CHAPTER 9 #2
Auden let out a sigh. His fingers brushed against his bangs, trailing across the sweat on his forehead. “I’ve forgotten that those are happening so soon.” He slowly sat up, tone gentle as he added, “Still, it’s fine if she prefers to ease into things or doesn’t participate.”
Edmund’s brow twitched, a glimpse of befuddlement cracking through his stony gaze. It was gone as soon as Lenore blinked, but unease stirred in her chest. The warmth in Auden’s eyes had faded, leaving only an empty hollowness in its wake.
He’s sick, Lenore told herself. Don’t think too much of it.
“Maybe we should have Lenore choose for herself?” A feminine voice with a soothing lilt entered the conversation.
It was the ash-blonde woman next to Auden.
She smiled warmly at Lenore, nodding her head toward her.
Tiredness dulled the brightness of her face, her cheeks hollow.
Lenore wondered if she was sick too. “I’m sure that giving her the choice would help her feel more welcomed. ”
“I see your compassion has encouraged you to speak, Arisa,” Edmund said flatly, barely glancing at her before his eyes flitted back to Auden. “Overstepping the boundaries of these discussions doesn’t strengthen your counsel.”
A faint red dusted Arisa’s cheeks. “Forgive me, Vesren. I was thinking about Lenore’s wellbeing. I only thought it would help ease her into our pack better.” She lowered her head. “I won’t say anything more.”
A shadow of tension fell over the exchange. Edmund’s jaw twitched, his cold gaze now fully on Arisa. She kept her head down in silent submission.
Auden’s brows lowered. “Regardless, my mate has provided us with a good idea, so we can put this discussion to rest. Thank you, Arisa.” He smiled at her, reaching out to gently touch the top of her hand. He looked at Edmund. “Do you have anything else to add?”
There was a beat of silence before Edmund dismissed it with a shake of his head. “Nothing else.”
Auden’s attention turned to Lenore. “Then the choice is yours, Lenore. We’ll honor whatever you prefer.”
Lenore stiffened up once everyone stared at her.
She gave back a nervous smile. “Oh—um...” Her hands squeezed each other, mulling over both options.
Her body screamed for the first choice, begging to take it easy after everything she had gone through so far.
There was nothing she wanted to do more than crawl under a blanket and stay there for eternity.
But would that really make me feel better? No answer was given to her silent question, and that was enough of an answer. It was empty and void of anything that could bring a sense of purpose to the mess she was lost in.
Still uncertain, Lenore looked into Auden’s eyes. “I think... I think I’d prefer to start participating in the pack.”
“I see.” Auden nodded. “Thank you for being the one to assist Lenore then, Edmund.”
Edmund’s head jerked back slightly, stunned with disbelief.
“What?” Lenore mirrored his reaction, now regretting her choice deeply.
A light chuckle left Auden, but his face was void of light.
“You can spare some time for the Nyven, can’t you?
We’ll follow tradition, then. Start Lenore on hunting tomorrow and let her first catch be a gift for me.
It’ll help teach her the ropes... and to prepare her own bounty for the Upper Moon Feast. That’s...
soon, isn’t it?” His brows furrowed as he winced.
He clutched his chest, grunting in pain.
Arisa ducked down, reaching out to her mate instantly.
“Auden! Stars, I knew this was too much for you!” Arisa panicked, her eyes darting all over him. “Beren, please help him!”
“I’m—I’m fine,” Auden muttered out. He inhaled sharply before he fell into a coughing fit.
Azelf and the other man drew close, concern laced in their expressions.
The raven-haired woman’s eyes never left Auden, jaw clenched tight.
Brynn and Edmund watched from where they were, worry etched in every line of Brynn’s face.
The restlessness among them surged through Lenore, her own concern adding to the alarm.
The burly man behind Auden moved, the white tails of his coat fluttering behind with every quick stride. Dark bags shadowed his eyes. There was barely a trace of emotion on his face as he knelt down and scrutinized Auden’s condition.
After Beren sniffed the air around the Caernith, he gave his assessment. “The medicine is wearing off,” he said. “It’s best to give you something that’ll help you get some sleep now.”
Edmund frowned. “Are we closer to figuring out what’s wrong with him?”
“... I have a few ideas,” Beren said. “It might be an awful case of Simurgh’s Blight.
Not contagious, but it takes a long time to get rid of.
It’ll take a while to gather the proper ingredients to cure him, but with what we have on hand, he’ll be stable until then.
I’m still looking over all the other possibilities. ”
Auden waved his hand dismissively at the others. “There’s no need to—” his words cut off as another violent coughing fit overtook him.
“Auden...” Arisa grabbed one of his hands, a tremor in her voice.
“Let’s put an end to this meeting.” She glanced at Lenore, apologetic once more.
“I’m so sorry for all of this. Can someone—” she looked around.
“Ah, Charie? Since you’ll essentially be neighbors, could you escort Lenore to her new home? ”
The raven-haired woman nodded. She headed toward Lenore, gesturing for her to follow.
“Come with me, Lenore,” she said softly.
Lenore nodded quickly. “Alright.”
“Oh!” Arisa raised a hand toward them. “And she must be starving! If you could help get her a meal as well, that would be wonderful.”
“Of course.” There was a reserved air to all of Charie’s words and actions. Once more she beckoned Lenore to follow as she turned to lead.
Lenore moved forward, hesitating once in uncertainty of whether to take a moment to give a grateful goodbye to Auden and Arisa. But Auden continued to wheeze, and Arisa’s attention was completely on him.
She spared a glance at Edmund instead, surprised to find his gaze on her.
His eyes widened slightly, then they quickly flitted away.
Her heart thumped in her chest—of nerves or something else, she wasn’t sure.
Lenore hurried behind Charie, pretending nothing had happened, even as a faint tug hummed within her chest.