[Aera's POV]A week passed after the incident within Crimson Tides, and despite trying by all means to get information on Ayla Jameson, Benny continued to come up empty-handed.Anytime he would come close to finding something, his trail would be obliterated. It was clear that someone was working behind the scenes to keep her secrets safe, and that just spurred me even more to uncover them.That was why I was now standing right in front of the woman in question, as she didn't bother hiding her suspicion of me.I was aware that Anchorage Academies seniors had to prepare for their graduation evaluation and decided to participate in their first round of training after a week's break.In the end, I decided that since I couldn't find anything by trying to dig, I would try another tactic, which would be to get close to her so she could reveal her secrets herself. Once I knew what Crimson Tides was hiding, I would reveal it to the world and destroy them just as they destroyed my brother."Bes

[Aera’s POV]Ayla’s expression shifts from angry to terrified as she begins to look around for a way to escape. Her actions alone make it clear that whatever has caused her eye color to change is more than just a sign of her being a hybrid."I’ve gotta," she stammers, whirling around and grabbing the door."No, you don’t!"Before she can pull the door open, I slam my palm against it and lock her in. If she thought she was going to escape after something like that happened, she had another fucking thing coming."You better explain what this is," I hiss. "And you better have a damn good explanation; otherwise, I will be forced to contact the elders.""Contact them," she laughs bitterly. "They’re already watching me like hawks anyway."At her words, I feel a slight twinge of sympathy, but as quickly as it appears, it is gone, and all that is left is a resolute decision to find out if Ayla should be allowed to continue walking around with the rest of us.I noticed it before when we were f

[Ayla’s POV]I look up at Marah’s balcony, wondering whether or not I should climb up. I can hear the sounds of her and Jayden going at it like rabbits, but the clawing in my chest pushes me to take my chances.Rushing to the side of her house, I begin to climb and then hoist myself over the balcony, only to collapse to my knees and clutch my chest in pain.Fuck, I didn’t know what was happening, but since my encounter with Aera, the darkness was desperately trying to escape, and nothing I did could stop it.Letting out a hiss of pain, I reach out and begin to pound my fist against the glass of Marah’s balcony door until she appears with a blanket wrapped around herself."Ayla?" she gasps, yanking the door open and kneeling in front of me. "What’s wrong?""It’s…" I rasp as dark spots begin to dance in front of my eyes. "Getting worse."Understanding flashes in Marah’s eyes, and then she is moving, heading back inside and grabbing Jayden so he can pick me up and carry me inside, then l

[Ayla's POV]I stare out the window of Aera's car trying to fight the urge to ask him exactly what is going through his head.Since leaving Crimson Tides, neither of us had spoken, which would have been fine, but there were so many unasked questions hovering around us that it was about to drive me insane."Why?" I finally ask, unable to take it any longer. "Why are you doing this?""Doing what?" Aera murmurs, keeping his gaze fixed directly on the road. "I don't know what you mean."I bite back my initial response, which would only make him defensive, while clenching and unclenching my fists to remain calm.Keep it together, Ayla. I chant internally while taking a few calming breaths."Why aren't you turning me into the elders?" I continue. "Why take me to Caelum instead?"When he found me associating with Marah, I truly thought that this was it for me. Aera would turn me in to the elders for treason, and then I would be thrown in a cell to rot. But instead, here we were playing fake

[Aera's POV]Ayla's words haunt me as I leave her and head back to Caelum's packhouse. I don't understand why, but they leave a bad taste in my mouth and leave me on edge as I head upstairs for my nightly visit with Alphonze.When I find him, he is sitting in front of the window, staring down at the grounds below."Who is she?" He asks in the way of greeting."Who is who?" I ask, moving forward and wrapping an arm around him to help him from the chair he sits in to his bed. "I don't know who you're referring to.""Aera!" he sighs, his voice filled with warning. "Don't play dumb with me.""I'm not," I counter, easily lifting Alphonze and wincing due to just how light he truly is. "Anyway, why did Martin leave you alone in that chair, knowing damn well that you're unable to get out of it yourself?"The thought of firing Martin on the spot hits me, but I know damn well that Alphonze wouldn't allow it.For years, we searched for a caregiver that meshed well with Alphonze's personality, an