Chapter 60 CORNERED

Chapter 60 CORNERED
(Aria's POV)

“Stay close,” the guard muttered as we turned into the main hallway, his eyes scanning ahead like every shadow held a threat.

Caden’s orders had spread fast, no one left me alone, not even for a minute.

“I’m going to the kitchen, not running for my life,” I said under my breath, adjusting my grip on the wall as the baby shifted hard enough to throw off my balance.

“Orders are orders,” he replied without looking at me.

We walked in silence for a few more steps before another enforcer waved him over. “Ryker has orders for you. Now.”

The guard hesitated, glancing at me. “She’s fine. It’s ten feet,” the other guy said.

I exhaled. “I’m not a child. Go.”

He frowned. “Don’t move.”

“I won’t.”

He stepped away, just a few feet, lowering his voice as he spoke with the other enforcer. I turned slightly, focusing on the hallway ahead. The kitchen was right there. Ten steps. Maybe less.

I started walking.

“Miss Winters.”

I froze.

Elder Thorne stepped out from the side corridor like he’d been waiting for me. His posture was relaxed, hands clasped behind his back, expression calm.

But his eyes—

Cold.

Sharp.

Watching.

“A word,” he said, as if this was a polite request.

My pulse spiked, but I forced my shoulders back. “I’m on my way somewhere.”

“This won’t take long,” he replied, already stepping into my path.

Blocking it.

Of course.

I stopped a few feet from him, my instincts screaming to turn back, to call the guard—but he was still distracted.

“Can I help you?” I asked, keeping my voice steady.

Thorne’s smile was mild, almost kind. “I understand you’ve been spending time in the archives.”

My blood ran cold.

He knows.

“I was looking at old records,” I said carefully. “Nothing forbidden.”

His smile didn’t change, but something in his eyes did. “Of course. Curiosity is healthy.”

He took a step closer.

“Until it isn’t.”

I didn’t move, even as my back brushed the wall behind me. The space between us closed too quickly, his presence pressing in, controlled but unmistakably threatening.

“I didn’t realize research was a crime,” I said, forcing the words out.

“It isn’t,” he replied softly. “Not at first.”

His gaze dropped briefly to my stomach, then back to my face. “But there are lines, Miss Winters. Lines drawn for a reason.”

I swallowed, my heart pounding harder now. “I stayed within my clearance.”

“Yes,” he said. “You did.”

Another step.

Too close.

“You remind me of my daughter,” he added, his tone shifting slightly.

The words caught me off guard. “What?”

“She was curious too,” he continued, almost conversational. “Always asking questions. Always digging for answers no one was eager to give.”

Something in his voice made my skin crawl.

“It ended… poorly for her.”

The hallway felt smaller.

Tighter.

“I’m sorry for your loss,” I said quietly, even as every instinct told me this wasn’t sympathy he wanted.

His smile sharpened just slightly. “Are you?”

His head tilted, studying me. “Or are you following in her footsteps?”

I didn’t answer.

He didn’t need one.

“Digging where you shouldn’t,” he went on, his voice lowering. “Disturbing things best left buried.”

My hand tightened against my side, nails pressing into my palm. Fear climbed up my throat, but I forced it down.

“I have a right to know how my parents died,” I said, lifting my chin.

The moment the words left my mouth, the air changed.

Completely.

The faint warmth in his expression vanished.

Gone.

Replaced by something colder.

Harder.

“Your parents,” he repeated.

I held his gaze, even as my pulse raced. “Yes.”

For a second, he just looked at me.

Then he stepped closer, close enough that I could feel the shift in his scent.

“Your parents died,” he said quietly, “because they couldn’t leave well enough alone.”

The words hit like a blow.

My breath caught.

“They asked questions,” he continued, his voice smooth but heavy with meaning. “Questions that put them in places they had no business being.”

My heart slammed against my ribs.

“And when you step into the wrong place,” he added, “you don’t always walk out.”

My fingers curled into fists.

“Are you saying they deserved it?” I asked, my voice shaking despite myself.

“I’m saying,” he replied calmly, “that actions have consequences.”

Rage flared, cutting through the fear. “They were patrol wolves. They did their jobs.”

“They exceeded their roles,” he corrected.

Silence stretched between us, thick and suffocating.

Then he leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to something meant only for me.

“The same fate awaits anyone foolish enough to repeat their mistakes.”

My breath hitched.

“Do you understand me, Miss Winters?”

Every instinct screamed at me to back down.

To nod.

To agree.

Instead, I forced myself to hold his gaze.

“I understand that you’re threatening me,” I said.

For a fraction of a second, something flickered in his eyes.

Then it was gone.

“Threatening?” he echoed lightly. “No.”

His smile returned, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Advising.”

Footsteps approached.

The guard.

Thorne straightened instantly, the shift so smooth it was almost unsettling. The tension disappeared from his posture, replaced by the calm, composed elder everyone respected.

“Ah,” he said, stepping back. “There you are.”

The guard hurried over, his expression tightening when he saw us. “Everything okay?”

“Of course,” Thorne said before I could answer, his tone warm now, almost friendly. “I was just offering Miss Winters some support during this difficult time.”

The guard nodded, still wary. “Right.”

Thorne gave me one last look.

Subtle.

But clear.

Then he turned and walked away, his steps unhurried, like nothing had happened.

Like he hadn’t just—

I exhaled shakily, my legs suddenly unsteady.

“Are you okay?” the guard asked, stepping closer.

“Fine,” I said quickly, even as my hands started to tremble.

He frowned. “You don’t look fine.”

“I said I’m fine,” I repeated, sharper this time.

He hesitated, then nodded. “Alright. Let’s get you back.”

“I was going to the kitchen,” I said automatically.

“Change of plans,” he replied. “You’re not walking around alone.”

I didn’t argue.

I couldn’t.

Because my mind was still stuck on Thorne’s words.

He knows.

Not just that I’m investigating.

He knows what I’m looking for.

And if he was involved—

My stomach twisted hard.

He’ll kill me too.

The walk back to my room felt longer than before. I kept my head down, my hand pressed to my stomach as the baby shifted restlessly again.

“It’s okay,” I whispered under my breath. “I’ve got you.”

The guard opened my door and stepped aside. “Stay here. I’ll be right outside.”

I nodded and stepped in.

Sera was already there.

She jumped to her feet the moment she saw me. “Aria—thank God. I’ve been waiting.”

My chest tightened. “What is it?”

She wrung her hands together nervously. “Maya sent me. She needs to see you.”

“Now?”

“Yes,” Sera said quickly. “She said it’s urgent.”