Chapter 381
Violet
Some time had passed since everything went down.
Since we had seen Kayden walk again with our own eyes, since he had threatened to burn everything down if he didn’t get Thorne back, and since we had finally gotten dressed.
And somehow…nothing had happened yet.
There was no dramatic confrontation or any sign of Kayden, which meant so far so good. Kylan had called for an emergency meeting in the library not long after so we could figure out what to do about our unforeseen issues.
As we waited in the library, my eyes glanced at Thorne’s cage on the table. It was completely covered by a thick, dark cloth. After Kylan fed him, Thorne had stayed quiet for a while, but we weren’t stupid. We knew he could be listening.
“Why are they taking so long?” Kylan complained impatiently.
Right at that moment, the door opened and Dylan and Nate walked in together, both of them carrying uneasy expressions.
“Please,” Nate said immediately, his blue eyes darting around the room before landing on Kylan. “Tell me the rumors aren’t true p>
Dylan released a huff. “They say…he walks again p>
Kylan let out a short laugh of disbelief. I was sure all of this still felt ridiculous to him, although it was the reality. Kayden was awake and walking.
“He’s awake…and he can walk,” Kylan confirmed. “And no, it doesn’t change anything. The plan stays the same. Tonight p>
That was one thing that was certain.
I could not see him changing his mind about that any time soon.
Dylan nodded right away. “I agree. This shouldn’t have to change things p>
Kylan glanced toward the door. “Where are the others p>
“Trinity said they couldn’t make it,” Dylan said. “Something about the preparations for the howl tonight.” That’s right. I had completely forgotten about that. Not only Kaelis, but also Madam Renata was counting on us to be there every step of the way so we could experience a Lyperian ceremony. What kind of example would I set if I wouldn’t be there for Kaelis?
I nudged Kylan’s shoulder. “I should go soon. I promised I’d help p>
Kylan nodded. “There are also some things I’m expected to take care of p>
Then he looked back at Dylan. “Did you find out the time p>
“Twelve thirty,” Dylan said. “That’s when the moon hits the point we need p>
“Twelve thirty,” Kylan repeated. I knew we were thinking the same thing. That was still a long time from now, which meant we had to hide Thorne until then.
“And the raven?” Nate began. “Were you still able to p>
Kylan sighed and, without another word, pulled the cloth off the cage in one smooth motion.
Nate opened his mouth. “Wow p>
Inside the cage, Thorne snapped his beak open immediately, and his feathers ruffled as he came forward to scrape his claws against the metal. He suddenly wasn’t that quiet anymore, and an angry sound left his throat.
“So that’s the situation,” Kylan said, throwing the cloth back over the cage just as fast as he had removed it. “I need that thing out of the palace until it’s time,” he went on. “Kayden’s threatened to burn everything down if he doesn’t get his raven back, and knowing my brother, he will really do it p>
Dylan snorted in surprise. “It’s been like what, a few hours? And he’s already making more threats p>
Kylan hummed in agreement. “Something’s different,” he told him. “He is different, and he’s got these red streaks in his hair p>
Nate’s face shifted. I studied him, wondering what had just crossed his mind. Ultimately, Kayden was the one who had killed his sister, and hearing something good happen to him couldn’t have felt great.
Dylan rubbed the back of his neck. “This doesn’t have anything to do with us traveling back, does it?” he asked carefully. “Because if that old man fucked us over p>
“No,” Kylan cut in quickly. “No. I don’t think so p>
But even as he said it, I felt his eyes burning on me. Deep down, everyone knew the truth. We didn’t know the full truth, but it was very obvious that Kayden’s miracle had something to do with the past.
It wasn’t just me. We all knew whatever had changed Kayden hadn’t happened by accident.
I forced myself to focus again. “What about Thorne?” I asked eagerly. “What will we do with him p>
Nate let out a quiet laugh. “We can always roast him and serve him at the Howl,” he joked. The humor died quickly when he realized no one else was amused.
“Sorry,” he mumbled.
My eyes drifted to the covered cage in the corner. Kylan followed my gaze, then looked back at the group. “Nate. You should take him p>
“M–me?” Nate stuttered, his eyes wide. He pointed at his own chest, waiting for Kylan to take it back, but he didn’t. “Why me p>
There was a hint of panic on his face, and I couldn’t blame him. We had all seen what that thing was capable of, and it might be holding back now, but for all we knew, he would shift into a shadow beast again.
“That thing can’t stay here, and you’re the only one I trust with it,” Kylan said. “Calm enough to keep it under control, and smart enough to handle whatever it does next p>
Nate cleared his throat. “Well,” he said slowly, “I appreciate your compliment, but…” He took a deep breath.” Okay, sure. Whatever. I’ll take the bird p>
“Good. You’ll hide him at your place, keep him quiet, and bring him back tonight,” Kylan instructed. “We won’t do the sealing inside the palace,” he added. “We’ll move to an open field, wait for Baelor, seal him, and get it over with p>
A knot formed in my stomach. His plan sounded so solid, yet there was still a chance that everything could go horribly wrong.
So many things had already slipped out of our control, such as Kayden walking again. On top of that, Baelor wasn’t the type to do what anyone expected him to do.
I trusted Kylan, and the confidence he had in this new plan of his. I really did, because if anyone could pull this off, it was him.
But trust didn’t erase fear.
“For now, we act like everything is normal,” Kylan stated, his tone steady. “No strange looks, nothing. We go on with our day like nothing is wrong, and will look forward to my sister’s howl p>
Nate hadn’t stopped staring at the cage. “Sure,” he said slowly. “Everything is…perfectly fine p>
He walked over to the table, then picked the cage up. The cloth shifted as he lifted it, and he gave it an unexpected shake, causing a sharp cry to come from beneath the fabric.
“Don’t,” Kylan scolded.
“Right,” Nate muttered. “Definitely not doing that again p>
He adjusted his grip and glanced back at us. “I guess…we’ll see you later p>
His face looked slightly repulsed as he walked out with the cage, leaving the three of us behind in the library.
I felt bad for him.
I really did.
No one deserved this, but of everyone here, Nate was the one who deserved this the least. He didn’t have to be part of this, but still ended up being the one having to babysit that cursed raven.
This was probably the worst thing that could happen to him today, and I highly doubted anything else
admin