Strings of Fate by Kit Bryan
Chapter 186

Strings of Fate

186- Examination and exhaustion

I startle at the new thread, then freeze. I probably look ridiculous and I’m fairly sure I’m alternating between staring at my own chest and Cheryl’s. Ugh, I probably look like I’m staring at my own boobs. I have got to stop. I’m too stunned to speak and I vaguely notice that Bellamy has taken over the interrogation. Asking who Cheryl is working with and

answer. I

where Kiara is being kept. She refuses to give any kind of useful do zone back in a little when I realise that

Bellamy is trying to use his whole Alpha thing to force her to speak.

“Tell me where Kiara is.” He demands. But before he can finish the sentence, Cheryl slams her eyes shut and presses her lips together, flat out refusing to speak any further. I guess closing her eyes somehow stops Bellamy’s Alpha thing from working. That’s different I guess? I really ought to replace out how it’s meant to work since I can actually do that to some extent. Or at least I managed to do something with it when Tristain was in the middle of the dominance battle. I’m disappointed that Cheryl isn’t saying anything, but after her psychotic rant, I didn’t really expect anything else. I think we’re going to be better off searching the house looking for clues or evidence that Kiara was here at some point. Now that I’m not staring at my new black thread, it’s a little less alarming. Mostly because it doesn’t really change anything does it? I’ve already decided that Cheryl is not someone I am ever going to get along with. I don’t know exactly how I can be destined to hate her now when I wasn’t before but it is what it is. It is kind of concerning that these threads can change, they never have before. Maybe it’s just a fluke thing since these murders have messed up

other people’s fates.

After a while, Bellamy gets frustrated and gives up on getting Cheryl to say anything else. Since she finished her rant she hasn’t said a single word. She won’t even open her eyes. I think she might even be humming to herself. The tune is oddly familiar but I can’t place it. It’s like she is trying to pretend we don’t exist at all.

Take her to the Magic’s prison. Tell them I will send through the paperwork for her sentencing later.” Bellamy orders the two guards that are still standing over Cheryl. She barely reacts as they lead her away, shuffling along between them like a zombie, her eyes still shut. I sigh and lean into Bellamy’s side. He wraps an arm over my shoulder and

leans his head on mine.

“What are you going to do about sentencing?” I ask. Bellamy lets out a deep sigh, much like the one I just gave.

“After her confession in the murders and kidnapping? She won’t be getting out of there anytime soon, or ever probably.” He tells me softly. He sounds miserable and I do understand. I hate Cheryl, but being the person who has to make the decision that she will never be free again… that can’t be pleasant.

“Tell me when you’re doing the paperwork and stuff for it. I’ll help you, or sit with you or something.” I offer. Bellamy squeezes me tight for a second before letting me go.

“Thanks.” He gives me a sad smile.

We spend the next couple hours searching the house. We go through it inch by inch looking for any sign of Kiara, or anything that hints to who Cheryl might be working with. We don’t replace anything useful at all. We do grab Cheryl’s laptop and phone and take them with us to give to Alex. She has to be communicating with her partner somehow, so it seems likely that there will be SOMETHING on one of them that might give us a clue. I’m sitting on the floor of her office searching through the desk drawers which I pulled out and stacked around me. Actually I’m going through them for the fifth time when Bellamy comes to get me. My eyes are burning and I’m completely out of it. I’m not sure I’m even looking at the contents of the drawer anymore. Just moving things around and praying that some clue will magically appear, I know there’s nothing here, if there was we would have found it by now. But I can’t bring myself to be the one to call an end to the search, to officially give up.

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186- Examination and exhaustion

“Ry, love?” he drops a hand onto my shoulder. I tip my head back to look up at him, my eyes barely cracked open.

“Hmm?” I give as a response.

“Sweetheart, there’s nothing here. You need to sleep. The sun will be up soon and you look like you’re going to collapse.” He moves around and grabs my hands, gently pulling me to my feet. I stumble over one of the drawers and he catches me against his chest. He’s so warm and I’m so comfortable there that I can’t bring myself to move away again. I just hide my face against him and let him support my weight.

“We’re not giving up. Mauve Alex will replace something in her messages. I know it sucks that we didn’t replace Kiara here, but this is progress. We know more than we did this time yesterday.” He forces optimism into his tone, but he sounds as tired as me. I nod against his chest, but I still don’t move. I could just stay here forever and pretend the world doesn’t exist. We stand for another minute before Bellamy moves. 3

“Alright. That’s it. Time to get you to bed.” He moves away just enough to hook his arms underneath me and lift me off my feet. I don’t even have the energy to object. I just wrap my arms around his neck and cling to him tightly.

On the way home, Aaron drives. Bellamy sits in the back seat and keeps me on his lap and holds me tight, occasionally running a hand down my back or through my hair. Darrien sits in the passenger seat and Megan is in the back with us. She and Bellamy are talking to each other, but their voices are so soft that without Shifter hearing, I can’t quite tell what they’re saying. But honestly I don’t care. Their familiar voices are soothing. I’m heartbroken that I didn’t replace Kiara here, but Bellamy is right that this was still at least partially a win for us and I need to rest before we figure out our next step. Back at the house, I move to get out of the car but Bellamy holds me tight against his chest trapping me in place. He carries me inside, Megan hurries ahead of us to unlock the front door. In fact he carries me all the way to bed. He drops me into the blankets and helps me pull off my shoes and jacket. He vanishes for a second and my eyes begin to fall closed. He comes back with another of his shirts for me to wear. Drowsily, I pull off my top and pull his on over my bra. I shove my leggings off roughly and kick them away. Lastly I unhook my bra, pull it off under the shirt and fling it away. Then I collapse back into the pillows, too exhausted to think. Bellamy moves around the room for a couple minutes. I hear the rustle of him changing clothes and I think he collects my stuff off the floor and drops it into a hamper. Finally, he crawls into bed beside me, flicks off the light and pulls me into his chest. I fall asleep listening to the soft sound of his heart beating.

Chapter Comments

Madalaine Rodrigues.

was it not better to observe cheryl and have her followed around a bit

Visitor

why is alex purple? xD

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