Chapter 94 Running from trouble
~ Lyra's POV ~
Waking up, the very first memory that crashed into me was the memory of the dream I had last night. If was vivid and unrelenting, as though it had followed me out of sleep and refused to loosen its grip.
It was the second time I was having such a dream, and what unsettled me the most was how consistent it was. In both dreams, Kael did not look like the strong and untouchable Alpha everyone knew him to be, the one spoken about in hushed voices and reverent tones. Instead, he looked weak, wounded, and frighteningly human, stripped of all the power people associated with his name.
His posture had been broken, his strength visibly failing, and the one attacking him had seemed stronger, calculated, and disturbingly deliberate about hiding their identity. No matter how hard I tried, the attacker’s face remained elusive, blurred, as though the dream itself was determined to keep that secret from me.
I could not fathom why I was having these dreams or what they were meant to warn me about, apart from a small and deeply unsettling idea that had quietly taken root in my mind. It felt far too intentional to be meaningless. They were probably attacking him to get to me.
I let out a long, weary breath as I pushed myself out of bed, my body heavy with thoughts that had no answers. I moved toward the bathroom to complete my morning business, going through the motions on autopilot while my mind remained tangled in images of blood, shadows, and masked figures.
I hoped I would see Kael that morning, even if only briefly, even if it was just a glimpse that would reassure me that he was alright. But time dragged on in a slow, almost mocking way, and I did not see even his shadow. That absence stung far more than I wanted to admit, but I forced myself to push it to the back of my mind.
I shifted my focus instead to Taren, who had just entered my room with food, his presence bright and lively, looking all happy and jolly as though the world had not shifted under my feet at all.
“You’re looking all hyped up this morning. Did something exciting happen?” I asked, my voice carrying a teasing note as I settled down before the food without being asked and began uncovering the dishes. A wave of hunger washed over me so suddenly it caught me off guard. I felt very hungry that morning for reasons I could not understand, as though my body was trying to compensate for the emotional exhaustion weighing on my chest.
“Of course I am excited. I have been excited since yesterday. I’m sure Alpha has broken the news to you,” he responded, his voice bubbling with enthusiasm, unable to hide his happiness despite the careful effort he was making to appear controlled and composed on his face.
“What news? That I am free to move around the house but not outside of it?” I asked, already chewing onto a piece of meat that was so well cooked it felt as if it was melting in my mouth. The flavors were rich and layered, dancing across my senses in a way that momentarily grounded me and pulled me out of my spiraling thoughts.
“You make it sound like it’s a trivial thing,” Taren frowned, clearly displeased by how casually I had said it.
“You make it sound like it’s something I should be jumping about,” I countered playfully, watching with amusement as his expression shifted, enjoying the way his emotions were written plainly across his face.
“Yes, it’s something worth celebrating. Do you know the last time a witch was allowed to walk this grounds freely?” he asked, his eyes widening with an incredulous expression as if the very idea still shocked him. “It’s been ages.”
“I’m only messing with you,” I revealed, allowing a small smile to curve my lips. “Of course I’m grateful for the freedom. It’s way better than my experiences before now,” I added sincerely, and he nodded twice in response, his expression softening as his earlier seriousness melted away and was replaced by visible relief and renewed excitement.
“There is another exciting news,” he said, his voice lifting again. “I get to be your guide around the house and your personal bodyguard,” he announced, standing a little straighter as though the responsibility alone filled him with pride.
As happy as I was to hear that, confusion slowly crept into my mind, dulling the excitement just enough to make me question it. “Why do I need a bodyguard when I am not leaving the house?” I asked, my tone genuinely curious rather than dismissive, because the logic behind it did not immediately make sense to me.
“I believe you know that the majority of the people in the house don't like you and don't like your kind in general,” he explained patiently. “So even though Alpha has warned against anyone attempting to hurt you, we still need to make double sure that does not happen,” he continued, his voice firm with quiet protectiveness.
I didn't argue with him. I only gave a slow nod of understanding, accepting the reality he had laid bare before me.
No words were exchanged between us again until I was done eating. The silence was not uncomfortable, but thoughtful, filled with the clinking of cutlery and the steady rhythm of my breathing as I allowed myself to focus on the food and gather my thoughts.
“I think I am ready to have my first breath of fresh air,” I said at last, lifting my gaze to him as soon as I was done eating. “But as much as I would love to be shown around the house, I want to visit the garden first,” I added, having thought extensively about it while eating and realizing that the open space was what I needed the most.
“Excellent choice, my lady,” he said with an approving smile. “The garden would be honored to welcome you. I’m ready when you are,” he agreed readily, already moving as though eager to fulfill his new role.
When we stepped out of the room with the intention of going to the garden, a strange and overwhelming sense of freedom washed over me, one I had not felt in a long while. Although I had left the room a few times in the past, either to perform a duty or to answer questions, none of those moments had given me the satisfaction I was experiencing now.
This time was different. This time, I was allowed to walk slowly, to take my time, and to truly look at my surroundings without being rushed or watched too closely. It felt amazing to be able to walk freely again, to exist without feeling like every step was borrowed time. Still, I could not fully relax. The things I had heard the Brenda lady say lingered at the back of my mind, whispering warnings. I had a feeling I might be disappointed someday, and because of that, I refused to completely let my guard down.
We soon arrived at the ground floor and took a turn that I guessed was meant to lead us outside the house. Just at the same time, someone took the same turn from the other end of the hallway we were on and started heading toward us. However, the moment he noticed us, he abruptly stopped, turned around, and hurried away from the hallway as if someone were chasing him.
I recognized him immediately, my chest tightening with the realization. It was Fin, the genesis of my recent problems.