Chapter 210: Everything is in place

Why would Alistair lie to me?

Willow had turned the question over in her mind for days now, and somehow, she still had no answer.

He had been his old self since that night, everything about his seemed normal but somehow, that was precisely what bothered her.

She had taken to sitting in his study while he worked, a book open, pretending to read. It was the only way she could watch him without watching him.

She had refused to leave his side since that night, and when he had laughed and asked whether she had decided to become his shadow, she had smiled and said nothing, and he had let it go.

If he knew what she was doing, he gave no sign.

Well, she had no plans to let him out of her sight until she understood what he was hiding.

She slowly looked up from the book to find Alistair staring at her.

"What?" she asked.

"Nothing." His lips twitched. "Only that the book you have your head buried in is upside down."

Willow blinked and looked down.

The book was, in fact, upside down.

She quickly turned it around.

"Oh." She smiled awkwardly. "So it is."

Alistair chuckled, placing his pen down and leaning back in his chair.

"What do you have on your mind?" he asked. "And do not tell me you do not. You have been off it for days now."

"I am curious about the search for Miranda."

"What about it?"

"How is it going?" Willow kept her voice light. "Has she been found? Are they still looking? Should we be concerned? Should we have a letter sent to Ares?"

"The men are still looking, Willow. She has not been found."

"Should we be concerned?"

"Why would we be concerned?" his eyebrow furrowed.

"I do not know." Willow shrugged. "She is a powerful witch who disappeared after everything that happened. It seems like something we should be concerned about."

Alistair nodded slowly then the corner of his mouth lifted. "Is that why you are reading your book upside down?"

Willow did not crack a smile.

"Come on." His voice softened. "I was only joking. What is with you?"

Willow was saved from having to respond when a knock sounded on the door.

"Come in," Alistair said.

The door opened and a guard stepped into the room.

He looked slightly out of breath and he held a parchment in his hand.

"My lord." he bowed.

"What is it?" Alistair asked.

The guard stepped forward and turned to Willow.

"This came for you, my lady." he said. "From the Northern Territory."

"For me?"

"Yes, my lady."

She rose from her chair and reached for the parchment.

She broke open the wax and her eyes moved over the words. Her hands began to tremble.

"What is it?" Alistair rose from his chair and crossed the distance. "Willow?"

"My father." Willow’s voice cracked. "He is dead."

"I am sorry, Willow." Alistair pulled her into his arms.

The parchment slipped from her fingers and fell to the floor as she buried her face against his chest.

Her hands fisted into the front of his shirt and suddenly she was crying.

Her shoulders shook as Alistair held her tighter, one hand moving slowly up and down her back.

"I am sorry," he whispered.

She had spent years hating her father, blaming him so much for a lot of things and wanting him out of her life but hearing he was dead now was unbelievable because she had always considered him invincible... untouchable.

"I never thought..." Her voice trembled. "I never thought I would never see him again."

Alistair’s hand stilled against her back as her tears continued to fall.

Willow raised her head up to look at him.

"Who would want him dead? He had enemies, yes, but who would actually kill him?"

Alistair’s jaw tightened.

"I do not know."

...

Miranda sat on the wooden horse and rocked back and forth.

The old toy creaked beneath her weight.

She had been stuck in this garden for weeks now, recuperating. The spell had taken almost everything from her.

Her body still felt weak but she did not care because everything was going according to plan.

She smiled to herself.

Who would have thought it would be this easy?

When Amara had taught her the spell, would she have known that this day would come?

Of course not.

They had been young then... young and in love and foolish, and Amara had taught her lover a spell that they could both use should a situation become dire for both of them.

She had not believed it would work but it had and now the deed was done.

Her ears perked up to the sound of footsteps, coming down the passageway.

She stopped rocking the horse and waited.

"We did not agree to meet today," she said as soon as the figure stepped out of the shadows.

"Yes," he said. "But new information has dropped in my lap, and I think you would want to know it." the man said.

"What is it?"

"Willow’s father is dead."

Miranda stilled, surprise flashing across her face.

"Soren?"

"I presume." His jaw worked. "The letter came from the Northern palace this morning."

Soren was dead.

She had never expected that...

Of all the people in their world, she had always believed Soren would outlive them all. He had been stubborn, crafty and surprisingly difficult to get rid of.

She had always assumed that if everyone else fell, Soren would somehow still be standing.

She had guessed wrong.

"How did that happen?" she asked.

"They found him in the courtyard, dead. Ares mentioned it may have been magic and claims he would get to the bottom of it."

Miranda’s eyes narrowed.

Interesting.

Fingers would for sure point toward Amara but why would she wants Soren dead?

"How long do I have to keep this act up?" The man muttered with irritation. "She is getting suspicious. I can feel it in the way she watches me."

"Patience." Miranda regarded him with narrowed eyes. "Everything will align itself soon but in the meantime, she is your wife... reassure her."