CLAIMS AND SHADOWS

Elaris’s POV

Night descended upon the palace, but sleep was out of the question with the image of Virelle standing next to Averic flashing behind my eyelids.

Every time I closed my eyes, I could see her hand on her stomach.

Averic had looked at her with that look.

Not in love.

Not with happiness.

With shock.

However, jealousy filled my mind.

I despised myself for this jealousy.

Despite all that Caedmon did to me, I swore to myself I would never let another man’s actions dictate who I am.

But just one woman entering my life made me second-guess everything.

I placed my hand upon my stomach.

“Protecting you,” I whispered.

But I wasn’t sure what I was protecting my baby from—Virelle or another heartache.

I went to my chambers and began preparing Maevra’s herbal medicine for her sedation every night, as I needed something to calm my shaking hands.

The halls of the palace were very quiet.

I counted each and every leaf of the herb.

It was something basic.

Something I could comprehend.

Unlike feelings.

Unlike love.

Unlike the mess that Virelle had created inside the palace.

While preparing the medicines, I could feel some movement at the far end of the corridor.

I looked up.

No one was there.

I heard the steps of the servant somewhere in the adjacent hall.

I resumed work.

But I could not ignore the uncomfortable feeling.

I could feel someone’s gaze fixed upon me.

She welcomed me inside her dimly lit chamber where she had already noticed how exhausted and sad I looked.

“You seem concerned.”

“I’m alright.”

Maevra shot me a knowing glance.

“You’ve always been terrible at lying.”

I placed her tea cup down.

“Virelle is back.”

“I know.”

I turned abruptly towards her.

“Really?”

“The news spreads rapidly inside the palace.”

I looked down.

“She claims that she’s carrying Averic’s baby.”

Maevra fell silent for a while.

And then she took hold of my hand.

“And what do you think about it?”

“I don’t know.”

I was telling the truth.

Maevra pressed on my fingers.

“Then do not blame yourself for something that you cannot prove.”

“Virelle’s presence is a shadow, my daughter,” Maevra whispered, holding my hand as I gave her my teacup. “Do not let her take you away from where you belong.”

I gulped down the tightness in my throat.

“I do not know where I belong anymore.”

Maevra frowned.

“What makes you say that?”

“Because everything has changed since she came back into my life.”

“Let the truth make the call, and not your fear.”

I gaped at her.

“Easy for you to say.”

“It is not.”

Her look became more serious than ever before.

“They who want something from you can make you feel like you do not deserve to have it.”

My breath caught in my throat.

“Are you saying that maybe Virelle wants something from me?”

Maevra stared deeply into my eyes.

“I am just saying that you should be wary of anyone who comes carrying shadows with them.”

A shiver ran down my spine.

I offered her a weak smile, unable to express all that I felt.

I could not tell Maevra about my pregnancy.

At least, not yet.

If I told her, she would end up telling Averic.

And if Averic knew, everything would change.

I placed my hand on my stomach under the layers of my dress.

There was little life flourishing within me.

The one thing that had become my strongest motivation to go on living.

Maevra detected the slight fluttering.

"Are you in pain?"

"No."

"What troubles you then?"

I tried to flash a smile.

"I'm only tired."

She scrutinized me in silence for several seconds.

"Whatever it is you carry alone, Elaris, remember that secrets grow heavier the longer you withhold their burden."

Those words echoed in my mind after I'd walked out.

While walking down the corridor of torches to my room, Averic came out of his study with darkened eyes filled with hidden battle.

"Elaris."

I paused.

He looked tired.

For several seconds we were silent.

His gaze was traveling over my face.

"Have you eaten anything?"

"Yes."

"You're sure?"

"I already said I'm fine."

His face hardened.

"You've been saying that twice tonight."

I glanced away.

He moved towards me.

"I wanted to talk to you."

Alarm instantly went up within me.

"About Virelle?"

No answer.

"Elaris, wait," he called, closing the distance between us until we were just inches apart, the smell of his pine and rain surrounding me.

I felt the heat from his body.

Just a few days before, being this close would have been something else entirely.

It was hurting now.

"I don't want to talk about her."

"You need to listen."

"Why?"

"Because I don't want you to misinterpret everything that happened."

I finally turned and looked at him.

"And what exactly am I supposed to be interpreting?"

His eyes became softer.

"That just because she's here doesn't mean that what happened between us isn't real."

My heart stuttered.

"You don't know what happened between us."

He frowned.

"I know what happened between you and Caedmon."

"That's not what I'm talking about."

Averic stared at me.

For one second there, I almost confessed it all.

Almost told him about the child.

Then I remembered the words Virelle had whispered in my ear.

I'm carrying your child.

The confession got stuck in my throat.

He tried to explain that she was only here in accordance with pack law, until it was confirmed, but his voice betrayed him.

"She can’t just be sent away," Averic stated. "While there is still a chance that she is carrying my heir."

"And when it is confirmed?"

"Even then, it is still the law that demands I protect her."

I nodded slowly.

"I understand."

"You don't."

Frustration was evident in his tone.

"I’m not choosing her over you."

I gazed into his eyes.

"You don’t have to choose."

“Elaris…”

"I know what the law demands."

He moved closer.

"I need you to believe me."

I wanted to.

Gods, I wanted to.

But believing him meant letting myself hope again.

And hope had already torn me apart once.

"You owe me no explanation, Alpha," I said coldly, deliberately using his title in an attempt to create distance between us for the sake of my broken heart.

Averic’s expression changed immediately.

"Alpha?"

I nodded.

"That is how I should address you."

"Why?"

"Because you are my Alpha."

"Am I nothing more than that to you?"

The unexpected question made me look at him in shock.

I looked away.

"I don’t know what I am to you."

His eyes grew dark.

"You do."

"No."

My voice quivered.

"I don't."

The silence between us was excruciating.

Averic took a breath.

"Then give me time to prove it to you."

I wanted to agree.

Instead, I took a step back.

Averic's jaw clenched at the use of his title, reaching out for me again by touching my waist, but stopping himself just in time, respecting the space I needed.

His fingers clenched into a fist at his side.

"I'm not going to force you."

I nodded.

"Thank you."

He seemed as if he was about to say more.

Instead, he asked softly, "Are you scared of me?"

"No."

"What are you then?"

I bit down on my lip.

"Of losing something before I have a chance to hold onto it."

His features softened.

"You will not lose me tonight."

I looked at him.

The promise caused my heart to ache.

He started walking towards his study.

"Go get some sleep."

I watched as he walked away.

Neither of us noticed the figure disappearing around the corner.

I started walking back towards my quarters, closing the heavy wooden door behind me just as the sound of a thunderstorm was beginning outside the palace windows.

The rain pattered against the glass in waves.

I leaned against the door and shut my eyes.

My hand instinctively reached out to touch my stomach.

“Stay safe.”

The lightning lit up my entire room.

For a second, I felt something move beyond the curtains on the balcony.

I opened my eyes.

There was nothing there.

I approached the window and inspected the latch.

It was secured.

I frowned.

But then I saw something on the ground.

It was a strand of silver hair.

The exact same shade as the color of Virelle’s dress.

My heartbeat accelerated.

I picked up the strand.

There was someone in here.

A soft click was heard from the far corner of my room as I turned around in time to see Virelle standing by the open balcony door, with a vial of black liquid in her hand, above my water pitcher.

My blood froze.

“How did you manage to get in?”

She slowly placed the vial down.

“You should lock your balcony door.”

I stepped back.

“What do you want?”

Her eyes shifted down towards my stomach.

“I think you know that.”

My hand quickly covered the blanket that was on my abdomen.

Virelle smiled.

"So it’s true."

My heart skipped.

"What?"

"You’re pregnant."

The vial remained over the pitcher.

I could not speak.

She had known.

She must have known from the beginning.

"Don’t worry," she said softly. "I’m not here to kill you."

She smiled a frostier smile.

"Tonight."

She tipped the black liquid.

"All it would take is one drop to cause you to lose everything."

My eyes fixed on the vial in horror.

Then Virelle moved towards me.

"But I don’t need you to lose your baby."

I gasped.

"I just need you desperate enough to leave."

She moved towards the balcony.

"Once you leave, nothing will stand in the way of my child getting the throne."

She disappeared into the rain.

I raced after her.

She was already gone.

My hand stayed over my belly as fear consumed me.

Not only did Virelle know about my pregnancy.

She had a plan.

Whatever her plans were, they would go further than me.