Chapter 182
Chapter 182
RHEA
1 freeze, almost for a second and then slowly straighten my back.
“Oh, nothing really…”
He steps inside, catching me red–handed shuffling through his drawers and his desk.
“Really?” He raises a brow, seeing the mess that I’ve left, looking for that one key while I thought he’d be occupied for a while.
“Fine,” I sigh and stand up.
“For?”
looking for the key.”
“For the room. There’s something in there I left. I thought Marcella must’ve told you.”
He stares at me for a long second, like he’s trying to decide whether or not I believe my own lie.
“She didn’t,” he says slowly. “What did you leave in there?”
I shrug, “Oh, just a… book.”
“You’ve never mentioned it before.”
“I didn’t think I’d want it back,” I answer, my tone clipped. “Until recently. It’s from my old pack house. I had it for a while, and I had left it in there. And was hoping to get it.”
He nods, understanding and most of the suspicion from his eyes leaves. Almost there. If he gives me the keys, I can take her body myself in the middle of the night tomorrow evening, when he’ll be distracted by his family and he won’t ever know.
And by the time he does, I’ll make sure it’s not him in control.
“Oh, well, I don’t really have it.”
“Hm?” I raise a brow.
“Kovas has it,” he shrugs, “Don’t know where he kept. Ask him later when he comes. He’ll give it to you.”
He gave the key to where my original self lies to Kovas? Why would he do that?
I don’t ask him those questions even though I want to, but I refrain. I don’t want to get him suspicious about this so I let it go.
“Yeah, I’ll ask him later then.” I agree before stepping away from his desk.
He wouldn’t just give the key to him. It’s not for security purposes, that’s for sure. That’s a contingency move. Which means Aron knows exactly how volatile this situation can turn out to be, if it comes to that.
“Do you want to go over anything for tomorrow?” His questions take me out of my head. “The guest list. Seating. Whatever will make
r for you.
“No, it’s alright. I’ll ask Marcella. She must be preparing for it, right?”
He nods.
“Does she need any help? I’d be more willing=”
“Oh, you don’t need to get yourself in that mess. You still need to rest.”
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Chapter 182
It’s been days since the council grabbed me and took me south, but Aren is still on the edge about it. He has taken plenty of precautions to pre of it will happen again, so that I won’t flee to the borders to meet another councilman Of run alone.
That’s why he’s been with me every morning, without fail.
I do actually enjoy it a bit more, running with his wolf. Watching him barely have control of Kael, and watching Kael slip up.
I want him, desperately.
Bút I’m not sure what I have to do to get him out. I’ve tried seducing, but it doesn’t work even when it’s the things Kael used to respond to instantly.
Aron has too much control now. Too much restraint. He’s different from before. And a little too afraid that he doesn’t want to make the mistakes of the past again.
But I don’t need someone to protect me. I need someone to match me.
It’s out of rage when Kaet surfaces, blinding rage and something primal. That’s when I’ve seen him crack. During Elias‘ wedding, when I went to the east wing that one time, when I fled, when I rejected him and when I bled.
He responds to danger, to defiance and loss.
Not tenderness.
The next evening, before everyone starts arriving at the house, I change into red dress. Not a soft red, but rather a bold one. I died and I’m here, and there’s no way I’m forgiving anyone for what they did to me–what they did to Rhea.
In a way, I am avenging her. Her life and her death. Barely anyone knows that I died that night. No one mourned me, and no one cared. And this is my
retribution.
“Oh, dear, you look beautiful!” Marcella comes in and hands me the necklace I had asked her to bring. “I haven’t seen you like this in far too long. All that
darkness-”
“Let’s not speak of it. It’s a good evening, and I just want to enjoy it.”
“Of course.”
“Why don’t you leave the remaining work to the staff that’s here and,come along with me?”
“Oh, you know-”
My hands go around hers, “I do know how it’s like and that’s why I’m asking you too. You need to have a day off too. You can’t be working all the time.”
She laughs a little and nods, “Let me see.”
“Please, even if it’s just for a little. You’ll be with me and Aron won’t complain about it.”
“Complain about what?” Aron’s voice fills up the room Jam.
I look away from Marcella and over at the doorway where Aron’s standing. His eyes run across my body as if it’s the first time he has seen it.
“Nothing, just asking her to spend the evening with us, instead of running around like crazy and taking care of everyone else.” My voice lu when I see his eyes and the way the emotions swim in.
He steps further in. “Of course,” He agrees and furns to her. “You should. There’s no harm in it.”
Her smile widens, and she nods before heading out of the room to change into her clothes.
Aron comes near to me and holds my waist, gently, before leaning forward and placing a kiss against my forehead.
little
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Chapter 182
“You look beautiful. Almost as if I don’t want anyone to see you.”
Ilaugh, shaking my head.
His mouth moves to my ear and he whispers, “Perhaps I can have you stay in my room and tell Marcella to send them away.”
“Your family?”
“All of them.”
I laugh again.
“You can’t do that.”
“I can.” He doesn’t hesitate, not for a moment, and I almost believe him.
I step out of his hold, but not far, and take his hand.
“Come on,” I tell him. “They’re going to be here and we shouldn’t keep them waiting.”
C
