Celestial Bodies: Of Runts and Lycans

Chapter 26: Scared

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Celeste's POV

The pack remained eerily quiet as every house and inch of the pack was inspected. Xavier stood behind me, arm around my waist, as he linked with his warriors to confirm what we already knew. Christopher is gone. The guard to the cellars was found disoriented, saying she was struck on the head and must have passed out. She said as soon as she awoke, she linked her mate who rushed over and investigated, finding Christophers cell empty, shackles picked open. No accompanying scent was found but there was no way he got out on his own. So either it was an inside job or it was one of the scentless rogues. Xavier is extremely upset, his form more tense than mine. A member of his pack got hurt and we believe a rogue made it essentially to the middle of the grounds without detection. His thumb stroked up and down the bare skin at the edge of my shirt and I used those sparks to tether me to sanity. He could be coming after me. He could be working with the rogues now, with Malum. . Some part of me hopes this is an inside job, that way we can weed out the problem without Malum. If I can go my whole life without meeting that monster, I'd be happy.

Xavier's grip tightens. "His scent was found going west, unaccompanied by any scent but a second set of footprints were found. No one from the pack is missing so those two mean it was definitely a rogue."

"What do we do? Do we go after him?"

"Yes." He sways on his feet and spins me around to face him. His face is marred with frustration and worry. "Perhaps this is a good chance for us to find where the rogues are banding together. To find Malum." My blood goes cold. I don't want to do that. I think. I- I want to live in a fantasy where my friend is okay. I'm scared of the reality; whatever it may be.

"Are you going to keep the council updated? Maybe now they'll send some support?" I phrase it as a question, knowing asking him about the council is frustrating territory. He says they've been practically the opposite of helpful for all that's going on. It doesn't help that they apparently aren't the easiest people to get a hold of.

"Only as much as they need to know. Knowing their history, we'd be better off asking the vampire council," he scoffs. I furrow my brows, not knowing anything about that species council. Xavier sees my confusion. "They're known for never lending a hand to another species. Their council is notoriously full of themselves and believe everything they'll ever need can be handled internally." I nod in understanding. He pulls me closer, still swaying us slightly, kissing the top of my head. I nuzzle my nose into his shirt and inhale.

"Is Lesa okay?" I was extremely worried about her the minute I was told Christopher was gone. She wasn't at dinner with us and though I had seen her prior, it had been several hours. Xavier, already seeming to know my train of thoughts or maybe having a similar track of his own, sent Jacob and Josh to go check on her. Zay and Shia went to the cellars to investigate further. Shia told us she sensed no magic in the air, meaning very little possibility of a witch, magi, or faerie being involved. She said that there were some kinds of magic that's sneakier than others but that she's very good at seeing what's there, given her vast experience and long life.

"She's pretty shaken up. As soon as she's calm, they're going to bring her back here so we can keep an eye on you two." I nod, knowing that makes sense. He pulls me back and strokes my cheek with his thumb. "You are the two most important people in my life, you understand that, right?"