Page 22 of Huntress and the Thorn Court
Gideon shook his head. “We’ve interrogated him, but he claims not to remember how he got in your room. He has no memories of attacking you nor killing Zander?”
“Zander?”
He lowered his gaze and scratched at his chin. “The guard I had posted outside your door.”
“How long have you been posting—” I stopped abruptly. I had been attacked several times now. Posting a guard was something incredibly normal to do, no matter how much it upset me. “Never mind. So he’s lying?”
Gideon’s brow wrinkled as he watched me intently. “I don’t think so. If he is, then he’s very convincing. When you lie your body does certain things. As werewolves we can sense it, with some training. Kyle is showing no signs. When you’re feeling better, perhaps you’d like to question him?”
“Me?”
He nodded. “You are a hunter.”
“Yes, but interrogation wasn’t really my domain.”
“Of course.” He let it drop even though I could tell he wanted to ask more. His eyes glided over my injuries. “How are you feeling?” I tried to raise my brow mockingly, but a twinge shot across my forehead making me groan. Smirking sympathetically, he reached for a glass from my nightstand. “Here,” he offered me a drink. Gently he assisted me placing the glass to my lips. His eyes met mine and I thought I saw something there that seemed uncharacteristic for him. Tenderness. It took me off guard. Quickly I glanced away, staring ineptly at the nightstand noticing the new lamp that now rested there. I guess the other hadn’t survived being used as a weapon.
“You should try to rest,” he whispered removing the drink from my lips and easing me carefully back down. He leaned back in the chair where he sat grabbing a book from his lap.
I narrowed my gaze ignoring the ache I felt at the move. It was becoming apparent that he wasn’t going to leave. “Are you just going to sit there?” Was he planning on watching me sleep?
“Isabel.” He shut his book with a huff. “You were just attacked—again—in my house. You’re damn right I’m going to sit here and make sure it doesn’t happen again. Now get some sleep.”
“I can’t sleep with you sitting there,” I muttered stifling the way my heart warmed at the idea of him safeguarding me. That was not a feeling I needed to be having towards him. I told myself I was simply mistaking his need to keep me safe as kindness instead of the desire not to go to war, but that clarification didn’t stop my heart from quickening.
“You’ve slept just fine while I’ve watched over you. I’m sure you can do it again.” He picked up the book and began reading it once more as I gaped at him. He didn’t move under my harsh gaze, except for the smallest twitch of his mouth that I thought might have been a smirk.
With a huff, I settled back into the mattress and was drifting off when a thought occurred. “He was surprised,” I whispered.
“Who was?” Gideon asked still entranced in his book.
“The man who attacked me. He was surprised I woke, like he thought I’d sleep through the attack.”
Gideon closed the book. Leaning forward in his chair, resting his elbows on his knees, he gave me his full attention. “Why would he think that?”
I started to shake my head when I remembered. “Eleanor gave me a pill to help me sleep.”
Gideon grabbed his phone that had been resting on the nightstand. Quickly he dialed a number. He stood, pacing. “Adam. Isabel is awake. No, we’re fine. I didn’t call you to have you lecture me. She says Eleanor gave her a pill. Speak to her. I wanna know who all knew.”
Ending the call, he placed the phone next to my new lamp.
“You don’t think Eleanor…?”
He shook his head. “But maybe she mentioned something. We had your room swept for listening devices and cameras while you were out, just a precaution. It came up empty, so it had to come from her.” I wanted to learn more, but my eyes were drooping. Gideon smiled knowingly. “Sleep Isabel. I’ll fill you in when you wake.”
I wanted to protest but sleep sounded so wonderful that I let it take me without a fight.
12
Over the next forty-eight hours, I was barely left alone. The doctor claimed I had a slight concussion, probably from my head being slammed against the doorframe repeatedly, but the slipping in, what I later found out to be werewolf blood, and cracking my head on the ground did me no favors.
Gideon kept vigil most of that time, swapping out with Adam when he was needed elsewhere. Whenever the Alpha returned, he brought a slice of cake as an offering. Smart man had figured out my guilty pleasure. I couldn’t protest his arrival when it came with cake. This is what I told myself. I’d grown to anticipate his visit, but as I said, it was about the cake.
The truth about the night I was attacked was partially covered up. The pack was told I’d come down with the flu, a very human illness that wouldn’t affect the wolves. The werewolf who attempted to kill me was being held for murder. The death of Zander wasn’t something that could be hidden. What no one seemed aware of was that Zander had been guarding me.
Being on bed rest helped my back to the point that I could move without wincing. When Gideon mentioned a meeting to discuss the attack, I insisted on being a part of it, even putting my triple chocolate cake down to say as much. I was stunned when he agreed. I’d been prepared to argue my case. Gideon actually had to hold his hand up silencing me because the words came tumbling out before I could stop them.
“Isabel, I agree. These attacks are aimed at you. It would be idiotic on my part to exclude you.”
