Healing Kisses (Sophia and Santiago) novel Chapter 199

198

The information I'm getting from everything she said is true. This city has one of the biggest libraries in the world, and it's completely empty. needed to clear my head, and with the power the ocean is providing, I was able to get away from everyone.

"You're not as fast as you think you are," Kaylee says, pulling a book out from the shelf beside me. She pokes her head through the shelves, making me smile.

"If I didn't want to be found, I wouldn't have been," I smirk and shut the book in my hands.

'Are you going to check all those books out?" she asks. I look over at the pile l've accumulated over the past hour and a half.

"How long do we have before the guys land?" I ask. She laughs and comes around to sit on the floor beside me.

"There's a cafe across the street. We have enough time to order for the four of us," she pats my leg. "This isn't what you wanted."

"I'm not sure what it was that I wanted. I wasn't sure what kind of questions I had until I got the answers. Yet, I feel like I can't trust it. It felt like-"

"She had rehearsed it long before we arrived," she nods. "I got that too. But she wasn't exactly lying."

"I'm stronger than she is," I state.

"That's a man-eating siren, Soph. Wolves here are crazy because they have to deal with this bitches all the damn time. Women, children, the elderly. They don't discriminate. Especially when they're young and hungry."

"Just because I don't hunt, doesn't mean I cant. I meant the grasp of my affinity. It's stronger than hers. She's not an alpha rank. Not like you. There's someone more powerful in there."

"What do vou mean?"

"Before she shut us in that room, something was calling to me. The higher in the building we went, the further from it we got. When we were let out, it was gone. There was no trace of it. I couldn't even feel-"

I stop when a cold chill runs down my spine. I stand up feeling that same aura from before. I make my way out of the aisle and then hold my hand out to stop Kay from stepping out from behind me. In case the person is hostile. At the front desk, a man is talking to the older woman.

His back is to us. He looks like he takes pride in his appearance. He's wearing a very elegant black-on-black suit. It's perfectly tailored to his body, and a coat is over his arm. The woman places a stack of books on the counter and then a black reusable bag. She's all smiles for him.

When he turns around, my heart stops. He looks up, and our eyes meet. I step forward, not believing what I'm seeing. He stares at me for a long time, but there's not a Single trace of recognition in his eyes.

"Oliver?" I call out. He looks around and then back at me again.

"Yeah?" he answers, completely thrown off by me knowing his name. "Do I know you?"

His voice is deeper. Much older than I remember. His blue eyes glisten even under the dim light here. He's so much bigger than I thought he would be at this age.

"It's me, Sophia," I say, taking a step closer. He looks me over and shakes his head.

"I'm sorry," he smiles politely. "I don't know a Sophia."

A sharp pain hits my chest, and I feel my pelt flare. His smile disappears, and he sets the bag of books and his coat down to approach me. He glances behind me at Kaylee, but when he deems her a non-threat, he turns his attention back to me.

"How are you here?" I ask, trying my best not to break down.

"'-" he says, unsurely.

"There you are," we both step away from one another at the sound of my grandmother's voice. "Sophia, you can't just run off like that. Are you out of your fucking mind?

You're " she stops when her eyes land on him, and I know she's looking at exactly what I had been. My father. A much younger and a lot bigger version of my father.

"Hey, I call out. Kaylee rushes to my side and helps me sit him up. I place my hand on his head and open his mouth slightly. I reach inside of him to wake him up, and as soon as he moves, I let go. "You're okay."

I kneel down beside him and laugh before dusting his face. A growl comes from the entrance, making me look up. Ragnar and Ivar are standing a few feet away from us, and he looks beyond pissed. I want to tell him this isn't what it looks like, but I can't make myself look in his direction when someone who might be my brother is sitting here in my arms.

"You took a bad hit to your head," I say and stand up. His eyes stay on me, not wanting to look away.

"Yes," he nods. Kaylee pulls out a chair, and we help him into it. "I was in an accident. I don't remember anything prior to twelve years ago."

"Do you have family here?" my grandmother asks.

"No, I live with General Ryan Kingston and his mate. They took me in. I was found on a raft offshore. Millie, the sea serpent, was circling me. They saved my life," he says with a smile on his face.

"He named you?" I ask.

"No, I had a letter in my pocket. We assumed it was addressed to me," he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a wallet. From inside, he takes a little folded piece of baby blue paper. I recognize it immediately.

"Oliver, stop being an idiot and apologize to Gavin before he fires us both," I say without him opening it. His eyes shoot to mine. I place my hand over it and try my best to keep my composure, but it's all a little overwhelming.

"How did you know that?" he asks. I stand up, trying to catch my breath.

"Sophia, Ragnar calls out. Everything in the room spins as I begin to question everything about what happened that day. I growl when Ragnar's hand takes mine.

"I can't breathe," I choke out as I try to calm down.

"The water, Oliver says. "Take her outside. The water in the air helps."