Chapter 121

• Ayla POV
• The sound of timber creaking around me created an eerie atmosphere in the room; it sounded like unseen people were moving all around me. The wind outside gently rattled the windowpane, and a very soft whistle emitted from the window area. Pedro's rage suffocated the large room, taking away all the oxygen and filling it with a heat that burnt my lungs as I inhaled. The rage that burnt in his eyes made me shrink back into the sofa, afraid his fury would be unleashed at any moment, but I knew Callan would never let any harm come to me, even though I hadn’t known Callan for very long. I felt like I had known him my whole life and in the life before this one. Just looking at him made me feel safe; I could feel his arms wrapping around me even though he was standing across the room comforting his mother. Cora looked up at the sound of the door slamming against the wall, and the look in her eyes as she realised Pedro had left the room made my heart jerk; I could literally see her heart breaking in half. His reaction was confusing to her, but it was clear to me; I could feel it burning deep inside myself. Pedro never stopped loving her, and Cora still pined for him. Micha quickly followed after his dad, but the room didn’t feel any lighter; it felt heavy, like the room was pressurised and my body wasn’t accustomed to the difference; my ears felt full as if they needed to pop. It was most probably because of Callan; his glares toward Rosie, who had taken his seat beside me, even made me feel intimidated. If I didn’t know I could trust Callan with my life, I would have been afraid. His curiosity and distrust swarmed in my head, and the invisible hold around my body became tighter. I didn’t like Rosie when I first met her, but that was because I was jealous of how close she seemed to Callan, but I knew now that Rosie meant no harm, but the feelings swimming in my mind made me second-guess myself.
• “I best be going. My high priestess will be wanting a debrief. Ayla, I must say I like the new you. You look so, radiant.”