Chapter 64 Secret passageway
~ Lyra's POV ~
Just as I stepped out of the bathroom, I caught sight of Taren standing by the door, and the expression on his face immediately unsettled me.
There was something deeply confusing about the way he looked, as though irritation and uncertainty were battling for dominance across his features. His jaw was tight, his eyes distant, and for a brief moment I wondered if I had walked in on something I was not meant to see.
“Is something wrong?” I found myself asking, unable to ignore the tension clinging to him. A part of me wondered if Kael had said something to him that left him in such a state, though I quickly dismissed the thought. I had not heard any conversation between them, not even the faintest murmur through the walls.
“No. Nothing is wrong,” he replied, attempting to rearrange his expression into something neutral. The effort was obvious, and he failed at it rather badly.
“You don't look like nothing is wrong,” I pointed out gently as I walked over to the sofa and lowered myself onto it. Even as I settled in, I kept my eyes trained on him, unwilling to let the matter drop so easily.
He held my gaze for a few seconds before releasing a long, weary sigh. “I do have a question,” he admitted at last, “but I don't even know how to begin asking something like that.”
“You can ask,” I reassured him, offering a small smile in hopes of easing the heaviness in the air. Despite my calm tone, I could not imagine what kind of question would make him this uneasy.
He hesitated again, clearly wrestling with himself, before finally speaking. “Is Alpha in any way harassing you?”
I blinked at him, my eyes widening in surprise as my brows shot upward. “Harassing me?” I repeated, tilting my head slightly as I tried to make sense of the question.
“Yes. In any form whatsoever,” he clarified, nodding once as though bracing himself. “You can tell me. I know I may not be able to do much, but I could talk to him and try to get him to stop.”
I shook my head and let out a soft, almost amused laugh, more touched than offended by his concern.
“Not at all. Yes, he can be annoying at times, but that is all. He is not harassing me,” I said, hoping to put his mind at ease. Even as I spoke, I could not help but wonder what had led him to think such a thing in the first place.
“Are you sure?” he pressed, still unconvinced. “Why was he with you in the bathroom?”
“Oh, that,” I said lightly. “He only came to check on me to be sure I was all right, and to let me know that he will be embarking on a journey today. That is all. You truly have nothing to worry about.”
He studied me for a moment longer, his expression still clouded with doubt, but he did not push the matter any further.
A quiet warmth spread through my chest at his concern. Aside from Aunt Mia, I had never really had anyone look out for me in such a way, and the realization left me feeling strangely comforted.
Without another word, he moved to serve my food, handling everything with the same care and attentiveness he always showed. I ate in silence, focusing on filling my stomach and letting the nourishment chase away some of the lingering weakness in my body.
“We are supposed to commence the next step of your training today,” he said the moment I finished eating. “But seeing that you are not in the best shape, I think it would be wiser to postpone it until you feel stronger.”
I frowned at him, still in the process of swallowing the last bit of food, clearly displeased by the suggestion even as my body quietly agreed with his assessment.
“What are you saying?” I demanded at once. “I am strong enough to commence the next step. I have been looking forward to it for a long time. Now that I have eaten, I feel much stronger.” I countered him sharply, glaring at him for expecting me to accept sitting idle for yet another day as though I were fragile and incapable.
“Are you sure?” he asked carefully. “I don't want you to break down again. Don't try to force yourself if you do not truly feel up to it.”
“Isn’t the next step going to the archives?” I asked, and when he nodded in response, my resolve only hardened. “I am up to it. Let me just freshen up and change my clothes,” I said as I rose to my feet once more.
“I will be outside. Just call my name when you are ready,” he replied, and without waiting for an answer, he turned and walked out of the room.
I narrowed my eyes slightly, sensing that something was bothering him beneath the calm he tried to project. For a moment I considered pressing the issue, but I soon dismissed the thought and made my way back into the bathroom.
After washing up and changing into fresh clothes, I felt renewed, both in body and spirit. I did not bother calling Taren’s name, already certain he was waiting outside exactly as he had said. Instead, I walked straight to the door and opened it.
“Ready,” I announced when he turned to face me.
“All right,” he said, offering a small smile. “Let’s go.”
This would be only the second time I had left this room since I was brought here, and the realization filled me with happiness. The very thought of movement and purpose thrilled me. How could I agree to more rest when I had already been confined for so long, stripped of any real sense of freedom?
As I stepped out of the room, I paused to take in my surroundings once again before following Taren in the opposite direction from the exit we had used the previous day. We walked in silence until we stopped in front of a door. He pushed it open and gestured for me to enter.
I stepped inside and immediately realized that I was standing in a well equipped library. Shelves stretched across the walls, filled with countless books, their presence commanding both respect and awe.
“This is the archives?” I asked, glancing at Taren as he shut the door behind us and came to stand at my side.
My eyes continued to wander, admiring the sheer grandeur of the room, when his answer finally reached me.
“No, it is not,” he said. “This is Alpha’s library.”
My eyes widened instantly as I turned back to him, my brows lifting in surprise. The seriousness on his face told me he was not joking, and I slowly shifted my gaze back to the shelves surrounding us.
“Wow. It's beautiful,” I breathed. “Does he ever spend time in here?” I asked, genuinely curious whether this place was merely decorative or truly used.
“I have met him here on a few occasions,” Taren replied. “So yes, he does spend time here sometimes.”
“If this is not the archives, then why are we here?” I asked, confusion creeping into my voice. “Do you need a book or something?” My words trailed off as I followed him with my eyes while he approached the shelf on the left, the one filled with the most books. He reached beneath one of the compartments and pulled a small, hidden lever.
The shelf split apart slowly, revealing a narrow, secret passageway concealed behind it.
My eyes widened even further as I stared at it in stunned silence.
“This is why we are here,” he said calmly. “This passage leads to the archives.”
“A secret passage!” I exclaimed, unable to contain my excitement.
“Why do you look so surprised?” he asked.
“I have read about things like this countless times, but this is the first one I have ever seen,” I admitted honestly. “It feels like I have been transported straight into one of my storybooks.”
I fixed my gaze on the dark passage ahead, anticipation buzzing through me as my heart raced with wonder.