Single for Eternity
Chapter 60: Betrayal?

Chapter 60: Betrayal?

The still water of the crescent-shaped pond mirrored the darkened sky, its eerie yet tranquil contrast standing stark against the chaos we had barely escaped.

Our bodies ached, our lungs still burned from the relentless sprint, and our clothes clung to us, soaked in sweat and tainted with the foul residue of the infected townspeople. Even as exhaustion threatened to drag us to the ground, none of us dared to collapse—not yet. We had bigger problems.

Ben was the first to break the silence, still catching his breath as he tightened his grip on his spear. The once-shining weapon was now marred with blackened pus, a sickly reminder of what we had just fought. He exhaled sharply, his expression grim.

"So... what the hell was that?" His voice was rough, laced with frustration. "That enchantment—whatever it was—made those knights damn near invincible."

Mael, perched on a nearby rock, ran a hand through his damp, sweat-drenched hair. He still held his sword, though he now dipped its bloodied blade into the pond’s crystal-clear water, watching the murky filth dissolve into nothingness. His expression darkened as he spoke.

"Yeah, no kidding. I’ve never seen anything like it. And that name the old bastard mentioned—’Lord Skin’... Anyone heard of him?"

We exchanged looks, but no one had an answer. The name meant nothing to us, yet it carried an undeniable weight of authority and malice.

I exhaled sharply. "Doesn’t matter who he is. What matters is that he’s behind all this. If the knights answer to him, that means he’s in charge. And if he’s in charge, his castle has to be somewhere inside that black veil." I gestured toward the ominous, suffocating wall of darkness looming in the distance, pulsing with an unnatural presence.

Priscilla, who had remained unnervingly silent up to this point, shifted nervously beside me. She looked pale, her fingers clutching the hem of her tattered cloak, her nerves clear in her trembling voice.

"But... how do we get in?" she asked, her eyes flickering between us. "And more importantly, how do we survive if those knights are hunting us?"

Good question.

Flavia groaned, wiping a mix of soot, sweat, and dried blood from her cheek with the back of her hand. "Well, running back in blindly is a death sentence, so unless you’ve got some miracle plan, we’re stuck."

I glanced at the pond again, my mind racing. If Lord Skin was the mastermind behind this, then the key to breaking whatever hold he had over this town was likely hidden in his domain. We needed information—weaknesses, numbers, an entry point. But first...

"We rest," I said firmly, stretching my sore limbs. "We’re no good if we’re dead on our feet. We take a few hours to recover, then we scout a way in."

Ben grunted in agreement, rolling his shoulder as he leaned against a nearby boulder. "Fair enough. Just don’t expect me to pull another all-nighter."

I smirked. "Oh, don’t worry. It’s Mael’s turn."

Mael sighed but didn’t argue. We all knew rest was temporary. Sooner or later, we’d have to walk straight into the lion’s den.

...

With the discussion settled, we each found a place to rest. Ben chose the spot furthest from the pond, resting his back against a sturdy boulder. Flavia, ever drawn to nature, lay near the pond’s edge, nestled beside thick shrubs. Mael remained by the water, absently running a hand over his cleaned blade as he kept watch.

Priscilla had already dozed off, curled up in Ben’s arm. I settled beneath a large tree, its purplish leaves offering cool shade from the looming night. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth, the faint chirping of insects a constant hum in the background.

One by one, my companions drifted into the embrace of sleep. Even Mael, who was supposed to keep watch, eventually succumbed to exhaustion. His sword lay forgotten beside him, his slow, steady breaths confirming his slumber.

I, however, remained awake. Feigning sleep, my mind refused to settle. Something felt off.

And then—she moved.

From the corner of my half-lidded eyes, I saw Priscilla stir. Her figure rose cautiously, moving with deliberate silence. In the dim glow of the fireflies that hovered above the pond, her silhouette was eerily graceful, her movements fluid yet calculated.

She approached each of us, one by one. Checking.

I watched as she crouched beside Ben first, pressing a delicate finger beneath his nose. A test for breath. Then, she did the same with Flavia, then Mael.

And then, it was my turn.

The moment her finger hovered beneath my nose, I struck.

Before she could even register what had happened, my hand shot up, gripping her wrist with an unyielding force. In one swift motion, I yanked her forward—her small frame crashing into my chest.

A sharp gasp escaped her lips.

She struggled instantly, jerking against my grip, but she was weak.

I smirked, watching her frantic expression, the fireflies casting a soft glow upon her widened eyes. "You should be more careful," I murmured, my voice low, teasing. "Sneaking around like that... people might get the wrong idea."

She trembled, her breath shaky, but before she could protest—

I closed the distance.

Smooch.

Our lips collided.

She jolted in shock, her hands pushing against my chest, but I didn’t let go. Her resistance was weak—hesitant. The kiss deepened, my grip tightening around her wrist as I pulled her even closer, savoring the way her body reacted despite her feigned outrage.

Her muffled protests faded into soft, reluctant moans as the kiss continued, her breath hitching with every stolen second.

By the time I finally pulled away, she was breathless—her chest rising and falling rapidly, her lips slightly swollen from the intensity.

Crouched before me, she stared with bloodshot eyes, her face contorted in a mix of confusion, anger... and something else.

I chuckled, licking the lingering taste from my lips, brushing away the thin strand of saliva that still connected us with my thumb. My grin widened at the sight of her trembling form.

With a glare, she spat, "Why the hell did you do that?!"

I tilted my head, feigning thoughtfulness, before resting my chin on my palm. "You forgot our bet? If the authorities were bad, I’d get a kiss. And they were bad." I smirked. "So, I win. And I got my reward."

Her body was still shaking, her eyes burning with fury. "That doesn’t mean—"

I silenced her with a single finger against her lips. My amusement faded, my gaze darkening with something colder.

"Don’t lie to me, Priscilla," I murmured, my voice dropping to a near whisper. "You knew exactly what would happen. And you knew exactly what you were doing just now."

Her breath hitched.

The game had changed.

And she knew it.

’Bitch.’

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.