Chapter 23
-Vera-
dismantling everything we had been working on for the past few months. When Cas sia left, I stayed chatting with Charlotte for a little bit. Not much went on while we were gone searching for a wife, of course, except the old time healers
“I should get going.” Charlotte says, “Ethan will be back soon and I have a surprise for him, it’s our anniversary soon.
A surprise for Ethan?
As curious as I am, I prefer not to ask what it is. If Charlotte is anything like Sophia, and she does remind me of her, I think I rather not know
I smile at her and wish her luck before she leaves. She smiles back at me and once again apologizes for bringing Cas sia over. It turns ont Canna had been looking for me earlier and Charlotte was the one who hinted at me spending quite a bit of time in the garden; it was an honest mistake.
1 have been left with an unshakeable feeling of dread since earlier today. Noah’s wild aura, the Council making moves to take away his throne, having to go to wolf territory to negotiate with the clans… Usually practicing my magic drains all of the negative thoughts, but this time is different.
This time, the feeling is a lot like the one I had that morning I burnt Mehra’s b*dy; that terrible feeling of foreboding.
My heart begins beating a little faster just thinking back to that day. And to think that we were naive enough to think that Alistair was going to be the biggest hurdle to jump through.
When finally decide to leave the garden’s gazebo, it’s already quite late; and yet, I can’t see myself falling asleep any time soon. So, instead of going up to our tom, I decide to go to the other place that became my safe haven here; even from my thoughts.
The library.
I could even use some of that honey tea Elden prepares.
I take my time as I make my way through the library. I haven’t been spending as much time there as I’d like. Nowadays, this place is always filled with scholars and their as sistants. Not to mention, I have been keeping busy by the clinic. Somehow, I feel foolish having not thought of the possibility of the Council turning on inah; it makes perfect sense now.
“Hey!” A voice calls for me.
It’s Lucas.
I smile at him, actually happy to see him.
“Hey, you! Long time no see,” I tease.
“Yeah well,” he blushes, “I’ve been busy.”
“1 bet,” I laugh and he blushes even more.
He clears his throat.
“So, the guys and I are having a little get together out by the clearing. We’re lighting to a camp fue and what not. We thought you’d like to join us.”
“Yeah, Violet and 1.”
1 cock my head slightly to a side,
“Lucas, Violet is terrified of me.
“Well,” he’s taken aback by my comment, almost as if not expecting for me to know that piece of information, “she is. But that’s the point! I don’t want her to be. I’ve tried telling he, hundreds of times that you’re cool and you hold no grudges; I mean everything worked out in the end, right?”
“Right..” I say.
“Would you please come? I don’t want to keep avoiding you when I’m with her because she’s scared of you.”
“You’ve been avoiding me?” I feign surprise, putting my hand on my ch*st dramatica
I actually hadn’t noticed they had been avoiding me; I simply thought they were too busy and that’s why I hadn’t seen him around.
*I mean, kind of?” he puts his hand on his nape, “Violet freaks out every time she senses you close.”
“Senses me?” I laugh out loud, “she must really be traumatized.”
“She is. Everyone has tried telling her that there’s no reason to fear you but still…”
1 smile at him.
Lucas and I have become like siblings these past months, and even before that, we just clicked. I see why it’s important to him for Violet and myself to get along.
*I’ll come join you guys later,” I smile at him, “I just have to go talk to Elden for a bit.
“Great! Thanks, cool!” he says, happily jogging away.
High
Maybe the distraction will be good for me; it might even remind me why we’re going through all the trouble to keep Noah on the throne. When Alistair was King, this little get together wouldn’t even have been possible; the mere air within in the Castle was asphyxiating.
I reach the library lost in thought; lost in the feeling of anxiousness.
Opening the wooden doors, I step inside. All the lights have already been turned on and there is a faint moon light glow coming in from the floor to ceiling mosaic windows. There are many people studying in the refurbished study tables, each with a pile of books and a little table lamp on
I make my way to Elden’s dark corner.
I still remember when this entire place used to smell like mold and abandonment. It makes me smile to think how far it has come.
When I reach Elden’s corner, I begin to smell for him. It’s easier to find him by scent now that the library is clean; before, he smelled no different than the mold that had become resident here; it was impossible to find him. Now that everything is clean, his scent sticks out like a sore thumb.
Unsurprisingly, I find him in one of the far end, abandoned book shelves.
From behind, I see him lift his head to sniff the air.
“Ah, my young wolf, what brings you all the way here?” he asks, shutting the book he had in is hand and placing it back on the shelf.
“I was hoping you had some of the magical, relaxing tea?” I ask, crossing my arms on my chest.
Always,” he says, walking past me and disappearing into one of his hideouts, “follow me,” he says, to my surprise.
We enter one of the tunnels, this one hidden behind a book shelf; it’s one I had never seen before.
“How many of these are there?” I ask in disbelief before entering the tunnel.
“More than you’d like to know,” he says, entering behind me and placing the book shelf back in place.
We walk for maybe twenty minutes until we reach an exit. As soon as he opens the fake wall leading outside, the scent of herbs, spices, and flowers hits me
”
ww
“That smells amazing.” I say, sniffing the air and relishing on the smell.
and fully stocked. There’s even a lovely, quaint table in the middle with two seats. As I step outside, following the smell, I find yet another greenhouse. This isn’t the same one I saw before leaving to the cabin all that time ago; this one is bigger
“How many of these do you have?” I ask, stepping closer to the table.
“Just the two,” he says, rummaging through his garden for the herbs he’s going to need for the tea, “this one is by far my favorite.”
He quickly fires up the antique stove with some firewood, placing the kettle on top of it to heat up the water.
In no time, the tea is ready.
He serves two cups and joins me on the table, placing a small gla ss with honey and a spoon in front of me.
Watching Elden in his natural habitat is fascinating. Despite being blind, he is the most independent and self-sufficient individual in the entire Castle.
I take the honey and put some on the tea, sipping on it carefully so I don’t burn myself.
“So, tell me, my dear wolf, what’s got you so worried?”
“You can tell?”
“Always,” he says, sipping on his tea.
Sigh and begin telling him everything. From the plan, to my involvement and plan to visit wolf territory; how everything could backfire and how apprehensive 1 am about Noah’s aura.
He stays silent for a while, contemplating everything I just told him with a grim expression.
“Vera, there’s one more thing you should be worried about.”
1 frown,
“What’s that?”
“The Witch Mother.”
*
