The Alpha's Curse The Enemy Within

Chapter 23 Twenty Three

Sheila's point of view

I was walking the familiar, yet unusual, path to Valarie's very own spell room. I stopped in front of the odd-looking door without any doorknob or means to pull it open. I held my hand up in the air to knock at it when it pulled open with force. And standing a few inches away from me was Valarie. Her dark purple eyes fell on me, her lips twitching into a small smile as if she was expecting me.

"Come in, I was told you are in need of my help," she said, a little warmer than I had expected since our last meeting when she kept staring at me strangely.

I followed Valerie in, glancing at the large room. She was alone, as usual. "Yes, I am in need of your help, and right now, you are the only one that can help me."

She halted beside the large circular table, making me stop in my tracks as well.

Today, she wasn't wearing her usual black cloak; instead, she had a purple dress that complimented her eyes just fine.

"Alright, what is it?" She asked, watching me closely. I pulled up the blue cloth and dropped it on the wooden table to show her the dagger covered in dried crimson blood.

"What do we have here?" Her eyes inspected the object, and with a flip of her hand, the dagger was levitating in the air.

"It belonged to the real culprit who tried to kill Killian and that woman," I deduced from the way she looked at me. Her gaze didn't have the usual doubt that always flashes through everyone's eyes whenever I tell them what they seem to regard as the false truth.

Her eyes urged me to continue. "I managed to stab him, though it wasn't a deep injury, but this blood belongs to him. I do not know if there's somehow a way we can get the real culprit with this. I queried, not caring to hide the desperation in my voice.

I blinked hopefully at her, holding my breath while awaiting a positive answer from her. This was my last resort, and it had better work. For my sake and my future.

For a long dreadful second, Valarie was silent, regarding me carefully, then her brilliant purple gaze fell on the dagger in the air.

She cocked her head sideways, then a sharp smile appeared on her lips. "There's always a way with magic,"

Her words sent a new life into my veins. I gushed out into the air. I didn't even realize I was imprisoned in my lungs.

"So that's a yes?" I asked her again, just to be sure.

She nodded. "It's going to work, and we are going to find the real culprit."

My heart swelled in euphoria at her words. "Thank you so much," I told her, and she only sent out a small smile, roving to the end of the table where a cluster of objects stood. Her delicate slender fingers

ran through each of them, clutching a small liquid bottle, an empty wooden bowl, and a small wooden bowl that contained dried-up plants.

I watched her closely. Something about everything she was doing was fascinating. She brought the things to the circle table, and with another flip of her finger, the dagger in the air moved to her side, dangling on an invisible rope in the air. Valerie pulled open the bottle and began pouring the liquid content onto the dried blood on the dagger, her lips moving coherently in a whisper. She kept this on for a while, pouring a drop of the liquid on the dagger while releasing subtle chants.

After a while, she stopped, dropping the bottle while the dagger was still in the air, and beneath it was the empty wooden bowl.

She shifted her gaze to me. "You don't look good." Her voice sounded soft. I pulled my hands up, hugging my arms.

It didn't really surprise me that she noticed. I feel like I'm a complete wreck of a mess. Aside from the fact that I was on the verge of being executed for a crime I didn't commit, I also had a lot going through my mind. And the constant headaches were not helping my messed-up state. It was driving me insane.

"I guess all of this is just really getting to me," I said, not the complete truth, but it wasn't exactly a lie either.

Her purple eyes watched me, not in the creepiest way though; I could actually see the concern embedded in her eyes.

"Is that really all?" She asked, somewhat expecting me to say more.

I nodded, keeping my lips sealed.

She looked like she was about to say something, but the sizzling from the dagger drew our attention to it. There was a red glow on the dagger hilt, spreading down to the blade, and the dried-up blood that smeared the dagger began to turn back to fluid, dropping slothfully on the wooden bowl under it.

She smiled. "And now, we can find the idiot who tried to kill the Alpha and that woman."

At her words, I couldn't help but smile.

*

Killian's point of view

My eyes were shut deeply as I felt the warmth of magic seeping through my bones, relieving me of the pain that stalked my veins, and the cavity that seemed to be embedded in my chest felt less empty and less torturous. Even if it was only for a second, I felt the serenity that bathed my soul and body.

I groaned, regaining my strength, my mind clearer and Ryker also at ease. His writhing and growling were gone.

I opened my eyes as soon as Valerie's chants ended and her hands left the surface of my chest.

I sighed, leaning back against the wooden headboard in my chamber. "Thank you, Valerie," I said as I rose from my bed, pulling my shirt over my body.

"You should rest, even for a little while," she said, but I couldn't afford that. There were so many things I

had to do. I simply didn't reply, which sent an answer to her.

"It's getting worse, Alpha Killian." Valerie was up on her feet, pulling the hood of her cloak over her head.

She was right. I didn't utter a word. The pain in my chest was getting worse, and it frightened me. The darkness in my chest was getting much stronger, and it was getting much harder to control.

"How is the spell coming up?" I asked her

Frankly, not well. I'm still having a hard time recreating the last piece of the spell needed for the curse."

I twirled to face her, donning my rider's vest. "The Crescent Moon is just a few months away," I reminded her. We barely had enough time to find a way out of the curse. And the full crescent moon was the only chance we got to save ourselves.

Valerie threw me a subtle glance. Regarding me thoughtfully, she exhaled, "Be rest assured, the witches and I will use everything in our power to figure it out before then."

Her words were reassuring, and I appreciated them. She turned to go to the door, but I stopped her in my haste.

"Val," she swirled to me, her shining black hair bouncing on both sides of her face. "Thank you," I said.

She let out a small smile.

"And what about the other request?" I queried. Valerie's deep lavender eyes gouged mine, before

moving a step closer.

"We might have a way to save Luna," she replied. I had requested her to assist in whatever way she could. The court is coming to a decision regarding Sheila's case tomorrow, and it isn't looking pretty. They want her to be executed, but I'll be damned if that happens.

"Might?" I needed her assurance to work with.

Valerie sighed. "We have a way to save her, and we will definitely expose the traitor in our midst." She paused, her words making Ryker elated. "On that thought, I will need your help."

I leaned forward as I fastened my boots. "Whatever you want, Valarie, just ask."

She turned to the door. Her fingers rose in the air. In one brief movement, the door closed, and Valerie's deep gaze fell on me.

"I need you to help me with something at tomorrow's court meeting,"

I pulled my brow in an arch as I was done with my boots. "I'm listening,"

As I listened to every word that escaped Valerie's lips, it seemed to me that she had everything planned out. I had no idea how things would play out, but I trusted her greatly. And if there's anyone that could find the bloody traitor in our midst and be capable of helping Sheila, then it would be Valerie.

After she was done, I thrashed my boot on the floor, rising from the edge of my bed. "Fine. If that can really save Sheila, then you have nothing to worry about."