Chapter 179
Chapter 179
RHEA
Aron isn’t convinced. He doesn’t believe that burying the body will solve anything, and he doesn’t believe that the Council will ever reach here.
“They’ll never get past the borders, Rhea. There’s nothing to worry about.”
“But what if they do?” I question while keeping my tone neutral. I don’t want him to know how much all of this is actually bothering me. How loud it’s been in my head since Deras told me the truth. Since I realized how fragile all of this is. “What if they find a way to stop me? They know witches. They know everything.”
“Then we deal with it when it happens. Not now. You’re reacting to things that haven’t even happened yet.”
His hand moves across my cheek, resting on it gently like he’s trying to pull me back from wherever my mind’s been spiraling.
“But wouldn’t it be better if we can prevent it before it happens? Wouldn’t you prefer to have that certainty?” I reason. I need to win him over. I have to. “We could move her somewhere else, somewhere far away where the council can never reach.”
“She’s safer here.”
She is. But I don’t want her here. I don’t want her looming. I just want her gone somewhere far away.
But I can see the way that Aron’s questioning my intentions, he doesn’t know why I’d suggest something so bizarre. Especially considering that I was safe during my time in that room.
Even with the fire, with the Councilmen walking in and out, I was fine, untouched.
I place my hand over his, and turn, placing a gentle kiss against the inside of his wrist.
“Can you think about it, at least? Please?”
I watch the confliction in his eyes. I know he wants to protect her, he wants her safe. He’ll do anything for her. I know that, and he knows that too.
“I will,” he responds softly before leaning in and taking my face into his hand. “Don’t worry about it.”
My eyes flutter shut as his lips meet with mine in a warm kiss. My body soaks into the warmth below me and now on me. There’s barely enough that I can get of him.
I lean forward, into his body, and feel him wrap his arms around me. His fingers move over the wet skin, the droplets of water dripping down the side of my arms and neck. They roll off me, down his skin, as he pulls me against him, his hand sliding over my back.
I break the kiss for just a second to whisper the words, “Come into the tub with me. Your clothes are all wet, anyways.”
He chuckles at that, “You need to rest. You’re exhausted and I wouldn’t want to add to it.”
“I’m fine.”
“Yes, I know that you are.” He reaches in and gives me another kiss on my forehead. “I’ll go get something for you to eat. Take all the time you need.”
I pull onto his arm, “Don’t leave me.” I say it again, and this time, I make it a plea. “Stay with me.”
The corner of his lips tug and I feel the way that he’s smiling. It’s not mocking or even amused, just a sweet expression. “I’m right here, Rhea. And once you’re done, I’ll be downstairs.”
I let go of him after that. He stands, offers me another smile before leaving from the bathroom. I sink back into the tub and take a deep breath. My mind wanders into a hundred places, the biggest being the room inside the east wing.
1/2
19:07 Sat, 24 May R B
Chapter 179
How can I get rid of her?
That version of me doesn’t have the blood on her hands. She hasn’t lied or snapped or come back wrong. And if Aron had to choose between the two of us, he wouldn’t hesitate.
He’d always…
I don’t finish that thought.
I sit up and start rinsing off. I’ve already decided what needs to be done. The only question is how to do it without anyone noticing.
As long as I can get inside that room and take her, I’ll be fine. No one is awake after midnight, not even Aron, unless he’s on something.
Once I change, I head outside and instead of going down the stairs, I move toward the room in the far east wing. I remember the hallway as clear as day.
When I reach the door, I hesitate.
I know it’s the right thing to do, to get rid of her, but what if someone finds out.
Aron won’t be happy.
He’ll be livid, he might even want to hurt me. And that is a chance I’ll have to take.
My hand wraps around the handle and I twist it to the right to open it, but it doesn’t budges. My brows furrow. I don’t remember locking it. How is it locked? Why would anyone lock it? Did Aron do this?
I let go of the knob and step away from the door.
Fuck.
If he’s locked this door, there’s no way that I can get through it, and even if I manage, he’ll know why. The thought is unsettling. He’d only lock this if he knew there was something, something that could happen, something that I or someone in this house could do.
“Rhea?” I hear Marcella’s voice from across the stairs. “Are you up there?”
The light, the freaking light, that’s switched on. I quickly start moving back and forth as I hear her steps coming up.
Act calm.
“Marcella!” I stop pacing upon seeing her.
She glances at the door that’s behind me and then at me. “What are you doing here?”
“Oh, I just remembered that I left something inside that room and I was thinking of getting it. But it’s locked.” trespond in a cheerful tone. “Do you have the key for it by any chance?”
the bar head nat
19:07 Sat, 24 May
Chapter 179
How can I get rid of her?
That version of me doesn’t have the blood on her hands. She hasn’t lied or snapped or come back wrong. And if Aron had to choose between the two of us, he wouldn’t hesitate.
He’d always…
I don’t finish that thought.
I sit up and start rinsing off. I’ve already decided what needs to be done. The only question is how to do it without anyone noticing
As long as I can get inside that room and take her, I’ll be fine. No one is awake after midnight, not even Aron, unless he’s on something.
Once change, I head outside and instead of going down the stairs, I move toward the room in the far east wing. I remember the hallway as clear as day. When I reach the door, I hesitate.
I know it’s the right thing to do, to get rid of her, but what if someone finds out.
Aron won’t be happy.
He’ll be livid, he might even want to hurt me. And that is a chance I’ll have to take.
My hand wraps around the handle and I twist it to the right to open it, but it doesn’t budges. My brows furrow. I don’t remember locking it. How is it locked? Why would anyone lock it? Did Aron do this?
I let go of the knob and step away from the door.
Fuck.
A
If he’s locked this door, there’s no way that I can get through it, and even if I manage, he’ll know why. The thought is unsettling. He’d only lock this if he knew there was something, something that could happen, something that I or someone in this house could do.
“Rhea?” I hear Marcella’s voice from across the stairs. “Are you up there?”
The light, the freaking light, that’s switched on. I quickly start moving back and forth as I hear her steps coming up.
Act calm.
“Marcella!” I stop pacing upon seeing her.
She glances at the door that’s behind me and then at me. “What are you doing here?”
b
“Oh, I just remembered that I left something inside that room and I was thinking of getting it. But it’s locked.” respond in a cheerful tone. “Do you have the key for it by any chance?”
She shakes her head, “Of course not, dear,” She waves her hand in the air, gesturing me to come to her. “Come on, we’ll look into it later. Now you’ve to eat something and then sleep. Aron’s waiting for you.”
