Chapter 121.
Chapter 121
Serafine POV
I wake up and shift, feeling Eryx gone from my arms. I look around the car and see Xander holding him. Glancing outside, I see the sun is high in the sky.
“I thought you were waking me when we reached the rogue territory?” I ask.
Xander looks at me and smiles. “You were exhausted; the amount of magic you used consumed a lot of energy. You needed sleep. It’s fine, we’ve been traveling through it for hours without issues.”
I relax at his words and reach for Eryx.
“Not yet,” he says. “Eat first, please,” he says as Killian hands me a small package. I unwrap the sandwich and eat it slowly.
“You’re not the reason the crops are dying, Serafine,” Xander says, and I stare at him.
“What?” It has to be me, that’s the only change, me and Eryx, even I’ve begun to accept that it’s down to me now.
“You didn’t do it, we’ve been looking at it from the view that ours is alive, and your magic is attacking everyone, right?” he asks, and I nod. “What if your magic is the reason our crops are alive? What if it’s protecting the crops? There’s something killing them, and you being close is what is keeping them alive.”
“I didn’t kill them all?” I ask, feeling tears spring to my eyes. I’ve had this guilt so heavy that I was the reason packs were going to starve and struggle, and it wasn’t me? Xander moves and hugs me.
“You didn’t, I promise you, you didn’t kill the crops, but we could figure out how to make it so you can save other packs, or bring theirs back?” He looks at me. “It might help them build trust, and believe you’re not something evil, but something good.”
My head nods, and I bury my face into his neck.
“I was so sure it was me or Eryx that the only way forward would be to hide away from all packs, but I don’t need to.”
“No, you don’t need to, we will figure it out, okay?”
Sighing I nod, and rest into him more. A few minutes pass in silence, and my skin begins to burn.
“Xander,” I whisper. He hums, and I move away from him. “I can feel it, it’s losing control again.” I hold out my hands and see the gain glow.
“No, you’re not losing control of it, I think it’s a sign we’re coming to danger, maybe the rogues. You’re not losing control of the magic, Serafine,” he says, and the conviction in his voice is so deep and real I almost believe him.
“If the rogues see,” I whisper.
“They won’t, I promise.” He grips my hands and looks at me. “Tell me what to do and I’ll do it, I’ll help you control it,” he says.
“You mean that?” ask.
He moves to cup my face. “If I have to hold onto the/magic and drag myself down to keep you safe, I will,” he says before kissing me gently. I relax him and feel the magic flowing between us, settling slowly.
“See,” he whispers against my lips. “You can do this, you’re strong enough.”
Pulling back, he smiles and strokes my jaw.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
“Rogues, Alpha, we will reach them in about an hour,” someone calls out.
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Chapter 121
“How do they know that if they can’t see?” I ask.
Xander smiles softly at me. “We sent something ahead to check the path,” he says.
“Hollowfang Raven?” I ask, already knowing that’s what it is.
“Yes, which is how we know we’re getting close to them, and that means they are waiting for us.”
Waiting for us… Great, just what I need and wanted. I chew my lip and look around.
“The plan is that everyone stays in the car; only Garrick and I will get out. I’ll talk directly to them, no one gets out of the car, understood?” Xander asks as he looks around and between us.
I guess he’s right, and it’s for the best that we don’t. Sighing, I nod. “Is it safe for you?” I ask.
“It’s safer for me than anyone else. I know them, I’ve spent time with them. Just promise me that you will stay in the car, no matter what you hear
“I promise,” I whisper.
He nods and looks toward Helena. “I may be an outcast and living in settlements, but I do not like rogues or have any urge to meet one, I’m good staying right here.”
Her words have me chuckling. I don’t blame her, though. Rogues aren’t exactly kind, at least that’s what the stories say.
“How bad can it be?” I ask, and Xander squints at me. “Everyone said you were the worst, the most ruthless rogue. If you’re the worst, the second worst can’t be that bad.” I explain.
Xander smiles. “I did a lot of things when I was with the rogues that you wouldn’t like, Serafine. Just because in this moment I’m like this, don’t forget that reputation came because of what I did.”
Chewing my lip, I nod. “What did you do?” I ask.
Xander looks out of the window and sighs. “Things that I’m not proud of, I was wanting revenge for something that was over and done with years ago.”
“So you won’t tell me?” I ask. “I’ve heard the stories.”
1: ཡང
“Leave them as hearsay, I don’t need another person in my life to know how far I went and look at me like I’m a monster for as long as I live.”
He thinks that? “Why would I look at you like a monster?”
“You already did, Serafine, the day I married you and brought you home to my pack. You looked at me like I was a monster purely for the stories, if ! repeat them, give them weight, you won’t want me near you.”
His words stun me, and Helena shakes her head. Okay, I guess for now I’ll leave it, but I deserve to know what he did, how bad he was. Even if he hates the thought of me knowing the truth.
“What is the plan if they refuse to let us continue?” I ask.
“They won’t,” he says.
I stare at him. “They could, Xander. Have you considered the plan if they do? Have you considered the plan if they try to fight, try to take Ery
Turning he looks at me. “I promise you, we will continue on, and you will both be safe. If you stay in the damn car.”
Woah, okay. I nod and lean back. Stay in the car, got it. I won’t even think about stepping out of it. Sighing, I rub my face.
“Sorry for snapping, but you need to trust me, I know what I’m doing and our best chance to make it through is if I deal with the rogues.”
I nod and smile. “It’s fine,” I say quietly, it is, because I have no choice but to be fine with it right now.
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