Chapter 4 - The suspects.

Kyan's POV:

I sat at the table as everyone began to gather around and take their places. For the first time since the attack, we were finally dining together once again. I felt a flare of irritation as Magnus chose the seat next to me. The last two days he's been here, he's done nothing but put both me and my father on edge, making us suspicious of everyone, questioning the loyalty and trustworthiness of the ones we have come to call family. I could already feel him grinning whilst he eyed everyone suspiciously as they tucked in at the table waiting for father to take his seat at the head of the table.

"It warms me to see everyone here, with the exception of Vaughn, but I know we all understand why he doesn't feel ready yet to dine with us all. We are facing hard times". Father announced to the table, his face etched with noticeable worry and guilt. "I regret that I cannot reassure you, we are through the worst of it. I won't hide the fact nor pretend what my instinct tells me.... and that is, that I believe and feel, it is not quite over. Which is why it is impertinent that we all stick together and remain strict with our patrol duties and not leave the castle grounds". He informed us as hushed whispers passed across the room. "For now,, let's enjoy our meal and from tomorrow and onwards, myself and Kyan will inform you of your tasks, protocols and any new information we come across. Now let's tuck in". He finished as he sat down with the rest of us, but I could sense the awkward distress from everyone around me, they were all now on edge, knowing that once again we were in the dark about what was going to happen next.

Magnus didn't hesitate to help himself to forkfuls of food as he piled it onto his plate, glaring from one person to the next. "You know, this would be over much quicker if our spy wasn't such a coward!" He commented and all at once, everyone's heads shot up and their eyes focused on him.

"Spy?" Mal asked with a frown.

"Oh yes, a spy!" Magnus replied, looking chuffed with himself that he managed to catch their attention so easily.

"Who was a spy?" Mal asked, looking as stunned as everyone else.

"This we do not know yet, but rest assured, I will find our little traitor and cut off their limbs one by one seeing as their betrayal got my brother killed!".

"Some of our own died too!". Lincoln added with a forlorn expression.

"So I've been told". Magnus said in a cool, calm manner. "But don't worry, I'll let you all have a turn with our spy. After all, you'll know them better than I do, so I know you'll feel their betrayal more than me".

"You think the spy is one of us, don't you?" Del chimed in with an amused and bewildered look.

"Oh, I know it's someone that's here. Someone that knows your every move, your weaknesses, when to strike and how to tease you and lure you out of this place. Someone here is not who you think they are!".

"Thats ludicrous!" Del bit back. "We've been here together for years, we're family! Not one person here would turn their backs on us. We all fought in that attack and we fought hard. Everyone sat at this table right now was ready and eager to take every single one of those fucking hunters down!"

"Hmm, well maybe it's not anyone sat at this table". Magnus spoke as his upper lip turned almost into a grin.

"Well, who then?" Mal asked curiously, his brows frowned in anger.

"Well, the two days I have been here, I've seen your little humans, you like to associate with and call your friends! It could be one of the ones that cook your food, keep this place clean, or could very well be the one so innocently laying in bed!"

"Magnus, don't start with this shit again!" I warned him as he dragged Ellie back into his suspicions.

"Well, it's quite a coincidence! Since she hasn't left that room, there have been no attacks, no tracks or traces of any hunters. Am I right?"

"She isn't a fucking spy!" I snapped back.

"Your brother and his woman are missing or dead! I would have thought you'd be one of the first in line to find out who's stabbed you all in the back!"

"Oh I want fucking revenge on whoever has done this, but I won't go around accusing people who have done nothing but prove themselves loyal!"

"Or maybe you're just naive and don't want to face the truth!"

Del then chuckled as he shook his head at Magnus. "Kyan! Naive! In all the years I've known him, he's barely had any trust for anyone. If someone wasn't trustworthy, Kyan wouldn't be fooled!".

"Is that so?" Magnus replied with a scoff. "Well, he seems to have a lot of trust in his little human woman".

"Magnus!" Kiko spoke as she leaned forward on the table looking daringly at him. "I get it, your pissed! You come here and try to cause a divide, because, let me guess... you don't actually have anyone you consider a friend and perhaps Hyvan was the only one who could tolerate you! But WE ARE family here, we have each other's backs, even if that means risking our own. You can pin all this shit on the humans we have here, including Ellie, but WE know them and we know her! Ellie put herself at risk when we were wounded. She literally chose to save Lord Talon at the cost of her own life! And for all the rest of the humans we have here, they have been good to us and work alongside us. So, no matter how hard you try, you won't turn us against each other and you won't turn us against them either! Your little comments and jabs you make at us... isn't going to fucking work, so if you want to have revenge for Hyvan's death, then work with us, not against us, otherwise, if there ever comes a time when you need someone to watch your back.... no one here will have it!" She told him harshly and I couldn't help but grin inwardly as he seemed to be completely in shock by how boldly she put him in his place. Perhaps now he'll remember he is just a guest and not one of us!

Magnus remained mostly quiet throughout the rest of dinner but still kept his eyes and ears peeled on every conversation, every look and move anyone made, like he was quietly watching, gathering information on each person, gauging their character and the likeliness of who could be the spy. He clearly wasn't going to give up his mission to seek out the person he wanted to kill most and as much as I couldn't stand the man, at least he'd be busy on that task whilst I could concentrate on what the fuck we do now.

I was the first to leave the table, leaving everyone else to their chatter, and I knew father was only staying to keep an eye on Magnus. I headed up to his chambers and peeped my head round Ellie's door to see her still quietly sleeping as Bianca sat in the chair sewing and humming to herself. "No change?" I asked as I walked in.

"No, she didn't wake. Although she was twitching a lot, then her hands started to tremble and she got rather hot, so I got a cool cloth and cooled her down. It was as if she was dreaming".

"But if she's just dreaming, why isn't she waking up?"

"Well, her body may still be recuperating but it seems her mind is fully awake. The poor dear, she looked rather distressed". Bianca said as she got up from the chair. "Well, I'll be off now. If she gets hot again, be sure to keep her cool and maybe talk to her to let her know she's safe. As soon as I started humming she seemed to calm down, I think it helped".

"I will Bianca, thank you for watching over her".

"Perhaps tomorrow night you'll let me watch over her again? That way you can get some sleep in a proper bed. I've never seen you with such dark circles under your eyes, you'll need to keep your strength up".

"Yea... yea perhaps!". I replied, suddenly noticing the heaviness of my eyes, like they were begging me for a decent sleep.

"Well, I'll come and check in on you both tomorrow and we can discuss it again then". She spoke softly as she gave me a reassuring pat on my shoulder. She quietly left the room as I sat next to Ellie. The room was so quiet, apart from her gentle breaths and the flashbacks of her falling limp in my father's arms as her blood trickled down her back, began to fill my head. My brother, the hunters.... that's all I could ever think about! I longed for the carefree days again, no tragedy, no heartbreak and loss, just.... quiet...peace!