Page 42 of The Wolf and the Chimera
As Ryder helped me to my feet, worry and confusion continued to line his face, but I was too distracted to soothe his concerns. Something continued to lurk at the edges of my memories.
You’re going crazy,I told myself.You’ve been possessed one too many times.
Unlike the usual lies I told myself, I didn’t quite believe that one.
Chapter Thirteen
Ryder
As Elle and I strolled down the staircase that led to the gym, I tried once again to figure out what I had said wrong last night. Though things hadn’t been easy between us before, I had gotten used to little things. She would let me hold her hand or call her ‘Ellie’ without frowning. Now, she was as distant as ever. When I opened the gym’s door for her, I placed my hand on the small of her back, and she flinched like my touch burned her.
“Everything okay?” I asked.Again.
“Of course,” she replied and fixed that damned smile on her face.
It was the smile she pasted on for the world. Before, I resented that she played nicely with everyone but me. Now, I missed her feistiness.
At least it had been real.
Before I could press her on the reason for her distance, Kieran stood from the bench press and waved us over. As usual, Melanie and Bo accompanied him. The rest of the gym was blessedly empty.
I had wanted Elle to sleep in after what she’d gone through last night, but she had been adamant this would be the best time to ask Kieran what exactly he knew about his father. At four o’clock this morning, she’d dressed in distractingly tight yoga pants, tennis shoes, and a dry-fit top, though there was no way I was actually training her today. Myown basketball shorts and gray t-shirt were also part of the cover-up.
“Good morning, Elle,” Kieran greeted then awkwardly added, “Ryder.”
I nodded.
“Wow,” Melanie commented. “I can feel the fraternal affection in the air.”
I snorted, and Bo rolled his eyes, but Elle ignored her.
“Thank you all for helping Ryder find me,” she said.
She smiled warmly at each of them, and Bo’s cheeks reddened. Kieran scratched the back of his neck.
“No worries,” he said. “I just wish we knew what the bastard was up to.”
I sighed. “Any clue what he wants from Elle?”
“We didn’t even know anything about the sorceress until last night,” Melanie replied.
Kieran chewed on his lip. “The High Witch is hunting you, right?”
Elle nodded. “She wants to entomb me to keep the sorceress at bay forever.”
Bo cursed.
“Good gods,” Melanie muttered.
“Lyall has been angling for a way to get one up on Cordelia for years,” Kieran said. “Elle must be the latest development in that plan.”
“But the witches and wolves have been allies since the creation of the Leaders,” I argued.
Melanie snickered. “Just because you hook up with witches, does that mean you believe there are never power struggles between our two peoples?”
I stiffened. I had forgotten that the last time I was forced to come here for some festival created by Lyall, Freya had astrally projected me.
Her projection hadn’t been wearing much clothing.
