Chapter 58
Gradel
"So how can I make things right?" I questioned.
Devin reached for my hands, gripping them firmly. "There's nothing you can do because whatever is going on isn't your fault. You didn't force anyone to like you and that's why I'm taking this offer to rule the Red Sea pack as an escape."
My eyes squinted in confusion, my heart tearing apart. "How?" My voice was breathy and I was close to breaking down in tears. "We haven't even bonded yet and you want to leave already. Why can't we team up and fight them?"
He giggled darkly. "You and I know that it would be a very wrong move. Besides, I'll lose my mind if I keep staying here. Father will never give me the same level of respect and love he has for you and over there, I get the liberty to rule them as I want. This pack would have been ruled by our late mother, but our father took away that chance from her and killed her. Please, don't allow him to get away with this." His eyes turned cold and hard lines appeared on his face.
I threw a glance at our father whose chest rose and fell slowly. He wouldn't have the easiest death.
"Your wish is my command, Brother." I stretched out my arms and we met each other in an embrace.
At that point, hot tears poured down my cheeks in torrents and I didn't bother to restrain myself. The saying 'Behind every disappointment is a blessing' could never be more real in my life because I'd recovered the friendship of my twin; the only family I had.
He was the only family because my father was dead to me.
"I'm wondering who revealed the cause of Mother's death to them. They couldn't have found out on their own except we have one of them in our midst," My eyes widened in realization as we broke off our embrace.
"That also occurred to me and if we truly have a traitor here then we have to fish him out soon." He agreed and I couldn't be happier.
We shook hands as if we had just concluded a business deal. "Let's see how it goes."
Hearing Iris cough dented my happiness and then I remembered that our enemies were still around.
"He'll go with you so free my mate this minute and leave this place," I ordered.
"Very well. My mission here has been achieved and we'll all return to our pack with our Alpha." She replied nonchalantly and trotted towards Devin.
She fell on her knees and bowed before him. "Your Highness,"
Devin scoffed, leering at her. I knew that look and I knew that the outcome wouldn't be good. "Take her away! All of you who dared raid into this pack without my permission will face my wrath," He scowled and smirked at me.
"Goodbye," I muttered under my breath and dashed towards Iris.
I scooped her into my arms and led her home after dishing out orders to Hegar and the other sentinels. Taking the place of my father seemed like a herculean task to me as I never had the intention of ruling, but for the sake of the people who put their hope in me, I had to do it.
********
Iris stared restlessly on the bed, muttering words I couldn't understand. Her restiveness called out to me and when I couldn't stand it anymore, I patted her shoulder gently.
She jerked up with cold sweats breaking out from her forehead, panting heavily as she held onto my arm.
"It's fine, I'm here with you. No one is going to hurt you," I assured her.
Her heavy pants subsided and she recoiled under the duvet, evading my gaze. After everything that happened tonight, I wasn't sure we could keep fighting but our relationship would never remain the same.
My trust for her had been broken and it would take a long time to repair.
I produced a clean tissue and dabbed her face with it, cleaning off the sweat while she took in a deep breath.
"What did you dream about?" I asked penitently, stroking her cheek.
She shut her eyes and opened them almost immediately. "You might not believe me but I can't remember any single detail and I don't want to. Whatever happened in that dream felt so real I thought I'd die. I don't think I want to be exposed to such an overwhelming feeling of trepidation again..." She shook her head.
I sank onto the bed which dipped under my weight and placed her head on my chest. She needed my presence more than ever and I'd be a selfish mate to withhold what she needed so urgently.
"Then don't force yourself too hard if it brings you so much fear. Just focus on getting better,"
She snatched her head away from mine and stared at me pleadingly. "Are you still mad at me?"
I pulled away from her, getting to my feet. "I'm not mad. I'm just disappointed and there's this deep feeling of distrust I harbor towards you. I might not be rejecting you but you should have it at the back of your mind that our relationship won't be as before." I said plainly.
Her sigh echoed in the room, but I was done talking. My head needed to be cleared after tonight's debacle and I won't be able to achieve anything around her.
"Sleep well. When you recover, Hegar will take over your training." I shut the door behind me and headed towards the courtyard.
I'd planned to speak to my father but I couldn't trust my anger not to take hold of me. Silas was doing his magic with him, but his chances of survival were very slim.
The poison had already gotten to his heart and at that point, it would take a miracle for him to heal since the cure to the poison was also rare; not even the fruit of the Illyra tree possessed it.
Having nothing else to do, I shifted and broke into a run.