Chapter 20: Chapter 20

~ NYSSA

“I apologize for the noise,” the nurse began but I wasn’t paying attention to her anymore.

I forced myself into a sitting position, ignoring the pain that went up my spine. “Is that Aria?”

“I don’t know her name but she’s the-”

“King’s sister,” I finished for her. “I know. Why is she here?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” she asked. “She’s here for you.”

Before I had the chance to say anything, heavy footsteps made their way towards my room. The nurse straightened instantly, bowing as low as she could go. I would’ve laughed if I wasn’t in so much pain.

“Move,” Aria said, her voice cold and detached.

The nurse quickly scrambled away, red hair billowing in the wind as she did.

I watched Aria, searching her face for any inclination as to why she was here now, or why she was looking for me, but there was none.

She looked very different than how she looked at the palace. She wore a pair of dark blue jeans, a white shirt that she tied around her mid-riff and a blue jacket with gold trimmings. It was casual, but there was no mistaking her for just anyone… she looked the part of the King’s sister.

Two guards followed behind her and stopped outside the door, presumably to keep watch.

Aria shut the door behind us, locking us both in the room.

“If you’re here to kill me, I suggest you make it quick. I’m in enough pain as it is. Torturing me would be ineffective,”

She cocked a brow, the corner of her lips tugging upward in what I could only describe as amusement. “Why would I want to kill you?”

I shrugged. “You tell me. You’re here in my pack. I’m not stupid enough to assume it’s to take me back to the palace. If it were you would’ve come two days ago when you said you would.”

She shook her head, her expression something close to sadness, but not quite hitting the mark. “There is a lot you don’t understand, Nyssa.”

“I know that. What I do want to know is why you’re here?”

“I’m here to take you back to the palace. There is a medic team from the palace waiting outside. They will give you something for the pain and we will be off.”

I scoffed. “Why now? Did one of the guards tell you that I was hurt? Does he feel responsible for it?”

“I’m not going to sit here and talk about my brother. You can refuse if you want, but it doesn’t really matter. We’re going to the palace. I would prefer if it was with your permission.”

I shook my head, scoffing in defeat.

I was stupid enough to allow myself fantasize that maybe it would be different with Rowan. I was finally starting to see things as they were.

I may be Rowan’s mate, but in reality, I was nothing more than a prisoner in a gilded cage. I was a pawn in his game that he could move however he wanted.

“Do what you need to do,” I mumbled.

She nodded, heading towards the door. She stopped with her hand on the knob and turned to me. “It doesn’t have to be a bad thing, Nyssa. You may just enjoy your time at the palace.”

“Just give me the fucking drugs.”

She stared at me for a moment longer before pulling the door open.

Sure enough, a team rushed in immediately. They didn’t speak to me or even look at me, they just moved methodically, like they were under orders.

I looked away as they gave me the injection.

I wasn’t expecting it to work almost immediately but within minutes, I felt my entire body go numb. The pain in my back was gone and so was the heaviness that was crushing me. The only downside was that I couldn’t move.

I could in theory… but I felt so relaxed that I didn’t want to.

I was carried and placed into a wheel chair and led out the doors.

I tried to ignore the looks of shock from the pack members who had laughed at me when Rowan didn’t come for me two days ago.

It was ironic how it was happening now.

I saw the SUV waiting for us outside the front doors and wanted nothing more than to hide behind the tinted glasses. We were so close that I could almost taste the freedom. I just needed the solace.

A guard opened the door and reached out for me when a loud voice barreled through the parking lot.

“Let go of my Beta, now!”

I let out a groan of frustration at Henry’s voice.

I’d momentarily forgotten about his existence. To be honest, I thought he’d forgotten about mine since he left me out there when the attack began.

“You must be out of your mind if you think you can walk into my pack and do as you please.”

Aria rolled her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest. “You seem to forget that every pack is under the palace. I can do whatever I want. Now get out of my face.”

Henry snarled. “I see you’re a bitch as always.”

“And I see you haven’t stopped being an ass.”

I watched their interaction with shock.

I knew that Henry and Rowan had history, but it never occurred to me that he would know Aria as well. He didn’t say anything when I told him about her in the palace. I’d assumed that they never got around to meeting.

“Nyssa is staying here!” Henry growled.

“I think you’re forgetting that you have an agreement with Rowan.”

“Fuck the agreement!” he yelled. “He didn’t want her two days ago. What fucking changed?”

He stepped up to her, clearly hoping to intimidate her but she didn’t even flinch.

The guards around her drew their weapons but she held out a hand to them, stopping them in their tracks.

She stared Henry down, a small mischievous smile playing on her lips. “What changed is that his mate got hurt on your turf. You’re lucky all we’re doing is taking her, now get the fuck out of my face.”

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