Darius’ grip tightened around her arm as the room went deathly silent. He placed his pointing finger under Serena’s nose, his shoulders relaxed slightly. She was breathing.
He exhaled and turned, his gaze landing on the Moonseeker, who had already crouched beside the shattered bowl on the stone floor. Darius’ brows scrunched up and he swallowed hard to control himself.
"Do I not get any explanation for what happened?" he asked.
Unconsciously, he drew Serena closer against his chest, her head tucked under his chin like she belonged there.
The Moonseeker did not stop on account of his words. She continued to pick up the pieces of the broken ceramic.
"I would not like to repeat myself," Darius said in a low tone.
The priestess simply chuckled, glancing at him. "You act as though you do not care about her, yet here you are."
Darius looked down at the unconscious woman in his arms, closing his eyes briefly, and shook his head. He didn’t want to play the complex mind games the Moonseeker loved to play.
"Answer me," he demanded.
The priestess rose and dropped the pieces in an earthen vase. Darius noticed the blood that dripped from her hands. She approached them, and Darius flinched, pulling himself and Serena back.
"Alpha," the Moonseeker said softly, "surely this woman will not bring a divide between us."
Darius looked her in the eyes. Her face was neutral, no sign of anger or anything. Still, it unnerved him.
"I will not harm her. And I did not harm her," she assured him.
His grip on Serena loosened slightly, he shifted and presented her to the Moonseeker’s outstretched hands. She smiled and nodded.
Slowly, she used her blood to draw on the crescent moon sigil that was on Serena’s forehead. Serena stirred, her lips twitching before she relaxed again.
"I still need answers," he said after a few seconds of silence. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ novelꜰire.net
"We went through something. As you can see, she was trying to shift," the Moonseeker said. She sighed and stood up, shaking her head. "This outcome was unexpected. It’s a miracle she still lives."
Darius stiffened. Still lives? He looked down at the woman in his arms, taking in her pale face, the slight tremor in her fingers, the sweat still damp on her brow.
Darius’ eyes widened slightly. Was she sick? She had not shown anything to worry him or the few that had spoken to her.
His mind went to the night they went to Beatrice’s place. Nothing had seemed out of the ordinary so far. He looked down again at her, his chest rising and falling rhythmically.
"I do not understand what you mean," Darius said tightly.
"I do not speak about the people I help. Their business is theirs," the Moonseeker said curtly.
She wiped her bloodied hand on a linen rag, her gaze softening slightly as it returned to Serena.
"You’ll have to ask her. When she wakes."
Darius groaned softly. He hated being left out of the loop. It made him feel not in control, and things could spiral that way.
"I suggest you take her to the castle, not that dreary manor you left her in," the priestess said.
"How did you know?" he asked with a raised brow.
She chuckled and gave him a look that made him feel like a boy again, foolish and small. "I do wonder why everyone thinks I am confined to this place all day long,"
Her voice lowered and she said softly, "Serena will be fine."
Darius nodded, standing up and carrying Serena bridal style. He walked out of the room, heading for the exit of the temple.
"Oh, and Darius," the man stopped and turned to meet the Moonseeker’s gaze, "you need to let go of the past like she."
He didn’t respond at first. Then, without looking back again, he said quietly, "Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it."
Darius struggled to get the horse to lay down so he could mount it. He put Serena up front so he could hold her securely while they rode to his castle.
It was a bit difficult, but he got Serena to stay still against his body. He got the horse to move at a trot speed, just to make Serena comfortable.
It took some time, but the two got to the castle. He called for the steward that had ushered Serena in before and instructed the young man to take the horse.
"Take him to the stables," Darius ordered, gesturing to the horse.
He made his way to his bedroom, not thinking of bringing her to a spare one. He laid her down and adjusted the pillows to make her comfortable.
Darius sighed, running his hand through his hair and closing his eyes. The words of the priestess couldn’t ease his apprehensive mind. Would Serena really be fine?
His eyes raked over her figure, the rips in her clothes more obvious to him now. Darius left for a bit and called someone to get her changed out of her clothes.
He stepped out to give her privacy, pacing the hall like a restless wolf until he was summoned back.
Darius sat by her side, the moonlight shining down on her.
How could he move on when he had seen what had happened to his father?
He stared at his palms before he clenched them. He was his father’s son- and he had that blood running through his veins. Who was to say that the same fate his father had wouldn’t befall him as well?
He looked at Serena. He knew how he had reacted when he heard her in pain, his heart stopped for a moment, and for a few seconds, he was scared to lose her.
Darius inhaled sharply and stood up abruptly, putting his hand behind his head and pacing around the room.
"Oh my word," he muttered with a breathless laugh, half-choked.
He glanced at Serena, who was peacefully asleep and maybe he didn’t quite mind if he woke up to that face every day.
Darius looked away quickly, chastising himself. What was he thinking? Serena was angry at him, yet she had called for him when in pain.
He shook his head, looking at the moon. She only did so because he was the one who brought her there. If it were Ryker, she would have called out his name too.
His throat tightened as he returned to the chair by her bedside and sank into it. He watched the gentle rise and fall of her chest.
His voice, when it came, was a whisper carried on regret.
The moon bore witness, and Serena slept on, unaware of the apology whispered between them and the distance slowly closing in silence.