Page 118 of Wilds of Wonder
“To distract us,” Maverick said, a grave expression on his face.
We’d definitely been distracted.
“So El—Bellamy—orchestrated this entire thing?” Now I started pacing, hands clasped behind my back. “She entered Aron’s dreams in his wolf form. She had access to him. So it makes sense that she could. She put that bolt in his mind so he’d want to go after it. That’s why heambushed us in the frost court. Took the bolt and brought it directly to her.”
Aron’s frown deepened.
“Does she even know her father is alive?” Driscoll asked, shooting disturbed glances at the man. “Has he been lurking all this time beneath the castle?”
“She doesn’t know,” Aron said. “She’d never have left him here.”
So I’d been right to not trust El—Bellamy—whatever she called herself.
“As for your second question,” Aron continued. “I’m not sure where he’s been this whole time.”
Driscoll still sat on the bed in a stunned silence. He opened his mouth, then closed it, then opened it again.
I pinched the bridge of my nose as the man continued to rock back and forth in the corner. I gestured to him. “What happened to him?”
“I don’t know,” Aron said. “This was not how El described him to me.”
“Oh, you mean fifty-five years ago?” Driscoll asked.
“We have to find Bellamy,” I said to Maverick. “She has the bolt.”
“I agree,” he said.
“I guess that means the party is over.” Driscoll stood. “Safety and food and sex—all gone.” He swiped his hand across his body. “Guess it was just too boring to become the norm.”
“Driscoll,” I said gently. “You can stay here if you want. With Aron.” I nodded toward him.
A look of panic crossed Driscoll’s face.
Aron didn’t seem to notice as he stepped toward me. “I’m coming with you. I have to find El and tell her about her father. She cannot win against this Spirit Shadow. In truth, I never thought she’d find a way out of the Wilds. I never thought she’d find a weapon powerful enough to kill a spirit. It didn’t seem probable. I see now I underestimated her. But she won’t survive this journey. It’s my duty to help her.”
“Why?” I asked.
Aron looked at me with that steadfast gaze. “Because she is my friend. She took me in when no one else would. She was never afraid ofme, of my wolf form. She saw the beauty in the beast. I will owe her for the rest of my days.”
“She manipulated you, Aron,” Maverick said. “She kept things from you.”
“I’m not saying she’s perfect.” Aron shrugged. “Or innocent. She’s neither. But she is my friend, and she has done a lot of good for many of us here in the Wilds. So I’m coming with you, and I am helping you find her. I will do my best to get that bolt back for you. I don’t know why you want it, but I trust that you both will not use it for dark purposes.”
Aron was truly one of the kindest souls I’d ever met.
He turned to Driscoll, walking toward him and taking his hands. “You can stay here if you want. Wait for me. I’d like that very much actually.”
“Uh.” Driscoll let out a nervous laugh. “I’d love to, really. But I have... things... going on back home.” He slipped his hand from Aron’s and scratched his head. “Laundry and stuff...”
Maverick smirked, and I held back a laugh despite the situation. Driscoll was flustered. And nervous. And I was loving every minute of it. If Leoni were here, I’d bet she’d love it too.
“I understand,” Aron said.
“Okay.” Driscoll clapped his hands together. “Let’s get this journey where we’re probably all going to die over with.”
“Let me just wake Annalee,” Maverick said, stalking toward the door. He reached it, hand hovering over the handle, frozen mid-step.
I met his gaze as he turned his head, and my stomach dropped like a rock. Maverick threw open the door and sprung from the room, but I already knew the horrible truth, which was confirmed when Maverick yelled Annalee’s name with gut-wrenching pain.
