Iris The first thing I noticed when I woke up was the silence.
The second was that I was alone.
For a few moments, I simply lay there staring at the ceiling above my bed, trying to remember what had happened.
Then it all came rushing back.
The forest, the attacker, the blade, my fear and then….Hades.
My cheeks warmed immediately which was ridiculous.
Completely ridiculous.
I had nearly been killed.
There were far more important things to think about and yet my mind stubbornly returned to the image of him carrying me through the fortress.
The memory was really embarrassing.
As he lifted me like I weighed nothing, I remembered the strength of his arms.
The hard line of his jaw and the fury rolling off him in waves.
I had never seen anyone look so angry not even when he had first brought me here.
Not even when I had told him I didn’t want to be his mate.
Last night had been different.
His anger hadn’t been directed at me.
I thought he was going to be angry when he found out I was outside in the night.
And a fortress lockdown?
For me?
It was hard to believe and it felt like he had been more angry that someone had tried to attack me or was I just imaging things?
The thought sent an unfamiliar warmth through my chest and I was blushing.
I frowned.
No.
I wasn’t going to think about that.
It didn’t matter.
There was still the curse to think about that.
How could I have forgotten so soon.
After all, I was not his class and I had been reminded about that everyday with the distance he put between us.
Still…
A small voice inside me whispered that he hadn’t left my side and even cleaned the injury on my cheek.
I remembered that much.
I also remembered the look he gave me after I thanked him.
His sounded like he was upset.
“Stop thinking about him, Iris” I said aloud.
Think about something else.
Anything.
Then I remembered yesterday night while I was attacked.
I had pushed my attacker and he went flying into the air.
How was that possible?
I looked at my hands to see if there was anything different about them but it still looked the same.
Rough and calloused.
So how could this hands have pushed someone so hard that had the person flying in the air.
It’s because you are not ordinary, a strange voice said in my head.
I shook my head vigorously.
“That is not true.
I am ordinary” I groaned and buried my face in her pillow.
“What is wrong with me?
Why am I hearing things” A knock sounded at the door.
Before I could answer, it opened.
Carina entered carrying a tray.
The familiar sight immediately relaxed something inside me.
“Carina..” I pouted.
“Iris.
How are you?” I saw concern in her eyes.
“I’m fine.
I’m alive” I said with a dry laugh.
Carina snorted.
“Of course you are.” I managed a weak smile.
“Good morning to you too.” Carina set the tray down.
The smell of food immediately filled the room.
Only then did I realize how hungry she was.
My stomach growled loudly.
Carina laughed.
“I’m always on time.
Carina to the rescue” Heat rushed on my cheeks.
“I wasn’t that hungry.” “You sound like a liar.” “I am not.” “You absolutely are.” For the first time since yesterday, I found myself laughing.
It was a small laugh.
Carina smiled, then her expression softened.
“I heard what happened.” The laughter disappeared immediately.
The room became quiet.
Carina moved to sit beside me on the bed.
Concern filled her eyes.
“Goddess, Iris.
You scared everyone.” Everyone.
Not everyone, certainly not Elke.
The thought darkened my mood.
“I was shaking when I heard it” Carina added.
“What are people saying?” I asked quietly.
Carina paused.
“Carina.” “They are talking.” “That’s not surprising.” “No.” Carina sighed.
“It isn’t.” I looked down at her hands.
I wanted to know what they were saying.
Did they think I deserved it?
“What are they saying?” Her hesitation returned, it was longer this time.
“Some are worried.” That was surprising to hear.
At least, some people still have conscience.
“What else?” Carina grimaced.
“Some think you deserve it.
They think the attacker came from outside and you might know them” I stiffened.
How could someone think I would want myself dead?
“And the others?” “Some think it was someone from the pack.” I froze.
I had never thought of that.
Someone from the pack?
Someone I might pass every day or someone who looked at me with distaste?
Was it a warrior?
Or a servant?
The thought made my stomach turn.
“Do they know who?” “No.” Carina reached over and squeezed my hand.
“But Alpha Hades is searching.” Something strange settled in my chest at those words.
A small feeling of relief and safety.
I hated it because I didn’t want to depend on him or need him.
I shouldn’t find comfort in the idea of him protecting me.
And yet…
did.
Before I could examine that thought further, another knock sounded.
Carina turned toward the door.
“Come in.” The door opened and I smiled immediately when I saw him.
“Cassian.” He stepped inside looking exhausted.
Dark circles shadowed his eyes and his normally neat appearance looked slightly disheveled, like he hasn’t slept at all.
A pang of guilt hit me, it was because of me.
“Please tell me you look worse than I do.” Cassian asked with sarcasm.
“Impossible.” I laughed, Carina laughed too.
Even Cassian’s lips twitched.
The tension in the room eased.
“I’m glad you’re alright” he said.
The sincerity in his voice made me smile.
Something about Cassian always made me feel warm.
He meant anything he said.
After everything that had happened, it felt nice to know he still cared.
Without thinking, I got out of bed, crossed the room and hugged him.
The action surprised him because I felt him stiffen.
I realized it immediately but it was too late.
Mortification crashed into her.
“Oh my goodness.
I’m sorry” Cassian looked surprised.
“Iris—” “I’m so sorry.” I pulled back immediately, my face burning.
“I don’t know why I did that.” Cassian blinked then laughed softly.
“It’s fine.
I guess it’s the thrill of being alive” “No, it isn’t.” “It is.
I don’t mind” he said with a curve of his lips.
“It just attacked you.” Carina burst into laughter.
Even Cassian looked amused.
“I survived.
It shows you are learning data from training” he winked.
“I can’t believe I did that.” The embarrassment was so intense I wanted the floor to swallow me whole.
“How do you feel this morning?” That Wheaton was directed to me.
“I’m better.
I’m still shocked but I’ll be fine” “Do you need the healer?
I mean for your bruises” “No, it’s fine, Alpha Ha—” I paused when I realized what I was about to say.
“It’s just a scratch” “I forgot to ask you yesterday.
Did your attacker say anything at all?” “No.
It looked like they were just there to kill me.
But when it was not possible, they ran away” Cassian nodded as if taking notes.
I felt his presence and when I turned, Alpha Hades stood in the doorway.
He was silent and just watching.
His gaze landed on me first, then shifted to Cassian.
Then to the space between us.
The room suddenly felt too small.
Nobody spoke again or moved.
I became aware of how close I was standing to Cassian.
My pulse sped up.
For some reason, I felt guilty.
Even though I had done nothing wrong.
The silence stretched, it was uncomfortable.
“Good morning Alpha” Carina’s voice cut through the silence.
“Hades.” Cassian dipped his head respectfully.
I swallowed and I followed immediately.
“Alpha.” Alpha Hades acknowledged us with a brief nod.
His expression revealed absolutely nothing which somehow made it worse.
Then I felt his eyes settle on me.
I raised my head and it looked like he was assessing me or perhaps making sure I was truly alright.
I couldn’t tell.
I never could.
“How are you feeling?” The question caught me completely off guard.
Not because he asked but because his voice was calmer than I expected.
“Better, Alpha” his eyes narrowed slightly, like he didn’t believe me.
Before I could say anything else, Cassian straightened.
“See you later, Carina” he turned to the Alpha “I should continue with the investigation.” Alpha Hades nodded.
“Report to me when you find something.” Cassian turned around and left.
Carina stood up and I started praying in my mind that she shouldn’t leave me alone with the Alpha.
“I should go too.” Traitor.
I shot her a look and Carina pretended not to notice.
Seconds later, she disappeared as well and I was alone.
The door clicked shut and suddenly the room felt much smaller than before.
For several seconds, no one spoke.
Then he took a step forward and my heart betrayed me by beating faster.
“Iris.” His voice was gentle which made me unsettled more than his anger ever had.
“Yes?” His gaze held mine and didn’t waver.
I didn’t know how to keep eye contact especially with a high rank and so my eyes kept darting around the room.
I fidgeted where I stood and when he finally spoke, the question caught me completely off guard.
“Why are you out of bed?” The softness was gone, replaced by something else.
Something darker and for the first time that morning, I wasn’t thinking about the attack.
I was thinking about him and that terrified me far more than it should have.