To Claim A Crown Book Three: The Host Of Death

Chapter Fifteen: Acceptance

Naomi walks into the house and walks directly to the stairs but Sarah walks out from the lounge. Naomi pauses, swallows then turns to face Sarah with a smile.

"Hey, I just slipped out. Needed to get some air."

Sarah nods her head, "seems everybody is out getting some air. And I am just home, sitting and waiting, not knowing what's going on."

Naomi sighs with a pleading look at Sarah. "Sarah, please, it's not like that."

Sarah turns and walks into the lounge and Naomi follows after her quickly. "What do you mean everyone is out?" Naomi calls out.

Sarah sits down on the couch and lifts a cup of rich smelling hot chocolate. She blows along the surface with a scold at Naomi. Naomi sits down on the couch next to her. Sarah sips her hot chocolate slowly and remains silent.

"Please..." Naomi pleads again.

Sarah rolls her eyes and snaps "alright! I saw Raurlin leaving about two hours ago. I didn't see Jackson leave but Raurlin told me he sent him out to keep an eye on you. Stellan and Delilah have also departed to the hospital to get some work done before they leave. Raya is upstairs resting."

"Did Raur say why he was leaving?"

"To go for a run. Of the wolf kind."

Naomi frowns. "What do you mean of the wolf kind?"

Sarah glances at Naomi, "I mean as a wolf...Why is that surprising?"

Naomi clenches her teeth and bites out "because I never knew that he was doing that. And he sent Jax out to keep an eye on me? I need a babysitter now?"

Sarah shrugs, "what am I supposed to say to that? I am the one who got left at home with no explanation. I feel like I'm being iced out and I don't understand why."

"You're not being iced out-"

"Please don't do that, Naomi. Treat me like an idiot. I know that you're keeping secrets. I know that Raurlin and Jackson are too and I'm completely in the dark here. At least tell me why."

Naomi sucks in a breath, "I am keeping secrets. I am keeping secrets from everyone, Sarah. I have been for a very long time. But trust me it's for the best."

Sarah exhales and finishes her hot chocolate. She leans forward and sets her mug down on the floor beside the couch. "Fine. I will just be in the dark and I will simply know nothing."

"Sarah..." Naomi can feel her eyes swell with tears. "I just..." Naomi sniffs. "I've been having nightmares. Night terrors."

"I know," Sarah tells her. "I've seen the sleep walking. From before the Feast."

Naomi wipes her eyes. "I don't want Raurlin to worry. Please promise me this will stay between us." Naomi takes hold of Sarah's hand, squeezing onto her tightly. Sarah looks at Naomi with a frown that turns to a look of concern.

"This is serious."

Naomi nods her head. "Yes it is. Promise me."

"Of course, you have my word. This will stay strictly between us."

"It's not just night terrors, Sarah. It's hallucinations. I'm losing time. I'm hearing voices. I end up in places with no memory of how I got there." Naomi lets go of Sarah's hand and she clasps her hands together. "I think I might be hurting people, Sarah."

"What happened?"

"I was just feeling so claustrophobic here I decided to go for a walk. I told Raur I'd call him once I settled somewhere but next thing I'm stuck in a snowstorm. The wind is blowing me in a particular direction. I can hear whispering in the wind and it keeps saying 'harbinger'. I came to at the human hospital...Sarah I had blood on my hands. I don't remember how I got there. I could just smell the stench of death all around me."