Skyla Rossi: A Game of Deception and Lies (The Rossi Legacies Book 4)
Skyla Rossi: A Game of Deception and Lies Chapter 48

ROYCE.

My heart thuds as I turn sharply to look at Skyla as gasps flitter through the room.

'You raped me.

Those words echo violently on repeat in my mind.

There are tears in her eyes as she stares at me, "You forcefully marked me..."

"How is that possible? Child, think, you were both happy. I was witness to that when you came to America!" Grandad says, but I know it's futile.

"She shakes her head, clutching her neck." No. Even now, do you guys not see the state of my dress?! The state I'm in... He did this to me! He tried to assault me again. Aleric protected me." Her voice breaks and she's clearly distraught. F**k.

To be accused of that... It's...

"Skyla!" Charlotte shouts, shocked, but I raise my finger, shaking my head at her to remain silent.

"What have you done to her?" I hiss, squeezing Aleric's neck.

My claws dig into him, the smell of his blood only fuelling my rage. It overpowers anything else and I have never felt the intent to kill someone so strongly as I do right now.

"Let me go, Royce," he chokes out as my aura swirls around me, blasting through the room violently.

Many are forced to step back and shield themselves from the glass that now flies through the air.

"Undo whatever the fuck you've done to her! Your issue is with me, right? I'll do whatever the fuck you want, but leave her out of this!" I snarl, my eyes blazing as a thick layer of ice begins to cover his neck and jaw.

"Let him go!" Skyla screams and the next thing I know, I'm being pulled away from Aleric by none other than my doll. "I will kill you if you touch him!"

"Then go ahead," I whisper, grabbing her wrist and yanking her close. She gasps as our noses brush, her eyes still holding rage, a tornado swirls around us, refusing to allow anyone close. "I told you... I'm yours... do whatever you wish." I say to her quietly, our hair whipping in our faces.

"I'll do it," she replies softly.

"Royce," Leo warns from somewhere past the violent tornado I have created.

No. Whatever has a hold on her, whatever he's doing, our love has to be stronger.

"Then do it," I respond, caressing her cheek with my other hand. "Can you?"

"Without a doubt," she says, her eyes blaze purple, and she raises her other hand. "She can't do it..." Kiara whispers,

Alejandro, there's something very wrong going on, I can feel it."

No one can get close. My aura rages around us, stopping anyone from being able to approach us. I sense the witches' auras almost as if they're ready to intervene. "Alejandro!" Kiara urges.

"Let him try... he can get through to her." I hear him whisper.

For the sake of us all, fight it, Love.

"After everything you have done to me, killing you would not be enough," she shouts. "How many times have you hurt me!

How many times I wanted to kill myself because of you!"

Once again, her voice is clear... She's not telling me but those around me.

"Then do it," I say. "Get your revenge."

Her eyes meet mine, and I see a single tear spill from her eyes as she raises her other hand.

You won't be able to...

"Royce." Leo snarls.

"Move back, Royce. That's enough!" Alejandro's cold command comes.

"Are you really believing a rapist over your daughter?" Aleric says coldly. "He deserves far more than death! Let her out of there, Royce!"

I don't care about the commotion around.

"I love you, Lil Lucifer," I whisper, cupping her face.

I'm open. If she wants to attack, she can... her eyes stare into mine as she raises her hand that I'm not holding.

She won't be able to.

"Skyla, snap out of it!" Azura snarls.

"Alejandro..." Kiara whispers.

Several things happen at once. Skyla's claws come out as she lets out a scream of rage, her hand ready to plunge into my chest. Three powerful blasts of power push us apart. Silver and gold combined, blue and purple.

The Westwood siblings.

I turn to see Azura, Liam and Kiara standing there, now falling into line with me as their shield covers the entire area from floor to ceiling.

Gasps fill the crowd and despite the severity of the moment, I can't deny that the display of the siblings' powers together is indeed breathtaking and incredible.

"Baby, don't do this," Kiara pleads to her daughter, as Skyla glares at them from where she was thrown back onto the floor, regaining her balance.

I look down, seeing her claws have ripped through my clothes, leaving four long gashes across my torso.

"Then stop falling for his lies! If my own family won't believe me, who will?" She says, looking around the room. "I had to wait until now... to tell the truth when we aren't alone! I don't know what he's done to make my family believe him over me, but he's nothing more than a liar... a cheat... and an abuser."

Aleric.

He's getting his revenge on me in the way that he knows will fucking hurt the most.

"But Royce Arden has had no other accusations against him, whilst you princess almost killed some-"

"Enough," I say, my eyes flashing. "You will not bring up her past."

"But I am only speaking for you." The man says, bowing his head.

"I know, but I will not tolerate anyone speaking ill of my queen. Right now, she is not herself.

I know that, no matter who says otherwise," I say, my voice carrying through the room. "And as the Solaris King, I have claimed her as mine."

"But she is my mate and wants me!" Aleric says, pulling Skyla into his arms.

"There is no way that Skyla will accept you. Royce is her man. I've witnessed that when they were mucking around in her kitchen!" Jayce says, now stepping forward." Seriously, you guys need to f*****g step up!" He says coldly glaring at the others before he walks over to Skyla and Aleric and pulls her away from Aleric.

"HEY!" Aleric snarls, his eyes flashing.

"Volume down." Jayce snarls as he holds. onto Skyla, who pulls free, far stronger than him.

"Know your place," Aleric says coldly.

"You know yours because if anyone wants proof, I've seen her nothing but happy with Royce. I don't know what you've done, but that's not Sky. Not our Sky." He glares into Aleric's eyes as the latter tries to control his seething emotions.

Our eyes meet and I realise, any feelings I had for my brother are gone... I shake my head, trying to quell the anger and hatred that now consumes me.

Aleric looks away as he tries to calm his anger. "Then let the people decide.