Chapter 18 Message In Blood
Amanda stared at the dead bird on her pillow. Her hands were still shaking. The paper with its crude warning lay crumpled on the floor where she'd dropped it.
She should scream. Call for help. But her voice was trapped somewhere in her chest, locked behind the fear that had frozen her in place.
Then footsteps sounded in the hallway. Quick and purposeful.
The door swung open.
Derek stood there, still dressed from earlier. His eyes were sharp and alert. He must have heard something. Or maybe he'd felt it. The bond between them was strange that way.
His gaze swept the room. It landed on her first. Then the pillow. The bird. The blood.
His entire body went rigid.
"What the hell is this?" His voice was low. Dangerous.
Amanda opened her mouth, but nothing came out. She pointed weakly at the crumpled paper on the floor.
Derek crossed the room in three strides. He picked up the note and read it. His jaw clenched so hard she heard his teeth grind. The paper crumpled in his fist.
"Who did this?" The words came out like a growl.
"I don't know." Her voice was barely a whisper. "I just found it when I came back."
Derek's eyes flashed. Not gold like a wolf's, but dark and burning with something close to rage. He looked at the bird again. At the blood staining her pillow. Then back at her.
"You're not staying here tonight."
"Derek..."
"No." He moved toward her. His presence filled the space between them. "Someone in this house threatened you. Someone who knows where you sleep. Someone who can get past the guards." His voice dropped. "That's not happening again."
Amanda's breath hitched. She'd never seen him like this. The cold, controlled Alpha was gone. This was something rawer. More dangerous.
"What are you going to do?"
"Find out who did this." He turned toward the door. "And make sure they regret it."
"Wait." She grabbed his arm before he could leave. His muscles were tense beneath her fingers. "You can't just start threatening people. What if it makes things worse?"
He looked down at her hand on his arm. Then at her face. Something in his expression softened. Just a fraction.
"Amanda, someone left a dead bird on your pillow with a message telling you to stop or you'll end up the same way." His voice was quieter now, but no less fierce. "It's already worse."
She swallowed hard. He was right. She knew he was right.
"I need you to pack a few things," Derek said. "You're moving to the room next to mine."
Her eyes widened. "What?"
"It's the safest place in the house. My quarters are warded and guarded. No one gets in without me knowing." His gaze was steady. Unyielding. "I can protect you better if you're closer."
Heat crept up her neck. The room next to his. That meant sharing a wall. Being just a door away.
"I can take care of myself," she said, but even she heard how weak it sounded.
"I know you can." His voice gentled. "But you shouldn't have to. Not alone."
The words hung between them. Heavy with meaning.
Amanda nodded slowly. "Okay."
Derek's shoulders relaxed slightly. He called for two guards who appeared within seconds. "Stay with her. Don't let anyone in this room except me."
Then he was gone. His footsteps echoed down the hallway like thunder.
By the time the sun rose, Derek had questioned half the household.
He started with the servants who worked on Amanda's floor. Then the guards who'd been on duty last night. Then every pack member who had access to the main house.
No one admitted anything. Most looked genuinely shocked. A few seemed nervous, but that was normal when an Alpha was interrogating you with fury barely contained beneath the surface.
Amanda watched from the doorway of Derek's study. She'd moved her things earlier, but sleep had been impossible. Now she stood with her arms wrapped around herself, listening to Derek's clipped questions and the stammered responses.
"No, Alpha heir. I saw nothing unusual."
"I swear on my life, I would never harm the Luna."
"The hallways were empty when I made my rounds."
Each answer was the same. Each one led nowhere.
Derek dismissed the last servant with a wave of his hand. The man practically ran from the room.
Amanda stepped inside. "You're scaring them."
"Good." Derek didn't look up from the papers on his desk. "Maybe whoever did this will think twice before trying again."
"Or maybe they'll just get more careful."
That made him pause. He lifted his gaze to hers. The anger was still there, simmering beneath the surface, but exhaustion had crept in around the edges.
"I won't let anyone hurt you," he said quietly.
"I know." And she did. She could feel it in the way he'd barely left her side since last night. In the way his eyes tracked her every movement like he was afraid she might disappear.
A knock sounded at the door.
Derek straightened. "Come in."
A woman entered. She was older, maybe in her fifties, with silver streaks running through her dark hair. She wore simple clothes, a long skirt and a loose blouse, but there was something about her that commanded attention. Her eyes were sharp. Knowing.
"Alpha heir," she said, inclining her head. "I heard what happened."
Derek's expression shifted. Surprised. "Nadia. I didn't expect to see you."
"I've been away, visiting the northern covens." Nadia's gaze moved to Amanda. "But when I returned this morning and heard about the threat against the Luna, I came immediately."
Amanda straightened. "You're a witch?"
Nadia smiled. It was warm but edged with something ancient. "I am. And I've served the Livingston pack for many years. I remain neutral in pack politics, but I help where I can."
"She's the one who identified the curse on me properly," Derek said. "If anyone can help figure out who's behind this, it's her."
Nadia moved closer to Amanda. Her eyes swept over her, lingering on the crescent mark barely visible at her collarbone.
"May I?" she asked, gesturing toward the mark.
Amanda nodded.
Nadia's fingers were cool as they traced the edge of the birthmark. She closed her eyes. The air around them seemed to hum, like the hush before something ancient awakens.
After a long moment, Nadia stepped back. Her expression was grave.
"Your bloodline was feared by dark practitioners," she said. "Healers who could reverse curses were hunted nearly to extinction centuries ago. They were a natural enemy to curse magic."
Amanda's stomach dropped. "What does that mean?"
"It means whoever cursed Derek will see you as a threat." Nadia's voice was calm but firm. "If they believe you're trying to break their work, they will come for you."
The room went cold.
Derek moved to stand beside Amanda. His presence was solid. Grounding. "Then we find them first."
Nadia nodded slowly. "I can help. But you need to understand something, both of you." Her gaze moved between them. "This curse is old magic. Powerful. The person who cast it has been patient, careful. They won't reveal themselves easily."
"Can you trace it?" Derek asked.
"Possibly. But it will take time." Nadia turned to Amanda. "And I'll need your help. Your gift is the key to understanding this curse. If we work together, we might be able to unravel it."
Amanda's heart raced. "I don't even know how to control it."
"Then I'll teach you." Nadia's voice was soft. A gentle smile touched her lips. "But you need to be prepared. The more you use your gift, the more visible you become to those who wish you harm."
Amanda stiffened. "So I'm supposed to just hide?" Her voice came out sharper than she meant. "Let whoever did this win?"
"No." Nadia's eyes gleamed with quiet approval. "I'm saying you need to be ready to fight."
She paused. Her tone shifted. "There's one more thing you should know."
Amanda's heart thudded. "What is it?"
"Whoever cursed Derek will kill you before they let you break their work." Nadia's voice was low and steady. "They've already shown they're willing to threaten you. Next time, it won't be a warning."