Chapter 71 Solution
~ Lyra's POV ~
“I don't know the answer to that question,” Lunaris said to me when I asked her why I had hurt Taren without meaning to, when all he had tried to do was help me. “But I do have a suggestion about the confusion going on in your mind,” she continued gently. “Instead of focusing on the bad memories from the vision, why not fill your mind with all the good memories you have had since you can remember. Let them drown out the negative ones,” she advised.
I let out a slow sigh, nodding unconsciously as I told her that I would try it and see if it worked.
“Why are you nodding?” Taren’s voice pulled my attention back to the present, and I turned to see him giving me a curious look. We were already back in the room, and he had just set the items we brought from the archives down in one corner.
“I was speaking to Lunaris,” I explained, and he nodded in understanding.
“Right. It's quite unusual to see you do that, which is why I asked,” he said. “You look stressed. Would you like me to get you some juice or water?” he added, his concern plainly etched on his face.
“Water will do. Thank you,” I replied, offering him a small, grateful smile.
He nodded and turned to leave, but a few seconds later, something else occurred to me.
I had not been sleeping well for the past two days because of the constant nightmares that plagued me, and I suspected that was part of what was affecting my control and state of mind. I wished I could help myself in that regard, but I did not know how.
Whenever I had been this disturbed in the past, Aunt Mia would prepare a special concoction with herbs that helped me sleep without dreams. I wished she were here with me now, but she was not, so I hoped that Kaitlyn might have something that could help me have an undisturbed sleep.
With that thought in mind, I hurried after Taren, hoping to catch up with him before he left the hallway. Contrary to my assumption that he might already be at the end, he was still somewhere around the middle, standing completely still.
I was about to ask him why he had stopped when my ears picked up the sound of a heated exchange coming from outside, right where the guards were stationed.
“I’m sorry, Beta Dagan. I can't let you in. You already know that,” a voice said, which I assumed belonged to one of the guards.
I moved forward slowly, walking on the tips of my toes so as not to make much noise, and only stopped when I reached Taren’s side.
“If you cannot let me in, then go inside and bring them out,” Dagan said, and I recognized his bitter voice immediately.
“I can't do that either,” the guard replied curtly.
I could almost feel Dagan’s anger and frustration through the sharp edge in his voice when he spoke again.
“Do you even understand the gravity of what is going on? There is a serious accusation on ground, and you are standing in the way of my investigation. Alpha is not here, which automatically puts me in charge. You should stop acting like you are in charge instead of the other way around,” Dagan seethed.
“I understand your position and I respect it, Beta Dagan. However, Alpha placed you in charge of the entire Pack House with the exception of his quarters, and I value my duty far too much to risk it just to please you. So, to make things easier for both of us, kindly call Alpha and ask him to give me explicit permission to let you in. If he does that, I will not stand in your way any longer,” the guard replied, his tone wrapped in a level of calm that could easily irritate anyone. I was quite certain that if I were in his position, I would not have been able to remain that composed.
I waited for Dagan to respond, or at least to pull out his phone and make the call, but nothing happened. A few seconds later, I heard retreating footsteps, and I wondered if he was going to retrieve his phone or if he had decided to make the call somewhere else.
It was at that moment that I moved to stand directly in front of Taren. I could have said what I needed to say while standing beside him, but I didn't trust that he would not be stubborn and attempt to move forward anyway, forcing me to grab him just to stop him.
“I’m no longer thirsty. Please, can we go back inside?” I whispered, my voice low and my expression openly pleading.
Thankfully, he listened, and we returned to the room without drawing any further attention.
“I can't believe that little thing could not wait to start yapping about what happened. He must have described both you and me to Beta Dagan for him to come here looking for us,” Taren said the moment he stepped inside after me and closed the door.
“Oh dear heavens, what do we do now? I don't want you to get arrested again because of me,” I said, immediately resuming my pacing, guilt already wrapping tightly around my chest at the thought of what he might suffer because of me.
“I will not get arrested. Don't worry. I will figure out a solution soon,” he said, trying to sound reassuring, but I shook my head in disagreement.
“There is no solution except… except…” I started, my thoughts spinning wildly as I desperately searched for a way out of the situation.
Then, something finally clicked in my mind.
“Wait. There might be a solution in the book of spells. I have heard of disguise spells before, but I never really gave them much thought until now. I hope I can find something like that in here,” I said quickly as I rushed to the spot where he had dropped the books and scrolls. I picked up the three spell books and clutched them to my chest.
This was the moment I wished the books came with a table of contents, but since they did not, I knew I would have to go through each and every page, searching desperately for what I needed.
I was almost halfway through the first one, which was the smallest, when the sound of footsteps reached my ears, and my heart dropped painfully into my stomach.
Had Kael authorized the guards to let Dagan in?