Princess of Realms {Realms Book 1}

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Eighteen

Auryn couldn't think. She was staying with Willow because she was not trusting herself to eat or sleep properly in the state she was in. Willow was having a hard time not asking a million questions. It was even harder when Auryn had to go to work. She tried reminding herself that she had to investigate a murder, but all she could think about was switching forms and flying back to the pocket to figure out why and how it was there. There was no magic she knew that could do that and it was making her head spin.

By Wednesday, she realized that she really needed to get a grip. Maybe this was the reason she was here? Someone descended from Other Realm was calling to her, perhaps? Maybe it was Willow.

Auryn couldn't bring herself to ask Willow. Willow would tell her if it was that important. She had already told Willow she was here for a purpose. She knew she was here to help someone. Willow did not seem like she would hold Auryn back from completing her goal. Plus that thought process was making her more upset, so she shut it down.

On Thursday, she forced herself to get out of bed and help Willow make breakfast. Willow did not comment, but Auryn could see out of the corner of her eye that she was smiling. Afterwards, she showered and got dressed for work. She was putting on a hoodie while she stayed with Willow to cover the logo on her t-shirt.

Willow guessed that she had changed jobs, but hadn't pushed on asking where the new one was yet. Auryn was also very determined to finish the zoo job sooner rather than later.

By Friday, in fact.

She had already been there too long.

Giving Willow a kiss goodbye, Auryn let her know that she had some work to catch up on and she might stay later than normal. To her surprise, Willow grinned at this information and wished her luck.

When Auryn started walking with Pavo, she stopped to talk to every other employee she could. Claiming to have seen someone following her home the last two days and if they knew anything about the previous walker's murder.

Almost all of them were terrified and refused to say anything. Eventually, she told Bobby and Bobby laughed in her face. "You will be fine!"

Auryn raised her eyebrows in surprise, "why do you say that?"

Bobby shrugged, "there is no reason for anyone to kill you. You haven't tried to kidnap Pavo."

Bobby walked away for lunch so quickly, that Auryn couldn't process what she said fast enough. Her brain was functioning on slow, but she was pretty sure Bobby just accused the other guy in an attempted bird kidnapping.

Maybe if she kidnapped Pavo, the murderer would try to attack her?

She took Bobby's lunch hour to come up with a plan. And on her lunch, she went to find Marcus.

"Tomorrow I would like to pretend to kidnap Pavo."

Marcus looked at her with bugged eyes, "I'm sorry, what?"

Auryn sighed, "look, Mr. Marshal hired me not just to watch the bird but to catch the murdered of his last care taker. Bobby said that he tried to kidnap Pavo and that's why he died, so I would like to pretend to kidnap him."

Marcus very slowly nodded his head, "I see what you're saying. As long as Pavo doesn't get hurt, I'm in."

Auryn grinned.

Friday morning Auryn left before Willow even got up, leaving a note saying she would be back as soon as she could be. Auryn met Marcus outside the zoo and they got to work. A few more people had been added to the ruse, but none of them were Bobby or Mr. Marshal.