XYRRA

I felt relief once the two siblings finally stopped arguing yet I couldn't shake Tiffany's words earlier.

'You forgot to inform us that you've canceled your wedding and finally done what we've been asking you to do.'

If Ryker had truly wanted to get me here so he could finally get his hands back on his inheritance then why would he not talk to his family? If I were him, that would be my priority, the first thing I would do so I could get my hands on the inheritance faster. Instead, according to his sister, he had kept it a secret and that Tiffany herself had to find out about it from Trish this afternoon — highly likely before she'd knocked on my door which explained how she knew my name in the first place.

Still, the whole thing didn't add up and as I looked at Ryker putting his arms around his sister, I pondered what was in his mind and what his plan was. What was the delay for? Did he wait until I let him 'mark' me or something so that way he could provide solid proof? Then I recalled what Tiffany had said about Alpha Aura and I remembered how Alana had cowered during the wedding and let my hair go, I bet Ryker had used his Alpha Aura on her that time too because no way that Alana would do that on her own free will. Perhaps that was it, Ryker was waiting for me to join his pack so he could exert his Alpha Aura on me. That thought alone angered me but I kept any emotion off my face.

"Have you eaten, Tiffy?" I heard Ryker ask his sister.

"No," she replied, then turned around to face me. "I've been chatting with Xyrra. She's very lovely, by the way," she added as if I wasn't there.

Despite everything else, I blushed due to her compliment and Ryker's silvery gaze on me. "You're very easy to talk to," I commented.

"Okay, we should head downstairs for an early dinner." He moved his eyes back to his sister. "Maybe I could even persuade Dmitry to feed us or I would have to ask Tatiana to drop by."

Tiffany slapped his arm jokingly. "Oh, come on. You behave as if I can't cook."

Ryker rolled his eyes. "I forgot with your nine children you're not only proven your husband's manhood and your fertility but also that you're capable of feeding a football team."

That comment earned him another smack on the back from Tiffany as they headed toward the door. Ryker let Tiffany walk first then he paused at the door, looking back at me. "Are you coming?"

I shook my head. "I'll join you both later. I've got something to do."

"On a Saturday?" he asked incredulously.

"Even you work on Saturday."

He dipped his head and only when he looked up again had I realized that he blushed slightly. It was a rather odd contrast compared to when his face had been reddened by anger a few minutes ago. "I'll save a seat for you," was all he said before he turned around and closed the door behind him.

I grabbed my phone and saw that Eros had sent me a text. It seemed that he had found some information about the sorceress.

'I've asked around. No one knew much about a sorceress who has the ability that you described to me. But Griffin told me that he once heard a sorceress who is able to predict the future. I am not sure if this is a bunch of bullshit or if it's true. But that's all I've got. Sorry. Eros.'

I quickly typed my reply.

'Hey, don't be sorry. At least that's something. Do you have some free time tomorrow? Can you take me to the East? Maybe if we go there, we could ask around and find this sorceress. I don't know how I know but my gut feeling told me this sorceress might know something about what happened ten years ago, Er. I have to find and talk to her. Please.'

His reply came five minutes ago as I walked out of the bathroom after washing my face.

'I can't, Xy, even if I want to. My pack made a deal with those Easterners ages ago that we won't cross their land. If someone sees me there, they can tell that I'm from The South and that my pack has breached the treaty. I really want to help you, trust me, but I can't come with you. And I suggest you don't come alone because unlike the North or even the South, the East is a dangerous land. We are nothing compared to them. They could do the unthink of. Magic and sorcery. Everything, Xy. Some folks who went there never returned. Spooky things happen there. Promise me you won't go there on your own, Xy. Promise me.'

I bit my bottom lip knowing that I couldn't promise him to not go there because I wanted to. I knew the danger but I still wanted to go there, my gut feeling told me to. Perhaps I could promise Eros that I wouldn't go alone and later I could ask Trish to accompany me.

'I promise I won't go there alone. Don't worry about it.'

I slid my phone into the back pocket of my jeans and put the towel I'd used to dry my face back on the towel rack. I went to the couch and grabbed my laptop. I continued my research about the East region and came up with very little. There was no mention of witches or sorcerers or fae or anything magical there. Every site only mentioned how gorgeous the forestry was and how it was considered one of the Go Green forests that must be preserved. Giving up my research on the East region, I started looking for clues on sorceresses and future tellers. There was a lot of stuff being mentioned there from Tarot reading up to palm reading and many other types of future telling. I didn't believe any of them but a small part of me wondered if perhaps there was some truth to this, especially since not until three weeks ago, I had still believed that werewolves only existed in fiction books.

There was a knock on my door and I looked up from my screen. "Come on in," I gave my permission and wondered who it was. Trish certainly wouldn't knock so it was a toss between Ryker, Dmitry, or Tiffany.

The door swung open revealing my first guess. "The food is ready," he informed me then walked inside, closing the door behind him. He frowned as he looked at the laptop on my lap. "Homework?"

"Something like that," I answered vaguely. There was no homework when one was graduating. Perhaps the Alpha didn't know about that.

"How's your headache?" He walked around the coffee table and sat on the sofa next to mine.

I quickly closed my laptop and put it down on the table. "Better now. I could hardly feel it anymore." I walked toward the door, hoping he would follow me. "Shall we eat then?"

Ryker eyed me intensely from the couch and then rose to his feet. I waited until he was close before opening the door and yet the door remained unopened. I tilted my head up and realized that his hand was on the wooden surface, holding the door close. I laughed nervously as I turned to him. There was so little space between our bodies now as I was trapped between the door and his body, almost like a déjà vu from what had happened last night in his bedroom. "Shouldn't we go down now before all the food is gone?"

"Not quite." His head dipped down on me and his mouth caught me by surprise as his lips closed on me. He took advantage of my shock to glide his tongue inside my mouth. His kiss was soft, slow, with his wet mouth and tongue, teasing a response out of me. Any last thought of resistance melted away beneath his hot desire as I stood on my tiptoes to overcome the disparity of our heights because, unlike last night, I didn't have my seven-inch heels to help me with that. I let myself indulge in his kiss as my tongue slipped inside his mouth, slick and welcome. He tasted so good, like need and lust and sex. And damn, he also smelled good. His aftershave only made me want him more. I slid my fingers into his dark hair and held the sides of his head in my hands. I could feel my body arch toward him, wanting more of his solid warmth as he fed me wet kisses. A deep, sensuous moan escaped my mouth and touched his lips. As my knees threatened to buckle, I moved my hands and clung tightly to his neck.

At last, we pulled away. His silver eyes were still clouded by desire as they met mine. "You should remember that kiss, I should not be the only one who does," he breathed out. Then he placed a soft kiss on my forehead before taking a step back. "Let me know if you forget and I'll gladly remind you again."

He turned me around to one side, planted another quick kiss on my lips, then opened the door. "Shall we?"

"Wait," I caught his arm.

Even though his lips remained as they were, I could see a smile dancing in his silver eyes.

"I need your help," I finally said. I figured if Eros couldn't help me then why didn't I ask Ryker? He clearly had met the sorceress in the past and he would know where to find her again. I knew I had wanted to keep this from him at the beginning but right now, I no longer saw the point of hiding this from him when he could be a huge help instead.

His gaze slightly turned wary. "What is it?"

"I want to meet her," I started, steadily holding his gaze while doing my best to remain calm even though my heart was pounding loudly against my ribcage because I had no idea how Ryker would react. "I would like to meet that sorceress."

I didn't need to specify which sorceress because one look at his silver eyes and I knew that he knew. It was so obvious in the way his jaw tightened and his eyes hardened. When he opened his mouth, his question was simple, "Why?"

Taking a deep calming breath, I didn't cower and I realized right then that I truly wanted this. I truly wanted to meet the sorceress and gain answers from her. "Because I think she might know what happened ten years ago and I need to know."

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Dear Readers, are you ready for the next chapter? 8 yes and I'll publish it right away~