Chapter 130
Chapter 130
-Dorothy-
“Do you think we can trust them?” I whispered to Ignatius, eyeing the Khall shifters while they spoke to
the healers in the
Alissa and her crew had taken us straight to the Khall healing center. The same place where I’d
rejected Johan all those years ago. Now, we were here on different terms, desperately seeking help for
our unconscious baby boy.
“I don’t think we have a choice, Ignatius murmured, keeping his expression neutral as he leaned back
against the wall. “What reason would they have to betray us? They’re just as concerned about the
vampires as the rest of us”
I guess I folded my arms across my chest, uncomfortable to be back on Khall turf. “But something
doesn’t feel right. The Khall have always been resentful of the Bielke. Why wouldn’t they just leave us
in the woods to fend for ourselves.
Before we could continue our whispered conversion, a familiar face made an appearance and I felt my
heart lift slightly at the sight of the grinning old hat.
Well if it isn’t Ignatius Armounds. The wicked old woman whacked Ignatius with her clipboard. “Had I
known the trouble you’d get this poor girl into, I would have never let you visit her in the first place.”
Even Ignatius had to crack a smile upon seeing the grumpy old healer again. It had been her who first
helped me with my inquries, courtesy of Mavis and her gang. This healer had guided me through a
brutal rejection with Johan, and a budding relationship with Ignatius too.
The old healer’s face fell then and she took my hands in her wizened ones. “I don’t know what was
done to that child of yours, but I promise we will do our best to help him.”
I was hesitant to leave Elias alone, but the kind healer made me feel a little better about it. At least with
her, our be in good hands.
son would
After talking with the nurses, Alissa came back to look us over. The Khall Alpha wants to see you. I’ll
escort you to the elder
council hall
“Can I see Anita?” I blurted out and Alissa raised an eyebrow at me while 1 backtracked “It’s just, I
haven’t heard from her in months. I was starting to get worried”
A hint of sympathy passed across Alissa’s features, so fast I almost missed it. But then she shook her
head. “Unfortunately that won’t be possible right now. I’ve been instructed to escort you straight to
Alpha Jeb.
It was odd, how nice they were all being to us. I couldn’t shake the feeling that the Khall wanted
something more from us They had to have some other motive for taking us in other than the kindness
of their hearts
We agreed to meet with Jebediah, and Ignatius shook the older shifter’s hand stiffly. We were
uncomfortably aware of how bedraggled we looked. I wished they had at least allowed us time to
shower before presenting us to the elder council.
Maybe the elders took some kind of peny pleasure in seeing their formidable foes looking so worn
down
Jebediah shook my hand gravely “Firstly, I want to give you my condolences. I can only imagine how
difficult the past few days have been for you both”
I dipped my head slightly in response and the Alpha sighed quietly before turning back to Ignatius.
“As for your pack, we heard what happened with the vampires. We’ve been suspicious of vampire
activity for a while, and I have gone out of my way to guard the Khall against such threats
Ignatius kept his mouth shut, eyeing the man with suspicion. It was a knock to his pride, losing his title
to a dhampir outsider. But it was a knife to his heart to know that he’d failed his people where others
had seemingly succeeded.
Jel cleared his throat, uncomfortable with my mate’s icy silence. “We’ve been spying on these
monsters since they first
08 Fri, Jan 26
started showing up again. We have intel on their army and how they operate”
The old Alpha clasped his hands together, bowing his head to Ignatius.
The Khall would be willing and able to help you free the Bielke from vampiric control. All I ask is that
you remember our kindness in future. Should we ever be in search of allies, I would like to know that
the Bielke will fight at our side.”
Ignatius spent over an hour discussing the matter with Jebedaiah. By the time the Alpha excused
himself, my mate looked even more discouraged than before.
We followed Alissa to our temporary suite within Jeb’s mansion in stony silence. Later that evening,
Ignatius and I had laid out the Khall’s proposal for Angie and Fac.
Stifled by the prim and proper ways of the Southern pack. Ignatius and I decided to go for a walk. Both
of us could do with a bath, but the thought of spending one more minute in the lavish suite the Khall
had given us was unthinkable.
Back home, our people were suffering, Wallowing in the lap of luxury just didn’t feel right. NôvelDrama.Org exclusive content.
We left Angie and Fae behind to watch over Amelie. The two she-wolves promised to guard her with
their lives, but both of them looked like they were about to pass out standing up.
We made them both promise to get some rest and, and before we left, I spotted Fac ogling over the
various scented soaps in
Ignatius and I walked until we came across a river. I could recall a river from back when I used to
wander this forest, but it would seem the shape of it had changed over the time I’d been gone. Before it
had been nothing more than a babbling brooke. Now the waters cut the forest in two, flowing lazily
Northwards. Towards home.
I came to stand by my mate’s side, and both of us looked over the glassy water. Our reflection was
distorted by the small rippling movements. We were a blurry echo of the people we used to be.
“Do you think Jel’s telling the truth?” I glanced at Ignatius, but my mate kept his eyes on the water.
“About helping us fight the vampires!”
Ignatius ignored the question. Instead, he stripped off the tattered remains of his shirt and dropped it at
his feet. “Lets swim. I can’t stand this vampire stench.
1 gestured over my shoulder with my thumb. “You know there’s a shower back that way?”
Ignatius shifted to face me, gripping my jaw with a clawed and bloody hand. “Stay with me. Please, I
can’t bear to go back there yet.”
His voice came out ragged and raw, barely human. He blinked a few times before stepping away when
he realized he’d probably startled me,
I touched my cheek where his hand had been, before removing my own blood-stained shirt. “Alright, I
could do with a
I was hesitant to immerse my n*ked b*dy in the deep, murky waters, but Ignatius was right. We stank of
rust and metal and smoke. Our days on the run had left us coated in a thick layer of grime, and I felt a
deep sense of relief when my b*dy cut through the cool water.
I
Ignatius watched me as I shook my hair out of its braid, more akin to a dreadlock at this point, I sank
under the water, running my fingers through the clump of knots.
“Come here, I’ll help you. Ignatius sat hip-deep in the shallows and I floated over to him. I braced
myself against his chest while he used his claws to help me unravel the last of my dirty locks. When it
was brushed, my hair hung down past my hips
I had considered cutting it time and time again, especially whenever Elias gave it a painful tug. But I
couldn’t bring myself to slice away that part of myself. There were memories in hair, and mine was
heavy with them.
G
After Ignatius was done tugging wads of cars from my scalp, we switched places so I could clean his
matted locks. I pressed my hands to his shoulder, fingers resting on newly healed welts and scars as I
gently pushed his head underwater.
Since he had stepped down as Alpha, he wasn’t healing as quickly as he should have. I risked a few
morsels of energy to heal him with my palms.
This earned me a deep growl and a brief scolding before an eventual disgruntled, “Thank you
When we were thoroughly clean and a little more at ease, we wished what was left of our clothes at the
edge of the river.
I pulled on my underwear and tattered shirt that ended just below my butt. It would save me some
semblance of modesty when we returned to the Khall
Ignatius pulled on his damp jeans, ditching his shirt in exchange for a bare chest covered in scars. He
brushed damp hair from his eyes and gave me the ghost of a smile. “You’re going pantless?”
I rolled my eyes. My own torn pants looked like they’d been eaten by moths. The forest had not been
kind to the thin fabric. “I don’t really have a choice.”
I turned to head back to our suite, but Ignatius touched a hand to my shoulder, turning me slowly in his
arms. His hands. settled on my hips and 1 curled my own around his neck. He stared at my lips for a
moment, and 1 melted against him when his mouth met mine.
I love you, he murmured, pressing his damp forehead to mine I’d shake mountains for you.”
We were interrupted by someone approaching. We both turned on the spor, paranoid after everything
that had happened. But it was Alissa who stood behind us, watching us with a kind of pained
expression. “I’m sorry to interrupt. But There’s someone here to see you
Ignatius kept his arms around me, wary of the quiet she-wolf, “Who?”
Her eyes met mine and I felt the jolt of realization twisting like a knife in my chest. I saw sympathy in
her eyes, but I also saw guilt. The faintest familiar scent reached my nose.
I barely had time to warn Ignatius before the vampires descended upon us