Chapter 206: The suspect

AYLA

I knew he was dead.

There was no way he could have lost that much blood and still be alive.

My breathing became uneven as I stared at the prone body.

Cassian was speaking to me but his voice sounded very far away... muffled like he was underwater or something.

"Ayla..." His arms closed around me. "You need to get back inside. You should not be walking around when you are not even the least bit well to do so." I heard.

I turned to him, unable to speak.

His face swam before me and I remembered thinking, why did he look like they were too of him before my knees gave out and the darkness swallowed me whole.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back in my room, staring at the ceiling.

"Ayla?" Someone was standing beside my bed, calling my name.

Actually, several people were in the room with me and their faces all had the same look of concern and fear as they peered into mine.

"Ayla. Thank goddess." My father, Kieran neared the bed, his hand closing over mine. "I was afraid when you collapsed. Cassian mentioned you have a fever and Master Aldric had been administering some treatments?"

My throat felt dry.

"What happened to him?" I croaked.

They knew who I was talking about and they all exchanged looks amongst each other, as if deciding whether to tell me what was going on.

I felt cold settle in the pits of my stomach.

"Tell me what happened?" I asked again, my eyes narrowing. "And do not think to lie to me."

"We will never lie to you, Ayla." Ares stepped forward. "But we think you need to rest and leave us to handle this."

"No." I cut him off, my voice sounding stronger than I actually felt. "I asked what happened to Soren."

Ares sighed and looked to my father for help.

"Listen, daughter." he said. "You need to rest, and I promise you when you feel better, I will tell you everything. We have it handled, and I do not want to put anything on your conscience."

"What do you mean, put anything on my conscience?" I pushed myself. "Do you think this has something to do with me?"

"No." His answer came too fast. "Of course it has nothing to do with you." he said but I could hear the falter in his voice.

That beat of hesitation and the way his eyes could not even meet mine.

He was lying.

Whatever had happened to Soren, they thought it involved me somehow.

I studied their faces.

Damon was unusually quiet and Cassian would not even meet my eyes.

They all thought I was too fragile for the truth and it annoyed me to no end.

I did not press them though.

Better that they thought I was taking them at their word. I would find out the truth sooner than later.

"Fine." I said.

My father looked relieved as he stepped back.

I slowly lowered myself against the pillows and closed my eyes, pretending to fall asleep.

If they thought I was asleep, maybe they would speak freely.

"I think she is asleep," Damon whispered.

"Let’s go. Let her rest."" Kieran said quietly.

I heard footsteps and the door opening and closing.

I kept my eyes shut, my heart skipping.

Only Ares and Cassian remained in the room with me and they were as silent as the night.

This was not working.

They were not going to say anything that was useful to me. I would have to get out of this bed and make my investigation if I wanted to know anything.

"I cannot believe this is happening." Cassian’s voice interrupted my spiraling thoughts.

"Shh." Ares muttered. "Do not wake her."

I heard Cassian lower his voice until I had to strain to catch the words. I did. I held my breath and listened.

"What do you think it means?" Cassian’s voice lowered until I had to strain my ears to catch his words.

My heart was beating so hard that I was afraid they would hear it. I swallowed silently.

"Soren is dead. We will have to make an announcement, and it will throw the pack into an uproar." he said.

"I am more concerned about having to write to Willow about her father’s death." Ares sighed.

"Our father," Cassian said quietly. "We may have hated and considered him the worst creature to ever exist but he was our father too."

I felt something tighten in my chest.

Cassian was right.

Soren had been terrible and he had hurt all of us in different ways but he was their father and someone had killed him.

Soren, who had warned me about Amara before the coronation and I had dreamed of Lucius alive.

It was all connected somehow.

I didn’t know how but I could feel it. Nothing about this was a coincidence.

Could he really be alive? I thought. Could Lucius be alive and here in the northern pack? Was his face the last thing Soren had seen before he died?

Amara had taught me that magic could do impossible things so what if Lucius had survived with the help of magic?

"Do you think she did it?" Cassian spoke again.

I held my breath and listened.

"Of course not." Ares answered immediately. "She could not have killed him. It is not possible"

She?I thought.Who were they talking about?

Who did it? I wanted to scream it. Who is your suspect?

"She was the last one to see him," Cassian pointed out. "And he died just like the men we found in the well. What if her powers are acting up like Miranda had said."

My blood ran cold. The room suddenly felt freezing.

The men in the well. The traders...the ones I had accidentally killed...

My chest tightened.

I pressed my lips together to keep from making a sound.

Cassian and Ares were talking about me.

They think I killed Soren.

I am their suspect.