Rejected: Found By Another

Chapter 13

LYANNA'S POV

"Why is he staring at me like that?" I asked Reyna in my head while trying to keep my calm on the outside.

It's been a few minutes since I dropped my request, and Xander hadn't said a single word. Neither had he made any attempt to move. He hasn't even blinked. He just sat there staring at me with those strange eyes.

"Like what, Lyanna?" Reyna asked, referring to my earlier question, and I frowned.

"What do you mean, like what, like we're crazy, of course! Why isn't he saying anything? I swear, I'm starting to feel like this whole thing was a mistake," I replied, and Reyna sighed.

"You just asked him to tell you about one of the most ancient and mysterious weapons in werewolf history, Lyanna. Give the man a break," Reyna said, and I mentally rolled my eyes before turning my attention back to the man/statue in front of me.

"You know, you could have just told me you didn't have answers to my question, Xander. It's not like I was forcing you to do it,"

I said, starting to get upset, and Xander shook his head, blinking a couple of times before finally speaking.

"No, it's not that. It's just... Your request just caught me a little off guard, is all," Xander explained, and I frowned.

"What's so strange about me asking about the Ereden dagger? I was stabbed with one not so long ago, remember? Isn't that enough reason to want to know more about it?" I replied, and Xander shrugged.

"I guess you're right. Although, you still haven't told me how you ended up with that wound, Lyanna. An Ereden dagger isn't something that can be found just anywhere due to its deadly and poisonous nature. Mind explaining to me how you ended up getting stabbed with one?"

Xander asked, and just like that, the table suddenly turned on me. I could clearly hear the curiosity in his voice as he spoke. He was getting too curious for his own good. That much was clear, and I didn't like it. What part of "don't ask me about personal stuff" does this man not understand?

"I thought we both agreed you wouldn't try digging into my private life? This isn't how you keep that word, Xander,"

I said, my expression growing cold as I spoke, and Xander watched me silently for what felt like hours, making me wonder what he saw as he looked at me. Do my expressions betray me? Is there something in my eyes that tells the story my lips are far too afraid to tell?

Those questions continued to flood my thoughts as I fought the urge to fidget under his relentless stare.

Finally, after what felt like forever, Xander looked away, and I slowly released the breath I'd been holding for goodness knows how many minutes.

Xander let out a heavy sigh before asking,

"What do you want to know about the Ereden dagger?"

Well, now he's talking. I was hoping to gather as much information as I can about that cursed dagger and then see if I can find something to help me in narrowing down the investigation for Kaida's death. Something about the way everything unfolded just doesn't feel right.

I mean, I personally packed that purse myself with my phone and other stuff before leaving to pick Kaida up. How did an Ereden dagger suddenly end up inside it between that time and Kaida's murder? It just doesn't make sense.

I quickly composed myself before asking,

"Okay, so I already know how deadly and poisonous it can be, seeing as I witnessed it firsthand. I'm also aware that it's quite rare since I've never come across it before until that day I was stabbed. But how rare? Like what are the chances of someone randomly getting their hands on it?" I asked, and Xander considered the question for some time before answering.

"It's very rare, Lyanna. Very, very rare. Rumor has it there are only a few of them left."

"In the country?" I asked, and Xander shook his head.

"In the entire world. As you already know, they're not something that can just be left lying around. One cut is enough to end even the strongest of wolves, which is exactly why I'm still struggling to understand how you were able to make it that far with the poison in your veins until I got to you."

I ignored Xander's question as I tried to process the information. If the dagger was so rare, what are the chances of anyone having it in Black Creepers? I know Lucien didn't have it. Well, I don't think he does at least. He never mentioned anything about it. Plus, it didn't seem like he recognized it when Zarina presented it as evidence.

I'm still hanging on to the belief that Zarina had seen a rare opportunity to nail my coffin shut and decided to seize it. She most likely bought that dagger off someone when she heard about what happened to Kaida and then used it to add fuel to the fire that was already burning against me.

"But the blood? That dagger was dripping with Kaida's blood, Lyanna, there's no way Zarina still had access to Kaida's blood at that point,"

Reyna voiced out her opinion in my head, and as much as I hated to admit it, she was right. Zarina was one sneaky she-wolf, but even she couldn't have had access to Kaida's body at that time. The body had already been taken to the pack hospital to be prepared for burial, and there was no way they would have let a non-family member in to see her alone.

"Ever stop to think, maybe she truly did find that dagger in our purse? It could be someone placed it there, Lyanna?" Reyna asked, and I frowned.

"No."

"Okay, so maybe it is a bit possible. But that would mean that whoever murdered Kaida purposely left it there for someone to find, and I can't come up with any reason why anyone would want to do that to me."

Unless of course, they were trying to send a message, but then of what use would that be if I got put to death for the murder anyway?

I was hoping that Zarina made up that whole story about finding the dagger in my purse just to implicate me even more. That woman clearly hated us. She hated me. She's never forgiven me for supposedly stealing Lucien from her as she so loves to make everyone believe.

"Lyanna?" Xander's voice snapped me back to the present, and I returned my attention to him.

"Everything okay? You wandered off for a moment there?" Xander said, his expression seeming suspiciously like one of concern, and I quickly shook my head.

"Oh, no! It was nothing. I was just trying to remember something, that's all," I quickly said to throw off suspicion, only to realize that I failed horribly when Xander spoke again.

"You know, I might be able to help a little better if you'd just be honest with me about what's going on, Lyanna. I have a strong feeling there's more to this question of yours than you just being stabbed with an Ereden dagger," Xander said, and I felt my teeth clench in annoyance.

"I have no idea what you're going on about, Xander. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to head back to the room. Thanks again for your help," I said with an obvious fake smile before turning around and marching towards the door.

"Who's Lucien, Lyanna?" Xander asked suddenly, and my hand froze on the knob as I felt my entire body tense up.

"What?" I asked, keeping my back to him in fear that he might see too much if allowed him to see my expression.

"You kept whispering the name in your sleep the first night you were here, Lyanna. So I'm asking you. Who's Lucien?"

My eyes widened at Xander's words, and I felt my heartbeat start to pick up as I thought of what to say.

This isn't happening. This just can't be happening. Not right now.