Chapter 36 Not Your Ordinary Human
CHAPTER 36: Not Your Ordinary Human
Seraphine’s POV
The moment I stepped into the hall, I felt it. Eyes.. so many eyes.
They bored into me from every direction like I had walked in naked instead of wearing a simple dress. The room went quiet in that sharp, uncomfortable way that made every small sound louder. I could hear whispers starting almost immediately, low and fast, sliding across the long tables.
“How is she walking?”
“She was half-dead just earlier today!”
“But.. but she's a human, right?”
“No human heals like that!”
I lifted my chin and glared right back at them, daring anyone to say it louder. My body still ached, yes, but I was standing, breathing, hole and judging by their faces, that bothered them more than if I had crawled in bleeding.
Then my eyes found Aric. He was already staring at me and shock was written plainly on his face.. real shock. His brows were drawn together, his posture stiff like his mind hadn’t caught up with what his eyes were seeing and for a second something twisted in my chest.
I crushed it!
He’s your enemy, I reminded myself sharply. He always has been. You didn’t come here to fall for him. You came to avenge your family.
I broke eye contact first.
Slowly, deliberately, I walked forward and the whispers followed me through the grand hall. I ignored them all and reached the long table. Aric’s seat was there, waiting like it always was but I didn’t sit there. Instead, I turned and dropped into the chair beside Darius.
The surprise on Aric’s face shifted instantly and his initial sshock gave way to something tighter and sharper. Anger, maybe.. he hid it quickly but I felt it anyway.
Good..
Darius blinked at me like I had just appeared out of thin air.
“Well,” he said, leaning closer with his eyes wide in disbelief, “you’re either very hard to kill or very bad at staying in bed.”
I snorted.
“Probably both.”
He laughed and then h frowned.
“No, seriously. You were wrecked. I saw you carried in. How are you even sitting here right now?”
I shrugged and reached for the cup in front of me.
“Good genes, probably.”
He stared.
“That’s it?”
“That’s it.”
“That makes no sense!”
“Neither does half the stuff that happens around here,” I said calmly. “Yet here we are.”
Darius opened his mouth again, clearly not satisfied but my stomach growled loudly enough to cut him off. I frowned.
“I’m starving,” I said bluntly. “I could eat a cow. Possibly two.”
A few Lycans nearby scoffed and one muttered, “Animals eating animals. Figures.”
I ignored that too.
Food was set in front of me and I didn’t hesitate. I picked up my fork and dug in like I hadn’t eaten in days because honestly, it felt like I hadn’t. I ate slowly but thoroughly, calm and unbothered on the outside even though I could feel the tension rolling off the table.
Aric was still watching me but I didn’t look at him. Instead, I turned fully toward Darius.
“So,” I said, chewing, “is it true you once tried to race a wolf while drunk?”
Darius grinned.
“That story is highly exaggerated.”
“I heard you lost.”
“I tripped.”
“I heard you cried.”
He laughed loudly.
“I did not cry.”
I smiled and asked another question.. and another.. anything to get Aric freaking jealous! I laughed at Darius's jokes even the stupid ones and I leaned closer when he spoke. I made sure my attention stayed right there.
Every time Aric shifted, I felt it through the stupid mate bond as it buzzed hotter and angrier.
Perfect! My plan was working out quite well.
Finally, a sharp sound cut through the room as Aric stood and the hall fell silent instantly.
“I have made a decision,” he said with his voice cool and controlled.. too controlled. “From this moment on, the human girl will no longer dine with the Lycans.”
A murmur of approval swept through the tables.
“Wise,” someone said.
“About time.”
“She may be given as a bride,” another voice added, “but she is still an abomination.”
I slowly set my fork down and I stood. No one stopped me and no one spoke.
I gave a small, polite nod toward the table, then turned away. As I did, my fingers brushed the edge of the table and in one smooth motion, I slipped a small knife into my sleeve but no one noticed.
Guards fell in step beside me almost immediately. Of course they did. Aric was predictable like that.
I walked silently back to my room with the weight of the knife steady and comforting against my wrist. My heart didn’t race and my thoughts were clear because tonight ends this!
If he thought he could discard me, lie to me and still control how this ends, he was wrong.
The door closed behind me and I sat on the bed and waited in silence. I knew he would come to me after his dinner. I was certain he would.
The knock came softly and I smiled and stood up but then realized it came from the window. Who could it be?
I turned toward the window instead and when I threw it open, my breath caught when I saw the person who stood there calmly and waiting in the shadows…