Chapter 165

Chapter 13: Ayla Theo and I took the morning off from training. My body needed the break to recover. It was nice to sleep in a little, but I didn’t get to for long. Before my first class, I had to go down to the cellar for a little while. I had been studying Harry’s notebook whenever I had a little free time, and something had been bugging me. This first week of school would be hectic, and I had scheduled some time down there next week, but I didn’t want to wait that long.

I grabbed my toast from the toaster as Theo emerged from our bedroom. He just woke up and was only wearing sweats that hung low on his hips, making it hard to keep my plans.

“I thought you didn’t have class for a couple more hours,” he asked.

“Yeah, I have to look into something with the Harry investigation,” I said.

He brushed my hair off my shoulder. “Do you want me to come with you? I could use a catch–up on how things are going.”

“Hmm... You sure you can spare the time?” I teased.

His hands went around my waist, pulling me toward him. “I can rearrange some things.”

“Oh,” I replied coyly, “I feel so special.”

Theo growled low, his lips taking mine. He kissed me needily for a few moments before pulling back reluctantly.

“I hate how crazy things have been lately,” he said.

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10:39 D A “Lately?” I laughed.

Theo chuckled. “Okay... Since we met,” he corrected. “But at least we got time together before.”

“I know,” I said, running my hands over his chest. “But it’s only for a little while. I’ll get settled into school soon enough. Mina and Briggs‘ mating ceremony is in a couple of days. That will clear up some time.”

“And I think we need to make us a priority, too,” Theo stated, grazing his fingers along my cheek. “We both tend to keep ourselves busy. So, while things are so crazy and busy, let’s schedule time together. Just the two of us.

”

“I like that idea.” I snaked my arms around his neck. “But going over the contents of a psychopath’s secret lair doesn’t count as a date, right?”

Theo laughed. “No, absolutely not,” he replied. “But we should get go...”

His eyes glazed over and he huffed.

“I guess that means a rain check?”

“Yeah,” he sighed. “I’m sorry, babe.”

I shook my head. “Don’t worry about it.” I kissed him again. “But I should get down there.”

“I better get dressed,” he said. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

I grabbed my bag and headed out of the apartment. When I got down to the cellar, no one else was there. It was odd, but I was actually 23.18%

10.39 D relieved. I pulled the notebook out of my bag and looked for the file I had been reviewing a couple of days earlier. I flipped through the papers until I found the one I wanted. Comparing it to the page in the journal, a wave of excitement washed through me.

I had found the pattern.

Well, part of it, at least. But I was hopeful it would be enough to figure out the rest. I quickly finished deciphering the page I was on. It was exactly what I had thought it was. A formula that Harry had calculated to enhance my wolfsbane immunity.

I sank into a chair. Chewing on my lip as I stared at the page in front of me. It was a stupid idea. And dangerous. But it was less dangerous than most aspects of my life right now. Theo would never be okay with this. I sighed, running my hands through my hair as I leaned over the table.

“Something you want to talk about?”

I jumped in my seat, my head shooting up to see Mina standing in the doorway. I exhaled heavily.

“Mina, you scared the crap out of me.

“Yeah, which is concerning,” she said, walking to the table and sitting next to me. “What’s up, cuz?”

I took a deep breath. “I figured out part of the cipher.”

“And that’s a bad thing because...?” Mina asked.

“I found a formula that I think was used to build our wolfsbane immunity,” I said.

“Ayla...” Mina said sternly. “You’re not...”

44.84%

10 39 “Of course I’m considering it, Mina,” I pushed. “Why aren’t you? You‘ re a Dominis, too. With no idea of how many people are out there after us, immunity to one thing that could help them take us out sounds like a good thing to me.”

“How do you even know this is a thing, Ayla?” Mina said. “This could all be Harry grasping at straws.”

“Because it was working,” I stated.

Mina looked at me. “What do you mean?”

“Two days,” I told her. “He was feeding wolfsbane into my system for two days, Mina. It’s what kept me unconscious. But then I woke up. Mina, I shifted. I had who knows how much wolfsbane flowing through me and I still shifted. I felt it. I was weak, but I was getting past it. It was getting better.”

Mina’s jaw worked as she thought about what I was telling her. With a huff, she reached over and grabbed the paper I had been working on. After a few moments, she spoke.

“Fine,” she blurted out, shaking her head in defeat. “Theo isn’t going to like this.”

“That’s why we’re not going to tell him,” I said slowly.

“Ayla,” Mina exclaimed. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“You know he wouldn’t let me do this, Min,” I insisted. “But it doesn’t make sense not to. Besides, even if I could talk him around, I don’t want to add that stress to him.”

“Yeah, like you being sick won’t add to his stress.”

“Just let me worry about that, okay?” I said. “Please, Mina. I’d rather 69.23%

10:39 D 94.64%

E not do this alone.”

“You better f***ing not,” she snapped.

With a growl, she stood up and went to the workstation with all the vials. She grabbed a bottle and brought it back, setting it down in front of me.

“You swear you won’t take any without me there?” Mina asked severely.

“I swear.”