CHAPTER SEVEN
Asher knew exactly when his aunt came into his office without knocking. What made him jump though was the tray she almost dropped on his desk.
“What the hell! What’s come over you!”
As ominous as she always was, Ellen folded her arms and arched a perfectly plucked eyebrow at him. He loved the woman to death, but she was treading a very fine line, between his immense affection and his alpha status. He would not be challenged. Especially not now.
Indulging her, Asher refrained from growling, but mimicked her posture, sitting back and crossing his arms. Robert must have sensed the growing storm as he stepped into the room and closed the door. One area where Asher hadn’t pinched pennies was in soundproofing his office. They were surrounded by people whose hearing could detect a pin drop a mile away, and although he liked the opinion of others, some things were not up for debate.
Robert sat on the worn leather sofa on the side and waited. Asher knew Robert loved his wife dearly, but when she was in that state, Ellen could chew nails. He wasn’t about to open his mouth and risk inserting his foot. Wise man.
“Aunt Ellen.” He tried to keep his voice calm and reasonable, but the wolf was close behind.
Ellen gestured at the tray.
“Tell me what you see, nephew.”
He sighed. “You came to disturb me for a guessing game?”
“As you seem blind, I’ll tell you what I see. Here is a tray with a bowl of soup, some tea and a piece of bread. All is still untouched.”
“I have eaten, Aunt Ellen, but thank you.”
Ellen pinched her lips. “You’ve brought this woman here, this witch, from what I can smell underneath the stink and the sickness. Do you have any intention of taking care of her? She’s coughing her heart out, coughing up blood now. If your goal is to let her die from pneumonia, that shouldn’t take too long.”
Asher frowned and returned to the stack of papers on his desk. “Good.”
“So why did you fish her out of that river if your intention was to let her die?”
How could he explain what he did, when he didn’t understand it himself? Part of him wanted to tear the witch to pieces right there. Another…
“I don’t recognize you, Asher. It’s not like you to make impulsive decisions like that, maybe even choosing to endanger this Sanctuary. How can you?”
Asher reined in his temper and leaned back in his chair again. “I’m your Alpha, your leader, and the Sanctuary Master. Don’t you forget it.”
Annoyance and anger leaked in his voice.
Ellen sighed and sat in the chair in front of him. “You certainly are. And you’re also my beloved nephew. You were always so level-headed, so easy-going, but so stubborn. You’re still stubborn, but now, there’s a darkness in you. The man I knew wouldn’t have acted the way you did.”
“That man died two years ago. After that, I had to take care of what was left of my family.”
“And how is abducting a homeless woman, a suicidal witch, taking care of your family?”
Asher pushed away from his desk and walked to the window. The sanctuary was nestled deep in the forest, and the promise of endless runs and the woods alive with possible hunts typically made his heart soar. But not today, not when that woman was inside his home, not when he was about to reveal something he thought would be buried forever.
“That woman. She’s the one who killed Kelly two years ago.”
Asher didn’t turn at the shocked silence behind him. He heard Robert move to his wife’s side and take her hand. It seemed that his uncle had kept a secret from her after all.
“Are you sure, son?”
Asher went back to sit at his desk. “I am, Ellen.”
He started explaining what happened two years ago. When he woke up after being catapulted to the tree, the woman was gone. And in her place, lay his little sister, Kelly, looking peaceful, with her golden locks fanned around her beautiful face. He felt so disoriented, he was about to give her grief for not listening to him, for not dashing away as he ordered, when he realized how still she was. Her heart was no longer beating. He couldn’t hear it, anymore. His own heart hiccupped and broke the second he realized she was gone. Now, telling this story again brought fresh pain and grief back to the surface. He refrained from clearing his throat, fearing it would allow tears to escape.
“Since that night, I never knew the name of that woman. But I remember her face and how she smelled. It’s imprinted on me. Forever. So when I caught her scent in the city…”
His aunt came around the desk and put a comforting hand on his shoulder. He always liked Ellen, she was like his own mother. Fierce and loyal. And deeply soothing.
“I miss Kelly too. Every single day, every single minute. I miss her laughter and how she could make you laugh too, Asher.”
Robert combed his ginger beard pensively. “I understand, son. But again, are you sure that woman killed Kelly? I remember the story, how she knocked you out and you woke with Kelly at your side with witch smell all over her. You never actually saw the witch curse your sister to death.”
“We were miles away from the hunting party. And the only smell in the forest was that woman. And she was gone. It’s only logical that after I had fallen unconscious, she hunted Kelly and killed her.”
Robert looked at Ellen and then back at him again.
“If that’s the case, you need to turn her into the High Council. If she did kill Kelly, they will deal with her.”
Asher was tempted, but again, something held him back.
“Not yet. I want to have her admit it. I want her to tell me that she did it and why. After that, I’ll see.”
“Would that be the reason why she tried to jump? She recognized you and knew she killed your sister?”
Asher pondered his aunt’s questions and turned his gaze to the trees again. Silent.
“There may be more to this than meets the eye, Asher. Be careful. What if she played you in bringing her here? Or she may attempt to take her life while here. And you know that any death within Sanctuary can bring trouble.” Ellen’s voice rang with worry.
“Do you ask me to save her?”
“I’m asking you this. If you don’t intend to help her or turn her into the High Council, set her free. Let her die elsewhere, by other hands.”
Asher turned to his aunt and raised an eyebrow. “This is the first time I’ve ever heard you being so vindictive about someone. About killing someone.”
Ellen got to her feet, and Robert followed suit, taking her hand. They’d been together so long and their bond was strong. Asher envied what they had.
“My family always comes first, above anything and anyone else. If she killed our Kelly, this witch must die. If she didn’t, she could be allowed sanctuary. Be careful with your decision, my nephew. That’s all I ask of you. Lancaster and the Enforcers are only waiting for another excuse to attack us. They won’t bypass the council again, but that doesn’t make them less dangerous. For my part, I won’t lose sleep over a living or a dead witch, especially if she has anything to do with Kelly’s murder.”