Chapter 89 Let's go to the crime scene
Valen’s emotions churned violently. Morgana’s words kept echoing in his mind, each syllable digging deeper into his resolve. The accusations she brought were serious, and the evidence—if it held any truth—painted Ella in the darkest light. And Ella just stood there, her expression unfazed, her silence deafening.
Valen clenched his fists at his sides, his nails digging into his palms. He couldn’t understand why she wasn’t defending herself, why she wasn’t shouting her innocence from the rooftops. Wasn’t she aware of how precarious her position was? Say something, Ella, he thought, desperation clawing at him. Please give me something to work with.
He clenched his fists by his side, struggling to keep his anger in check. Last night’s memory burned fresh in his mind. He’d found her sneaking in, in a disheveled state and her nakedness, a clear sign she had shifted. He hadn’t pressed her then, hoping she would come to him with an explanation. But she hadn’t. And now this. That memory, coupled with Morgana’s accusations, made him feel trapped.
His voice was tight with frustration as he turned to her. “Ella…”
She didn’t respond, her calm exterior like a wall between them. That wall only made his anger simmer hotter. Did she not understand the gravity of the situation? The people here barely tolerated her as it was, and now she was accused of murdering a vampire. A vampire! It wasn’t something that could be brushed aside.
He couldn’t take it anymore. Without a word, Valen grabbed her hand, his grip firm but not harsh. “Come with me,” he said, his voice low but commanding as led her out of the room, ignoring the questioning stares and whispers around them. He needed answers, and he needed them now.
Once they were away from prying eyes and ears, Valen spun around to face her, his eyes burning with a mix of anger and desperation. "What the hell is going on, Ella?"
Ella yanked her hands free with a strength that startled him. He stepped back, his eyes narrowing as she glared at him. “Do you really believe I’m capable of murder?” she asked, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and pain.
The question hit Valen like a punch to the gut. He opened his mouth to answer but found himself at a loss for words. He didn’t believe it—he couldn’t. But the evidence, the accusations, her scent at the crime scene…it all pointed to her.
“Why won’t you just tell me what happened last night?” he pressed, his voice softer but no less insistent.
Ella hesitated, her gaze searching his face as if trying to decide whether to trust him. "Would anything I say even matter?" she finally said, her tone unbothered. "There’s already evidence against me. I’m guilty until proven innocent, right?”
Her words hit Valen like a blow. But her tone was what cut deepest, and his anger surged. How could she be so indifferent? Couldn’t she see the severity of this?
Before he could stop himself, he pinned her to the wall. His hands braced on either side of her head, his body blocking her escape. He tilted her chin upward, forcing her to meet his eyes. “Ella,” he said, his voice low and rough, “what exactly happened last night?”
Her gaze met his, and for a moment, he thought he saw something crack in her stoic façade. But then she looked away, her expression hardening again. “I don’t know,” she repeated, her voice quieter this time.
“You don’t know?” Valen’s anger flared again. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath, trying to calm the fury threatening to consume him. "Why is your scent at the crime scene?" he asked, his voice quieter now but still demanding answers.
Ella stared back at him. She didn’t answer, her silence like a lead weight between them.
"Say something, Ella! Damn it!" Valen roared, slamming his fist against the wall beside her, the sound echoing in the quiet hallway.
Ella flinched, and guilt immediately swirled in Valen's chest, but he couldn’t stop. He needed answers. “Why is your scent at the crime scene, Ella?”
Ella’s jaw tightened. She couldn’t speak to Valen when he was like this—angry and irrational. She needed him to calm down.
She took a slow, steady breath. “You need to calm down,” she said, her voice even.
“Calm down?” Valen barked. “You’ve been accused of murder, Ella. If you don’t clear your name, you’re as good as dead.”
She knew she couldn’t reason with him while he was this angry.
“You’re scaring me, Valen,” she said softly, her voice steady despite the situation.
Valen froze, her words slicing through the haze of his anger. He let go of her chin but didn’t step back. His hands fell to his sides, trembling slightly.
“Ella, you’re not helping yourself,” he said, his voice quieter now. “You need to give me something to work with. Anything. I can’t protect you if you don’t talk to me.”
Ella's eyes softened, just for a moment, but then her usual guardedness returned. "Maybe we should go to the crime scene," she suggested.
"What?" Valen blinked, taken aback.
“You heard me,” she said, her tone more resolute now. “If there’s evidence against me, don’t you think we should see it? I want to see it.”
Valen’s jaw tightened. He knew Morgana wouldn’t have made these accusations lightly. If she claimed to have evidence, then she did. But something about this situation didn’t sit right with him.
“You think that’s a good idea?” he asked, his voice softer now, almost cautious.
“Do you have a better one?” Ella countered.
He studied her for a long moment. Her calm determination was starting to chip away at his doubts. Maybe she wasn’t as unfazed as she appeared—maybe she was just trying to hold herself together.
“I just want to protect you,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.
Ella’s eyes widened slightly, surprise flickering across her face. But then she shook her head. “I don’t need protecting, Valen. I need you to trust me.”
“I do,” he said quickly, perhaps too quickly. “I just—”
“Then let’s go,” she interrupted.
Valen hesitated, torn between his instinct to shield her from harm and his growing realization that she needed to face this head-on. Finally, he nodded. “Fine,” he said. “Let’s go.”
As they walked toward the scene of the alleged crime, Valen couldn’t shake the feeling that they were walking into a storm. But if Ella was willing to fight for herself, then he would stand by her side.