Chapter 58


    58. Stopping For A Hot Drink YILEYNA I felt numb. Over twenty-four hours had passed, but as he


    said… he didn’te back I spent the night before pacing the cabin, wanting to see him, to go to


    him, until I realised I don’t hold that right…


    I was a distraction, and one he didn’t need…


    I didn’t sleep that night, unable to enter the bedroom after what had happened there just the night


    before… His emotions… He… There was more tost night… I knew it… but where I thought he was


    falling for me… he was actually saying goodbye… I ran my hands through my hair once more, staring


    out at the blizzard. The fire in the hearth had died down yesterday afternoon, and the cabin was cold, but


    I didn’t care… I don’t think anything felt as cold as it was inside my heart. Ten o’clock tonight. He said


    he’d meet me… and although I was counting the minutes, what was I to do? Pretend to be normal?


    When Theon himself told me it was over… it made clear all I was to him: A simple pass time. I couldn’t


    just sit here doing nothing, but then why did I feel like I didn’t want to do anything but wallow? “Well even


    if you want to! You can’t.” I told myself, sitting up and taking a deep breath. “I am Yileyna De’Lacor, and I


    am not going to let a man make me lose sight of my goals.” 2


    I had been yed and used, regardless of whether there were emotions involved or not… I had to stop. I


    really needed to stop letting him hurt me. Maybe tonight I’ll see how he is, but unless he says that he


    made a mistake, I will not give him the time of day. 2


    I will stop thinking about it, I will try to be strong and act like I am not affected. I missed him and deep


    down I did want to see him again, but his actions would confirm many things tonight


    For now, I would go and ask the Alpha for the proof of my parent’s crimes. Nodding with determination


    and a sense of purpose, I quickly ate some food and then got dressed in white leather pants, a pale grey


    shirt and a white corset belt. I picked up my empty dishes and carried them over to the sink, I was about


    to ce them in the sink when my eyes fell on the ss of vinegar.


    “Oh shit!”


    Thad forgotten it. I quickly split it in the sink, wondering if the vinegar had destroyed the metal. Turning


    the tap on, 1 rinsed it off, before applying some washing-up soap to it and


    giving it a good scrub with the sponge. Once I had scrubbed it thoroughly and rinsed it off with warm


    water, I looked at the chain in


    hand. My breath hitched; I wasn’t holding just a rusty, dull trinket. I didn’t need to take this to a jeweller


    for confirmation that I was holding a precious stone in my hand. Something worth far more than a few


    gold coins. 1


    The jewel in the centre that had looked a dull brown under theyers of grime and dirt now dazzled a


    gorgeous burning amber. I ran my fingers along the chain, where it had once looked grey and dirty, it


    now shone a pale gold. I had hit a gold mine. Was it a stolen item? Or perhaps he had found it


    somewhere? Obviously, he didn’t realise how pretty it was! I’m sure he would have tried to charge far


    more.


    I was about to put it down when I hesitated, if it was worth a lot… then I should wear it and keep it safe.


    I dried it with a dishcloth and slipped the long chain over my head, tucking it into my shirt, letting it nestle


    itself between my breasts.


    Theon’s face shed to mind, the memory of his touch making my body betray me. My stomach reacted


    and that ache settled inside me once more. I took a deep breath, grabbed my coat and squashed the


    thought.


    Focus Yileyna.


    I pulled open the door to the cabin and stepped outside into the blizzard, it took me a moment to keep


    my footing as the wind pushed against me violently. Goddess the weather was getting worse.


    It seems worse than usual, despite the cold not seeming as bad.


    Locking up behind me, I slipped the key into my pouch and ced it into therge inner pocket of my


    coat, then began trudging through the snow. The snow was deeper than yesterday too…


    It took much longer to make my way toward the castle, but it gave me time to ponder over how I would


    approach the topic with the king. I sighed heavily as I approached the busier streets of the city. The snow


    was far less here, with lots of foot traffic making it melt away. However, this made parts of the ground


    rather iced. I could feel the cold now. My legs felt rather numb too.


    “Yileyna!”


    I stopped, surprised to see Charlene standing there in a white fur coat and hat. The tip of her nose was


    red but the relief, worry and happiness in her eyes made me concerned and delighted to see her all at


    once.


    “Charlene!” I smiled, giving her a big bear hug.


    She hugged me back and I smiled, feeling a little better in her embrace.


    But she was the future Alpha, I couldn’t really rely on her. The king indirectly made it clear he only


    tolerated me because of Charlene. I knew for a fact that if I shared my problems with her, she would only


    put herself in more trouble and take more stress due to it. “I was actuallying to see you, but I had


    training with Madelia first.” She exined, taking


    my hands in her gloved ones. “Goddess Yileyna! Why aren’t you wearing your gloves!” “It’s not that cold,


    I’m ok” I said. “You will get frostbite!”


    11


    “I really won’t. So tell me, how was training? And why was I so lucky to have youe visit me?” I


    asked.


    She looked around, as if checking if anyone was listening. “How about we get a hot drink?” She


    suggested with a smile.


    But there was something worrying her… I could see it…


    “Why not, we can go to Madam Marigold’s.” I suggested, it was always very packed, and you could have


    a conversation there.


    She nodded, and we both made our way down a side street before we approached the small café.


    Steam was blowing out from the chimney, the promise of warmth and a hot cup of coffee was calling


    Coffee… maybe not. We exchanged looks, a smile crossing both our faces before we hurried to the door.


    Charlene skidded on the icy entrance, I grabbed hold of her as she yelped in rm before we burst out


    laughing “Oops, careful.” I giggled as I pushed open the door and we stepped inside. Instantly I was hit


    with the smell of coffee, roasted walnuts, and so many more delicious scents. Music yed in the


    background, blending in with the hum of chatter. “Did youdies not see the warning outside to be careful


    on the ice?” Madam Marigold questioned, raising a brow sceptically. “No.” Charlene and I said in unison,


    we hadn’t.


    “Oh, that sign is long since covered by snow, Marigold!” Someone called out, making the woman roll her


    eyes.


    “Right, but I don’t need the king to be out for my neck if his daughter gets hurt on my premises.” She


    scolded lightly before jerking her head towards the back. “Really?” Charlene asked, it was rare to get a


    back room in here. “Yes, go. It’s too rowdy in here for pretty girls to be around. I don’t need the extra


    drama!” Ah, perfect, we needed a ce where we could simply talk, it was almost as if she read our


    minds! Behaving ourselves, we made our way to the back, only one of the booths was empty and taking


    off our coats we took our seats.


    Zarian, the young fae man who worked here, walked over to us. He was probably a good few decades


    older than us, but he looked as if he was not a day over twenty. Muscled, lean, beautiful violet eyes and


    ck silky hair that held a purple hue to it, that fell to his shoulders.


    “And hellodies, it’s been a few months. How are you both? Looking as ravishing as ever.”


    “Hello Zarian, we are well, thank you.” Charlene said, as I smiled slightly. “Can we get two mugs of hot


    chocte?”


    “Is that all? Are you sure the beautifuldies want nothing more?” He asked with a small flirty smile.


    I raised an eyebrow.


    “That is all.” I said, trying to suppress my giggle as Charlene blushed embarrassed.


    He let out a small chuckle before he gave a nod.


    “Well then, I’ll go get those two mugs of hot chocte, but if you do want something else… I’m not far


    off.” He gave a final wink, and I shook my head.


    “I swear he wasn’t this flirty thest time we came…”


    “Well, he did joke that if we were a wee bit older, he would consider us.” Charlene giggled, shaking her


    head.


    “Well, he is… beautiful.” I said, trying to ignore the sadness inside of me. “Hm.” Charlene’s smile seemed


    to vanish at the same time as mine, before a frown creased her forehead. “Yileyna, what’s going on


    between you and Theon?”


    My smile vanished, the pain in my chest hitting me like a tonne of bricks. I couldn’t lie because she had


    seen the look on my face.


    I shook my head trying topose myself. I would have told her, maybe… but this wasn’t the way I was


    expecting it to be brought up. “Darling…” “He said it’s over…” I said quietly with a small shrug. She


    frowned, her eyes shing.


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    “How dare he… Did he give a reason?”


    “He said I was a distraction.”


    It hurt, so much, but what could I do? She looked at me, feeling conflicted, as if she wanted to say


    something but wasn’t sure. “It’s fine Charlene, I’m over him. I mean, I’m not, but I will be. I gave him


    enough chances.” I whispered, knowing that he had such a hold on me that my sanity went out the


    window when he was around


    She frowned deeply, staring at the table, “Yileyna…” “It’s ok Charlene, it was my fault. I shouldn’t have


    allowed myself to get trapped in this. I’m fine. Really.” She hesitated before nodding. “I am going to have


    a word with him.” She said quietly, her eyes cold and serious.


    “You don’t need to.” I said quickly, waving my hands, knowing that Theon was even nastier to


    her.


    Just then, Zarian returned with our drinks, and we stopped talking. Charlene looked extremely upset, and


    after that she was far more lost in thought, barely touching her hot drink “I’m truly sorry, Yileyna.” She


    said quietly, looking up into my eyes with sorrow and guilt. “Don’t be. You aren’t responsible for him being


    a dick” I said gulping down my hot chocte in one go. “I’m afraid I have a lot more to do than wallow in


    self-pity. It’s time I did some digging.” 1 “Digging?” I looked around before leaning forward and lowering


    my voice. “The truth about my parents; I know they weren’t traitors, and I intend to find out exactly what


    happened.” I whispered quietly. She frowned, a sh of determination in her eyes as she nodded.


    “Sounds like a n, I’m with you. We are going to do this together.” She whispered. I smiled as our eyes


    met, and I knew we would always have one another. Men could break your heart, but sisters… sisters


    didn’t.1 “Thank you, my queen.”


    She smiled at me, taking my hand and giving it a gentle squeeze of encouragement. “Always, my angel.”


    I was truly grateful to the goddess for at least giving me Charlene.