Chapter 256: Once Before (Ch.256)
Zariah tapped the armrest of her seat in a rapid manner, her gaze fixed on the parchnt of paper before her where she was to write down the na of her chosen Alpha to participate in the challenge.
All the other mbers of the council had made their choice and Zariah was the only one left. The challenge was set to comnce by dawn and Zariah still had too much on her mind to even contemplate it.
The door to the council room ca open and Zariah glanced up as Nile and Kristen walked in, escorted by Allen who looked visibly relieved.
Nile had been unreachable for three days and though they had to keep his disappearance quiet with the Ethereal palace fully occupied by outsiders, Allen had nearly lost it and Zariah too, though she hid it better.
"Above all else, he returned safely..." Allen began to pacify the tension he knew was to ensue but Zariah interrupted him.
"Leave us." Zariah ordered, her gaze fixed on Nile who looked remorseful and avoided her eyes.
"Not you." Zariah said when Kristen made to follow behind as Allen took his leave.
"Abandoning your assigned duty. Disappearing without a word...at such a critical ti for all of us...for . You show up now?" Zariah asked, her tone dark.
"I needed to sort my thoughts." Nile replied
"Because of my words the last ti?" Zariah asked, her voice faltering slightly.
"No Zari. Because I felt... useless." Nile said, heaving a sigh.
Zariah’s brows furrowed slightly, she ran a hand through her hair.
"You do not need to fight all my battles, Nile. There is only so much you can do if I do not allow you to... you should accept that." Zariah said in a serious tone.
"I cannot." Nile replied, equally serious.
Zariah glared for a long ti at the spirit guide before she shook her head.
"Where did you go?" Zariah asked, this ti her question was directed to Kristen.
"The Sea Kingdom. I convinced Nile, it was not because he held a grudge." Kristen reassured.
"The sea kingdom...we have kept you cooped up for too long, it is good to visit ho." Zariah murmured with a nod.
"Our...ho." Kristen adjusted.
"Our ho." Zariah confird after a brief silence.
"I heard you were attacked." Zariah said, her tone concerned.
"They ca for the shard." Nile confird.
"That matters less. Even without it, I will find us a way out. As long as you both are safe." Zariah dismissed.
"Who said we lost it?" Kristen asked, pulling out the shard, he handed it over to Zariah.
Zariah turned it over and examined it, frowning slightly.
"They ca for the shard and just left? With nothing?" Zariah asked uncertainly.
"They left with a shard. Just not this one." Kristen explained, chuckling.
Zariah raised a brow, Nile had always been mischievous despite his calm nature and it was no surprise he had done such a thing.
"If your idea of a romantic getaway is poking fun at our enemies... keep at it." Zariah comnded, handing the shard back to Nile.
"It is safer with you than it is with ." Zariah said as she returned her attention to the parchnt.
"You have co to a decision?" Nile asked Zariah.
"I’m not sure." Zariah admitted.
"I am." Nile replied,
Zariah glanced over at Nile, finding his characteristic mysterious attitude sowhat annoying at this ti.
"You are acting strange..." Zariah noted.
Nile heaved a quiet sigh and shrugged casually.
"I am sorry, Zariah." Nile said earnestly.
"For what? You didn’t lose the shard." Zariah pounded out.
"Just... for everything." Nile said and then he turned to take his leave.
Zariah passed a questioning look to Kristen who shrugged casually and trailed after his mate.
Zariah shook off her suspicion and returned her attention to the blank parchnt before her, twirling a pen in her hand.
Hours rolled by and it was already night ti before Zariah finally rolled up the parchnt and headed out to deliver it to Lord Kodin.
The halls of the Ethereal palace were unusually quiet as Zariah walked by, the kind of silence that indicated a calm before the storm and Zariah was not at all surprised when she turned a corner and found the last face she wanted to see heading her way.
He seed to have erged from Lord Kodin’s temporary office and Zariah guessed he had acquired the result he hoped for.
"Alpha Zariah... pardon our belated acquaintance." Morden greeted as he ca to a stop before Zariah.
"Indeed." Zariah replied, also coming to a stop.
"Had I known you were my brother’s beloved woman, I would not have been so aggressive. I hope you will forgive ." Morden apologized for their first encounter.
"You hurt Declan despite knowing who he was to your brother." Zariah pointed out in a blank tone.
Morden raised a brow and then he smirked slightly.
"That is true." Morden agreed.
Morden took a step forward and Zariah swiftly suppressed the terror that crept up in her as he leaned in close, the last thing she would entertain was fear for this monster.
"You are onto ...are you not?" Morden whispered, his tone knowing yet amused.
Zariah’s hands clenched tightly at her sides, Morden now knew that she had figured him out.
"I am." Zariah did not deny it.
"Smart girl." Morden comnded, chuckling quietly.
"But then, all of that would not matter. By dusk tomorrow, I will be the Ethereal King. And the more shards you hold, the guiltier Crimson Moon will be in the eyes of all." Morden said, his tone as casual as one walking through a flower adow.
"What makes you think I will let you have your way?" Zariah asked.
"You did it once before..." Morden said to Zariah and then he brushed past her and continued on his way.
Zariah remained rooted in the spot, eyes wide with horror.
’What was that?! Does he... could it be?!’ Torin thought to Zariah.
’I did it once before...was it just a coincidence? Or did Morden know of the past lifeti?’ Zariah completed the thought in horror.
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