Chapter 213
~ NYSSA
My brows knitted in confusion at her words. “I don’t understand what you mean p>
She rose to her feet slowly, her expression neutral and cold. There was something off about the blank stare in her eyes and the way she seemed to look through me and not at me.
As she moved, Rowan quietly guided me behind him, his hand resting on my hip in a firm and protective grip.
“He knows what you are,” she continued, voice airy and cold. “He does not like when people take what is his and he is coming for it p>
“Marlene!” Evelyn hissed. “What the hell are you saying? It’s weird, stop it p>
Marlene paid no heed to her and instead took another slow step towards us. “The Nameless King is coming for you, and gods help you because he never loses. He will get what he wants and there is nothing you can do to stop it p>
As if on cue, the door behind us burst open.
A scream forced itself from my throat as I jumped, my heart pounding wildly in my chest. I ripped my eyes away from Marlene and focused on the guard who just walked in, his brows furrowed in confusion.
“Your Majesty,” he began, bowing low to Rowan. “There are intruders at the border. I think you need to see this p>
“Who are they?” Rowan asked, lips turned down into a frown.
“We don’t know sir, but they are asking to speak to you p>
Low, dark laughter echoed from behind me, sending shivers down my spine. I turned to find Marlene, standing closer to the table now, her shoulders shaking from the force of the sounds. Her eyes were locked on Rowan and I as she laughed, her lips stretched wide unnaturally.
“It has begun,” she whispered softly. “May your gods save you p>
I didn’t notice the glint in her hands until it was too late. She lifted her hand and struck, stabbing herself multiple times in the chest before drawing a long line across her throat.
Blood splattered everywhere; on the table, on Evelyn who stood directly in front of her, and on Rowan who was shielding me from the brunt of it.
A broken scream filled the air. The sound was so guttural and heart wrenching that everything inside of me squeezed.
Marlene fell to the ground and thick, dark blood pooled around the room. The smell wafted into the air; warm, thick, earthy. My stomach rumbled, and my throat dried as it filled up the room, taking over my senses.
I vaguely heard Rowan curse next to me. “You need to get out of here. Eric p>
I felt warm hands grab my elbow, but I could not draw my eyes from the scene in front of me. I was unsure about whether I was watching Evelyn grieve over the only mother she knew or Marlene who lay in a pool of her own blood.
Long after the door slammed shut in front of me and I was pulled into the car, the smell of blood still clung to me.
“You okay?” Eric asked as he ushered me into the car, slamming the door shut. “You’re pale p>
“I I cleared my throat roughly. “I don’t know. What the hell just happened in there p>
“I don’t know either,” he admitted. “I think things just got a whole lot more fucked p>
Rowan burst out of the house at that moment.
He was a sight to behold with blood splattered over his cheek and his eyes hard. He stalked towards the car with a purpose, his jaw flexing with each word he murmured to the guard at his side.
“You good?” he asked as he made his way to the window of the car.
I nodded. “Shaken but fine p>
He stared at me for a long minute as if debating his next words. After what felt like hours, he turned to Eric. “Take her to the palace and keep an eye on her p>
I frowned. “Why the palace? Why not home p>
“Because you’re safer where there’s a crowd,” he answered without missing a beat. “They won’t get to you so easily p>
Aria’s words flashed in my head, and I quickly realized that she was right. Rowan was choosing me over the pack. He was willing to risk the lives of innocents if it meant that I was safe.
“Keep her safe,” he said to Eric and with on e last glance my way, he turned on his heels and walked away.
“Don’t think too much about it,” Eric said as he started the car. “Let’s just focus on getting you somewhere safe. Nothing is going to happen and he knows that p>
I wanted to believe him, but I couldn’t.
I turned away from him, staring at Evelyn’s house as we drove past. I watched a car pull up and saw guards rush in. I knew who they were there for, and I turned away, not wanting to see the body being dragged out.
Once we were away, I mind linked the one person that I knew would listen.
“There better be a damn good reason you’re bothering me right now,” Aria drawled as soon as the link connected. “I’m working. Some of us have to do it, remember p>
I didn’t have it in me to be upset by her passive-aggressiveness, I probably deserved it. “You were right p>
She was silent for a moment. “I’m always right. Elaborate p>
“About Rowan… and the pack,” I swallowed thickly. “How do I fix it p>
“Fix it?” she asked with a snort. “You can’t. He will continue doing it until he deems you safe p>
“I can’t just watch people die. Marlene just… I don’t even understand what just happened with Marlene and now we have people at the border p>
“We what?” she exclaimed. “What the hell is going on? Why wasn’t I told p>
“It all happened within five minutes. I’m sure Rowan will catch you up at some point p>
She sighed deeply. “Where are you right now p>
“On my way to the palace p>
“Good, I’ll meet you there p>