The King's Prey (Unedited Edition)

Chapter 33 : Unravel

Multitarian • [mull-ti-tare-ian]
Having many forms but one essence.

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We collect our things and are soon back out in the freezing air outside of the packhouse. The sun has now disappeared, leaving nothing but the bleeding night sky over the surrounding buildings. But the street lights help to illuminate the roads as we drive silently down the streets of Phantomridge.

Some people have begun decorating for Winter Solstice, hanging sparkling white lights, winter-themed ornaments, and golden and silver ribbons along every post, sign, and fence. The shopping plaza of Phantomridge is even more beautiful as every store and restaurant displays its decorations with pride. I've seen it all before a thousand times, but every year it seems to take my breath away even more.

Maybe one day Anastasia will get to see the beauty of our traditions instead of feeling so much hatred for our kind. Maybe one day we can break these social and physical boundaries between our different species and learn to live amongst one another. But history has always proved that theory wrong time and time again. My grip tightens on the steering wheel as I erase the idea from my head and focus back on the road.

I pre-ordered our food before we left, deciding on burgers between the two of our appetites. I ordered some for Anastasia and Sterling too, assuming that they haven't already eaten yet. I also texted Liam to finish up training early so he can get home and wait for Sterling and Anastasia so they won't be alone.

I'm hoping that after a day away from me and that house, she's had time to free her mind so we can talk everything out with a clear conscience—without the heat of our emotions getting in the way. The last thing I wanted to do was to upset her this afternoon, but everything that's been happening for the past several weeks got to my head and got the better of me. Now with more information on this situation, I feel like I can finally explain what's been bothering me. She deserves to know—she deserves it more than anything after all that she's been through. I just didn't want to fill her head with false words before I was able to comprehend everything myself.

Once we arrive, I park my car in the lot of the restaurant, leaving Xander in the running vehicle as I go in to grab our food. Thankfully, it's late which means that most of the shoppers are starting to head home. It only takes me a few minutes to pay and get the hot meals, returning to my SUV, and handing the food to Xander to hold until we get home.

Five minutes into the ride, we're already on the main road back to my house. It's silent for the most part, and it's nights like these that I enjoy a quiet drive. Suddenly, my phone buzzes once, indicating a text. "Can you read that for me?" I ask Xander who's already scrolling through emails on his own cell.

He takes my phone, reading, "Liam said 'Hey, it's nearly ten and they're still not home yet.'"

"Anastasia and Sterling?" I ask. I want to make sure we're talking about the same people before we jump to any conclusions.

He texts the question to Liam and we receive an instant reply. "He says 'Yeah.'"

My eyebrows raise. "What the hell?" I mumble. A part of me wants to begin panicking knowing the events that have happened today. But I compose myself the best I can. Sterling probably took a longer drive—somewhere towards the other end of the pack.

"Maybe they turned down the wrong road and got lost or something?" Xander suggests. How does that happen though? Sterling knows her way around Phantomridge like it's the back of her hand.

"Ask him to send me their current location," I order. He types my request into the phone and we wait a second for Liam's response.

Finally, Xander says, "Their last location was at five thirty-three, on one of the more secluded roads up at the Northern border. It looks like they were heading up to Lukalla before Sterling's service cut out."