Chapter 7 #3
A loud crashing thunk sounded as Theo fell off the table, startling awake by my cough. He scrambled to his feet, axe now in hand as he scanned the room. His almond-brown eyes landed on me, and he groaned, lowering his weapon.
“I was having the best dream. You couldn’t have waited a few more minutes?” Theo grumbled, throwing his axe back onto the table with a loud crash as he stretched his arms over his head and yawned.
Dedra rolled her eyes at her brother and turned to face me. “It’s good to see you out of bed.”
There was no hostility or sarcasm in her tone, and the way her eyes softened, I knew she meant it as I pulled out a chair next to her and took a seat.
Theo started walking our way, and his eyes lit up at spotting the tray of sandwiches that had been in front of Dedra.
Practically running, he lunged at the tray, grinning as he grabbed two in each hand and took a massive bite out of each.
His mouth was nearly overflowing with food as he chewed, moaning as if he had never had a sandwich in his life.
My gut plummeted, and I whipped my head toward Dedra. “Do I need to send more supplies to the camps? Is there enough food?” I started in a panic, but Dedra cut me off.
“There is plenty of food. Theo is just, well…being Theo.” Dedra sighed, looking back down at her book before glancing at Theo again with another eye roll.
“I get hungry after I nap, and oh, I've been dreaming of this.” Theo’s muffled voice broke past the mouthful of food, and I let out a deep laugh, watching him take another massive bite.
Without looking, Dedra slid the tray of food toward me.
“Thank you,” I said, taking a sandwich and biting into it with a sigh. “Anything I need to be aware of?” Not that I didn't already know the answer.
“No, they're just waiting, hiding out in Territan. Aside from the ambushes meant to wear us down, they’re not making any real moves against us. At least, none we’re aware of.”
A growl of irritation rumbled in my chest, mirroring her frustration, and Dedra's sharp, almond-shaped gaze flickered toward me wearily. She offered a tight smile before returning her attention to the worn pages of her book.
I studied the side of her face, her stiff shoulders, her pursed lips, and watched her fingers fidget against the thin pages. “What is it?”
Dedra shook her head. “It's nothing.”
“Dedra.” My voice came out sharper than I intended, but I didn't care.
Theo, his mouth still full, looked between us nervously.
“You should talk to your uncle Xavier. He might know something and be able to help.”
I pushed the sandwich tray away, needing something to do with my hands. “I will when I'm ready.”
Dedra's expression hardened. “I suspect they're waiting for Zara to wake up,” she continued. “Why else would they want your bond to form? Morgana knows Zara is the ultimate weapon to use against you, to manipulate you.”
“That's hardly news,” I grumbled. “And she woke up this morning.”
Dedra and Theo exchanged nervous glances, and my blood heated.
“What?” I snapped, my eyes darting between them, waiting for them to tell me why they were looking at me like that.
“You realize that Morgana is going to use Zara to get to you, possibly harm her, maybe even kill—”
Dedra lunged backward as my fist flew toward her, my vision going red at the thought of my mate dying.
“No.” The word sprang from my mouth like venom, and Theo’s elbow crashed onto my arm, slamming it down onto the table before it could reach Dedra.
The tray of sandwiches flew in the air from the impact, my shoulder connecting with the wood at an odd angle, and I hissed, as pain lanced through my arm—my tattoo.
Dedra was now standing, her brows furrowed, but not in anger. Real concern flashed across her face, and my anger dissipated on a sharp breath, my mind clearing as guilt crashed over me. Shit.
“Dedra, I'm sorry, I didn’t mean to.” The apology choked out of me, but Dedra only shook her head as I got to my feet.
“Your bond is still too fresh, not even fully formed. And that right there just proved how risky this all is,” Dedra said, sadness darkening her eyes.
“The mere thought of her being harmed…” Dedra trailed off, her voice tightening.
“Zara won’t be able to control those impulses either, and Morgana is going to weaponize that. Weaponize you.”
Theo stepped up beside his sister, running a calloused hand over his closely shaven blonde head.
His scar, which ran from the middle of his throat to his right chest, bobbed as he swallowed.
His lips turned down and his gaze was fixed on the floor.
I realized he wasn't upset I had just lunged at his sister...
no, he was upset about the damn sandwiches, now a tragic mess on the stone floor.
“I know Dedra.” And I did. My stomach twisted, and bile rose in my throat. I was now my kingdom’s greatest weakness.
A sudden pulse of awareness struck like a blade to my spine, and an image obscured my vision. The feeling made me dizzy, and I grasped the table for support. I knew that forest. My muscles locked and my fingers curled at my sides.
The twins watched me with concern, and I forced a smile, shoving that infernal barrier closed again and locking it tight.
“We’ll figure it out,” I mumbled, and without a goodbye, I shadowed from the room, the castle grounds appearing around me. The conversation wasn’t over, but I had to go. Needed to go.
My power surged, and my body contorted and broke once more, shifting as massive, iridescent black wings burst from my back. My claws dug into the earth as I launched myself into the sky, turning west.
My little stalker was back in Nexia.