Chapter 97 When pieces find a dot
Chapter 97 When pieces find a dot
The air went thick as the truth settled between them. For a split second, Evyths didn't recognize this side of Adler nor did his mother.
“ANSWER ME!” He demanded, his voice louder than the last, Liana recoiling in her spot.
Evyths reached for his arm, although skeptical at first. “Adler, take it easy—”
“No, I bloody won't, all right, I will not.” He flared up, his eyes brimming with fury that could burn had Evyths not been there.
“Adler—”
“No…” he groaned, his jaw ticking. “Don't. You made me believe a lie, earning our sympathy…” his breath was heavy.
“I have wronged you but I am paying for it with every breath…”
Adler could have said more wrecking words to her but he didn't, he didn't need to. His expression said it all
With that, Adler hurried out of the room, if only he could vanish, he would have. Evyths reasoned.
Tears rolled down Liana's cheeks silently, as she wiped her face swiftly.
“He is furious. The king will be once he learns the truth…”
Liana let out a cold laugh, the opposite of what Evyths expected. Evyths' neck snapped back without a word.
“Yes.” She said indignantly. “I do not regret it.”
“You do not?!” her arms crossed loosely, staring suspiciously.
“Yes. I do not regret protecting my family. I had done Leon a favor. Had I not done what I did,” she stopped and chuckled dryly. “what will become of him? Ruins? More curses?” She scoffed, looking away.
Before Evyths could speak, Liana turned on her side gently. “I hope the goddess takes my life. Maybe, Davendale will find peace again.”
With that, she shut her eyes as a cold tear smeared her face.
Evyths did not ask more questions given the turn of events. She silently headed out of the room without a word.
About an hour later, Evyths strutted to the high garden where Adler was most likely to be found. Under the gazebo. Drinking to stupor.
The warm breeze bit at her skin, soft crackles of branches forced birds to take several flights.
Evyths sighted Adler, drinking like she had assumed. She took a deep breath walking towards the restless Alpha.
“You have consumed more than I expected,”
“Do not patronize me,” he forcefully blurted, emptying another chalice.
“Oh, I would not dare and I'm not trying to. I admit,” she dragged a sit and sat elegantly. When he attempted to put more ale into the chalice, Evyths yanked the jug towards her, telling him off with her gaze. “Davendale held more secrets than I expected.”
“Stop salting the wounds,”
“Face the reality, Adler, as it comes.” She said quietly.
Adler scoffed, the words hanging on the tip of his tongue. He stared at the empty cup, channeling his frustration through his grip.
“I may sound… inconsiderate but I speak from experience. Deflecting salts the wound even more,”
Adler heaved a sigh as the cup rolled away from his hand. His fingers slid through hair, then his face crossed.
“I thought that it was a disease all along, I… pitied her. She endured years of agony, deprived of her youth. I genuinely thought that…” Adler stopped, the words did not come.
Evyths leaned slightly forwards, her gaze gentle. “You did not have to eavesdrop,”
“Like you could have told me about it if I had asked,” he fired back and looked away. Pissed.
“I would not but this is different. She may have been wrong but I understand her sacrifice,”
“Why?” He impatiently blurted.
“Because I will become a mother.” The air was still. “And believe me, I have made the toughest choice of my life — a few days ago.” She briefly placed a hand over his. “She is paying for her sins. Just like you and me, she made mistakes in the past. But we cannot live by it. Davendale is broken inside out, secrets crawling into light each passing day. Now it depends on the wisdom we choose to approach every situation.” She paused for a second, leaning back. “Should we crack, Davendale crumbles. Should we heal, Davendale will find redemption,”
Evyths stopped. Even to her, her words didn't sound simple. The weight was palpable. The chaos didn't just start with her departure, if Liana was correct, it started way before she was born.
It became clearer to Evyths, the goddess indeed had chosen her for a reason. It wasn't just about redemption, it was about paving a path to heal.
She glanced at Adler one last time, rising to her feet. She could tell that Adler needed all the time in the world to recuperate and think properly.
Seeing what had happened, she remembered Valerio and the painful departure they had to go through.
“I should return to my room. I'll leave you to your thoughts…” her hand flew over to her belly, a soothing feeling or relief engulfed. “It has been an eventful day.”
She turned on her heel to leave as Adler grabbed her wrist, more fluid than it seemed.
He pulled her into a hug before she could assimilate what was happening. Like he had waited so long to do that. Her eyes widened gradually, unsure whether to return the gesture given his state.
Barely wrapping her hands around him, he finally spoke.
“Thank you for your kind words. It calmed a storm.”
He pulled away as Evyths nodded and left.
Hours morphed into a day and half. Evyths was casually taking a stroll around the palace after she had visited the temple on the East side of the edifice.
Rumors had even reached her ears concerning Adler's sudden detachment from his favorite activities like hunting and sparring. Some even went as far as saying that she had bewitched the crown Prince.
Evyths didn't pay much attention, no matter what they said about her, she was at peace with who and what she had become.
Almost reaching the garden that led to the palace's hallway, away from the main entrance, two girls rushed over to Evyths and bowed.
Evyths raised a brow, silent.
“Lady Evyths, Lady Selena wants to speak with you in the temple…” one said, averting Evyths’ gaze. They still had not gotten over what Evyths did to Beta Oakley.
“She does?”
The girls nodded frantically. Just minutes ago, she had left the temple and now Selena wanted a private audience with her.
Evyths was skeptical; not that she was scared of that beta but because her emotions were difficult to rein in these days if Selena tried to provoke her. Therefore, she still remembered her promise to Valerio not to act out of character for reasons she was yet know.
“All right. After you.” She said after a careful thought.
Reaching the temple’s golden gates, the familiar scent of burning incense reached her nose again. Before she could walk in, Selena rushed towards Evyths.
Evyths' eyes roamed suspiciously, questioning the beta’s sudden change of mind.
“My apologies, Evyths, I have to talk to you.” Selena said, urgency in her tone.
Evyths darted at the carved bench made out the rock adjacent to them. Selena nodded.
By now, they were both seated, the air seemed to pause as if it witnessed them.
“What is it you want to talk about?” Evyths began when Selena’s lips twitched with unspoken words.
“I know that you have no reason to believe me but I must tell you.” Selena began, Evyths' brows drew in closely. “I had gone out to hunt early hours — before day broke. I-I saw something disturbing,”
“Disturbing?” Evyths reiterated. “Like what?”
For once the tension between them faded.
Selena swallowed hard, her heart beating loudly. Evyths had never seen Selena crack like she did that moment, something was amiss, she told herself.
“Do you swear by the goddess not to mention my name?” Selena demanded. Not forcefully, but calmly.
Evyths hesitated as her hand reached her belly. “Tell me anything, Selena.”
Selena looked around even if she was sure that no one visited the abandoned temple. “I saw the king with someone…”
“King with someone? He could be with anyone, no?”
“Dear goddess, not that.” Selena snapped as her fingers fiddled. “I wonder if it is right to say this but… I am terrified.”
“Well, you if do not tell me soon, there might never be a solution—”
“He was talking to the sorceress and a hunter…” Selena finally said as her breath caught, her han
ds over her mouth.
Evyths eyes widened fully, skipping a beat. Unable to gather her thoughts.
Did Selena mean Raven and…? Was Draco alive?