Bewitched

CHAPTER 16 Malrik's POV I sneaked out of my suite early the following morning, in the witch's body. The thought of me sneaking around my kingdom irritated me. I glanced at Lyra again in my body before stepping out completely. That would end soon. As soon as I finally return to my body, I would make sure I put an end to that witch. I glanced at the hallway, watching if there was no guard around as I headed to the library. I finally stopped in front of the library trying to sneak in. "Here you are," I heard a woman calling and I turned to see three noblewomen who intercepted me. I stood properly in Lyra's body, glancing at the three who stood staring at me. The one in the center was the first to flash me a smile. "Oh! There's the infamous temptress!" Lady Verena, a gossipy wolf said, faking a happy face while I stared back blankly. "We've been dying to meet you properly!" She added and I scoffed inwardly, knowing what she intended. "I have matters–" I tried to back away but Lady Saskia interrupted me. "Nonsense! You're coming to have tea." She said, grabbing my hand in Lyra's body. "The Queen herself requested your presence." She added. What! My stomach dropped. "Selene?" "Who else?" Lady Verena grabbed my arm before I could protest. I tried getting off her grip but the others also held my other hand, making it impossible for me to leave. I didn't struggle with them as I was being dragged to a garden pavilion. I almost stopped when I saw Selene sat at the head of the table, she smiled but it was venomous. She didn't seem to call lyra there to joke. If only she knew who was standing before her. "Wow!" She exclaimed. "So glad you could join us," Selene said sweetly. I stared back at her as the other ladies sat, trapping me at the table. "I have no idea–" "You don't have to worry," Selena interrupted me. "I asked them to bring you here." She added, signalling at the other ladies and they all nodded in agreement. I rolled my eyes, trying to figure out why she called Lyra to such a gathering. Whatever her intention was, it wasn't a good one. I hoped I could leave soon. "Tell us," Lady Saskia leaned in. "How did you seduce the Wolf King?" She questioned. That was unexpected. I glanced around, watching all eyes in the garden settle on me, expecting my response. My mind raced, sensing Selena's trap. "I... didn't." I replied. "Oh come on," Selene's voice drips with false sweetness. "You must have done something to make him choose you over his fated mate." She added while the other women giggled. No matter what my response was, she was definitely going to pick on my words. I gritted my teeth. "I don't know what you want me to say," I replied in Lyra's low voice. "The truth would be nice," Selene said, her smile never reaching her eyes. "Did you use magic? A love potion perhaps?" "No." I replied, immediately. "Then what?" Selene's mask slips slightly. "What could a common woman from the trials possibly offer that I couldn't?" She added and all eyes in the room turned to her, noticing the sudden coldness in her voice. The table went silent and I met her eyes. I could see real pain there, she was hurt. I had carried another woman in my arm out of the trial ground when all I needed to do was to prove my faithfulness to my mate. She had tried to cover the pain but I could tell why she was hurting. I was the cause. No, it was all that witch's fault. If only she hadn't carried me in her own body out of the trial ground. The f*****g body switching caused it all. "I didn't ask to be brought here," I said carefully. "Your mate made that choice himself," I added, in Lyra's voice. "My mate," Selene stood slowly. "has been bewitched. And I'm going to prove it." She added, determined. "The wolf king has been bewitched?" The ladies mumbled among themselves. They exchanged glances, each one of them trying to confirm the truth from each other. "What do you mean by being bewitched, my queen?" Lady Verena asked. "Is that not the case?" Serena asked with a smirk as she strode towards me. "If she didn't use magic or love potions on him then that means she bewitched him." She added, staring at me intensely. I knew it. She intentionally brought Lyra here to pick on her and no matter what she said, she would only pick whatever she wanted. That was dangerous. "I have no idea what you mean," I muttered and she nodded. "Really?" She asked, acting clueless. She glanced around exchanging glances with the ladies present there. "Maybe you will understand that after this." She added and I raised a brow, confused. The smirk on her face widened and she stopped right in front of me. She glanced around once again and at that moment, I wished I could put an end to whatever she was planning. But I couldn't stop her, not in Lyra's body. "My Queen you should–" "What's going on here?" I heard Lyra demand in my voice. All heads turned to see Lyra walk in my body in company of the guards. What was she doing there? Her gaze moved from Selena who was standing above me and finally settled on me. She stared at me for a long time before speaking again. "I thought I asked a question." She demanded in my cold voice. Selene's eyes narrowed. "I was just getting to know your... guest." She smiled, turning to face Lyra in my body, properly. "Really?" She asked, glancing at Selena. "Of course, Your Majesty," Selena replied. "Fine," Lyra replied. "The council needs my attention." She said, staring directly at me. Why was she telling me that? "Come with me." She said when I made no attempt to move. I almost scoffed but I bit my lower lips. Was that the only thing she could come up with? She hadn't come to clear the misunderstanding, she would only make it worse with such an act. "We should leave now." She added and she extended her hand to me. I stared at it … at my own hand offering help. That wasn't the best solution but it was the only way I could leave that place at that moment. I glanced at Selena once again before I finally took it. The moment our skin touched, I felt an electricity sparks within me. I raised my head meeting eyes with Lyra in my own body while she also stared at me intensely. She felt it too. We both felt it. "What was that?" Selena asked with her eyes widened. She saw it too. "What was what?" Lyra said coolly, pulling me away. "We should leave now." She added, turning around as she led the way with the guards while I walked beside Lyra, still holding hands. "I know something is wrong." I heard Selena's voice follow us as we walked away. "And I'm going to find out what." She added but I didn't bother turning back.