A Gift from the Goddess by Dawn Rosewood

Chapter Fifty–Nine 

“What the fuck are you doing here?” Aleric frantically whispered. “Do you have any idea how much shit you‘ll get into for this?” 

In an involuntary reaction, I quickly pulled the blanket up over my chest to hide myself even though I wasn‘t naked. And yet at the same time, I‘d never felt more exposed. 

There had been no time to react, no time to hide. I knew what Cai had been desperately looking for now; a nescape. But it would have been futile. There wasn‘t enough time to cover my scent and the window had outside privacy panels preventing me from squeezing through. Cai must have realised the same thing. All he could do was apologise for the fact that we were now in this situation. 

“We‘ve found it!” I heard a voice yell from somewhere in the house. 

Aleric‘s eyes suddenly showed signs of worry as he looked at me. Already he looked pale, confused, both of which I‘d never seen on him before, but it was his worry that unnerved me the most. Aleric was confident in everything he did, never showing weakness, and yet he looked now as if he was about to be sick. 

He stuck his head back out the door as he tried to compose himself, replying to what I assumed were warriors inside the house. “Bag it and take it back to evidence,” he ordered. “I‘ve got Caius here detained and will handle the bedroom search. Everyone is to await further instructions back at the packhouse. Anthony, stay behind and wait for me in the car.” 

“Detained?” I asked, finally finding my voice again. “Aleric, what the hell is going on? Why are you here?” 

“Caius is being detained for questioning,” he said quietly. Neither of us were raising our voices too loud for fear we‘d be overheard. “I‘ve got orders to take him in immediately.” 

“On what grounds!?” I hissed back. “What has he done?” 

“The warrior in charge of watching the evidence locker was attacked two nights ago and something was stolen,” he answered. “He can‘t recall much but remembers being given an Alpha order to stand down. Only neither I nor my father set that command. Since there is currently no record of any other Alpha bloods staying with us right now, naturally Caius is under suspicion.” 

“Don‘t be ridiculous! That‘s not enough evidence to bring him in! How could an allied pack‘s Alpha heir possibly overrule an order given to one of our warriors? That‘s impossible.” 

“Aria,” he said sternly. “We just found the missing item inside this house... a silver dagger by the front door. It doesn‘t matter if it doesn‘t make sense, we just acquired the proof. He‘s technically under arrest now.” 

The silver dagger ** stole. The dagger *I* dropped. I‘d just left breadcrumbs of clues leading back to here, back to Cai. 

“Aleric, please, it‘s not him,” I pleaded. 

“Come on,” he said to Cai, ignoring my words. “Get up. We‘ve got to go before they decide to come back here and check why I‘m taking so long. I hope I don‘t need to remind you to not make this difficult or cause a scene here, do I? We both know what will happen if anyone finds her here with you.” 

in compliance. Anything he said, or did, could be used against him in a trial from the moment Aleric had confirmed he was being taken

put up a fight or argue.

whaterstone 

walking over to Aleric without fuss.

Cai though as soon as I saw the handcuffs he was restrained

don‘t do this,

Aleric instructed. “I‘ll come to get you when the

refused to let go of Cai, my grip only tightening. “No...please.”

If my father finds out that you were here with him, this whole thing will get so much worse. Are you intentionally

cutting through the panic. “It‘s

could barely see through the tears blurring my vision. “No, I don‘t want

Let me go,”

was right. There was nothing I could do. Not

your name cleared, I promise,”

me but it only made me feel worse.

walking, sniffing towards him. And though my senses weren‘t strong enough, Aleric must have

I have time for a shower?” Cai

him forward again so they resumed towards

you in a lake on our way to the cells,” Aleric replied, his voice getting further

the room, shaking and in disbelief this had actually happened. Oí all the things that could have occurred, Cai was being pinned for

mid–thigh down, and my cheeks burned red. The Aleric from the past would have killed me, I had no doubt in my mind. There wouldn‘t have been any explanation needed, only my throat ripped out before I‘d even

before sitting in a daze on the side of the bed... waiting for when Aleric would return. My mind was thinking of everything and nothing all at once, unable t o pinpoint just one thing to

long, I could finally hear footsteps coming back. I poised myself for battle in the event it was anyone other than Aleric, but thankfully it was

as they met mine, ready for an argument.

let him finish though as I launched myself at him,

Aleric, listen to me,” I cried. “He‘s not involved. Please.”

a wall in his attempt

“I was the one who stole the dagger from the evidence locker and attacked the warrior, not Cai. I–I wanted it to kill Thea. I wanted revenge for what she did

off without much success. “Stop making shit up just to spare him. And I never said that I didn‘t believe you. I stopped you from committing murder without evidence in front of an entire crowd of warriors. You‘d be