Chapter 40
CHAPTER FORTY
ALINA
Alight breeze was blowing into the room from an open window.
The bright sun was creeping slowly across the floor while I paced from corner to corner not finding even a moment of peace.
My thoughts were spiraling out of control, without letting me get a better understanding of what I needed to do.
Tynan was still away and I had no idea what was going on since neither clan wanted to discuss the whereabouts of their clan leaders.
“Milady?” May peeked into the room.
“Yes?”
“You wanted to know if Sage was back. I just saw him walking to his room.”
“Can you take me to him?”
Several minutes later, I followed my maid down the stairs and through the winding corridor. I no longer noticed the wooden sculptures and crystal chandeliers, encrusted mirrors and art on the walls.
At last we stopped by a sturdy wooden door. Without letting myself think what I was about to do or say, I boldly knocked. A moment later the sound of footsteps approached the door and I heard a familiar voice.
“Damn it! Can you just leave me alone?”
The door swung open and I saw the face of my adviser. His skin was covered with crusty, red spots, and one of his eyes was bloodshot.
“Sage?”
“M–M–Milady?”
“What happened? Where’s Tynan?” I asked, glancing over his shoulder into the room.
“Milady. You shouldn’t be here. It’s dangerous.”
“Why?” I attempted to push past him, but he blocked the door.
“Milady. It’s not safe for you to be so close.”
“What do you mean?”
“I believe . . . We believe that we were poisoned. As we still don’t know the nature of the disease, you should stay away. It may be contagious.”
“Where is my husband?”
“It is not advisable for you to be near him.”
“Let me be the judge!”
“I can’t let you risk yourself,” he hurried to add.
“Where is he?” I pressed.
“He’s in a set of rooms below the entrance hall. Lady Alina, please don’t go there.”
I adjusted my skirt, lifting my head up high.
“Why didn’t you use sacred water to cure whatever it is?”
“There’s none left. Tynan sent people to get more from the temples but it will take some time.”
“That’s why you decided to vanish without a trace?”
“No, milady. We thought it would be best if no rumor of us being exposed reached the enemy. We still don’t know who’s responsible.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Tynan decided that it would—”
I turned and marched down the hall not letting him finish, fuming from within.
“May,” I started, looking back to see Sage still watching us.
“Milady?”
“May, do you know where it is?”
“No, milady.”
“I’m sure we can figure it out.”
We descended several sets of stairs and went through the gallery and then another one.
From one of the windows, I saw Lady Augusta walking in the garden, two guards followed close behind her.
She wore a modest sky blue dress with a tight corset.
Her hair was half up, carefully placed blond coils framed her face.
She looked so different compared to the way she was in the stables.
Was she the one responsible for the poisoning? There was no way of knowing for sure. I walked further, and soon I could no longer see the light blue dress.
When we went down to the level below ground, I saw several familiar faces of the black clan. I knew that I was in the right place.
“Where is my husband?” I asked one of the men with a bushy, tangled beard.
“Milady.” He lowered his head and then pointed toward the poorly lit corridor.
I walked past the group of warriors and spotted Denis, who also bowed.
Finally, I made it to the door. I could feel multiple sets of eyes following every move I made. I lifted my hand and knocked.
“Yes?” Tynan’s voice clearly sounded from another side of the door.
“Stay here.” I told May and wrapped my fingers around the door handle.
It was dark inside. Across the room, there was a table and a lone candle that produced some light, assisting a narrow window situated almost to the ceiling.
By the table stood Tynan, he had a book cupped in one hand and the other held a page by the corner.
His hair appeared almost black in the faint light.
His eyes followed the text on the page. Then he lifted his head and stilled. The released page flicked down.
I took another step closer, watching him.
His eyes widened. “Alina?”
I remained silent, moving closer. Another moment and, as if he just awakened from a stupor, Tynan stepped back.
“It’s not safe . . .”
I paid no attention to his words, approaching him. Slowly, his features came to me in more detail. He looked almost artificially, ashy pale. Just like Sage, similar circles decorated his neck and crept onto one of his cheeks.
“What happened?” I extended my hand, but he did not let me touch him.
Even understanding his intentions and the reasons behind it, I still felt the sting right in the center of my heart. Finally, I could admit to myself how painful it was to be pushed away.
“Poison.”
I lowered my gaze, noticing the strip of bare skin on his chest where his flying suit was unbuttoned.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I asked.
“I didn’t want you to worry.”
“You didn’t want me to worry and let me think that you were with someone else instead?”
For a moment, a puzzled expression appeared in his eyes, then his eyebrows furrowed.
“Did you think—”
“It doesn’t matter now.” I fished out a miniature glass bottle from one of my pockets and offered it to him.
“What is it?”
“Sage must have forgotten that he gave me some sacred water.”
“I’d rather you keep it. I want you to have some.”
“Take it. I’m sure you can fly me to the temples just like you have before.”
But Tynan did not move. I took off the tightly pressed, wooden cap and moved closer.
My chest pressed against his, and I could feel his deep exhale.
Tynan watched me with his umber eyes half closed.
In the faint light of the candle the specks in his irises reminded me of wild honey.
I placed the bottle to his lips and forced him to drink.
“Much better,” I whispered.
“How did you find me?” He asked.
“I saw Sage. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“It happened really quick. We dealt with the crawlers in the morning, then we found out that Steiner was responsible for the breach. When we went to see him, he was gone, but there was something in his room that, I think, triggered a severe poisoning.”
“What was it?”
“Nothing I can remember. But all of us who entered started experiencing symptoms. Sage passed out and we used what little water we had trying to stop whatever it was. Apparently, it wasn’t enough, because by the end of the day, none of us could stand on our feet.”
“Why didn’t you send me a note?”
“Because you would come.”
I looked up at his beautiful face, his perfectly shaped lips, the strong lines of his nose and chiseled cheekbones. His features seemed more sharpened, dark lines had settled under his eyes. He appeared tense and exhausted.
What was I thinking? There was no way he could ever betray me. That was impossible. Maybe other men could be deceitful and unfaithful, but he would never hurt me. He would never knowingly make me suffer, and deep down I have always known that.
But he would not let me in. Not all the way. It was as if, even after everything we have been through, he still could not trust me.
I thought about that woman he was with before me. Gabrielle. She took the most gentle, affectionate heart and scarred it so bad that even years later, I was facing the consequences of her betrayal.
“Will you come back to the room with me?” I asked.
“I can’t.”
I nodded, forcing myself to move away.
It was simply impossible to stay when my heart was breaking piece by piece. It did not matter that I understood him, that I believed that what he did was right. My chest was heavy with deep, overwhelming sadness.
“Alina, be careful.” Tynan’s words broke the silence.
My fingers wrapped around the door handle. I wanted to scream, I wanted to throw his precious book across the room. I wanted to do something crazy.
“Promise me you'll be safe.”
“Of course.”