Free Web NovelChapter 85: Chapter 85
Riley’s POV
The moment I entered inside, it felt different immediately and I did not even need anyone to tell me because the aura in here itself was chilling and quieter at the same time.
There were only a few people inside this time and they were not naked like the others outside. They were all wearing clothes and not just normal clothes but the kind that looked expensive and powerful.
The fabrics looked smooth and thick and shiny, and the way they carried themselves made it obvious they were not ordinary people. My heart started beating faster because this place suddenly felt more dangerous than the naked people outside.
Just then, a voice called, "Aemoria Morvayne Emberwyn."
I turned sharply before my brain could even catch up and I froze immediately. My eyes widened because I did not even accept that name when Bane told me. I had refused it and rejected it inside my head so many times, yet here I was turning like a trained dog the moment someone called it. It was like my body knew the name even if my mind did not want to.
I saw a middle-aged man staring at me. He was not old but not young either and his eyes were green. I blinked because the color looked too bright and real, almost glowing, and for a moment I wondered if I was imagining it.
Wait a minute.
These people could actually see me.
I slowly turned to the young woman I came with and she smiled at me like this was completely normal and not strange at all. I did not know why that made me even more nervous.
The man looked at her and said, "Dalia, get her to sit somewhere."
The moment he said that, my brain shut down and panic took over.
I shrank back immediately and shook my head hard. "Oh no, no, no. This is how it starts. This is exactly how it starts. You people want to poison me or sacrifice me or something. I am not sitting anywhere. I am leaving. I was told not to trust anyone here. You are not real. None of you are real."
My voice kept getting louder as I stepped backward. "You are illusions. Yes. That is it. You are illusions. I refuse. I am not dying in some strange dream. I refuse. I have not even divorced Ethan yet. I am not dying as Mrs. Ethan Whatever-His-Annoying-Surname-Is."
I turned and was about to run.
I did not even take two steps before my head slammed into something hard.
It was not a wall.
It was a chest.
A very hard chest.
I slowly looked up and my soul almost left my body.
The man in front of me was huge. He was so tall that I had to tilt my head all the way back to see his face. His shoulders were wide and his body looked like it was made of stone. His face was serious and cold and he looked like someone who had not laughed in his entire life.
My legs gave up instantly and I dropped to the floor.
"Holy Jesus," I gasped, my voice shaking. "What the fuck is this? What the hell is that? Why is he so big? Are you a giant? Are you a monster? Please do not kill me. I am too young. I have not even enjoyed my life yet. I still want to eat shawarma again. I still want to travel. I still want to slap Ethan at least one more time before I die."
The giant man did not react at all. He just kept staring at me like a statue.
"I heard that when you die in your dreams, you die in real life," I continued, almost crying now. "But I am not even dreaming. I know I am not dreaming because I can feel the pain in my head right now. Oh my God. I am finished."
The same man spoke again. "Alator, you are scaring her. Let her be."
The giant immediately stepped aside without a word.
I did not trust it. I started crawling backward on the floor because that seemed safer than standing. My brain was still screaming at me to run but my body refused to cooperate.
The man looked at me calmly. "Relax, Aemoria. We would not dare to hurt Emberwyn’s child."
I blinked slowly.
"My name is Riley Grayson," I said, my voice stubborn and sharp even though I was still shaking.
He smiled slightly. "Of course. Your human name."
I slowly stood up because crawling was starting to feel embarrassing. I dusted my clothes like that would somehow bring my dignity back.
He walked to a small table, picked up a bottle, and poured something into a small old cup. He drank it like he had all the time in the world.
I stared at him. "Can you explain what is happening or do you enjoy confusing people for fun?"
He sat down and looked at me. "If I were you, I would be quicker in my journey to get the fur from Lunar Hollow at the heart of Obsidian Veil."
My heart skipped.
Caden had mentioned that.
"How do you know that?" I asked.
He did not answer directly. "The prime wolves were said to be three, but in truth there are only two."
I frowned. "That does not even make sense."
He continued like he did not hear me. "The one that makes them three is the one everyone knows but does not know."
I stared at him. "Sir, respectfully, you are talking like a riddle book and I hate riddles."
He looked amused. "You are familiar with one of them."
I froze.
"You mean... I know one of the prime wolves? That is absurd for beasts that wouldn’t waste seconds to tear me apart"
He smirked, he actually smirked.
A strange fear started crawling inside my chest. "Who is it?"
"He is cursed just like the others," the man said. "And his death will come faster than expected." fɾēewebnσveℓ.com
I swallowed. My hands started sweating.
"What? Why?" I asked quietly.
"He is a breed even Sebastian does not know about," he said. "How foolish of him."
My heart started racing. My brain was fuzzy with confusion.
"You must hurry," the man continued. "If he loses the fight against the other two, a part of you will be lost forever."
My heart sank.
"And also for anything once you leave here, do not stop," he added. "No matter what you see, no matter who you see, do not stop. Keep moving."
He turned to Dalia. "Escort her back. Make sure the moon-bound wolves do not harm her until she reaches the cave."
Dalia nodded.
My head was spinning as she led me out. "You do not have to worry," she said gently. "Everything will make sense later."
I did not answer because my brain was too busy thinking.
We walked out and suddenly the place looked empty. All the people were gone like they had never been there. It felt like we had entered a different path.
Then my eyes landed on something.
A little girl.
She looked about three years old and she was on the ground. She was bleeding and coughing blood. Her tiny hands were shaking and her eyes looked weak and scared.
"Oh my God," I gasped.
Every instinct inside me pushed me forward. I rushed toward her without thinking.
But suddenly Dalia grabbed me hard and pulled me back. Her grip was strong and her face was cold in a way I had never seen before.
"Don’t do that, it’s dangerous."
