Chapter 160
Frost had sent over the healing salve early in the morning, with a note promising to check bruised wrist, amazed at how quickly the purple marks began to fade
on me later. I dabbed it gingerly on my
But ointment couldn’t heal the anxiety gnawing at me. The image of Kaius’s black eyes kept flashing in my mind. I needed answers, and Frost was the only one who might have them.
“Come in?” he asked when he saw me at the door, rising and gesturing toward the inside.
Frost closed the door behind us and motioned for me to sit. He examined my wrist carefully, his touch clinical rather than intimate.
“How is that healing up?” he asked.
“It’s only a bruise now; that ointment was really good,” I replied.
“So, what’s weighing on you, Elowen?” His tone was casual, but his eyes remained watchful.
“Last night.
“And what precisely about last night requires discussion?”
I frowned at the immediate deflection. “Don’t pretend it was nothing. You were there.”
“Am I pretending?” His face remained a maddeningly smooth mask.
“Yes. Completely.”
Frost leaned back in his chair. “So, would you prefer I go announcing last night’s incident to the whole pack to prove that something did happen?”
“No! The problem is you act like you aren’t even worried about him!
“Not everyone wears their heart on their sleeve, Elowen,” he countered, a definite edge entering his voice now. “I am concerned. I spent the entire day digging for answers, trying to understand what could possibly explain… that. And found nothing. Kaius is drowning in guilt. My job right now is to help you both, which includes not letting you spiral.”
Guilt tugged at me. Of course Frost was concerned; he just expressed it differently than I did.
“You’re right. I’m sorry. That wasn’t fair.” I paused. “But it’s related to why I came.”
He raised an eyebrow, waiting. “Is it now?”
“Okay, yes, it definitely is.” I worried the edge of the bandage on my wrist.
“Well, out with it. It’s not as if I have pressing engagements,” he said
I took a deep breath, uncertain how to approach the subject delicately. “You remember when Thalia cornered me? Before she went off on her ‘mission?”
Frost’s expression tightened slightly, recalling the scene. “Yes, vividly I know she made you absolutely livid. Quite the performance.” He met my eyes, his gaze sharpening slightly. “Is that what you wanted to talk about now? Still stewing over her delightful personality?”
“Of course not,” I snapped back immediately, then moderated my tone. “Although believe me, I could.” I shook my head, the real
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Chapter 160
issue surfacing. “No, it s
santething else she said. Beyond all the predictable venom and the demands about the Queen file. After
what happened with Kaius last night… those swords kept echoing in my head
I leaned forward slightly, towering my voice. She specifically mentioned Kaius’s… abnormality. How his abilities are off the charts
for a typical Alpha.”
Frost remained still, listening intently.
“She talked about power far exceeding any normal Alpha’s, I pressed on, recalling Thalia’s smug tone. “His strength, his speed… even how quickly he recovers. She made it sound like he was something… fundamentally different.”
Frost’s expression closed off. ‘I don’t know what you are talking abou
“You know, and I know it.”
“Okay, maybe he is faster and stronger, so what?‘ He shrugged, but the gesture seemed forced.
“I don’t know, I just feel like it’s all connected to last night’s incident; maybe it was a part of him…
“That is not a part of him, at least not a part I had ever witnessed.” Frost’s voice hardened, a warning in his tone.
“You know what? Forget it.” I stood, frustrated by his obvious evasion.
“Elowen, don’t be mad,” he said, rising as well. “I know you want to help him; I want to help too, but whatever monster that had done that to you,” he paused, his eyes serious, “is definitely not a part of Kaius I had ever seen before.”
The conviction in his voice gave me pause. Either Frost truly didn’t know what was happening to Kaius, or he was a better liar than I’d thought.
“I should go,” I said, moving toward the door. “Thank you for the healing salve.”
“Elowen,” he called as I reached for the handle. “Be careful around him. At least for now.”
His warning followed me into the corridor, feeding the unease that had taken root in my chest.
I waited anxiously for Kaius to return home. Night had fallen hours ago, and still, our bed remained empty. Just as I was considering searching for him, the door finally opened, and he entered, bringing with him the unmistakable scent of alcohol.
“Kaius,” I said, rising from where I’d been pretending to read.
He didn’t quite meet my eyes, moving instead to pour himself a glass of water.
“Kaius, are you drunk?” I asked, approaching him cautiously.
“No,” he replied, his movements perfectly steady despite the scent emanating from him. “It would take mo get me drunk.”
en a few bottles to
Another unusual ability–his apparent resistance to alcohol. I filed that away with the growing list of questions.
“You are late, and I was worried.”
“I’m sorry, I just…”
Chapter 160
“For fuck’s sake it was only a feratch, it’s no big deal!” I burst out, unable to hold back my frustration any longer.
“It could have been more Elowen, and you know that; what would I have done to myself then? The raw pain in his voice broke through my irritation.
‘It wasn’t your fault?”
“Then, whose fault was it?” He finally looked at me, his amber eyes hunted.
“Whatever hellish thing that possessed you that night, that’s what we should be worrying about.”
He studied me for a moment, some of the tension leaving his shoulders. “Frost told me about your… theories, so you do think I’m
different?”
“Different in a good way, yeah,” I assured him, moving closer.
“Maybe I’ve noticed a few changes myself; I wanted to believe it was all as a result of the crowning,” he admitted, running a hand through his hair. “But maybe I was wrong; maybe there is something more; I would have to find out.”
Without further discussion, he moved to the sofa, arranging pillows and a blanket.
“Kaius, you can’t sleep there, you really don’t have to,” I protested.
“What if it happens again?” The fear in his voice was unmistakable.
“If it does, this distance would still not be good enough; you are really fast, remember?” I tried to lighten the mood, but the joke fell
flat.
“You are not afraid?” he asked, disbelief evident in his tone.
“Of you? No, I am not.”
“Why?”
“Because I trust you, I know you would never hurt me.”
He turned away, his shoulders rigid. “That only makes it worse; I hadn’t been in my right senses, Elowen; you shouldn’t be this comfortable around me, not anymore.”
“Well, I am, and nothing can change that.” I stepped in front of him, forcing him to look at me.
“I hadn’t done the right thing; I should have let you stay at Frost’s; that way you would be safe.”
“Kaius, Lam safe, okay? I don’t want to sleep alone tonight, so could you please come to bed?” I held out my hand, waiting.
For a long moment, he hesitated, the war between desire and fear visible in his eyes. Then, slowly, he placed his hand in mine, allowing me to lead him to our bed.
“I won’t break,” I whispered.
