Chapter 44 A Poor Welcome

Chapter 44 A Poor Welcome
CHAPTER 44: A Poor Welcome

Seraphine's POV

I froze for half a second at the sound of that voice with my heart jumping straight into my throat before I turned fully around and then my breath left me in a rush.

“Baylor?” I stared at him and then laughed, a sharp in a disbelieving sound. “Baylor!”

He grinned with that same crooked grin I remembered from Red River.. the one that somehow survived fire and blood and grief and then proceeded to guild me as I grew up.

Before I could stop myself, I rushed forward and wrapped my arms around him and he hugged me back just as tightly like he was afraid I might disappear if he let go.

“Gods,” he muttered, pulling back to look at me properly. “You’re alive and well for a Lycan's bride. I kept hearing rumors, but I didn’t believe any of them.”

“I could say the same about you,” I said, smiling despite everything. “I thought you vanished after that night.”

“I almost did,” he said lightly and then glanced at the guards hovering nearby. His smile faded. “You can leave. I’ve got her.”

One of the guards stiffened.

“We were ordered to watch her.”

Baylor’s brows shot up.

“Watch her? For what? Is she a criminal now?”

“That’s not...” the guard started.

Baylor stepped closer with his voice rising.

“She is a hero to this kingdom. She was sent to Lycan lands to keep the peace and now you’re treating her like a prisoner?”

“Baylor,” I cut in gently, touching his arm. “It’s fine. Really.”

He looked at me like he wanted to argue but he swallowed it down.

“Fine,” he muttered. “But I don’t like it.”

We went inside the cottage together with the guards staying outside like statues. The door closed behind us and for the first time since I crossed the human gates, I felt like I could breathe.

Baylor paced the small room, running a hand through his hair.

“This is madness,” he said. “You risked everything. Your life, your future and this is how they treat you?”

I shrugged, setting my pack down.

“I’m used to it.”

“That doesn’t make it right.”

“No,” I agreed quietly. “It doesn’t.”

He stopped pacing and looked at me properly then.

“So,” he said, softer, “what really happened over there?”

I let out a long sigh.

“It’s a long story.”

He dropped into a chair.

“Good. I’ve got time.”

I sat across from him and stared at the floor for a moment, gathering myself. Then I started talking.

I told him about the pack lands, about the court, about Vespera and the elders and the pressure that never stopped. I told him about Aric.. about how he terrified me at first, about how he wasn’t what I expected, about how I hated him… and then didn’t.

Baylor listened without interrupting with his face tightening at some parts and softening at others.

“I don’t think Aric was behind Red River,” I said finally with my voice dropping low. “I know how that sounds. But I believe it. The more I learned, the more things didn’t add up. Someone else wanted that massacre. Someone powerful enough to impersonate hum.”

Baylor didn't react immediately but stared at me in silence and then he finally nodded slowly.

“I believe you.”

I looked up, surprised.

“You do?”

“Yeah,” he said simply. “You wouldn’t lie about something like that and I’ve always trusted your instincts. Even when they get you into trouble.”

I snorted as a joke.

“Especially then.”

He hesitated and then leaned forward.

“There’s something else,” he said. “Your uncle… he hasn’t been himself lately. Always pushing for war.. always angry and it worries me that he wants a war when his own niece is behind enemy lines.”

I frowned.

“Magnus has always hated Lycans.”

“Yes,” Baylor agreed, “but this is different, Seraphine.. It’s like he wants everything to burn and he's not being mindful of the collateral damage.”

I stayed quiet for a moment before speaking up again.

“I still need to hear him out,” I said at last. “At least that's what the king wants too. My case would be concluded when he's back since he pushed for me to be the Lycan's bride. I need to see where this all leads.”

Baylor nodded even though he didn’t look convinced.



I didn't really think being back home was going to be much of a challenge until later that evening when I tried to step outside to train and the guards blocked my path.

“You’re not allowed to leave,” one said flatly.

“What?” I stared at them. “Since when?”

“Orders.”

I laughed once, sharply and humorlessy.

“So I’m a prisoner now?”

Neither of them answered.

I knew arguing with them was a waste of time so I returned to the house but with my heart already ringing alarm bells.

Night fell heavily and slowly. I lay on the narrow bed staring at the ceiling and turning from one side to the other but sleep wouldn’t come. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw silver eyes and a face twisted with pain and anger.

Aric..

My chest ached so badly it felt like something was tearing inside me. I missed him with a pain that made me want to scream.

At some point, in that strange space between waking and dreaming, I could have sworn I heard his voice so soft and broken.. calling my name.

I sat up with my heart racing and then I heard it.. a faint sound at the window.

The sound came so softly and quiet enough not to be heard by the ears of the ordinary human but I was no ordinary human. My senses were far more developed and I could hear and see clearer since Red River Village.. whatever happened to me that night.

My instincts immediately took over as my training kicked in. I quickly grabbed a dagger and faded into the shadows…