CHAPTER 251: STEALTH IV

I shouldn’t have called her name, alongside her title. I should have said ’my Queen’ but that would only alert her that something was up. I always called her by her name and title.

Hopefully, she wouldn’t decide to go berserk on me tonight and kill me off. Hopefully she wouldn’t notice that I was powerless. Hopefully she wouldn’t notice my false bravado.

"Don’t you think your prideful gestures are getting out of hand? And I am not talking about your rude way of addressing me..." The Queen started, coming to stand beside me, eyes on the starless sky.

Well, at least there wasn’t a goblet or full moon tonight to point toward the warning of the strange witch. I believed I would survive. I wouldn’t be dying tonight.

"I am talking about walking around the forbidden forest, with no guard, not even with your friends, or your foster parents. Do you think you are invincible?" she turned to me with narrowed eyes. "Are you invincible?"

I raised my left brow. "Are you being serious now? And see the pot calling the kettle black. Aren’t you in the forest by this time, without the palace guards?"

That shut her up, but only for a second.

"We are not the same, and you know that." She sighed, already used to my sharp witty comebacks. Our daily training had made sure of that, coupled with the fact that I have never made the damn thing easy for her considering what had happened during the contest periods.

The only reason why the community elders had allowed the training to go on was because they believed she was grooming me to take over when the time came for her to step down.

Other than that, they would have rioted; they had even sent Duke packing from his position on the school’s board. I heard from Sinclair that he would be sent out of the community for some training, after the lycan’s party or thereabout.

"Dora, do you believe in fate and destiny... stuff like that?"

A random question. I wondered why she was asking me, why was she trying to keep the conversation going; we didn’t really talk much.

Shouldn’t she be sending me on my way, so that she can continue her get-together with the lycan king? I could still perceive his weird scent.

"I don’t know," I finally answered when she took a break from staring at the sky and looked at me. "But I believe in shaping my destiny myself. Accepting fate..."

A pause, where I ruminated on my next words. "It’s like being a coward, lazy to do something about yourself."

A soft chuckle escaped from the Queen’s lips, she shook her head. "You really are smart for a rude girl."

"There is no law stating that rude girls can’t be smart."

"Yeah yeah..." She sang, chuckling.

I was bewildered, watching her watch the sky, a serene countenance overtaking the always serious one. Was this some kind of truce? Could she be so lonely that she now found me interesting enough to converse with?

"But you are right." She interrupted my line of thought. "Accepting whatever fate gives us is a lifestyle of a coward. I learnt that a long time ago."

"So, why did you ask me then?" I bit out, hands folded across my chest, forming defiance; when all I wanted to do was to excuse myself, and not wonder what had caused her to learn such a lesson.

It took me almost dying to learn mine. What did it take her?

She shrugged meanwhile. "Just curious. Picking around your brain seemed fun at the moment."

I barked a sarcastic laugh, and pointed down the path I was on. "You should take off your barriers. I need to get back to the bonfire."

Her smile disappeared immediately.

What? How couldn’t she have known? The smoke... I turned, but there was no smoke.

Right. I thought. Everyone must have gone home. It was quite surprising that they did so, without wondering where I had gone. Or had they?

"What bonfire? I can’t see anything. Start talking..."

It was on the tip of my tongue to tell her to buzz off, but no need stressing my limits.

"You should ask your children. They were the organizers, with the triplets. They dragged me from my home at midnight. I strolled off when things started getting boring..." I paused and looked into the distance.

"But seeing as there isn’t any smoke, my guess is that they have disbanded the gathering. I must have spent a lot of time out, without knowing."

Sighing dramatically, I reverted my attention to the Queen. "I have to go. My parents will soon be waking up. I don’t think they would find it funny if they discovered that your children had taken me from my home when they should be asleep."

That seemed to make the decision for her. "You can go." Right at the same time that the barrier lifted up.

I hid a smile. She must really be taking her probation seriously.

"Good. Take care, Queen Aliana. And send my regards to the Alpha Brekan, who I am sure is hiding in the bushes."

I laughed when she let out a weary sigh; and the bushes moved; and out came a sheepishly smiling Alpha.

"Dora... you never cease to amaze me..."

I didn’t bother with words. I rather gave a mock bow, and walked away from them, toward the area that had been used for the bonfire.

True to my guess, the place was empty. Everyone had retired home.

Well, good. I thought, heading home. No unnecessary questions and talks from the clique.

But I had rejoiced too soon because when I stepped out of the bushes onto the pathway, there was Adam waiting for me, reclining on a lone tree, which seemed, as I looked at it now, to be heralding and welcoming visitors into the forbidden forest.

"So, you finally came out..." he started, standing erect, hands folded across his chest, eyes staring at me intently.

I ignored him, and started on the path that would lead me home. I wasn’t in the mood for Adam and his shenanigans. The brat had dared use me for play. Haa! I would show him. His brothers too.

"Dora, I am sorry."

I flung away his hand from my arm. I wasn’t surprised by his speed, but I was surprised at the audacity. I really must have given him some allowance to think us being friends meant being play partners or whatever.

"Don’t touch me, rabid dog!"

He shrunk as if I had slapped him.

"Stay away from me. Keep to yourself from henceforth. We are no longer friends."

He didn’t make a move or say a word as I started down the path again. The insult must have really gotten to him. Not that I was concerned.

Without much incident, I got home safe and sound. I even got into the compound, without any hitch. I checked my watch. A few minutes past five a.m. Laura should be up and about.

Stealthily, I walked toward my side of the cluster of huts, letting out a sigh of relief when I stopped by my door.

Wow. I mused, gently pushing my door open. The room was clear of anyone. Oh, great!

I shut my door and slumped into my bed with my shoes on, hands behind my head, eyes to the ceiling. Sleep first, and then food later. That way, I wouldn’t raise any suspicions.

I smiled at a plan well formed and shut my eyes to sleep. I had rejoiced too long, again, however.

"Where are you coming from, Maya?"

My eyes snapped open immediately; it was my whole family standing by the edge of my bed. What?! How the hell had I missed out on their presence?!

I looked with startled eyes from little curious Diana to an angry Laura, then to a disappointed Peter.

"I am sorry," I muttered, head drooping in guilt and apology. But that wasn’t enough to buy me the much-needed sleep.

"Answer your mother’s question, Maya."

Seems I will be expending more energy. Sorry, El.

"A bonfire." I replied, sighing tiredly. "Can we talk about this in the morning? I am so tired and worn out..."

"Young lady, it’s already morning!" Peter pointed out, unable to keep the annoyance off his voice. "I didn’t take you for one that would abuse privileges."

"I am sorry. They showed up at my door, and I had no choice but to follow them."

"Them? Who?" Laura asked, her anger fading somewhat. Curiosity taking center seat.

Sorry, Queen Aliana. I will be putting that nail into the coffin.

"The Queen’s children. The triplets too, and a couple of others."

"And were you tied, legs and hands, and carried away with them?" Laura questioned gently. Too gently for comfort.

"No," I murmured, still looking down.

"Well then, lady, you should have said no. You had a choice," Peter concluded, with a sigh.

"You are grounded." He stated the next second with finality.

"What!" I shouted, head lifting sharply. Grounded? Was that even a term here?