Third POV.
"I guess that there is nothing else to know from you," Leila said in displeasure.
"Yeah, she is right. Please don't think that because we are leaving you off today means that we believed any shit you said today. We will start investigating you immediately. Also, since you said that the book is in your hands, I would like you .... not love it if you return it to its rightful owners. You have been a resident of this kingdom from the moment you were adopted by the people who took you in; therefore, I believe that as the sun rises, in the morning, I would be expecting that book. Morning not in the afternoon or at night but in the morning. Failure to do that, we would know that all of your explanations are nothing but lies and also, we would consider you as the lycans and werewolves' enemy and we will announce it making everyone know it,” Elana said calmly as she looked at Josiah observing him.
A cold shiver ran down Josiah's spine as he heard that. He never expected such a move from them! He opened his mouth to speak but he couldn’t find the right words to say. Only this was enough for him to wish that the time would stop moving and that morning would never arrive. He looked at Elana with pitiful eyes without making his intentions known fully as he was afraid that he would be mocked, things would be difficult making it impossible for him to escape from this place after falling into a pit without realizing it.
"I haven't been living here since I needed to do practicing so it would take a lot of time before I hand you over the Sow of the Blood," Josiah said in between gritting his teeth but tried his best to be as modest as possible.
"Even though you have been giving us a helping hand when we needed it in the last few years. I can't understand what it is that you are hiding from us and can't tell you. Josiah, I am disappointed in you," Eliud said as he shook his head while looking at the old man.
When Josiah heard Eliud's words, he lowered his head out of shame. If it were Marcus or Elana criticizing him in that manner, he wouldn't have been affected at all. Ever since they were kids, he was the only one to be praised and the one to criticize the others and never the other way around. He never expected that such a day would come. If he were asked or told in the past, he would have rejected it and brushed it off with a laugh.
"We aren't three-year-old kids that you can keep lying to us and expect us to believe you, Josiah. If you have to keep telling lies then I would advise you to go to an art school to improve your acting skills since they are so awful. I can even act and lie without anyone detecting that I am lying," Mike said angrily as he wished that he could punch Josiah but that wasn't possible because of their old age.
The rest chuckle at Mike's words. Those who had not discovered that Josiah had been lying looked at Josiah's facial expression and his body language. Even if they wanted to deny it and put good words for him, they were unable since it was so evident because of his guilty eyes.
"Let the old man be. Everyone has freedom of speech thus lying is also included," Leila said as was accompanied by various yeses and nods around the room.
"Josiah, why are you lying that you have not been living here when you have been here for the last two years?" Lisa said in a dissatisfied tone.
Never had she thought that he was capable of that. She had always regarded him highly since they were kids.
Josiah looked at Lisa as if he would kill her. He had thought that when others said that he was lying, Lisa would still side with him although she knew that he lied about not being in the kingdom. After all, they grew up together and were supposed to have each other's back. He wished that he never had such a friend or that she wasn't part of the council since things would have been smooth.
"If what you are saying is true, Josiah, then I would advise you to leave this room immediately and go from where you had been practicing. I am not a very patient person nor do I break my promises since it is against what I was told and who I am thus sure that I will carry out everything that I said and many more," Elana said coldly since she was tired of dealing with the man. She wished that he was at least sincere and said even a little truth but no, that was impossible.
Josiah didn't know what to do since he had been tasked to be close to them but now it seemed just a thoughtful wish.
"I am sorry but please give me a few more days to get the book and bring it to you. As Lisa said, I came back two years ago from training but I still go during holidays as I visit my mentor. Since I am his only disciple and he lives alone in the mansion, I was given a room too. Most of the private documents and books are there since it is safer there than here. Here, we may never know who is the enemy or friends that I was just being precautious," Josiah said calmly and in a pleading tone as he looked at Elana.
Although he did not have a lot of hope in her being understood and added a few days, he couldn't stop himself from hoping and thinking that she would since Elana had never been a petty person.
“Maybe you should do that. We don’t want him to say that we refused to be lenient and wait, right?” Leila said to her sister.
Elana looked at Leila and wondered what had happened to her.
“By six in the evening, I would be expecting you back with the book.”