Aniya frowned. “He looks too much like my intended murderer, I am not interested, I’m certain he wants to kill me too. Also…” her glare deepened, “what kind of daughter are you? Have you no mercy on your mother!”
“Why are you talking about my mother?”
“Because you are proposing for me to lay with your father.”
“What? I didn't say that.”
“You said I need to carry a child with Alpha’s blood, and your father is the Alpha.”
Oana shook her head. “I meant your mate! Not my father. He is the heir and carries the blood of the Alpha in his veins. A child from him might save you.”
“Oh.” Aniya chuckled. “Oh, mate.”
“Lay with him, have his pup, it should be easy enough. You are his Mate.” Oana held her hand. “That should give us time and grant you life.”
Aniya took a look at her, trying to see if she meant what she was saying.
It was confusing to determine whether Oana was standing for her or against her. This wasn't the first time she had put her in harm’s way as a way to help her. This time around though, she actually did even though it had been through someone else.
Aniya couldn't tell if she was actually being sly and hiding her hatred for her that she had, just like the rest of her kind, or if she was actually just being stupid and played around by all her failing ideas of a rescue.
Even this idea that she had just proposed felt like a trap.
Like a set-up. She couldn't trust her but she was running out of ideas herself and she didn't know what to do, all her hopes were resting on Eldrick but even that didn't feel certain. She wished she had more options.
By Ignas, she just wished she could see Arlo!
Everything would be better if she could just send her some and ensure that he was alright. But she knew asking Oana for help in that aspect wouldn't work, so she suppressed the urge to beg desperately at her feet to make it happen.
“I am not going back to this,” she muttered as she pulled her hands away, but Oana snatched them right back.
“It is the only way. There is no other way but this.”
Aniya sighed. No matter what she felt towards Oana, she couldn't let her know of her distrust.
“What powers does a mate have? What does it mean to be someone's mate?”
Oana explained it with so much light in her eyes. She said that It was a bond like no other in the realms, a perfect partner that fitted perfectly with one’s soul. One’s other half.
“Do you wish you had a mate?”
“Some are lucky, some aren't. Mates are rare but it isn't necessary to build a strong relationship.”
Aniya smiled. “You like someone.”
Oana shook her head. “No?”
“Ah! Yes, you do!”
“No, I don't.”
“The warrior, what is his name again? Eldrick. You like him, I am right, yes? You lik—”
Oana’s hand quickly moved over Aniya's mouth. “Be quiet,” she said as she laughed.
Aniya struggled to free herself from her whole they laughed, when she was finally free, Oana pressed a finger against her lips.
“You must tell no one.”
Aniya nodded. So that was the relation she had with Eldrick, she liked him. Ah, by Ignas, there were no devilish scandals between the walls of this pack house. What a peaceful life they lived. Aniya was certain that Oana's fancy for the warrior wouldn't get in her way and now more than ever, she believed there was nothing for her to worry about.
Then she asked, shyly. “He is handsome, isn't he?”
Aniya shrugged.
“You don't think so because you already have a mate.”
“One which I hate. I hate your brother.”
“He is—”
“Do not try to redeem him. Tell me about your warrior. Does he know you like him? Do you think he likes you too?”
As much as Aniya enjoyed the gossip, her main interest in this was to gather as much information as she could about Eldrick and to form an even greater bond with Oana.
As long as the Princess was nothing like she was in the past, there was nothing for Aniya to fear.
Nothing at all.
This would remain a flimsy feeling she would forget about and if it were to grow into something more, she would be long gone by the time the consequences of that would fall upon them.
There would be no consequences to this.
_____
_____
After what had happened at the Resurrection Ground, Belladonna remained quiet and not a word was said as they journeyed to the Garden of the gems.
They didn't have as much time as they did before but they were certain they would be able to make it out of the Garden once they acquired the gem.
That would be soon.
Soon enough they would be able to get out of this cursed Garden.
Very soon, all this would be over.
However when they got to the Garden of the Gems, they were faced with vast emptiness.
There was nothing there.
Belladonna made a wish for the Garden of Gem to appear but that didn't happen, instead something else did.
Like a veil that was being pulled away, they could see that the floor was filled with bodies becoming flowers. Others had been here and they had ran out of time but that wasn't what shook Alaris to the core.
It was the realization of something even more.
Gaya was playing with them. They were in her Garden and she wanted them to fail, there was no way they could outwit her in her own garden.
Alaris balled his fists, anger blazing in his veins. “The map is lying to us.”