CHAPTER 36: WILL HE BE HER PROTECTOR?

(Amaia)

His hair curls around my waist, slides along my arms and slithers against my chest. I feel the magic running in my veins as we gawk at each other, trying to understand what has just happened.

Exposed, I have been fully exposed in front of my mate who believes me to be a liar.

His eyes almost drop out of his sockets from shock and those handsome contours of his face don’t remain rigid like stone. That’s the most emotion I have seen on Alnilam’s face since we have met.

"You...you are a Fae?" He questions, and the astonishment makes his voice break. I never thought a day would come where I would see Alnilam, stammering.

He knows...he fucking knows the secret I have kept all these years. My mother’s pendant had always kept my identity hidden, how did he render its powers void? It’s still around my neck but isn’t working?

How? Why?

I gulp and he takes a step towards me. I can see him struggling to control his magic and his hair, which refuses to listen to him and back away from me.

They cling to me like writhing snakes seeking warmth. My thigh burns with such immense pain that I want to grab it and yet I keep standing, not wincing, fighting through this agony. I have to be strong.

"If you are going to inform the Dread Army Protectors, then remember I will fight to my last breath and won’t go down easy," I inform him without fear, knowing he is an Enforcer and as his duty, he will try to do the right thing.

Pure-blooded Fae are to be killed on sight and the Dread Army has eradicated them from our world.

I knew this day would come, but ironically, my truth was revealed to my mate who can’t even recognise me. Even with my real self revealed he doesn’t recognise the mate bond between us. Don’t feel the tug.

"Who else knows you are a Fae?" He asks with a crease on his forehead. The shock has begun to dwindle and Alnilam is returning to his cold self.

"No one. Everyone who did was killed by the Dread Army when they massacred my village and family. Alpha Kalistian, father of Tarian, knew the secret, but it died with him. He was my protector unlike his son." My chest feels heavy from the thought of Alpha Kalistian but Alnilam’s hair soothes me. They try to pull me towards him, and we both resist the urge to touch each other, but the bond between us is strengthened with these new feelings he is experiencing.

This is such a bizarre and awkward situation, and none of us understands what to say or do.

Alnitak thinks long and hard, his calculating gaze never leaves me before finally speaking.

"I will be honest, and seriously, I don’t know what to do about you, Amaia. Everything you have done might be because you want to survive or because that’s who you are by nature." A streak of his hair rubs against my cheek as if assuring me that it will be alright. His annoyance intensifies at his hair’s defiance.

"Whatever the truth, I am not heartless and I will not report you. You can stay here at Orion if you promise to stay away from my brothers and just focus on your training."

Mercy or just pity?

I am not sure why Alnilam chose to say that. Maybe his magic urges him or the tiny part that cares.

Survival makes you take risks and I wanted to survive. The real question is, will I give up chasing my mates and making them realise what I am to them?

No, I won’t but Alnilam doesn’t need to know this.

"It’s a deal. You keep my secret and I will stay away from all of you unless one of you chooses to change that." My words have an effect, and his hair loosens against my skin and then falls off, silently retreating.

As soon as the connection between us is severed my appearance is masked once again.

He tries to hide it but I can see how mesmerised his eyes appear seeing me change.

Alnilam adjusts his hair, pushing it back so it won’t reach for me again. I can only imagine how awkward it is for him to have his hair not listen to him and cling to me as if I am the raw force keeping them alive.

"As for your detention and punishment for lying to an Enforcer and hiding the truth. For leaving your mate and using unethical means to join the Academy. I punish you for dungeon cleaning duty and remaining there for three days." He passes his verdict, and seriously, I have been expecting worse.

Public whipping or something similar had been on my mind.

"You will not seek out anyone for help and you will not be let out until I say so. Only limited food, water and sleep will be allowed," he adds further, without any remorse in his voice.

Food and water I can do without but sleep? Who doesn’t love sleeping?

"Are we clear?" He sternly asks, pulling himself away from me and going around his desk to ring a bell on his table.

"Yes!" I unwillingly answer.

"Yes, what?" His gaze wavers towards me, sharp and yet with a hint of curiosity.

I can sense that my secret, at least, has him intrigued. Likely, he has never even seen a Fae. The hate my kind got must have prompted others to be slightly curious about us.

"Yes, Sir!" I say with a drag, and his gaze lingers on me. Silent questions are humming between us, but none of us says them out loud.

He places both his hands palms down on his desk and just watches me. The blue icy veins in his hands and arms stand at attention.

The knock on his door ends our staring session and he pulls his gaze away.

"Enter!" The door opens and the same woman who has brought me clothes and given me food on my first day appears. Still clad in the uniform I have seen other staff wearing.

"Master Alnilam, you called," she respectfully asks.

"Yes, Yanna, take Amaia to the dungeon in the East wing...." He gives her a long list of instructions.

She listens carefully and nods at intervals. Once he is done giving his verdict, Alnilam’s eyes find me.

"If I hear one complaint about you not obeying the orders, your punishment will be extended. So be careful," he warns, straightening up and crossing his arms.

I remain unfazed.

"Just one thing before I go. Inform Kacir I won’t be returning for three days. I have a sick pet bird. Ask him to take care of it and feed him on time. Please," I request only for the sake of Zille.

"Will do," he assures and I give my mate one last look.

An understanding passes between us, a secret that can determine my life or death now rests in his hands and yet somehow I believe my mate won’t screw me over.

He will protect and guard my secret.

Won’t he?