Housebound with the Blackridge Heirs novel Chapter 75

**Change Begins With You — Jayden Collins**
**Chapter 75**

**Maya**

As I approached the imposing structure of the Blackridge house, my heart raced, still heavy with the revelations Elise and I had uncovered. The moment I swung open the massive double front doors, a shiver ran down my spine. The echo of my footsteps reverberated through the cavernous hallway, amplifying the eerie stillness that cloaked the house. It felt as though the very walls were conspiring against me, amplifying my solitude and awareness.

I suddenly felt the weight of loneliness pressing down on me.

I couldn’t face this alone.

Taking a moment to gather myself, I paused at the threshold of the kitchen, inhaling deeply, trying to steady my racing thoughts.

‘Caden,’ I projected through our bond, striving for calmness in my voice despite the tempest brewing within me.

His response was immediate, a familiar warmth that wrapped around my senses. ‘I’m coming.’

I swallowed hard, anxiety creeping in again. ‘Can you bring Leo too?’ I asked, hoping for the support of both of them.

There was a brief silence, a heartbeat of hesitation, before his voice gently brushed against my mind.

‘Where do you need us?’ he inquired, his tone soothing.

“In the living room,” I replied after a moment’s thought. I hesitated, then added, “And Tylon.”

A flicker of resistance pulsed through the bond, but he responded with a clipped, yet resigned, ‘Fine.’

With a heavy heart, I made my way to the living room, positioning myself behind the long, polished wooden table. The late afternoon sun poured through the windows, casting a golden glow across the floor, illuminating the shadows that danced around me. I pressed my palms against the cool surface of the table, grounding myself as I heard the sound of footsteps approaching, one set after another.

Caden was the first to arrive, tension radiating from his shoulders as his eyes searched my face for any sign of injury before he even uttered a word.

“What’s wrong?” His hands found my face with an urgency that made my heart flutter, and he pressed a brief, soft kiss on my lips, grounding me momentarily.

Leo entered next, as quiet as ever, his posture straight and alert, like a sentinel on guard. He paused at the doorway, his gaze assessing my expression before he stepped closer, concern etching his features.

Tylon was the last to arrive, his hands shoved deep into his pockets, his expression inscrutable. He chose to lean against the wall, observing me with a watchful intensity, as if trying to decipher a puzzle he couldn’t quite solve.

Three distinct men, each exuding their own unique energy, surrounded me, their eyes fixed on me as though I were the focal point of an unspoken mystery.

“Okay,” I whispered, my voice barely above a breath. “I need to talk to you.”

Caden instinctively took a step closer, reaching for my hand, and I allowed it, grateful for the momentary calm it provided.

“Tell us,” Leo encouraged softly, his voice a steady anchor amidst the storm brewing inside me.

I glanced at each of them, piecing together the fragments of what I had learned. “I went back to the library with Elise today. We… found something.”

The atmosphere shifted palpably, tension rising like a tide.

Caden’s jaw clenched, a muscle ticking in his cheek, while Leo’s eyes sharpened, reflecting a sudden intensity.

Tylon straightened slightly, a flicker of interest betraying his otherwise stoic demeanor.

I took a shaky breath, feeling the weight of my words. “We found records. Ancient ones about beings named Astrid and Aelera,” I said, my voice dropping to a whisper.

My chest tightened as I continued, “A vessel and her wolf.”

I recounted everything I had discovered with Elise from the very first moment, feeling the gravity of each revelation.

A nagging instinct urged me to keep some details hidden, but with the weight of Astrid’s truth pressing down on me, I pushed past the sting of hesitation and shared it all.

It hurt to lay bare my findings, but I forced myself to divulge every detail.

When I finished, I could see the hurt etched on Caden’s face, and through our bond, I felt the sting of his disappointment for not confiding in him sooner.

Leo wore a thoughtful expression, while Tylon’s gaze remained fixed on me, unreadable yet intense.

“The rogues,” Caden muttered, his voice low and filled with concern. “They follow a leader we still can’t name. They are organized. Too organized.”

“It fits,” Leo agreed, his brow furrowing in contemplation.

I exhaled slowly, the weight of my revelations settling heavily on my shoulders. “Aelera tried to resist her. Astrid nearly killed her. Aelera ran and hid her essence. It’s still here, somewhere beneath the Blackridge forest.”

“And you think you’re being called to her,” Tylon murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. “In your sleep.”

“I don’t just think it,” I replied, my conviction solidifying. “I know it. Elise found a map showing where Aelera hid herself, and it matches the place I always end up sleepwalking toward. Every single time. I believe she’s trying to reach me.”

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