Aria's Revenge

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

The journey back to Eldrid was quiet. The only sound that alerted the forest that there was movement was that of the rustling trees that broke with each step we made.

After Kael had held me back from going after Ryder, I had pushed him away. But instead, he held me and told me, “I missed you.”

That shouldn’t be a strong enough reason to follow him back to Eldrid, but if I didn’t, I wouldn’t survive. So I did survive, not because I believed the words of a man who cast me aside without believing my words.

"Where have you been?" He asked once we were near Eldrid.

I ignored him again.

My mind wandered to Ryder's utterance, 'your parents'. If only Kael hadn't stopped me.

Maybe my coming back to Eldrid will give me some answers, but then I wondered if they had caught the criminal who poisoned the soldiers.

"Who poisoned the soldiers?" I asked.

Kael fixed his stare at me.

"Wait! They haven't been caught?" I asked again. Yet another silence from him.

"You banished me while it was convenient for you, and you came to rescue me while it was convenient for you. Again." I yelled to the extent I could feel my heart plummeting.

"I had no other choice. The elders—"

I didn't wait for him to finish his sentence before interrupting him. "And I guess the elders—" I tried to say before the gates of Eldrid opened.

As we entered the tower, we stood in lines where the guards, including Thane and Lyra, were.

They were clad in armour with the exception of Lila; it was like they were about to leave Eldrid in search of the Lycan.

"Where have you been?" He asked with concern in his voice as he examined Kael, and then through the corners of his eyes, he caught my presence.

"What is she doing here?" Lila spoke before he could open his mouth to speak.

"Can we enter first before the questions?" Kael asked.

"No, she can't. Have you forgotten what she did to our soldiers?" she started.

"Well, she didn't do it," he replied to her.

"You don't believe the filthy words of her mouth, do you?" She questioned.

"I have evidence that she didn't. Is that enough?" He said.

I could see Lila swallowed hard and a change in her demeanour, but she was quick to hide it as she flashed a smile. "Why didn't you say so?" she said as her gaze met mine.

I know for a fact she had a hand in the crime, but I have no evidence, and it surprised me that Kael had the evidence. However, I wonder what kind of punishment he will mete out to his sister.

Thane turned to the guards and dismissed them. And without a word or murmur, they marched away.

"You should go to your quarters; it's still as you left it. I will have a meeting with the elders tomorrow," Kael said.

Just as I was about to walk away, we were interrupted by one who I presumed to be one of the members of the council. He had this disgust in his eyes and was one of those who had raised his voice about me leaving Eldrid.

"The meeting starts now," he said, and without waiting for another word, he turned to walk away.

"Barry, we—" Kael opened his mouth to speak, but he didn't stop to listen.

"We will have to meet with the elders now." Kael turned to me.

As we walked to the conference room where the elders meet, I walked alongside Kael while Thane and Lyra walked side by side, but I noticed something about them, like they were trying to speak with their body language. Kael might not have noticed because he was too busy casting his glance at me.

When we entered the conference room, Kael held my hand, and with barely a whisper, he leaned into my ear. "I will handle it," before walking to take his seat, while I stood in front of the elders who had gathered and seated behind the huge mahogany table.

"Can Kael tell us why he brought back the traitor?" Barry spoke.

"She didn't do it," Kael's response came again.

"Or maybe you missed the person who warmed your bed." He snickered.

"Tell me, Kael, you could have called for the omegas, but you went through the struggle of bringing her back. Is she that good?" He laughed.

I winced at the words and the fact that Kael didn't stop him.

"I don't support her being back, and when do we start bringing back banished people?" another member of the council spoke.

Kael brought out a vial of moon alcohol and nightshade and dropped it on the table. "This was found in one of the other cooks' rooms."

"What are you implying?" Barry asked, not interested in whatever Kael was trying to prove.

Kael brought out another vial and dropped it on the table. "We might need to investigate the ones who cooked the food."

"Is this the evidence you found?" Lyra scoffed.

"Also, the soldiers were able to wake up, and I think banishment was too extreme," Kael spoke.

One of the members opened their mouth to speak, but Kael raised his hands to stop them.

"We will continue tomorrow," he said before standing up.

As the elders began to leave one by one, Barry spoke, "If only you protected my daughter like this," he said before walking away.

I could feel Kael's jaw tighten as he waited for the man to leave before he slouched back to his chair.

"You should excuse us," Lyra said, her gaze on her brother.

Without a word, I walked away from the conference room and retreated to my room. But as I woke, I could feel gazes fixated on me while they whispered.

But the presence of Lila relieved me. She ran to me and pulled me into a tight hug.

"I was scared I would never see you again," she said as she led me into my room.

"The Lycan sister wanted to pimp me to the men, but he stopped her. I was so relieved," Lila started as she began to recount the encounters that occurred while I was away.

"Do you...or have you ever heard of the name Riven?" I asked her.

It was pointless, but I had to ask someone. If not for Riven, I would have still been with Vega.

"Yes," she replied.