The Lycan King’s Mark (Nevara) by Tiffanie L. Campbell novel Chapter 86

Chapter 86 – The Mask Slips

Nevara

“Michelle!” I blurted, heart still racing, breath not yet fully caught in my lungs.

Thoren blinked at me. “Michelle? You’ve barely been breathing again for five minutes and practically the first thing you want to talk about is Michelle?”

His tone wasn’t cruel-just incredulous. A teasing lift to his brow. But there was confusion behind his eyes, too. Concern.

I shook my head, still trembling. “No-you don’t understand. She’s-”

The door creaked open before I could finish.

Michelle stepped into the room, speaking as she walked. “I really need you to let them take her soon. She shouldn’t be left here too long-”

Then she saw me.

She froze.

Her mouth fell open. The tray in her hands clattered to the floor..

“Oh my goddess,” she breathed. “She’s alive?”

Her eyes filled instantly, a gasp tearing from her lips. She bolted forward, arms open, rushing toward the bed like she couldn’t get to me fast enough.

And I snapped.

“NO!” I screamed, voice raw and sharp. “You stay away from me!”

Michelle skidded to a halt, stunned. Her hands lifted instinctively, palms open in surrender. What?”

Even Thoren looked startled, his head jerking between us.

Michelle’s face crumpled in disbelief. “Nevara, what-what are you saying?”

”

“Save those fake-ass tears for someone you can fool,” I snapped, my voice laced with venom

I hadn’t even realized I had. “Not me,”

Her breath hitched, “I don’t understand…”

Thoren stood up, brows drawn tight. “Okay-what the hell is going on?”

1/4

“That’s what I was trying to tell you,” I said, eyes locked on Michelle. “She’s not who you think she is. She’s the reason this happened to me. She’s the reason I was taken.”

Thoren’s expression hardened with confusion. “Nevara, that’s a serious accusation.”

“I know it is,” I shot back. “And I don’t say it lightly.”

“She’s been helping us nonstop,” he argued. “Helping run the search. Coordinating logistics. Pushing me to sleep and stay strong so I could keep going. She adores you-anyone can see that.”

“Exactly,” I said bitterly. “That’s what a master manipulator does. Makes sure everyone loves her. Makes sure no one questions her. All the ‘good’ she does in the open while poisoning people in the dark.”

Michelle’s lips parted in shock. “Nevara, no. I-”

“You remember the nut allergy incident, don’t you?” I cut her off. “How I almost had to go to the infirmary because of one bite?”

“That was an accident!” she cried. “I told you-”

“You claimed you didn’t use nuts in the recipe,” I said coldly. “But conveniently had Sabrina finish making it. And told her ‘everything was on the counter’ like that was some innocent handoff. You knew if you said that, she’d follow what was laid out. Including the chopped

nuts as stated on the recipe card.”

Michelle’s face twisted. “I-I didn’t mean-”

“Oh, you didn’t mean to nearly kill me?” I barked. “How generous of you.”

“I stopped you from eating them!” she cried. “If I wanted something to happen, why would I

do that?”

“To make it look like you cared,” I snapped. “To cover your ass when it did go wrong. I wasn’t supposed to take a bite when I almost did. You panicked and played the hero.”

Thoren held up his hands, trying to mediate. “Okay. Everyone take a breath. Rational voices, please.”

I turned to him with a glare. “And you-put some damn pants on! You’re naked in front of cousin, who I’m pretty sure either wants to screw you or take your crown.”

Michelle and Thoren both gagged simultaneously.

“Ew, Nevara!” Michelle blurted. “Seriously?”

your

2/4

Thoren groaned. “Gods, alright! Message received. Give me a second.”

He stalked across the room to where his clothes had been dumped and yanked on a pair of sweats, muttering the whole way about timing and trauma and dignity.

Michelle looked like she wanted to crawl under a rock, eyes shimmering with tears she was clearly fighting hard not to let fall.

“I would never hurt you,” she said quietly, voice trembling. “You have to believe me.”

“No,” I said, steel in my voice. “I don’t.”

Thoren walked back, arms crossed, jaw tight. He looked between us, then back to me. “If there’s something real here-if she really did have anything to do with this-we’ll find it. But you need to give me more than your gut.”

I closed my eyes, heart thudding. “It’s not just my gut. It’s… moments. Whispers. The way she always seemed to show up when I was alone. Questions she’d ask that didn’t feel like casual

concern.”

“I looked out for you,” Michelle said. “That’s what people do when they love someone.”

“No,” I said. “It’s what people do when they want control.”

Michelle stepped back like I’d slapped her.

And Thoren… he was watching both of us. Processing. Calculating.

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