Chapter 88
RYKER’S P.O.V
As soon as the girls left, I saw the guilt in Riley’s expression. I wanted to assure her that she had nothing to worry about but that would have been a lie. Damien comforted her while I balanced my sleeping infant on one hand and began clearing up the picnic. It was a good day but it could have ended better. Damien and Riley came to help but they did so in silence. I could feel the tension in the air and I knew it was only a matter of time before someone broke it.
“Should I have picked a better time?” Damien whispered once Riley was out of earshot. “I didn’t want to hurt her but I figured she was going to find out sooner or later.”
“Are you asking because you want a genuine answer or because you want to make yourself feel better?” I asked and he shook
his head with a small smile.
“I almost forgot how brutal you could be, Ryker,” I glanced at Audrey out of the corner of my eye. She was playing by the stream and I wanted to make sure she didn’t run off or get hurt. “I want the truth.”
“The truth is that I don’t know,” he frowned at my response, it was clearly not what he was expecting. “Look, I know better than to comment on something that I don’t have the full picture of. Only you know the answer to that question and I think the fact that you’re torn up about it tells you everything you need to know.”
He wanted to say something but footsteps filled the air. Christine and Camilla returned but I saw an expression in her eyes that had my spine straightening. I quickly called Riley over and handed Aurora over to her. She looked like she had a million questions but I didn’t wait to hear them. I walked over to my mate and ran my hands down her shoulders. She gave me a small smile but I could see through her façade. She was shaking and her skin was a bit cold to touch.
“What happened?” I asked but she shook her head. I resisted the urge to growl because I knew it wouldn’t help. I dropped my voice so it was soft. “Talk to me, Camilla. You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“I thought I saw something in the woods but it was nothing, I blinked and it wasn’t there.”
for
Camilla wasn’t easily sp ooked so her reaction didn’t add up to the picture she was trying to paint. Isearched her eyes a hint of deception but there was nothing. She had convinced herself that everything was fine. I knew I was not going to get anything out of that conversation so I sighed.
“It doesn’t matter anymore, you’re fine,” I assured her and she allowed herself lean into my arms. She mumbled something incoherent and I k*ssed her head. I looked over her shoulder and saw Christine staring at us with a longing look that bordered on envious.
I felt bad for her but I knew the last thing she wanted was my pity so I just gave her a nod. She smiled softly and turned away from me. No words were spoken again as we made our way back to the carriages. As we walked, I couldn’t help but notice that Christine was the only person walking alone.
We put the girls to sleep and as soon as we got to our room, Camilla fell asleep. She didn’t even bother changing out of her clothes. I had to slowly take them off while trying not to wake her. I never realized how difficult a corset was until I had to take it off without ripping it. I couldn’t fall asleep because I couldn’t help but think about what she had told me. I wasn’t sure if I believed her yet about whether or not it was a big deal. It was too late to go looking for the guards in charge of patrolling the forest so I went to the ones guarding our room.
“Find any guards who are willing to do overtime and tell them to patrol the forest,” I ordered and although they looked confused by my request, they nodded and rushed off to do as I asked. I knew I was taking a risk by leaving us unprotected but if it meant putting my mind at ease, then I was willing to do it.
I climbed into bed and Camilla snuggled into my side. I smiled when I realized that she was still asleep. Even in her sleep, she reached out for me. The knowledge had my heart beating harder in my chest. I stroked her hair and placed a soft k*ss on the center of her head. She made a content noise cdeep in her throat.
“I love you,” she mumbled still asleep.
“I love you, too,” I whispered back and finally allowed the sleep to take me.
I was almost completely dressed when Camilla finally woke up. She looked confused as to why I was getting dressed early and when I reminded her that it was Damien and Riley’s last day, she practically leaped out of bed. We didn’t have much planned but we were spending the entire morning with them. Christine had opted out of it and resigned herself to spending
time with the children.
Camilla wanted to talk to her first and I used that opportunity to get some quality time with my sister. Since she came, I hadn’t spent up to five minutes alone with her and I knew it was because she was avoiding me. I knocked on her door and she opened it without checking. When she saw me, her eyes widened and she swallowed deeply.
“Can I come in?” I asked and I could see her furiously looking for an excuse, I walked past her before she could say anything and took a seat by her dresser. I saw her exhale deeply before finally closing her door.
“I am kind of busy with packing right now. If you can wait a few minutes then maybe-”
“You forget that I lived with you for your entire life,” I cut her off. “You probably finished packing two days ago and checked yesterday,” the flush on her cheeks assured me that I was right. “Are you done avoiding me?”
“I’m not avoiding you,” she mumbled and when I raised a brow, she sighed. “Is it weird that I am happy we are leaving today? I really wanted to spend time with you and Camilla but things with Damien and her-”
“Christine,” I interrupted and she flinched as if her name were a slap. “Don’t tell me that the sound of her name offends you.”
“It doesn’t, I just feel bad. Sometimes I wonder if maybe they were meant to be together. They are mates after all and another part of me is happy that I have him. Am I a bad person?”.
“I’m the wrong person to ask. I have only ever loved one woman and she is my mate,” Riley rolled her eyes and punched my shoulder making both of us burst out laughing. “You will figure it out, and honestly, I am glad you’re leaving today because you are stressing Camilla out and what she needs after everything is a long vacation.”
“You might have a point on that one.”
She had her head down and I couldn’t stop myself from walking over to her and pulling her into a hug. Riley was stubborn and I knew she would never ask by herself but it was what she needed. I felt her b*dy go lax as I held her close.
“You’ll figure it out, you are one of the smartest people I know.”
“I don’t feel very smart right now.”
“Should I let you in on a little secret?” I asked and she hummed. “No one ever truly feels smart. You just keep moving and pray that it all works out.”
By the time we were supposed to lead them back towards the carriage, I couldn’t help but feel a pang in my chest. I would never tell Riley or Damien to their faces but I missed them. There was something lonely about the palace life. I loved being with my family but sometimes I wished I had actual friends.
I was talking to Damien when one of the guards walked up to me. He was the one I tasked with sending people into the woods. He hesitated but I assured him that he could speak in front of Damien. I trusted him,
“We patrolled the entire forest but we didn’t see anything out of the ordinary,” he told me. “If there is something specific that we should be looking for then maybe-”
“Thank
you
for your help, you may go,” I cut him off and he bowed then left. At least I was now certain that the forests were safe. I turned to Damien only to see a foreign expression on his face. “What is it?”
He looked around to make sure no one was listening before dropping his voice to a whisper. “I didn’t know you believed the
rumors.”
My brows scrunched in confusion. “What rumors?”
“I thought you had your forests patrolled because of the rumors that had been swirling. I didn’t think they had come this far or I would have spoken about it the moment we arrived.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“People have been talking about a creature in the woods that carries off people. The bodies are never found until a few days later and when they are found, they are ice cold and drained of blood.”
“That sounds like a vampire,” I deadpanned and he rolled his eyes.
“I am aware that it sounds like a vampire but all the vampires are denying having anything to do with it. Anyway, I believe it is nothing but a rumor.”
“Even if it isn’t, the closest vampire coven is a long way from here and they will have to go past at least four different packs before getting here. I think we are safe.”
“What are you guys even talking about?” Camilla yelled interrupting our conversation. “it’s time for them to leave.
I clapped Damien over his shoulder and we walked towards the carriage. He was about to get in when Riley froze staring at something behind us. I turned to see Christine walking towards the carriage. Riley cast a wary glance at me but I calmed her with my eyes. Christine was harmless.
Christine stopped in front of Riley. “I wanted to see you left. I figured it was only good manners for me to say goodbye.” Riley’s mouth dropped open. “You don’t have to say anything. I just wanted to say that.”
Riley just nodded dumbly while Christine turned to Damien and offered him a curt nod. I could see the confusion on his face and he co cked his head as if to ask why he got a nod and Riley got an entire greeting.
Camilla was the one who snapped out of the stupor first. She grasped Riley’s shoulders and gently shoved her in the direction of the carriage doors. “You don’t want to be late.”
Riley and Damien got inside and we watched as the carriage rode off. I waited until they had gone a considerable distance before I turned to Christine. “You did the right thing.”
“I didn’t do it for them, I did it for me.”
