Chained to the Enemy Alpha-Chapter 157: I Will Protect You

Anger burned in Victoria's eyes. She jerked her wrist free from Zayn's grip, stumbling backward. Her face twisted with rage and desperation.

She grabbed Lily by her wrist, "This… this is all your fault! You ruined everything!"

Lily winced as Victoria's nails dug into her skin. Her heart raced as she tried to pull away, but Victoria's grip was too strong.

Zayn stepped forward, his eyes darkening with fury. "Let her go, Victoria. Now."

An evil grin formed on Victoria's face. She produced a silver blade hidden in her sleeve and pressed it against Lily's throat.

Everyone froze.

"Stay back," Victoria warned, her voice shaking with emotion. "One more step and I'll slice her throat open."

The air in the balcony grew thick with tension. Ragnar's muscles tensed, ready to lunge. But Zayn raised his hand, stopping him.

"Don't," Zayn commanded. "She'll hurt Lily before you reach her."

Talia stood frozen. Everything happened so quickly that she didn't have time to react.

Victoria laughed. It sounded hollow. "You were always so worried about her, Zayn. Tell me, did you ever love me?"

"Victoria," Zayn's voice softened, becoming almost gentle. "Don't do anything stupid. Put the knife down, we can talk about this."

Victoria scoffed. "Talk? It's too late for talking, Zayn. You've made your choice."

She pressed the blade harder against Lily's skin. A thin line of blood appeared, trickling down Lily's neck.

"What do you want?" Zayn asked, his jaw clenched so tight it looked painful.

"What do I want?" Her eyes gleamed with triumph, "I want what should have been mine from the start. I want to mark you and complete the mate bond. Right here, right now."

Gasps echoed from Talia and Ragnar. Lily's eyes widened in horror.

"If I say no?" Zayn asked.

"Refuse, and she dies." Victoira continued.

Zayn narrowed his eyes.

"I also want you to announce me as your Luna," She added with a cruel smile, "You'll announce that I'm your chosen mate, not this mute weakling.

Victoria reached into her pocket with her free hand, producing a small vial filled with dark liquid.

"And just to ensure your cooperation," Victoria said, uncorking the vial with her teeth, "she'll drink this."

Lily struggled as Victoria tried to force the vial to her lips. The knife at her throat limited her movement, but she kept her lips firmly closed.

"Drink it!" Victoria hissed, pressing the blade harder.

"Stop!" Zayn shouted. "What is that?"

"Poison," Victoria said simply. "One only I have the antidote for. If you don't comply with my demands quickly, she dies anyway."

Lily's eyes met Zayn's across the balcony. She could see the conflict raging within him, the desperation and fury mingling in his gaze.

Lily remembered the promise she had made. She wouldn't be a burden to him anymore. She locked eyes with Zayn, giving him a reassuring smile.

She mouthed the words, "It's my turn to protect you."

Zayn didn't have time to react.

Lily grabbed Victoria's wrist and threw her weight backward. With the momentum, they fell backward over the balcony railing.

"No!" Zayn shouted, lunging forward.

Victoria's scream pierced the air as she felt herself falling. Her grip on the knife loosened, the blade clattering against the stone railing. The vial of poison crashed against Lily's lips, the liquid spilling into her mouth as she gasped.

For a terrifying moment, Lily felt nothing beneath her. The cool night air rushed around her as gravity pulled her down. Victoria's shriek echoed in her ears.

Then, a strong hand grabbed her wrist.

Lily looked up to see Zayn, half-hanging over the balcony.

"I've got you," he grunted, pulling her up with one swift move.

As soon as she was safely back on the balcony, Zayn hugged her tightly. His heart thundered against her ear, his arms wrapped around her so tightly she could barely breathe.

"Don't you ever do that again," he growled, his voice rough with emotion. "Do you hear me? Never again!"

Lily sagged against him, the adrenaline draining from her body. She nodded weakly, her hands clutching at his shirt. The poison burned in her throat, spreading through her veins like liquid fire.

"Where's Victoria?" Ragnar asked, peering over the balcony.

"She fell," Talia said, her face pale. "I saw her hit the ground."

Lily's legs gave out, and she collapsed against Zayn. Her vision blurred as pain exploded throughout her body. It felt like someone was stabbing her with thousands of tiny knives.

"Lily?" Zayn pulled back to look at her, alarmed. "What's wrong?"

Lily couldn't respond. Her throat constricted as she coughed violently, blood spattering onto Zayn's pristine white shirt. Red blotches erupted across her skin, spreading like a wildfire.

"The poison," Talia rushed forward, examining Lily's face. "She swallowed it when she fell."

Zayn's face drained of color. He gathered Lily into his arms, lifting her effortlessly. "We need to get her help. Now!"

Lily's body convulsed with pain as Zayn carried her through the grand hall. The music stopped. Conversations died mid-sentence. All eyes turned to watch Zayn carrying his bleeding, trembling Luna through their midst.

Whispers and gasps followed them as Zayn pushed through the crowd. Lily could feel the burning intensify, spreading from her throat to her chest, then down to her stomach. Each heartbeat pumped more poison through her system.

"Hang on," Zayn murmured against her hair. "Just hang on, Lily."

Elder Princess Tilda appeared in their path, shocked as she took in the scene.

"What happened?" she demanded, falling into step beside them.

"Victoria poisoned her," Zayn replied, his voice tight with restraint.

Tilda's expression hardened. "I know that poison. The red blotches, the blood… I've seen it before." She barked orders to nearby servants. "Prepare a bath immediately! Ice cold water with feverfew and wolfsbane extract!"

They rushed through the corridors, servants scattering before them. Lily's vision darkened at the edges, the pain becoming almost unbearable. Blood trickled from her nose, metallic and warm on her lips.

Their shared room in Elder Princess Tilda's quarters was a flurry of activity. Servants poured buckets of ice into the bathtub while others mixed herbs into the water. The scent of medicinal plants filled the air.

"The cold will slow the poison," Tilda explained, directing Zayn to place Lily beside the tub. "We need to get her undressed and into the bath quickly."

Zayn didn't hesitate. He removed Lily's blood-stained gown, leaving her in only her undergarments.

Lily convulsed again, more blood spilling from her mouth. The red blotches had spread across her entire body, angry and inflamed against her pale skin.

"Hold on, Lily," Zayn whispered, lifting her into the ice bath.

The shock of the cold water made Lily gasp. She wanted to get out, but Zayn held her steady.

"Keep her in there," Tilda instructed, mixing a dark concoction in a small vial. "The cold will slow the poison's progress while the herbs draw out some of the toxins through her skin."

Lily shivered violently, her teeth chattering. The cold was almost as painful as the poison, but Zayn's warm hands on her shoulders grounded her, kept her from slipping under the surface.

"Will she be alright?" Ragnar asked, hovering anxiously nearby. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Tilda's face remained grave. "This poison acts quickly. We need to counteract it from within." She approached the tub with the vial of dark liquid. "She needs to drink this. All of it."

Zayn took the vial, bringing it to Lily's lips. "Drink this, Lily. It will help."

Lily shook her head. She clawed at her own throat, expression contorted in agony. She couldn't swallow; her throat closed up in pain. The effort to swallow was too much. Blood and saliva dribbled from the corner of her mouth.

"She can't swallow," Talia said, her voice tight with worry. "The poison has affected her throat."

Zayn looked at the vial, then at Lily's pain-stricken face. Without hesitation, he poured the liquid into his own mouth.

Before anyone could react, he cupped Lily's face in his hands and pressed his lips against hers. His mouth moved against hers, coaxing her to part her lips, to accept the medicine he was offering.

Lily's eyes widened at the intimate contact. Despite the pain, despite the poison burning through her veins, she felt the heat of his lips against hers. Slowly, carefully, he fed her the medicine mouth to mouth, his fingers gently massaging her throat to help her swallow.

The liquid was bitter and thick, coating her tongue and sliding down her raw throat. Zayn's lips remained on hers, ensuring every drop made its way into her system. His thumbs stroked her cheeks, wiping away tears she hadn't realized she was shedding.

When the last of the medicine was gone, Zayn pulled back slightly, his forehead resting against hers. Their breaths mingled in the small space between them, his eyes never leaving hers.

"Stay with me," he whispered, his voice breaking. "Fight this, Lily. Fight for us."