Chapter 130
~ NYSSA
It was Aria who rose to her feet slowly, making her way over to the door.
She pulled it open only by a fraction and I saw the flash of a guard uniform. The guard did not step into the room, neither did he announce his presence. He spoke to Aria in whispers too soft for me to hear.
Had my wolf returned, I would have made out their words very easily, but as it stood, I was as good as human. I had no idea when my wolf would return or if she ever would. I spent so long trying to get her out only for Henry ti shut her out once more with wolf’s bane.
“I have to go,” Aria said, turning to me, her face screwed up with guilt. “I’m so sorry but it’s palace matters and it’s important p>
My chest clenched tightly at the thought of being alone but I could not ask her to abandon the palace for me. “It’s fine p>
“No, it’s not,” she said firmly. “I’ll be back as soon as possible, I swear p>
With one last glance at me, she disappeared, shutting the door behind her and leave me in the silence once more.
I tried to be alone, tried to ignore the too loud silence and the emptiness of the room. I focused on the noise from outside, on the birds chirping and the rustling of leaves, the loud voices that filtered up to my window from the guards who spoke in the courtyard. I allowed those sounds to wash over me, reminding me that I wasn’t back there; I was safe.
I didn’t think it possible, but I ate every last bit of food on that tray. My cheeks warmed with embarrassment when I realized. I hadn’t even realized I was that hungry when the food was brought.
I grabbed the tray, intending to place it outside my door for any passing maids but when I pulled open the door, I was shocked to find a woman standing there, hand raised as if to knock.
“Oh, hello there!” she said with a wide smile. “My name is Tammy p>
I stared down the woman with auburn hair and bright green eyes. She was around my height, maybe even a few inches shorter and she had the most dazzling smile in the world. She was dressed simply in a brown shirt and jeans and in her hands, she held a large plaid bag.
“Who are you?” I asked defensively. “And what are you doing here p>
“Silly me,” she mumbled, face palming. “I’m the on-call royal family doctor. I’m going to be looking you over if that’s okay p>
I let my eyes trail down her body with curiosity. She looked no older than me. How the hell could she be the royal doctor?
“Lycans age slowly remember,” she said as if reading my thoughts. “I’m at least twice your age. Trust me, I’m overqualified for the job p>
I blanched, cheeks going pale. “I didn’t mean to p>
She waved me off. “I get it, honestly, it’s not a big deal. Can I come in p>
I stepped aside for her, letting her walk in. Once she was in, I placed the tray outside the door before turning my attention to her. She’d set up at the base of my bed, pulling out a few things from her large bag.
“This won’t take long, I promise p>
Sure enough, she was done within fifteen minutes. She checked my vitals and did some other checks that I didn’t recognize. They were unlike anything I’d ever done for wolves.
Once she was done with all of that, she took a blood sample from me.
“You seem to be doing okay,” she paused for a moment. “Physically at least. All I’ll say is take it easy, rest as much as you can and you should be as goof as new in no time p>
She turned to leave when I stopped her.
“And my wolf?” I asked. “Do you think she’ll come back anytime soon p>
She hesitated for a moment, lips pursed. “I don’t know how much wolf’s bane you were given or what state your wolf was in before. However, I think she will come back p>
“When p>
“I can’t tell you that. She’ll come back out once she’s healed and once all of the wolf’s bane is out of your system. It could take one day or two weeks, there is no set timeline, just let your body relax first, okay p>
I nodded, stomach churning from her answer.
I wished I got something more definitive, but I was also glad that she didn’t lie to me. “Thank you p>
“Anytime.” She bowed low. “I’ll see you soon with the results p>
I walked her towards the door, not because I had to but because it beat standing in the middle of the room doing nothing. I watched her disappear down the hall and turn a corner leaving me once again alone.
I sighed, ready to return to the silence only to turn and lock eyes with Rowan.
He was just stepping out of his room, dressed in a plain button up shirt and slacks. Our eyes locked for a long minute and neither of us spoke. The air crackled with tension and electricity as well as unanswered questions.
I tried to picture him hurting people like Aria had said and honestly, I could see it. After all, he returned to me covered in blood after doing goddess knows what to Henry he also tortured my parents.
“I have some work I need to handle,” he said quietly. “Palace work p>
“I didn’t ask p>
He winced as if I hit him. “I know, I just… if you want to reach me you can call p>
“I don’t know where my phone is p>
It was the truth.
I hadnt seen my phone since before I was taken. Then again, I hadn’t searched since I returned.
“I’ll have another one sent to you before the end of today p>
I was quick to shake my head. “You don’t have to do that, I can handle myself p>
“I want to p>
I shook my head violently. “I would actually prefer you didn’t p>
So many confounding feelings swirled inside of me like a fucking hurricane and I could not control it. On one hand, I loved that he fought for me, that he protected me, but how could I justify that and vilify him torturing my parents.
How could someone so good do something so bad?
“Nyssa p>
“It’s confusing, okay?” I exclaimed. “It’s like there are two different versions of you and I don’t know which is real p>
His eyes were soft. “All of it is real p>
“You still killed my parents p>
“Do you want to know why? Do you want me to tell you the truth about it all p>