Page 73 of What Lies Beyond the Realms

I’m so angry that my blood is going to burn me alive. It’s going to boil me from the inside out. The rage I feel for this man. Nyx sits on the edge of the couch next to me and places an arm around me. His fingers brush against my arm, cooling the heat building inside me. I know Chepi can sense it too because he starts nudging my hand with his nose.

“Where in the Shifting Forest can we find Athalda?” Nyx asks, changing the subject.

“She has a home built into the mountainside deep in the Shifting Forest. Not a place either of you want to go venturing,” Aidan tells us, and I grow more irritated.

“Well, I need answers, Aidan, so either you’re going to give me some or you’re going to tell us how to find Athalda.” I try to keep my voice calm and collected. Breathe.

“I don’t know why your parents ordered what I did to you at the ceremony. Honest, Lyra, you can think I’m despicable or whatever you want—I don’t give a shit—but I’m telling the truth about that. Athalda arranged everything, and that sneaky bitch has her secrets. Good luck getting her to tell the two of you,” Aidan says.

I look over at Nyx and he nods at me, somehow knowing what I was asking of him. I want him to tell me if Aidan’s telling the truth. I don’t know how he does it, but usually he can sense when someone’s lying. I think he knows when I’m lying, but he usually lets me get away with it. I don’t want to tell Aidan anything about the prophecy in my father’s journal, because if he truly doesn’t know anything it's pointless sharing that information. If he really is just a pawn in all of this…we need to find Athalda.

“I’m waiting,” Nyx says, his lips pressed in a flat line. Aidan is testing his patience too.

“I’ll find you a map of the Shifting Forest and tell you how to get to Athalda's place. I’ll try to get word to Zog’s pack too that you’ll be coming through there. All sorts of shit has been sprouting up since Samael became king,” Aidan says, moving to the kitchen.

“What do you know of Samael? What’s he playing at with all of this?” Nyx asks.

“Samael, that prick.” Aidan chuckles to himself and rejoins us with his glass refilled. “I know he’s power hungry; I know he’s been plotting. I wouldn’t put it past him that he’s the one who killed your parents. Carriage accident is what he told everyone. I don’t believe that shit. I think he got word of what your parents were planning, and he took things into his own hands. Even I could tell your parents were planning something. I could feel it in the castle in Tempest Moon. And now that Samael is king, spider wraith attacks have tripled in the Shifting Forest. More are breaking through the borders each day. Monstrauths have been hunting the cinder territory for the first time in over a hundred years. A darkness is settling over Cloudrum. All the creatures can feel it. I don’t give a shit what that prick does as long as he leaves Lycans out of it. I’ve heard the whispers of him making animals his test subjects. If I ever get word he’s using a Lycan—war is going to start in these parts a lot sooner than I’d like.” Aidan runs his hands through his hair, and the first signs of worry cross his features for a moment, but he’s quick to control it.

“I can’t heal Lyra’s ankle because I risk Samael tracking my magic. Do you have a healer here and a place we can rest until tomorrow? Then we need to find this Athalda.”

“I have a guest house on the property you can use as long as you’d like. Most of the village is cleared out this time of year, but Marth’s wife is a good healer. I’ll ask her to come check on you.”

“And I’ll be back later to collect this map you speak of,” Nyx says.

It’s nice of him to offer us a place to stay and a healer, but no way am I thanking him for it after what he’s done to me. Aidan only ever does what serves Aidan. He can only be helping us for selfish reasons, and the thought makes my chest tighten with worry.

I move to get up, but Nyx bends over and cradles me in his arms, carrying me to the door. Chepi’s wings materialize, and he quickly flies over, landing on my chest. We follow Aidan around the back of the large, newly remodeled cabin and down a dirt path obscured by trees that leads further back on the property.

“Marth’s wife's name is Hilda. I’ll ask her to bring you guys a little bit of whatever Marth’s got cooking for dinner later too. I’ll be around if you need anything else.” Aidan points to the cabin up ahead then turns back, disappearing down the path. Surprisingly, the guest house is clean and kind of nice. It’s set up similarly to Aidan’s house before the remodel, but this place has more of a woman’s touch to it. The sofa is faded red with white flower designs on it and large fluffy pillows. I wonder what woman would ever want to be with Aidan.

I get comfortable, and Nyx gets to work lighting a fire in the fireplace. He finds a cream-colored quilt to throw over me, tucking it gently around me and Chepi.

“Comfortable? Warm?” he asks.

“Yes, thank you.” I smile while pulling on his arm so he’ll sit with me.

He sits behind me, pulling me back to lean against him. I tilt my head back to see his face, and he kisses my forehead.

“What do you think about everything Aidan says?” I rest my head on his chest. “Can we trust him?”

“I think Aidan’s an opportunistic asshole. He’s always going to do what’s best for himself, but I don’t think he’s who we need to be worried about right now. I didn’t get the sense he was lying about anything he said back there, and I don’t think he wants Samael sniffing around. We don’t need to worry about him giving up our location. As much as I hate to say it, if war does come it’d be nice to have the Lycans as allies. I think Aidan would need us more than we’d need him.”

“Yeah,” I say, sighing deeply.

“I’m interested in finding Athalda. I’m hoping she’ll be able to fill in more pieces of the story than Aidan was,” he says, pulling my messy braid free and running his hands through my hair.

“Why does Aidan call you ‘Cheeks?’” Nyx asks, and I feel my pulse quicken.

“I don’t know why Aidan does anything. That man is repulsive.”

“Please don’t.”

“Please don’t what?” I ask, turning to meet his face.

“Don’t lie to me about this. What is the deal with you two? I know you hate him because of what he did to you at the ceremony, because he killed your friend. He’s despicable, and you’re right to hate him—it just felt like there was something else going on between you two back there,” Nyx says, holding my gaze. I can’t help but look away as a sense of shame washes over me.

“I don’t want to talk about Aidan anymore,” I say, pulling him in closer and placing a kiss on his mouth.