Chapter 120 You Fool
Ruel's POV
Elric’s shoulder bumps mine as we turn into the corridor, and he stays there, matching beside me without a word.
As usual our steps fall into sync, quick and focused.
The guards straighten as we pass. I notice how a guard's glare follows me and not once does he drop his gaze in respect.
Yet another thing I'll have to handle after my discussion with the alpha.
My pulse hammers in my ears as with every step, I wait anxiously for Elric's voice… he has not said a word about what he saw.
But with the way he keeps his face forward, his eyes fixed on our next turn, his jaw locked so tight the tendons stand out in sharp relief along his neck… the way his hands curl into fists at his sides… I know he's furious.
Finally, with a death glare he speaks, his voice not much louder than a hiss. “Were you ever going to tell me?”
I keep walking, although my pace falls into slower strides as I swallow the rawness in my throat.
“I was going to tell you.” I say.
Elric stops abruptly and I halt beside him. He turns to face me, his eyes burning. I catch how his chest rises and falls in short, angry bursts. His gaze holds the same disbelief it did when he walked in on us—
He'd failed to knock… or maybe he did knock. I wouldn't know since I was too engrossed in brushing through Ira's cold strands. Life has never felt so peaceful as it did in that moment.
And then the door was softly pushed open. But it was too late… too late to cover Ira's white hair, too late to deny the sempyr glow she emitted, too late to prevent Elric from standing there in shock.
Maybe I should have reacted in a different way other than shushing him up. Somehow, more than him finding out who she is, I'd been terrified of him waking her up.
And so I'd quietly gotten out of bed to explain things but Elric blurted out his message.
“The alpha king is here… with a literal army so we'll talk about…” He'd glared at her and my heart broke instantly because I knew right then that I'd hurt him to keep her safe.
“Fuck Ruel! What are you thinking? She's a fucking…”
“Later.” I hissed, my heart pounding when Ira shifted. “She's waking up. I'll meet you outside.” I've barely finished speaking when Elric storms out.
Elric lifts a clenched hand, then drops it again as though he cannot decide whether to punch my face or simply walk away. “Can you not lie to me right now, Ruel? For goddess' sake! Ira’s a sempyr, isn’t she?” he grits out and I meet his gaze without flinching.
“You can’t tell anyone.” I whisper, a bead of sweat breaking out on my forehead as a new kind of fear surges through me.
Elric exhales sharply through his nose. His shoulders slump the smallest fraction, but the anger does not leave his eyes. “Don’t be stupid. I would never do that to you.”
I don't believe him. How can I when the sempyrs killed our families. Everyone has a reserved hate for all sempyrs and I know Elric is no different.
I can't harm Ira for obvious reasons… hurting her is even worse than hurting myself. But Elric has no reason to spare her life.
“If he makes an attempt to hurt Ira, what will you do?” Krist mutters, also on edge.
I inhale deeply, my mental response quicker than I expect. “I won't spare him.”
Elric drags a hand down his face. “Listen, we need to talk. Really talk. And only after we deal with the alpha king’s sudden appearance.”
I nod once.
Elric doesn't respond but increases his pace, his expression hardening even more.
The moment we step into the meeting hall, I know something is terribly wrong.
For one insanely long breath the hall is quiet, so quiet that I hear the torches sputter along the walls.
Then Alpha King Andre speaks.
“Where is she?” his sharp words pull my attention from Omar who's armed like other royal guards.
Elric’s shoulder brushes mine. It's a subtle move yet familiar. I read the meaning immediately… He can sense something is off.
I blink, keeping my shoulders relaxed and ensuring my tone carries no threat. “What do you mean, Alpha King?” I mutter as I try to put together what he's saying.
Alpha King Andre’s mouth tightens and deep lines crease his brow. “Do not insult me, Ruel. Why are you pretending like you did not send the letter? The one that clearly says you found a sempyr in this base.”
Gasps erupt from every warrior present.
My heart drops, my feet instantly turn to ice and for a moment I hear nothing but the rush of blood in my ears.
A letter…. my letter…. sempyr… shit.
Shit!
Someone knows about Ira.
Someone wrote to the king in my name? No one has access to my stamp but Elric.
I turn him and even before he shakes his head subtly, I know this isn't his doing.
My fingers go numb at my sides but when I speak, my words come out stable.
“I did not send any letter,” I say calmly. But inside, my chest trembles. “I swear it was a false alarm Alpha.” I intend to bow but Krist angrily holds back, fighting the submissive posture.
Andre studies me as if he is waiting for me to call bullshit. Then he reaches into his cloak and pulls out a folded paper sealed in black wax.
My stamp is boldly pressed into it. Every line of it is perfect. Too perfect to have been forged.
How could I have been so careless?
Alpha king Andre throws the paper on the table between us.
“Read your own words.” he says firmly, already looking annoyed.
I don’t touch it. I don't need to.
“If you didn't send this then…” Andre steps forward.
“Someone's trying to deceive you. Perhaps a ploy to get you out of the pack house under the disguise of a sempyr alarm. If there were a sempyr here, do you think I and my men wouldn't have taken it out since.”
“At first I thought it was weird that you were reporting yourself and how you thought you could hide her forever. But how'd you report that you have a nice little secret in your room? So I gathered my army thinking this was a planned rebel. But you don't even have the balls for that.” He laughs louder, wheezing like he's just cracked the funniest joke.
“Alpha.. “
“You didn't write this. Now I see someone else clearly did. YOU FOOL!!” He yells and draws out his sword.
When he steps closer, his pheromones can be perceived but they don't affect me at all.
“Take me to the sempyr, Xuaru. If you obey, perhaps I'll let you have your memories tonight. If not, I'll search every stone myself and when I find her, I'll kill you too.”