Chapter 127
~ ROWAN
Nyssa’s silence was unsettling.
On the outside she looked well enough, she smiled when she ought to, spoke as she always did, but the light of those emotions did not reach her eyes. Her movements were mechanic, as if she were a puppet whose strings were being pulled.
“Rowan,” Aria began, voice soft as she made her way over to me.
I hadn’t moved from where I stood in front of the palace, staring at the doors that Nyssa ran through in an attempt to get as far away from me as possible.
“There are some things you have to go over p>
“I need to see her.” I began to move but she grabbed my arm, stopping me in my tracks.
“You just killed an Alpha, Rowan,” she hissed. “You have so much to do before this gets out into the other packs and gets out of hand. Besides, she needs some time to herself. She clearly doesn’t want to be around anyone right now. The palace needs you p>
“So does she,” I said simply, smoothing my hands down my clothes.
My lips curled in distaste at the crusty feeling of my clothes. I had not bothered to change before leaving once I heard that she wouldn’t go back without me.
“Handle as much as you can without me, I have to see her first p>
I didn’t wait for any sign of acknowledgment from Aria before walking into the palace. I risked a glance at myself through a nearby mirror and frowned when I realized just how terrible I looked.
Dried blood covered my entire body from the tips of my hair to my fingertips. I couldn’t very well go to Nyssa looking like this.
I headed for my room first, stopping only for a moment to press my ear against her bedroom door. I heard the showerr running and a sigh of relief left my lips.
It took a fucking long time to get all the dried blood out but once I was clean, I headed back to Nyssa’s room and knocked.
No answer.
I knocked again, pressing my ear once more to her door and I frowned when I heard the shower still running. A long bath was not unusual but over forty five minutes had passed since when I passed her room the first time. I thought about giving her space but something felt terribly wrong.
Against my better judgment, I turned the knob and let the door creak open slowly. “Nyssa p>
I listened out for her response but there was none. Only the sound of the shower running filled the room.
With a frown, I went deeper into the room, heading straight for the bathroom door that was left ajar.
“If you’re naked and don’t want me to come in, now would be the time to let me know,” I called out.
I thought for sure that would get an answer out of her but it did not.
With a frown, I walked into the bathroom and what I saw had my heart dropping.
“Nyx,” I whispered softly, making my way over to her.
She sat in the middle of the shower, legs pulled up to her chest. Her hair was plastered against her face as were her clothes. Most of the blood had washed off with the water, but there were some smaller stubborn spots that would not go away.
Her eyes were hollow and wide, red rimmed as well as if she had been crying. She did not acknowledge my presence, did not speak or move, she just stared blankly ahead of her.
“Fuck, baby, are you alright?” She didn’t not answer, she did not even act as if she had heard me. “Your clothes are fucking soaked. I need to get you out of these and cleaned p>
Brushing her hair back from her face, I pressed a soft kiss to her head and pulled her to her feet. I hesitated for a moment before stepping back, wary that she would fall.
“I’m going to take your shirt off first, okay p>
She did not respond, but when I reached for the hem of the shirt, she did not stop me.
I slowly took it off her and her pants went next. The whole time I explained to her what I was doing, being careful to watch her expression to make sure she was comfortable with everything I was doing.
I turned the water to warm and washed her gently with a washcloth, scrubbing all the stubborn spots from her skin. She still did not speak or glance at me. I worried for her, not just because of her catatonic state, but also because I did not know what she needed or how to deal with it.
“Let’s get you into something clean, hm p>
I picked her up and she was quick to wrap her legs around my torso, hands immediately winding around my neck. She smelled like herself again, all soft edges and jasmine. Gently, I ran my fingers through her hair, my lips ghosting over her temple softly. She was naked and yet, there was nothing mildly erotic about bthe situation.
A fierce need to protect her and keep her safe arose in me.
I had not forgotten the situation that got us into this mess in the first place and knowing her, she hadnt either, but for her to seek solace in me like this… I held back a low growl.
I wanted nothing more than yo revive Henry just to kill him again.
I pulled out the first outfit I saw in her closet and made to detangle her from my body long enough to pull it on her but she would not budge. I tried again but tis time, her nails dug sharply into my shoulders.
“Nyssa, I need to get you into something warm.” She shook her head. It was the most reaction I’d seen from her since I got here. “Little wolf p>
“Please don’t let me go,” she whispered, voice barely over a whisper. “I’m scared if you do, you’ll disappear and I’ll be back there p>