Chapter 51 Secrets

Chapter 51 Secrets
The room plunged into silence.

“Kieran, can you leave us for a moment?” Uncle Reuben asked.

Kieran straightened his back, his arms crossing in protest. “No. Hestia’s my mate, uncle. Shouldn’t I have the right to know what’s happening to her?”

“Please—”

“No! This shit always happens! I don’t want to be kept in the dark—”

“Kieran, please…”

He stopped at the sound of my weak voice. His shoulders loosened before slamming the door shut as he left.

Uncle Reuben turned to me as soon as we stopped hearing his footsteps. “So, my dear, what’s with your question?”

I let out a deep breath. I told Uncle Reuben everything about the Stranger. His saving me before Kieran found me, his sudden appearances, his knowledge about us Lycans… and the incident in the tavern.

I took out the emblem he and Crown Prince Alfonso left to me and showed it to Uncle, in hopes that he might recognize it.

“Pinto… I’ve heard about them when I was still the High Priest, but the last news I heard about them was that they’ve been massacred by the Red King for being half-breeds…” Uncle handed the emblems back to me. “The Red King spared no one. Not even a child.”

“Then… why did the Stranger give this to me? I—”

Uncle stood up, his hand shaky as he used his staff to navigate. “I don’t want to jump to conclusions, but…”

I stared at him, my heart beating in anticipation.

“The Pintos were rumored to be half-Lycans. Ones that descended from a pure-blooded Red and a pure-blooded, ancient line of Lycans.” Uncle Reuben reached for the basin of water and cloth. “You know that Reds and Lycans are mortal enemies. Mating with one, even with the lowest kind, was considered a deadly sin for them. And a taboo for us.”

My back stiffened. “Then… why did Mother grant a mate bond between us? We even had a Divine Link!”

Uncle Reuben didn’t answer. After all, we could never know the ways of the Goddess.

“He had been secretly helping me, yet…”

Uncle cut me off. “If what you experienced wasn’t an illusion created by his Red magic, then the Stranger you’re talking about might really be your mate, Hestia. But I would tread with caution. After all, you said he seemed to be helping your sister and Father. With the recent war, they would benefit more from ruining you than helping you succeed.”

I swallowed hard, my mouth bitter. “I know, Uncle.”

He sighed as he gently placed a hand on my shoulder. “Rest for now, alright? And talk to Kieran. He had been sleepless for the past two days. He was worried about you since the news from the Capital reached us.”

Uncle left the door open for Kieran to walk in. After all, he was just leaning at the wall right in front of the door, quietly listening to our conversation.

His weary eyes took one hard glance at me, before he stood up, about to walk away.

My knees almost buckled and crossed each other as I stood up, running after him.

His house in the Rogue settlement wasn't huge. It wasn't that hard to chase after him. But somehow, I could almost feel the growing distance between us.

“Kieran…”

“I'll sleep over in Uncle's,” he coldly said as he removed my hand on his wrist. “Rest well, Your Majesty.”

“Can't we talk?”

“We're already talking.”

I clicked my tongue. “No, I need to talk to you—”

Kieran scoffed and turned to face me, his face grim. “Talk to me? Earlier you were so desperate to make me step out of the room so I won't hear your conversation with Uncle Reuben.”

The taste of iron crept in my mouth as I bit the inner of my cheek. “I just… I don't want you to worry about me. Besides, I know you're mad—”

“Not worry about you? Of course I would worry about you, Hestia! You're my mate, for fuck's sake! I'd lose my wits if I ever lose you! I'm not mad that you were caught fucking another one of your mates in a hedge maze, or that you saved another one from poisoning, or that you've been mated to a Red… I'm mad that you want to shut me out and treat me like I'm an outsider!”

Kieran's fist slammed against the wooden wall, leaving a dent on it. Blood oozed out of his fist as he pulled it out.

“I just… I know I've been too much. You've been worried sick about the Rogue settlement. I just don't…”

My chest grew heavy, but the tears refused to fall. After all, since I was a kid, I've been too stubborn to even shed a tear.

Kieran sighed, running his fingers through his silver hair. “I know you've been independent your whole life. I know you only relied on yourself after people fucked you up. But I'm here now, Hestia… I'm your Vassal. I've sworn to be your sword and to protect you. Was it that hard to call my name and tell me you're in trouble?”

I didn't answer.

His voice croaked. “You're worried about me worrying about you, but don't you know that I'd be more worried if I don't hear from you? If you don't ask for my help?”

Kieran pulled me close, his arms tightly wrapping around me. He inhaled my scent, as he buried his face on my neck.

“I'm sorry…”

“Don't be sorry. Just learn to trust me more, alright? I can control my jealousy, but what I can't control is my fear of losing you. Remember that.”

Kieran guided me back to my room, and he laid beside me, softly brushing my hair with his fingers until my eyelids grew heavy.

“I'm afraid, Kieran…”

“Why?”

I bit my lip before answering. “What if the Council refused to allow me to return to the competition? I'd be ruining our plans. I—”

He shushed me. “Don't say that. We'll find other ways.”

I looked up at him, my eyes scanning his tired face. “You sound too optimistic now…”

A sly smile crept on his lips. “When I came back here, we stopped a Lycan trafficking ring targeting our Rogues. I was about to turn them in, but one of their aides, an old, blind Lycan, pleaded to me. Her protection in exchange of something important. Something about you, Hestia…”

“About me?”

Kieran nodded. “She said it was som ething you could use to bring the Lockes down. A valuable secret against Alpha Heron and Medea…”