Chapter 54 Jealous Bride
Vanessa
Who knew rage-sparring with an alpha for a full day could make you almost bedridden? I think, as I try to stretch my body on the bed. My body aches all over and it's definitely not the delicious kind.
But the heavy feeling in my chest has dissipated now, and more than ever, I feel...relaxed. It's a rare feeling I plan to relish for as long as possible.
I sleep through most of the next day, only waking up to either use the bathroom, or eat. Of course, Trish comes over to check on me like the mother hen she is.
By the third day, I feel well rested enough to visit the library and grab one of the many books I've taken a liking to. Maybe I should pick up the last one I read. 'The Lupen Lore: A collection of historical facts of the origin.'
I've become so much fascinated by the werewolf legends, history, and culture.
Or look deeper into Evanora, and understand your heritage, a little voice whispers.
I pause, unsure if I should still entertain the thought. Remembering the fear that was evident in Elias's eyes when he found me reading the book, makes my body hair rise in alarm.
What was he so afraid of?
The magnificent view of the large library manages to pull a small gasp out of me, just like everytime. The lights are dimmed as usual, and there's no one else but me.
Elias must have stepped out - he doesn't close up this early.
My feet carry me up to that shelf, and I see it.
Bound in a dark, weathered leather, the crescent moon sigil embedded in a broken circle.
With great caution I reach out to touch it, not wanting a repeat of the last time. Thankfully, there are no shocks and I confidently pick it up, pulling out a chair before flipping the pages open to find where I had stopped, while still mesmerized by the tilting ink.
Here it is...
'Before Evanora, power passed through the world; shamans, seers, blood-speakers existed in fragments. But after Evanora, it learned to stay; she not only anchored magic to lineage, but also to identity, which then transcended for generations to come.
After Evanora, magic became something not merely used, but was tied to who one was.
Her binding transformed the metaphysical order. Power no longer responded to rituals alone. It recognizes, identity, name, intent, and truth.
Those who tried to wield magic in denial of their nature, had it warping and turning against them." My eyebrows rise at this knowledge.
'This was why lineage became sacred," it continues. 'Not because blood carried power, but because blood carried continuity itself.
Over generations, all lines shared one immutable rule: magic will never awaken without self-recognition." I pause and dwell on that for a few moments.
Elda had mentioned that something was sealed within me. Is that just my 'magic', waiting, hoping I somehow recognize who I truly am beyond my fists? Who then am I?
I need to find that out soon. I snap the book shut and carefully place it back where it belongs, then take one last longing look at it. Sighing, I turn around and make my way back out of the library.
Thoughts of Evanora and my lineage cloud my mind so much I almost miss the low murmur of voices near me.
I jerk my head up to find Xander and Cinderella standing closely in the middle of the gardens.
They're a few feet away from me, their backs turned to me, but they're not close enough for me to have heard their voices though.
Since the sparring with Xander a few days ago, the animosity between us had subsided more than it should've and it still shocks me everytime she sends small smiles, actual smiles my way.
What the hell does she really want? I seriously can't believe I'm letting another woman keep giving me mixed signals like this.
I don't march up to them right away, but lean against the closest pillar that gives me a clear view of them. Arms crossed over my chest.
My eyes train on Xander, looking at him from head to toe. His face is half-turned from me but even his side profile is mouthwatering.
We're not exactly back to our back and forth little arguments and fights, but the once uncomfortable tension between us has dissipated since the sparring.
I watch their conversation; it's an easy one of two people who have known each other all their lives. Their body language relaxed and comfortable.
I focus on the way his dark eyes pay attention to her, his lips quirking slightly when she says something funny. His tan skin seems to shine under the golden rays of the evening sun.
His strong muscular build makes me want to climb him like a monkey, and even from this distance, I can almost smell that delicious musky scent that has my head rolling, and I continue to ogle him shamelessly, my panties getting damper by the minute.
My gaze snaps on Cinderella suddenly touching him, holding his forearm tightly as they both laugh over something, again.
I breath in sharply, something twisting in my chest at the gesture. Okay, there is nothing absolutely funny about anything right now.
I don't waste another second and walk right in between them.
My sudden appearance must've startled them because Cinderella's eyes have gone wide as saucer's.
"Hello, Vanessa," she greets, her face now relaxed as she shoots me a kind smile.
"Hey. Hi. What's up?" I reply absentmindedly, my gaze fixed on Xander's, who's watching me with an amused glint in his eyes. "Would you excuse us for a moment?" I tell Cinderella, and start to pull Xander away with me.
When we're a good distance away from her, I drop his hand and cross mine over my chest.
"What were you two talking about?" I ask.
"Nothing much, just usual things; pack business, meetings schedules and all," he replies, a hint of amusement still present in his voice.
"Oh, really? Does that involve unnecessary body contact?"
His eyebrows furrow for a second before it dawned on him. "Oh, does this mean my little firecracker is jealous?"
I scoff loudly. "Oh, please. Like I have the time to be," I say, turning my face away from him in time to hide the redness on my face.
"Okay. Whatever you say, firecracker," he whispers, and I shiver. "In any case, there's nothing to be jealous of, especially when she has a mate. A human mate to be precise."
My head spins for about a few moments. I must've heard wrong.
I look at him, expecting him to laugh, but he looks dead serious, and the only thing I can say is, "What the fuck?"