52. Killian - Do you understand?

52. Killian - Do you understand?
“What do you think happened to him?” I ask no one in particular while Elijah examines the body of a werewolf–or what’s left of him–he found in an alley this morning.
The male looks like the life has been sucked out of him–quite literally–before nailing him to the wall. His palms and feet have been burned with silver since they haven’t healed, and his eyes have been removed. His skin appears too stretched on his body, as if it has aged rapidly in a short period. 
Khai doesn’t reply—not that I expected him to.
Eventually, Elijah breaks the silence. “His magic was drained from him.”
Dragons are not the only ones who have magic. Every living being has magic, but the kind the dragons have is stronger than the rest. 
My brows shoot up. “I thought only dragons were targeted.”
“He was half-dragon,” Elijah reveals. That explains why his magic was drained from him. 
Khai mutters a curse under his breath.
“Who do you think is behind all the killings?” I ask next. 
This time, it is Khai who answers. “Leeches.” 
I was expecting that answer, since it’s the only logical one. “Do you think they came here through the Rift, just like we did?” 
Elijah is hesitant to reply. “Could be, but Therion is convinced that didn’t happen.” 
If leeches are on Earth, we must find and eliminate them. They are a threat not only to dragons but to everyone else. 
But Khai comments, “What if they found another way to come here?” When Elijah and I suddenly stare at him, he puts his hands in the air. “It was just a joke.” 
Elijah shakes his head. “That actually makes sense.” 
“It does?” Khai asks, unsure. 
“If Khai’s comment is true, then…” I start saying. 
Elijah finishes the thought for me. “We need to let King Ignarion. However, we have to be sure we are correct in our assumptions. Not a word to anyone about our theory until we know the truth.” He glances at his watch. “I’m going to call Therion so he can have his men come here and take care of the body for us.”
“That means we can go home, to Ariel,” Khai says cheerfully. 
Elijah’s shoulders tense. 
“You don’t like being away from her for too long,” I muse. 
“Do you?” he challenges me. 
I shake my head. “No. Especially when we have to leave her with Asher.” 
“I can’t believe he’s willing to walk away from his mate,” Elijah mutters. 
“He won’t,” Khai says. “He’s… adjusting.” 
“Adjusting to what?” I inquire. 
Khai let’s out a long sigh. “Losing Araella, finding Ariel, knowing that she’s… well, human, fragile, her disappearing, finally locating her, only to almost lose her to a kraken… Asher needs time.”
“Losing Araella was devastating. Trust me, no one knows it better than I do,” Elijah mumbles. “Loving Araella was… the best thing that had happened to me. And to know that she loved me back… that was a gift, a blessing I never took for granted. But… we lost her. We mourned her for an entire year. Then Ariel appeared in our lives, and for the first time in months, I felt like I could breathe again. It didn’t felt like my life was over anymore. 
“Loving Ariel, being with her… I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.” 
“Yeah,” Khai agrees. 
I add, “He will come around. Just give him time. He loves Ariel, we all know he does.” 
“Loving someone and wanting to be with them are two different things,” Elijah huffs. 
“He’s being difficult for no reason,” Khai adds. 
I can’t deny that. 
Half an hour later, we enter through the front door of our new apartment. All the tension, all my worries evaporate when I see Ariel. She’s on the sofa, wrapped in a blanket, watching TV. 
I sit next to her and press a kiss to her temple. “I missed you,” I murmur against her skin. 
I expect her to say that she missed me, too. Instead, she asks, “Have you found out if Rheon is alive?”
Hearing that wolf’s name is starting to bother me. No wonder Elijah is pissed each time Ariel brings him up. 
I pull her into my lap, burying my nose in her hair and breathing her in. When she starts to squirm, I whisper, “Let me hold you.”
She runs her fingers through my hair and asks, “What’s wrong? Is it… is it Rheon? Is he dead?” 
“Could you not mention him while I hold you?” 
She finally stops resisting and settles into my embrace. “Are you alright?” she finally asks. 
“Now that I have you in my arms, everything is alright. You make everything worry go away.” 
Her eyes narrow. “I wish you would stop hiding things from me. It makes me… not trust you.” 
I wish I could tell her everything that weighs heavily on my soul, but I can’t risk her life. 
She sees me hesitating, so she says, “I’m tired of secrets. At least Asher finally had the balls to tell me that being with me is a mistake. If you feel the same, just go ahead and tell me.  
I grab her chin between two fingers. “Asher is a bloody fool. I’m sure he regretted saying that the moment the words left his mouth. But let me make it clear to you, Ariel–I’m in love with you. That is not an option. Ever! Do I make myself clear? Good girl,” I murmur when she nods. “I would do everything in my power to keep you safe. Even keeping secrets. I’d rather have you doubt me, hate me even, than risk losing you. Did I make myself clear?” Before she can reply, I add, “Kiss me if you understand why you are my prized possession.”