Blood of Immortals | Chapter 9

Chapter 9

I was happy for her. My friend Ruse is really special. She’s a Royal.

But then it hit me: if she’s Selena’s heir, does that make her Alaric’s mate?

The thought twisted in my chest like a dull blade. What does Alaric think about this?

“Martha?” I asked the nurse as she helped me settle into the wheelchair.

“Yes, dear?” she replied, her voice warm and steady.

She wheeled me toward the open door. This wasn’t part of her duties, but after enduring yesterday’s hospital food, I begged her to take me to the cafeteria. She’d taken pity on me and agreed. Truly, she was an angel.

“What about the hunters? Did they catch them?” The memory of that chaotic day burned fresh in my mind.

“They’re in the dungeons,” she answered calmly.

“Good. They hurt her,” I muttered, my anger flaring briefly before I smothered it.

Martha glanced at me with a smile. “You’re a good friend, aren’t you?”

“By the way,” I said, my curiosity nudging its way to the surface, “how did they know she’s... the one?”

“The blood goblet,” she said simply.

We reached the elevator, joining a small queue. It was going to be a wait.

“The blood goblet?” I repeated, frowning.

“It reacted to her blood. The elders and seers saw it. When they found her, she was holding it—and it was filled with her blood.” Martha said this with the same casual tone one might use to comment on the weather, unaware of the storm she was stirring inside me.

“How did they know it was hers?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Well, aside from the deep wound in her chest and the fact that she was alone in the temple, they asked her.”

“And?”

“She said it was hers.”

The elevator dinged, and the doors slid open. I followed Martha inside, but my mind was far away, spinning in circles around Ruse, Alaric, and that damned goblet.

The next five days passed in a haze. I stayed in the hospital, expecting visits from Ruse or Alaric, but neither came. When I was finally discharged, I knew I had to see her. Maybe talking to Ruse would untangle the knots in my mind.

I headed straight for the kitchen, where I found Alice, one of the omegas.

“Hi, Aroa!” she greeted me with her usual cheer. “I heard you were hospitalized. How are you?”

“I’m alright now,” I replied. “My wound’s healing nicely.”

“Good to hear! Do you need something?”

“I’m looking for Ruse. Do you know where she is?”

Alice’s eyes lit up. “Have you checked her room?”

“I did. It was empty, and most of her things are gone.”

“Oh, that was her old room, silly! She’s in Alaric’s quarters now.”

“Alaric’s?” I blinked, the words hitting me like a slap. “What is she doing there?”

“That’s her new room,” Alice said matter-of-factly.

“And Alaric?” My voice felt distant, disconnected from me.

“Still there, of course. They’ve been sharing a room for the past five days.”

It felt like the ground had been yanked out from under me. No. This couldn’t be true. Ruse might have loved Alaric, but Alaric wouldn’t betray me. Not like this.

I needed answers. Now.

---

I stormed to Alaric’s quarters and knocked. Three sharp raps. Martina, scowling as ever, opened the door.

“Is Ruse inside?” I demanded.

“Is that you, Aroa?” Ruse’s voice drifted from inside. Without waiting for an invitation, I pushed past Martina.

Ruse was there, standing near the window. She tensed when she saw me, her back straightening like a soldier preparing for battle.

“Ruse,” I said, my voice trembling. “I heard what happened.”

She turned her back to me. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

“I understand,” I said gently. “It was awful.”

Silence hung between us, heavy and suffocating. Finally, I forced the words out.

“About the blood in the goblet...”

“What of it?” Her voice was sharp as a blade.

“Is the blood yours?”

She spun around, her eyes blazing. “Of course, it is! The blood is mine!”

Her defensiveness sent alarm bells ringing in my head. “But I remember dripping my blood in there too—”

“No! You must be mistaken,” she snapped. “The blood is mine.”

“Ruse, I—”

“I don’t want to talk about this!” she interrupted, her voice cracking. She took a deep breath, then softened her tone. “I know you’re jealous of me.”

My jaw dropped. “What? No, Ruse. I’ve never been jealous of you.”

She laughed, a bitter sound. “Oh, come on. You don’t have to pretend anymore. You befriended me because Alaric treated me better than the rest of us. And when you got his attention, you seduced him!”

Her words cut like shards of glass. “No, Ruse—”

“I saw you, Aroa!” she shouted.

Tears blurred my vision. “Is that what you’ve always thought of me?”

“Yes.”

I couldn’t take it anymore. I turned to leave, but her voice stopped me in my tracks.

“Alaric is my mate,” she said coldly. “Stay away from him, Omega.”

Bonus Chapter 9.5 is now available!

View Chapter 9.5, or you may proceed to Chapter 8 by clicking 'Next' below 

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