, his voice dangerously low as he moved to shield Lottie, trying to divert the
conversation.
"Merely a precaution," Astaroth said, but his eyes betrayed his irritation.
Liam shot me a glance. It was now
or never. Without warning, we moved. Liam and I lunged at
ret
Astaroth simultaneously, years of
combat training synchronizing our movements. He might be powerful, but we'd caught him off guard.
"What are you doing?" Lottie screamed, confusion and fear
etched on her face. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the purple sparks flare again around her hands. Adam's gaze flickered
toward her, then back to the fight, his worry palpable even through the chaos.
"Trust us!" I shouted back. Adam hesitated only a moment before joining the fray. Though he didn't fully understand, he trusted
us enough to back our play.