Chapter 26

CHANTELLE

The sound of heavy boots approaching my cabin made me spring up from the bed and head outside. A wide smile spread across my face the moment I saw Luca walking toward me.

Every time I see him, it feels like the very first time. He takes my breath away and makes my heart flutter without even trying.

“Baby!” I exclaimed as I walked down the few steps and ran toward his widespread arms.

“I missed you so much, darling,” he whispered in my ear as he spun me a few times before placing me on the ground.

“Me too. Why can’t you stay here longer with me?” I asked him with a pout.

He gently ran his fingertips on my lips.

“You know until we get our revenge on that bastard, we can’t be together,” he reasoned, and I nodded my head.

“So, what have you got this time?” I asked him as I tried to step aside, but he pulled me closer to him instead.

“Something that would be easy for us to kill, Eleanor,” Luca answered.

I frowned.

“What’s that?” I asked him.

He momentarily took his hand away from me and grabbed the bag next to him. He took out a few clothes.

“These are Eleanor’s clothes. We will give this to all our soldiers to take a good sniff, so whenever they spot her alone, they can kill her on the spot,” Luca said, and I nodded my head.

Even though he had shown everyone a picture of Eleanor, we’d never be able to find her if she was in wolf form—so this would be a huge help.

“You’re so smart,,” I mumbled, and he nodded his head as he placed the bag on the floor, pulled me toward him, and crashed his lips against mine.

“When are we going to execute the plan?” I asked him as I broke the kiss.

“I think we can start right now,” he said, and I nodded my head.

I can’t wait to see Xavier suffer, and then watch the life drain out of his eyes.

ELEANOR

It’s been three days since I last saw Ivan. Even Mrs. Tanner was confused by his behavior.

“Eleanor?”

I looked up from my cereal to see Mrs. Costa walk into the kitchen, wrapped in a silk robe.

“What’s churning in that mind of yours?” she asked.

“Nothing,” I replied quickly, but she shook her head and walked over, gently taking the bowl from my hands.

“I don’t think it’s nothing,” she said, holding up the bowl. “You’ve turned your cereal into soup.”

I let out a quiet sigh. “The workload’s picking up, and with the rogue situation at the borders, I guess I’m just a little on edge.”

She offered a small, knowing smile. “I’ve been through that phase too. Don’t worry. You’ll figure it out.”

I gave her a nod, grateful for the reassurance, even if the worry still lingered in the back of my mind.

~Ding.~

I was about to get up and see who was at the door when Mrs. Costa placed her hand on my shoulder.

“I’ll go and check that. You finish your breakfast,” she said.

A few minutes later, Mrs. Costa walked into the kitchen with an envelope.

“What is that, Mrs. Costa?” I asked her.

“A warrior came and gave it to me. He said that it was given to him by a woman at the borders to be delivered to Xavier,” she answered as she placed the letter in front of me and made her way to the coffee machine.

“Eleanor.”

“Yes?”

“Could you please give this letter to Xavier, dear?” she asked me, and I nodded my head.

After washing the utensils that I used, I took the letter and walked out of the kitchen toward our room. I looked at the letter, wondering what was inside, when I tripped on the staircase. I held the railing before I could fall, but the contents of the envelope fell out.

~Shit, Xavier is going to think I purposely opened his mail.~ I quickly picked up all the papers, but the word ~confidential~ caught my eye, and I couldn’t help myself from reading the note.

~Dear Xavy,~

~The news that I want to tell you is extremely confidential. So please meet me at the flower shop in the human town tomorrow morning. ~

~Eliza.~

~Who the hell is Eliza?~

My mind was racing, thoughts crashing into each other so quickly it made my head ache. There was only one way to get the answers I needed.

I slipped the letter into the envelope and headed back to our room.

The sound of the shower greeted me as I stepped inside. Without a word, I placed the letter on the bedside table and quietly stepped back out.

***

As usual, the day passed in a blur, and once again, there was no sign of Ivan. I’m not letting you off the hook that easily, Ivan.

When I got back home, I noticed Mr. and Mrs. Costa were out. I warmed up the food left in the fridge and ate in silence, my thoughts far louder than the quiet around me. After finishing, I made my way upstairs.

But when I stepped into Xavier’s room, I stopped short—he was already fast asleep. The sight caught me off guard.

Why did he come home early?

“~Maybe he’s planning to visit that Eliza woman early in the morning,~” Erica suggested.

That could be the only reason. Even though he was pretty clear that he did not want a mate, I still felt jealousy creep in. I needed to see who this Eliza was.

***

~Beep, beep.~

I groaned as I got up, and I turned around to see that Xavier was already gone.

“~We might be late, Ellie. You might miss them,~” Erica yelled at me, and I jolted from the bed.

“Shit, I forgot,” I mumbled before I rushed toward the bathroom. After throwing on some clothes, I rushed downstairs.