Chapter 207: The Omega Dualis’ signature

Ayla would not kill anyone.

Ares knew that.

He had seen the look in her eyes when she had killed Lucius. She had looked like someone who could barely believe what she had done.

"I did not say she would," Cassian said quietly. "I know she wouldn’t, brother."

"Then what are you saying?"

"I just think we haven’t talked about how dangerous her powers are." Cassian sighed.

"Dangerous?" Ares turned toward him sharply. "She has used those powers for good since we found out about them. She saved Damon. She used those same powers to kill Lucius," Ares continued. "And before you say anything, Lucius deserved what happened to him."

"I know."

"And as for what Miranda said, she could be lying for her own selfish gains. Who knows?"

Cassian rubbed a hand over his face.

"Ares, you are not seeing this objectively," Cassian said.

"And I wonder, brother, if you are the one seeing this objectively." Ares’ eyes narrowed.

His gaze moved toward the bed.

Ayla was still sleeping. Her face was pale against the pillow, her lips slightly parted as she breathed.

"She is our mate," Ares said, lowering his voice, careful not to wake Ayla.

"And I know we may no longer feel the bond the way we once did, but that does not change what she is to us and our duty as hers is to protect her."

"What do you think I want to do?" Cassian’s voice snapped, his voice on edge. "Do you really think I will not do everything I can to protect Ayla? I would die before I let anything happen to her."

"Then what is the problem?"

"She is an Omega Dualis." Cassian said. "The last Omega Dualis destroyed the world and herself. I do not want the same to happen to Ayla."

"Nothing will happen to her." Ares countered. "I have sent a letter to Alistair to find Miranda. The Alpha council made a move, and so I am of the opinion that this is also one of theirs."

"They made a move?" Cassian asked. "When?"

"The night of the banquet. We caught a spy trying to get into the palace."

Cassian stared at him and Ares could see the realization spreading across his brother’s face.

"I kept the truth because I did not want Ayla to begin fretting about it. The only thing she needs to know is that she is safe and that no harm will come to her."

"She deserves to know. I am pretty sure she can handle the truth, brother." Cassian cut in. "She is not a child, nor is she weak. Ayla would want to help get to the root of this. Ares, keeping her in the dark is not protecting her. It is making decisions for her."

"You will not say a word to her." Ares turned to him.

"Are you telling me that as my brother," Cassian asked slowly, "or commanding me as my Alpha?"

Ares’ throat tightened.

He hated what he was about to say but he said it anyway.

"It is an order, Cassian. You will not say a word to Ayla."

Cassian held his gaze for a long moment then nodded stiffly.

Silence filled the room after that.

"I should go," Ares said after a moment. "I need to figure out what to do about breaking the news of Soren, and sending a letter to Alistair. He has yet to get back to me about Miranda." He dragged a hand through his hair. "I do not like the feeling that we are mere pawns in whatever game is being played."

"I will stay here with Ayla," Cassian said. "She needs to be watched according to Aldric."

Ares nodded and made for the door.

He paused, his hand on the latch.

"Listen, Cassian. I know you think I am trying to do this alone, but that is far from the truth. I just want to protect her."

"If you want to protect her, you will give her all the facts and let her decide how to help." Cassian countered. "But of course, brother. I will keep my opinions to myself, lest you command me again."

Ares’ jaw tightened.

It was useless to argue with his calm, level-headed brother.

They stood on opposite sides of everything, in a manner of speaking, and no amount of talking would close that distance.

He looked once more at Ayla before he left the room and closed the door gently behind him.

...

Word of Soren had not spread yet, he had made sure of that, had ordered the courtyard cleared and the body moved but news like that always found their way out.

He was halfway to his study, his mind spinning with different plans and action when Amara stepped out of the shadows.

She always looked downright creepy with her white hair and her lack of pupils.

"I was on my way to Ayla’s room." she said. "I heard about Soren, I am so sorry."

"Do not worry about it." Ares said.

He made to move past her before he stopped, an idea coming to mind.

"Amara."

She turned to look at him.

"You know things about magic, don’t you?"

"I hope I do," she said carefully.

"Do you think you can pin point exactly where it came from? Is that something that can be done?"

Her face gave nothing away; it never did but Ares wondered, standing there in the torchlight, if she could see the fear he was trying to keep off his face...the fear that the woman he loved was becoming something he could not protect her from.

"Of course," Amara said. "I would need to be in contact with the object the said magic has been performed on."

"Then follow me."

He signaled to her and started down the corridor.

Amara followed.

Neither of them spoke as they walked.

The room was at the end of the passage, a small stone chamber used for storing linens in better times. Two guards stood outside it and they straightened when they saw him.

"Open it." Ares ordered.

The door swung open, and the smell hit him first.

The torches inside had been lit, and their light fell across the table where Soren lay, covered by a sheet.

Ares stepped aside and let Amara enter ahead of him.

She stood at the foot of the table for a long moment, looking at the covered body. Then she reached out and drew the sheet down, folding it neatly at his chest to reveal his face.

Soren’s eyes were open.

They had been closed at the scene.

He had done it himself, but they were open now, staring at the ceiling.

The blood had been cleaned from his face, but the corners of his eyes and nose were dark and crusted.

Amara leaned over him, her eyes moved slowly across his face, his throat, his chest, and Ares watched her hands hover above the body without touching it, the fingers spread, the way a healer might read a wound.

"Well?" he asked.

She did not answer at once.

"Where was he found?" she asked.

"The courtyard... near the gate." Ares answered.

Amara was quiet again. She lifted Soren’s hand from beneath the sheet, turning it over, studying his palm and fingers.

The nails were clean. There were no defensive wounds that Ares could see, no marks of a struggle.

"It is magic." Amara dropped his hand and drew the sheet back up over Soren’s face.

Ares knew it was.

That was not why she was here.

But then she knew that.

"Tell me" Ares said. "Could Ayla have done this?"

"Could she?" Amara echoed.

"She is an Omega Dualis. I do not know the full measure of what she can do... no one does, not even her."

"You are not making any sense, Amara. You said you could identify this."

Amara sighed.

"It is definitely Ayla’s magical signature."