Chapter 83
Chapter 83
“What’s going on?”
Upon entering his room, Axton’s voice carried a hint of concern, and his eyes darted across our faces, searching for any signs of distress. As I try to speak, my words become trapped in my throat, leaving me speechless and unable to communicate clearly. I catch wel’s concerned gaze, but I communicate my message with a slight head shake, silently urging her not to speak.
“Nothing,” Through sheer effort, I manage to force a weak smile onto my lips, struggling to speak. “We were just…catching up. Axel brought
me food and wanted to check in on me.”
His brow furrowed in confusion, Axton’s gaze lingers on us for a moment longer. Eventually, he nods, seemingly satisfied with my explanation. I feel a surge of relief, as if a heavy weight has been lifted off my shoulders, dissipating the tension that had been accumulating within me.
I watch as Axton approaches his sister, his lips gently touching her forehead. Then, his eyes meet mine, and I can’t help but feel a sense of unease as I stiffen in response. He hesitates for a moment, his gaze fixed on me, before uttering a resigned “screw it” and closing the distance between us, gently planting a kiss on my forehead as well.
Axel’s gaze lingers on us, her eyes revealing nothing of her thoughts.
“Did you find anything?”
I ask, hoping to shift the focus and distract Axton and Axel from the recent events, even though my face is turning red with a blush. Frustration washes over him, his face contorting with a dark expression as he vigorously shakes his head,
“Nothing,” With a heavy sigh, he replies, his voice tinged with disappointment, his fingers instinctively pinching the bridge of his nose. “We searched the entire perimeter, but there’s no sign of the bear trap anywhere. It’s like it vanished into thin air.”
Axton’s words hit me like a punch to the gut, causing a sharp pang of guilt to twist in my chest. Regret fills my thoughts as i ponder what could have been if I hadn’t ventured off alone, if I had approached with more caution.
“It’s frustrating,” His frustration is palpable as Axton continues, his words dripping with irritation. “We can’t afford to let our guard down, not with the threat still looming over both you and Nadia. What impression does that create of Blackacre, that it’s an unsafe place to be?”
I glance down at my bandaged leg, feeling the tightness of the fabric securely holding my wounded limb, Despite the pain that still lingers, there is an undeniable energy propelling me forward. I can’t sit idly by, the looming threat of the bear trap feels suffocating, like a dark cloud
above us.
I need to do something, anything, to help.
“I can go help look
k for it too, A
Axton.”
Filled with determination, I offer with a resolute voice. I meet Axton’s gaze, and his eyes narrow slightly, filled with a mix of concern and frustration.
“No,” His firm words leave no room for argument, his tone brooking no opposition, “You need to get well. We can handle this.”
With a stubborn shake of my head, I push through the pain that threatens to consume my thoughts.
“But I’m already healing,” I protest, gesturing to my leg. “And besides, I want to help. I’m hell–bent on… I’m hell–bent on getting back at those
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who set that trap. They’ll regret what they did once I’m through with them.”
As I spoke, I noticed a gentle change in Axton’s expression – a softening of his features and a glimmer of amusement in his eyes.
“You’re abus
‘re always one to surprise me, Maya,” As he spoke, a faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips, and he couldn’t resist playfully ruffling my hair, much to my annoyance. “But this isn’t something you need to handle on your own. We’ll find the trap, I promise. And when we do, justice will be served. All I want from you is to rest, okay?”
The weight of Axel’s gaze is almost tangible, making me acutely aware of her eyes on me. It serves as a quiet, persistent reminder of the unspoken tension, a presence that I can’t escape no matter how much I want to.
With a subtle clearing of my throat, I silently convey to Axton that Axel is still around, fully engaged in our conversation. As if sensing my unspoken request, Axton subtly shifts his position, creating a respectable space between us. A serise of relief washes over me as he takes that action, the tension in the room easing ever so slightly, providing a brief moment of solace amidst the inner turmoil.
With a neutral smile on his face, Axton shifted his gaze towards Axel, though a glimmer of concern flickered in his eyes.
“Maybe you should go back to your room too,” he suggests gently, his voice soft but firm. “You’ve got some studying to do on Herbology. right?”
Axel nods, her face a blank canvas as she stands up.
“Yeah, I guess so.”
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Her voice, filled with frustration, escapes her lips in a muttered tone. She shoots me a fleeting glance before turning to leave the room, her footsteps echoing softly against the wooden floorboards..
With the sound of the door closing behind her, a wave of relief washes over me, and I release a shaky breath, feeling the tension in my shoulders melt away. I notice Axton’s worried expression as his eyes stay fixed on the closed door for a moment, before he finally looks back
at me.
“I’m sorry about that,” he murmurs, his voice tinged with regret. “I didn’t mean to make things awkward for you.”
“It’s fine.”
I notice Axton’s nod of comprehension, and as our eyes meet, he takes a deliberate step closer to me, his expression filled with affection. At least I hope it was that.
“I just want to make sure you’re okay, Chestnut.”
His voice barely above a whisper, he says, his eyes scanning mine, searching for any trace of discomfort. I force a smile, the corners of my mouth straining against the weight of the emotions swirling inside me.
“I’ll be fine,” I assure him, my voice barely above a whisper. “But I do have a request.”
“What is it?”
“Can I visit Nadia at the hospital?”