Not All Heroes Are Guiltless

Chapter 91

Chapter 91

Aela’s POV

Sleep comes and goes in endless cycles. I wake most of the time only to see the shackles still in place, but a leather flask and bread with cheese is always within reach.

The boat sways in the dock, and I relish the push and pull of the currents. A rhythm to help ease my soul, but definitely not my body. I’m positive there are at least three windows with wooden shudders because only dim lights from the crevices.

Sniffing silently, I can smell the saltwater and the wooden cabin. All smells are dull and lifeless. They are all muddled together and hold no meaning to my senses.

I shudder.

All my senses are dull and deadened; almost like I am frozen and numb in a coffin off ice with no way to break out of my impenetrable shell. Even worse than when I wore than collar to suppress my lupine heritage. I’ve lived so long with the enrichment of all the benefits of being lupine, but now I am lifeless without it.

Curses.

Every book I have ever read has lumped up curses almost into a myth. The only person who could cast a curse is the same people able to cast a blessing. So the gods that bless my family bloodline with the spirit swords are the only one’s of lupine history who had the ability to potentially curse.

I hardly doubt I was inflicted with a curse. First, I can not fathom who I may have upset enough to wish harm against me. My only real opponent was King Dungan, and I knew he would never hurt me.

Lana.

I still wish I knew what she wanted from me. In the last five years, I have been serving her and working with her to build Redland to be better than before. Something had to have spooked her, and instead of just coming straight out to me, she must have found a way to curse me.

I could never see the effects of the curse, but I know some of the signs. I shift my wrists and look down at the shackles. I can not see clearly enough, but I try to pull and weave magic, and nothing reacts to me. He probably has them enchanted to nullify any spellcasting. I wouldn’t be able to check if I am still connected to my reserve until he feels confident about releasing the cufflinks.

The curse was able to control my body, but he never affected my mind. I was restricted from talking about what was happening, but I was able to talk about much not pertaining to the spell. Its still would control my expressions to hide anything in my behavior, which would be unusual or irrational.

Ethan believed my behavior was unusual, and he did seem concerned but not enough to believe I was not being manipulated by some other force.

The topic of the spell was the worst was anything about the spell and its effects. I could say I hated Andrew, but I wouldn’t act or change when he was close to me. Andrew seemed to be a catalyst to the curse, taking control of me.

He did not necessarily need to be present, though. Some of my decisions were overruled, and I would make the most deceitful and violent choices in moments when compassion and compromise were needed. It felt like someone would just take over and act in my stead.

Could Lana have been able to place a spell on me and watch me until she wanted to oversee my decisions and opinions?

How immature and insignificant I feel now. I am sure the people will speak for centuries about the cruel Prince AmAela and her terror. The young eight-year-old boys are fresh in my mind. Their small bodies and lanky arms and legs. I ordered them to be scarred and maimed inhumanely and without real justice.

My stomach churns, and I pull at the chains to let me up. My muscles squeezed, and I turned my head to the side as my mouth fills with a vile and bitter taste. I cough with my body shakes, and I stop feeling in control of myself while my body convulses.

My heart rate picks up as I know I am in a full-on panic. My breath is short, and I can feel my vomit regurgitating and rumbling in my lungs. I pull at the chains again, hoping they will give away, and I can curl up and die. The pain throughout my body hurts so much. I scream out loud in fury and grunt loudly, but nothing gives away.

After several moments, the convulsions stops and I stare into the dark cabin. The smell of my vomit and the bitter taste makes me groan as my body slowly recovers.

A death ended the curse.

My wolf was severed from me. Andrew r***d me. Our child from that night was killed to end the curse.

She destroyed my reputation.

She made me a mad beast who needed to be put down.

She wouldn’t have done it if I was with child.

She would need an heir.

She didn’t want me. She wanted my child.

Lana cursed me.

My own family had been there since I was a child.

Wanted to replace me.

My mother was too strong for her to manipulate. But, not strong enough to destroy her. I am too strong for her to manipulate also. I am not strong enough to destroy her.