~ NYSSA
Rowan’s watchful gaze followed inside the house but I didn’t bother to glance back.
My stomach twisted with unease, my insides cold and lifeless as I trudged through the halls of our ho.
I had no reason to be upset with him, he wasn’t aware of what he interrupted, but that call had cut short a conversation that barely began and from the little I was able to gleam before he interrupted, it was a very long story.
I did not stop until I was within the four walls of our bedroom, safe from Rowan’s prying eyes. Only then did I lower myself to the bed and allow Allister’s words play over in my mind.
"What if he was lying?" my wolf asked. "What if this is just a ploy?"
"What does he hope to gain from it?"
She shrugged. "Anything. He could be an enemy, he could be hiding who he truly is."
"You sound paranoid."
"You should be."
I bit back a scoff. "Of course I am. Don’t you think I’ve thought about that? We don’t have any other options. It’s Allister or no one and I for one want to understand the truth."
"And the drink? Will you take it?"
I glanced down at the cup in my hands, unwittingly going back to my earlier conversation.
******************************
"You knew my real parents?" I asked and Allister nodded. "Who were they?"
"Your mother was a slave. Your father... well, you are better off not knowing who he is. He isn’t exactly the world’s best father."
I frowned. "You said that you would give answers."
"Have I not answered the question that you asked?" he cocked his head to the side "Your mother did not want you to be raised in the sa kind of world she lived in. She knew what happened to your father’s bastards, and she wanted better for you. I was her friend, her confidante."
"You were a slave too?"
He smiled sadly. "In a sense, yes. In the dead of night I took you from her and replaced your body with a corpse. She played the grieving mother while you were snuck out in a basket of potatoes."
My insides twisted at his words.
I was unsure of how to feel about those words. It was weird to learn that the family you loved for so long was not yours and to know that sowhere, another family remained.
"Is she alive?"
He shook his head. "She died two years after from complications in pregnancy."
I scoffed. "She had another child after ? Of course she did."
"Your privilege has blinded you to the reality of slaves," he snapped. "She did not have a choice in the matter. She did everything to get rid of that child. She died rather than subject another child to be born into her world. She was not so mindless child."
"I—" I swallowed the knot in my throat, unease and embarrassnt swirling inside of . "I did not know."
" I know."
Silence stretched between us for a mont and then I asked the question that had plagued . "Why did you reach out to ?"
He went stiff, his hands fisting at his sides. "I t another of your father’s bastards, and I knew that you were in danger."
"From who?" Eric asked, stepping closer.
"From herself," Allister answered smoothly. "Has it started yet? The feelings you can’t explain? The nightmares? The fatigue, the hunger?"
My blood ran cold. "How did you know about that?"
"I told you, I t another of your siblings. You are in danger, Nyssa, and I want to help." He stepped closer, only to be stopped by a low growl from Eric. "If it gets worse, he will know what you are and he will co for you. Believe , you do not want your father coming for you."
My phone buzzed at that exact mont with an incoming call from Rowan, and when I glanced at my phone, Allister lunged for , grabbing my hands tightly in his.
Eric snarled, grabbing Allister by his shirt. "Unhand her, now."
Allister held up his hands in mock surrender. "My apologies."
"Are you hurt?" Eric asked, glancing my way and I nodded slowly, trying not to draw attention to the heavy vial sitting in the center of my palm.
"A few drops can change the tide," Allister said slowly, eyes locked on . "You need to be careful. One wrong day can end things for everyone."
"What the fuck does that an?" Aria snapped, her brows furrowed in confusion however I knew that the ssage was for .
"Let’s go," I said simply. "We need to get back ho." As I turned, I swiped right on Rowan’s call.
************************************
I took out the vial from my pocket, staring down at it. It was a simple glass vial shaped like a tear drop. The liquid inside was a beautiful shade of pink. It reminded of the sky during sunset—soft and delicate.
I didn’t trust Allister, not by a long shot, but there was a desperation in his eyes as he spoke; it was unlike anything I had ever seen. He needed to take the liquid, and he was definitely scared of sothing—or soone.
"I think you should tell Rowan," my wolf murmured.
"He won’t let us take it."
"Maybe it’s for the best."
"A few days," I bargained. "We try it for a few days and see."
She pursed her lips. "I don’t know. Are you sure?"
"No," I admitted. "But I’m willing to see it through."
Uncorking it, I brought it to my lips for a discreet sniff.
There was sothing tallic about the scent, but it was also soft and herbal, like the grass after fresh rain. It didn’t seem dangerous, not on the surface at least.
"Goddess help ," I murmured as I tipped it over, letting three drops fall into my drink.
With one last murmured prayer, I lifted the paper cup to my lips and downed the contents.
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