Chapter 37 If Gestrid finds her
Ruel's POV
I’ve never been able to withstand his aura. Never without agony. Never standing upright for a few seconds… of course he noticed the difference.
Something is different in me. Something is terribly wrong and just as dangerous. I'll be stupid to make the alpha king feel like I'm a threat to his authority.
“I apologize,” I say quickly, keeping my head lowered. “It won’t happen again.”
He studies me for several long seconds. Then beside the door, the seer finally speaks.
Her voice is dry and grainy, like sand sliding over stone.
“Commander Ruel,” she says. “You haven’t by any chance seen your mate… have you?”
My spine goes rigid.
Elric reacts faster.
“The Commander is too busy for frivolities like that,” he says sharply, wincing slightly as he flexes his arm. “His duties come first.”
I nod immediately. “A mate would only slow me down. My loyalty is to the alpha king forever.”
The seer hums softly, tilting her veiled head as if tasting the air. Then she steps forward.
“I see,” she says. “Since you remain loyal to the Alpha King, it wouldn’t… bother you if I looked around the base, would it?”
My pulse spikes but I know I can't afford to hesitate.
“Not at all,” I say. “Search wherever you please.”
She inclines her head once. Alpha King Andre looks between us, then waves a hand.
“Scarface,” he calls, “Walk with me. There are things I need to discuss privately with you.”
Then he gestures to the seer. “You too. We have… delicate matters to handle before anything else.”
They move to leave and I lean closer to Elric.
“I need to handle something. Deal with every other thing till I return.” I tell him firmly.
Elric nods but his glare remains on Scarface who's chatting with the alpha. I would be concerned to but there's currently only one thought in my head.
Ira.
If Gestrid finds her …
Without wasting time I slip around the table, and slide out the opposite door leading to a narrow corridor.
IRA’S POV
I wake with a strange feeling. My body feels very light. As though someone peeled a heavy layer off my skin during the night.
My eyes blink open to a dim room washed in early dawn light. The ceiling is the same cracked concrete of my room. I sit up, placing my feet on the ground.
The cold floor is still the same. The blanket around my shoulders is the same.
But why do I feel different?
A soft rush of air glides past my cheek. I sit up stronger. My eyes follow the movement strangely, feeling like the wind isn’t just passing by this time.
I don't know what gives me the idea but it feels like the wind is suddenly alive. Like the presence is stronger… firmer.
It slips across the room and pushes gently against the locked door, almost like a nudge.
I swallow. “What… are you doing?”
The question falls out naturally, before my brain even catches up.
I freeze.
I’m talking to the wind?!
I scrub a hand over my face. “Okay, now I’m officially losing it.”
But it comes again… another soft push. A cool swirl brushes behind my ear, like a whisper shaped out of air.
“Open,”
My blood chills.
It didn’t sound like a voice-voice. I've heard it several times in the past though but never this clear. Never this detailed.
It's not human. No, it is very much like the pressure and movement of the wind scraping against sound. Light, yet with meaning.
Or maybe I'm just losing my mind.
But I heard it. Or felt it… Honestly it felt like both.
I slowly stand. “Did you just tell me to open the door?”
The wind answers by hitting the door again. It's light but insistent.
I blink rapidly as a memory tries to surface, something about last night… or the night before… but it slips away, leaving only fog. I frown and step toward the door.
Before I even touch it, the knob clinks softly.
And turns.
Just then I remember. Last night I had fallen asleep in commander Ruel's study. Did he… did he carry me to bed?
A gasp escapes me as the door eases open on its own, pushed by a small breeze that creeps into the room like a curious creature.
“What the h…?” I whisper, the blanket falling from my fingers.
The cold air from behind me shoves lightly at my back.
“S..seriously? You want me to go out there?”
Another push… one that rushes through my hair.
I stumble forward a step, my heart beating too fast, but a strange calm in my chest pushes back against my fear.
The wind has saved me before. Actually twice now. Maybe three times. So why doubt it?
I peek outside the door. The hallway is miraculously empty.
No guards. No heavy footsteps. No voices. There's nothing but the faint morning chill settling into the base.
“Where is everyone?” I whisper to… to the wind.
Dear goddess, I've probably lost my mind.
The wind curls around my shoulders, almost urging.
“Okay. Fine. I'm already talking to you so it can't possibly get worse than this.” I mutter, slipping quietly into the hallway.
My bare feet are silent against the cold ground. My back presses to the wall as I creep forward, every sense of mine is stretched tight. But no voice shouts… No guard appears.
The wind tugs at my dress, pulling me left, down the wider corridor leading toward the giant reinforced door I’d once stolen a key from.
“Seriously?” I whisper. “You want me to go there?”
Another breeze brushes my cheek.
I tiptoe down the hall, my heartbeat thudding so loud I’m sure it’s echoing. By the time I reach the big wooden door, several sweat beads have formed on my head.
I dig quickly into the large pocket inside my dress.
My fingers close around cool metal and I pull it out, trying not to faint from anxiety. Theft is my expertise but this will be the first time I'm breaking into a place.
And to think I'm actually allowing myself be led by wind.
I slot the stolen key into the lock but pause. Maybe I've misunderstood the wind and simply came here out of curiosity?
“Last chance to tell me this is a bad idea,” I mutter, already pitying my future self if I should get caught.
Nothing pushes me back.
Great.
I twist the key. It clicks with a soft sound and without wasting time, I sneak inside, my heart pounding.