Prey A 166

CHAPTER 166: What is Lost
CHAPTER 166: What is Lost
ARON
We set off early in the morning with Kovas, who comes alone and drives us to the house. It takes a few hours before we reach. I know what will come, the council are going to send their wolves to find me. They’ll demand me back, and if Kovas refuses, it’s war.
“I’ve strengthened the security at the borders and doubled the patrol rotations,” Kos tells me. “No one is entering the territory without clearance, be it a member of the council or a rogue. No one.”
The council knows where I’m heading, and in no time, they’re going to know with whom I’ll be heading.
Rhea.
I glance at her from where I’m sitting. She’s sleeping, curled into herself in the corner of the car’s backseat, and even then, her hand rests on mine. I don’t dare move it away.
I can’t.
She is the same, she looks the same. Her eyes, her hair, her body. But she’s never going to be her.
The witch said the same.
When we reach the manor, it is the same as I had left it. Except, now there’s more security. Wolves on the outside. Armed. Wolves Kovas ensured that they will be there when the council tries to come with their forces.
I help Rhea get out of the car. She’s half asleep and hasn’t uttered a word since waking up this morning. I don’t blame her. It has been hard on her. She has seen enough and done enough to be exhausted.
We reach the end of the stairs, and then, she straightens herself and snaps out of the trance.
“You should go freshen yourself. Get changed.” I tell her as my hands move across the borrowed clothes she’s wearing. She looks down and nods, “I’ll see you soon. Don’t go anywhere.”
“I won’t.”
She rushes off toward her room, and I see her disappear into the hallway above. Once she’s gone, I turn to Kovas, who’s giving me a strange, questioning look. Wondering what I’m doing exactly with her.
“I don’t understand.” He states, leaning against the staircase railing.
I turn to look at him, “What do you want to know?”
“I’m not really sure.”
I sigh, “She needs help.” I start going up the stairs, and Kovas follows me. “You took her to the village?” My voice goes a little deeper when I question him.
“She wanted to-”
“You shouldn’t have, Kovas.” I cut him. “It’s not safe. The other witches, you don’t understand, it can easily become dangerous for her. Her very existence.”
Kovas nods, but doesn’t argue with me about it. He understands most of it, most of what I did.
When we reach upstairs, I look around, ensuring that Rhea is nowhere in sight, before I walk across the hallway to my left until I reach the door that should’ve never been touched.
It’s open, unlocked.
I head inside while Kovas remains outside and close it behind me.
Everything is the same, except for the body lying on the table. Taking a deep breath, I inch closer to her. My eyes narrow on her frame, on the wounds, on her face and possibly everything that I can take in.
I should’ve taken better care of her. She shouldn’t have let her die or suffer.
My fingers brush her cold, pale cheek and then her dark hair.
“I’m sorry, Rhea.” I breathe out before pulling back. “I couldn’t save you.”
She doesn’t hear me. She’s just stuck in between.
Dead and not dead.
Alive and not alive.
Her soul lives within the woman who has her name and face. The one I love, the one that I’ll always love. But her true body lies in front of me. Dead.
I take a step back, and then another second. Until I’m near the door.
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CHAPTER 166: What is Lost
Releasing another breath, I open the door and step right back out. My hand moves over the key and locks it shut, just a should’ve remained.
But now I’ll make sure of it.
“Take this,” I hand it over to Kovas, who gives me a questioning look. “And hide it.”
“Why? There’s no point now-”
“Keep it. And don’t tell me or anyone where you’re going to keep it.” I cut in, giving him a stern look. “If I ask you, do not under any circumstances, give me, or give Rhea this key. Understand?”
He nods, “Alright. I won’t.”
I step away from the door and breathe in. All the scents lingering in the air reach me and something inside me stirs. Something dark and feral.
Something like my wolf.
“What’s wrong?” Kovas questions as he comes in front of me with a frown on his face.
“Nothing.” I lie, and then make my way to my office. “Just the sudden change.”
“Just the change?” He follows me till we’re both inside the door, and it is shut. “Because it looks like you’re hiding something. All the way here, you’ve been hiding something.”
“I’m not.”
“Aron, come on. I’m not stupid.”
“Obviously, you are, if you think that I’m hiding something.” I sit down on the chair behind the desk and motion for hi too, but he remains standing. “You need to stop questioning everything.”
“I’ll stop questioning things when you tell me what’s bothering you.”
“Nothing.”
“Is it the council? Or is it her-Rhea?”
“Neither.”
“Then?” His brows rise, “You can talk to me.”
“I don’t think Kael is dead,” I state.
His eyes grow wide, “What? But how? You were there. He died, Aron. You said it yourself.”
“Perhaps I was wrong.”
“You were poisoned-”
“Kael was poisoned.” I remind him. It wasn’t me, it was him.
Him-a strong wolf.