Chapter 22 22- Kael
RANDOM FACTS: Kael Veyne unconsciously feeds off the negative energy around him. In little bits, never too much. Like a beacon. It sustains him but wears down on his runes.
_____
The Hunger settles over my skin, the runes on my skin burning from his hard I try to think… but all I have left is just a void. An empty space of where memories should be.
Something in me says I should not care. Whoever those people were are dead now, or passed… so they matter little.
But I cannot help the thug that pulls in my thoughts at the little omega that had called me a name he should not know.
Aranel.
A title of reverence. Said by a woman I had marked but had inadvertently died by my hands.
I am a monster. I know this. But… but there is a thought that gnaws in my head, making me wonder if I cared for the woman that I killed.
The world around me is loud, but I am able to ignore the sound.
Garouihl.
There are buildings now. And cars. And people. Far too many people. But once, this used to be a place where people passing by camped.
I cannot remember too much of it.
But I can smell it.
Each person here… bears a mark of someone from that time.
“May I help you, Sir?” The voice that speaks catches my attention, my eyes centering on the wolf in front of me. She’s small. Petite. Beautiful. But like silver is to sapphire when compared to Riven. “You have been standing here for quite a while now.”
My eyes go back to the building. It’s written in familiar words. Council… town? The familiar smell grows strongly from there, calling me to it. Like it will help answer my question.
Like it could explain why the little lamb called me a name Eryndra called me and why. “I wish to go in.”
Hours ago when I had met Rowan, he had told me it would be best if he kept representing me in cases that involved me speaking publicly. I was terrifying, in his words, and it would be best if no one knew who I truly was except this alias he had created for me.
Elias Vale. A descendant of a long lost founder. An Alpha with extra abilities and a lot of money— which I had due to all the gold in my realm.
When my eyes focus back on her, she looks strange. An emotion glosses over her eyes, emotions that I do not understand as she moves away, “Mr Vale. We have been expecting you.”
I do not bother to let my thoughts wander on how she knows that name as I step into the building.
The air shifts, turning cold instantly as my eyes move all over the place. People walk around, their shadows lounging across the hall as I search before my eyes fall on a face that seems familiar.
The chubby girl has her head slightly bowed, her hands on her thighs as she shifts uncontrollably.
The Hunger shifts its focus to her shadow, the familiarity of it growing again… though this time, there is no desire to feed.
There is always no desire to feed with Claire D’Artag.
She is… unremarkable. Like a blip to the world.
But the omega seems to… like her.
I walk to her, ignoring the voice of the woman who had been leading me as I walk to her. The second I’m close enough, the man at the table behind where she’s sat, instantly rises, his voice soft but ready to please, “Master Vale. We have been expecting—”
“I hear you had a disagreement with Riven,”
Claire D’Artag does not turn immediately. Still, she seems to sense my presence as she turns around, her eyes landing on me before it slowly widens in fear.
“M-Master Vale, she is mute— and not an actual worker. Perhaps—”
I keep my focus on her. “You read lips, yes?”
She nods.
Her eyes are brown, and large, but there’s an over-pool of something there. Emotions, perhaps? Too much of it.
I take out my hand. “Have you eaten today?”
She stares at it, then back at the man at the table who looks confused. Perhaps because Rowan had called to tell them I might come.
I must admit that he is well thought out on things involving me, but he knows as well as I do that being around such large groups of people.
“Well, you see,” He starts. “Her partner… her partner had some issues with officials so she’s here as a… witness to what has happened. Perhaps… perhaps, if you tell us why you are here then when we are finished with her—”
“It would be best if you stop speaking. I realize I do not like your voice.”
That has him pausing, his eyes filling with fear instantly. My focus turns back to Claire, my hand still held out for her. “Come.”
She looks uncertain but she does as she’s told.
Her hand is small in mine, insignificant… but I take her out of the building, further away from that place filled with shadows that seemed as if they all wished to pounce on her in the blink of an eye, to somewhere more quiet.
Rowan calls it a cafe.
I tell her to pick what she wishes to eat. She does. She is quiet, even to the moment she begins to eat. My wolf finds it normal. The Hunger grows bored, the runes on my skin fizzling slightly, but not in the painful way that one would think.
Because for all Claire D’Artag is, my mate adores her.
I tap on the table, drawing her attention back to me as I say, “Does it taste good? You seem to enjoy it.”
She looks confused by that statement but nods.
“Do you want more?”
She is unsure of it, but she nods again. I can tell her distrust for me has lessened, her eyes glowing with happiness as she receives another plate of food to eat.
Simplistic. Childish.
Riven’s bond with her will only keep him down.
Their division is precedented as I had asked Rowan to find a way to have Claire away so I see who he could be on his own which had worked after last night…
I wish for her to go away permanently.
My wolf perks up at the thought. He does not wish her death, but he knows Riven would never let us close enough after this.
So instead of causing her pain, we study her.
“Claire? What are you doing here?”
His voice, ever so prominent, rings through the entire cafe. Claire cannot hear I am sure but she tenses like something bad is about to happen.
Riven comes to focus, his eyes wild with hate as he hisses at me, “What the fuck? Are you trying to harm her like you hurt him?”
Him.
Ah. Brian. The disappointing meal.
My head tilts to the side as I spot someone else. His pheromones find me, making him easier to recognize.
He is someone from that night from the party. Someone Astoria had said did not need to die.
He waves at me, smiling.
“No. No. I’m talking to you, focus on me.”
The absolute annoyance in his voice brings my thoughts back to his orbit. Riven has the attention of every person in the café but his eyes stay on me.
Only me.
I realize I do not want him looking away.
My wolf growls when he eventually looks away, his hand gripping Claire’s arm tight as he hisses, “I don't know what the fuck you’re doing with him. Come.”
He drags Claire upwards, the sweater on his shoulder slipping so I can see his skin but before they can go away, Claire stops in her tracks.
That causes him to turn, his eyes wide as he looks at her. I see something flash in them as he says, “What are you… what are you doing?”
She moves her hands, ready to explain whatever it is that she has to explain but I’m rising from my chair, walking behind her before placing a hand on my shoulder and saying to Riven, “We are having a conversation, Riven. You could join us, or return to the… male that waits for you at the door.”
“You fucker—” Riven stops himself, running a hand through his silver-white hair. The motion pulls his sweater further, revealing more of that pale skin, the curve of his shoulder. “Okay. Okay. Five minutes. I should… I should tell him to leave.”
My eyes follow as he leaves, lingering on the male he’s talking to. I move to his shadow, my eyebrows furrowing as I realize he doesn’t have one.
When my eyes move back up to his face, he’s grinning at me but Riven is already walking back to us, his eyes cold as he says, “Now, what?”