CHAPTER 189

CHAPTER 189


Reika's POV

Archer heaved a deep sigh, and a thick silence fell between us. Then his hungry gaze landed on the food and he swallowed hard.

“You should eat,” I said to him, leaning forward and pushing the tray of food towards him.

“What about you?”

I shook my head. “I'm not eating. I really don't have an appetite. I'm just so worried about what will become of Daisy and Ray's fate.”

“Me too,” he quickly said, pushing the tray away from him. “I'm not hung—” the statement died in his mouth due to the loud growling of his stomach. He clutched his stomach tightly and then let out a humourless laugh. “Don't mind my stomach. I guess I'm just—”

I placed a hand over his shoulder. “You should eat, Archer,” I urged softly. “You don't have to feel guilty about it. Honestly, if I was hungry, I would have eaten too.” Then I teased, “If anything comes up, you'd need your strength to protect me.”

There was a pause before he nodded slowly. “Alright then. I will eat just a little to be able to regain my strength.”

I nodded with a small smile playing on my lips.

Archer dragged the tray closer and began to dish the food onto a clean empty plate. Then he began to eat, but like he said he was just going to eat a little, he didn't. He ate more than half of the food and side dishes. I guess he had been so hungry. And I was happy for him; at least it made me feel less guilty about dragging him into this mess with me.

Honestly, I wished I had an appetite too, but right now… if I forced myself to eat, I might choke.

The past days passed by in a blur. I couldn't tell the days perfectly, but when I asked the maids who brought breakfast earlier, I realized that three days had gone from the one-week ultimatum that Kael gave me. Four days until the fate of my brother and sister would be decided.

The thing was, I was sure that Kael might have had a spy keeping an eye on us, and if he had done that, it meant he might have already known that I failed the mission and maybe… just maybe, Daisy and Ray were already in deep danger.

Fear gripped me so immensely that I couldn't stay calm. Due to the exhaustion and lack of energy from not eating, I paced around the room restlessly.

I needed to do something before it was too late. But what… what should I do?

“I think I need to tell Ileus the truth,” I blurted out, staring down at Archer who was lying on the mat.

“What truth?” He asked absentmindedly.

“All the truth. About my appearance, the powers, and Kael's mission.”

At first, there was total silence, then he jumped up to sit. “You want to reveal your true self to him?” He asked with wide eyes that looked like they would pop out of their sockets.

“Yes,” I answered firmly.

“Why?”

“Because it might be the only way to save Daisy and Ray.”

“How?” He asked, genuinely confused. “You think if you tell him the truth, he will allow you to kill him so Kael will let them go?”

“I don't know how it would work out, Archer.” I raked my fingers through my hair. “But I won't just sit here and do nothing while they lose their lives. Like you said days ago, maybe he still cares about my comfort. From the way they've been feeding us three square meals instead of once like the rest of the other prisoners, I think a part of him still cares. And again, he already has so much regret about my death… maybe he'd take the opportunity to make things right this time.”

Archer did not speak immediately, but his expression seemed more relaxed. “You are right. One thing I am sure of from the way he felt guilty about your death is that he won't execute you if he knows that you are the one.”

“I hope so.”

I wasn't sure if I was safe or not, especially with the fact that I had joined hands with Kael, but then it was better than doing nothing. At all costs, I would beg him to help me save Daisy and Ray.

“But how do you get through to him?”

I fell silent for a while. That was true… there was really no way to get through to him. Suddenly, a thought struck me.

“Watch me,” I said, pulling down the scarf over my face and moving towards the railings of the prison cell. “Guards! Guards!! Guards!!!” I screamed so loudly that it attracted the attention of the other prisoners, and they all looked towards me.

“Yes,” I heard an angry voice answer. His boots struck the floor sharply as he approached us. When he got there, he stood at a distance, probably because of the contagious illness they thought I had, and asked, “Why the hell are you making noise like that, Lady?”

I leaned closer, my voice dropping into a low whisper. “Can you please tell the Alpha that I really want to see him?”

He looked at me for a while before he burst into laughter. It was loud, sharp, and mocking. “I should tell the Alpha that you want to see him?” He repeated, like that was the most absurd thing he had heard in a while. “You must still think that you are the Alpha's favourite person, huh?”

“Please. Just tell him I want to see him.”

“You better stay in there quietly or I will teach you a lesson for disturbing the peace of this dungeon,” he threatened, sounding really angry now.

He stormed away.

I turned back to look at Archer, who only shook his head before cursing under his breath. “Such a bastard!”

Left with no choice, I sat on the mat thinking of another means to get through to Ileus.

By noon, a maid brought lunch. As she dropped it quietly like she usually did, my hands suddenly wrapped around her wrist.

She shrieked with fear, staring up at me with wide eyes. “What happened, my Lady?” Her voice was shaky.

“Ha—” I released her wrist. “I'm so sorry. I did not mean to scare you.”

“Alright, my Lady.” She calmed down a little. “Do you need anything? The Alpha has instructed us to give you whatever food you would like to eat.”

My brows furrowed. “Why would he say that?”

“Because I told him you've not been eating. I told him only your guards have been eating all the food we've been bringing over. So he said we should give you whatever you want in case you don't like the meals we've been bringing. So what would you like to have? I will prepare it right away and bring it over.”

My jaw fell as I exchanged glances with Archer, who was already serving himself food. Ileus really still cared about me, and that gave me more hope and courage.

I shook my head. “I don't want food though.”

“Then what do you want?”

“I want you to help me tell the Alpha that I would like to see him.”

She looked shocked. “But—”

“What the hell are you still here?” The same guard from earlier walked over.

The lady jumped to her feet. “Yeah… I'm done serving them.”

“Then get out!” He said coldly. “Or would you like to join them?”

“No,” she quickly said and walked out of the prison cell. “I'm so sorry.” She looked at me from the railings before finally walking away.

The guard hissed loudly and then walked off.

I cursed under my breath.

This guard seemed to be the weapon fashioned against me.

I hoped she would at least convey my message to Ileus. But even if she did, would he come?

I was sure he cared about keeping me alive, but he wouldn't care enough to come here just because I summoned him.

“Don’t worry, we will find another way to get through to him if the lady doesn't convey your message,” Archer said, patting my back.

“I know we will, but time is running out quickly,” I lamented bitterly.

“We will try again when the lady brings dinner tonight… hoping you will be able to speak to him tonight.”

“I really hope so.”

I took a bottle of water and downed it just like I had been doing in the past three days. Just water to keep my body and soul together.