Housebound with the Blackridge Heirs novel Chapter 91

Chapter 91

Maya

“Thank you so much again for watching him, Elise.”

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I led her into Leo’s room, who was now struggling to feed himself a bowl of soup. He still couldn’t consume hard foods without it being uncomfortable, but he was stubborn about being fed.

I took the bowl from him and handed it to Elise, who took it graciously and sat beside his bed.

“Hi, Leo. It’s good to officially meet you.”

He stared at her with a bored look, then darted his eyes to me.

“I do not need a babysitter, Maya,” he complained. “I’m twenty-two years old.”

“Have your wolf started healing you faster?” I asked in a baby voice.

He gave me a deadpan look. “Maya…”

“Thought so.” I kissed his forehead, which I realized had become strangely habitual over the past three days. I didn’t know how to feel about it.

I didn’t think it was too intimate, but I knew Caden hated it, and after what happened last night… The guilt ate me up.

But it always did something to Leo’s grumpy moods like this. And nothing was different this time. He gazed at me with a newfound light in his hazel eyes.

“Be careful, Maya. You know how the council is. We both know.”.

Something solemn passed across us. I sometimes felt comfort in knowing that I wasn’t alone in a lot of aspects. But knowing that Leo had endured the council’s torment too didn’t sit well with me. I wouldn’t wish that shock collar on my worst enemy.

This very thought, along with how hooded and lost his eyes have been since he woke up, made me realize that I still didn’t know much about the mysterious heir. I didn’t want to pry, and I told myself that when he was ready, he’d open up to me.

But something, now more than ever-maybe our new bond, was making me feel less and less satisfied with not knowing.

“Caden has already left?” Leo asked and I nodded as I dropped my eyes to my shoes. “He left late light night.”

Leo nodded, as if he knew what I didn’t intend for him to know.

I still hadn’t fallen asleep last night after Caden left. I fell asleep about two hours before sunrise, when the exhaustion and tears finally knocked me out. But I had spent hours trying to reach Caden through our bond, but he completely blocked me out. Now, he was too far for me to talk to him. I could only feel him. And I had a feeling the only reason he even unblocked me was so he could know if I was in danger or not.

I didn’t know how to feel about it. On one end I understood. I really did. This couldn’t have been easy for him.

But on another end, he had no idea if he would see me ever again after today. I could die for all I know. And the last words and moments were in anger.

“I see,” was all Leo said.

A beat of silence stretched between us, before Elise cleared her throat.

“Well, don’t want to keep them waiting now. The sooner you go, the sooner you’ll be out.”

18:46 Tue, Dec 23 MJM.

Chapter 91

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I nodded and shared final goodbyes, which was followed by a few grumbles when Elise tried to feed Leo the soup.

Tylon was leaning across the doorway, arms crossed and ready to go.

He looked at me with a pained and longing expression, and something broke inside me. I looked away quickly.

“He’s still being stubborn?” Tylon asked as he pushed himself off the wall and walked with me down the stairs.

“Yup.” I sighed.

“It’s his wolf,” he said. “Our egos can’t take the bruise of such a fall, especially at a rogue’s hand… or claws.”

“Is that why he’s taking so long to heal him? As a punishment for making his emotions get in the way?” I asked, my heart sinking in guilt.

Tylon shrugged. “I don’t think so. The longer he’s bedridden, the longer he feels weak. I think his wolf is just also injured.”

I sighed again. “Well at least his neck is almost healed.”

“At least.”

This has been the most words Tylon and I have exchanged since the fight. And it actually felt… nice.

Tylon and I stepped out into the late morning light, and the sharp chill in the air made me pull my jacket tighter around myself.

We drove to the destination in almost silence. so much for having a conversation.

The Council building loomed in front of us. It was tall and polished and quiet in the kind of way that made my stomach

twist.

I hated being here.

Tylon’s hand brushed mine lightly, almost accidental, even though I knew nothing about him was ever accidental.

“You ready?” he asked.

“I don’t think I’ll ever actually be ready for this,” I admitted as we approached the front steps.

He hummed in agreement.

The doors opened before we even touched them, and a woman dressed in uniform greeted us with a polite smile that didn`t reach her eyes.

“Miss Cole,” she said. “Alpha Blackridge. Welcome. The Council is expecting you.”

Her tone was friendly enough, but something about her gaze flickered ever so slightly when it shifted over me. Almost curiosity, almost fear, almost something I didn’t want to analyze right now.

We were guided down a long hallway into a glass elevator. The moment the doors shut behind us, the air seemed to thicken. The elevator rose slowly, far too slowly, and I felt Aelera tense inside me.

‘Maya,’ she murmured. ‘Something is wrong.

I pressed my lips together. ‘I know!’

Astrid didn’t speak, but she pushed forward faintly, like a presence shifting into place. It felt like someone standing behind me in a dark hallway, silent but very aware of everything around us.

18:46 Tue, Dec

Chapter 91

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The woman cleared her throat. “Before you enter the Council chamber, all weapons and personal belongings must be turned over.”

Tylon almost laughed. “Not happening.”

“Mr Blackridge,” she said patiently, “you weren’t scheduled to attend. The Council graciously permitted it due to your status, but if you refuse protocol, you will not be allowed to accompany Miss Cole.”

His shoulders stiffened. He didn’t move for a long moment, and I could feel his wolf press forward through the bond, bristling with irritation.

“Tylon,” I whispered. “Just… try.”

He didnt like it, but he nodded once.

He unstrapped the blade at his thigh and handed it over. Then the dagger in his boot. Then the two smaller ones hidden at his spine. The woman stared at him pointedly.

“All of them, Alpha.”

He exhaled loudly and removed the final blade from inside his jacket sleeve. She gave a crisp nod.

“Good. This way.”

As we walked, I felt something tug inside my chest. A sharp ripple moved through the bond I shared with Aelera, like a warning. I swallowed and leaned closer to Tylon.

“Is your wolf uneasy?” I whispered.

“Yes,” he said without hesitation. “He has been since we stepped inside.”

He reached out without thinking and wrapped his arm around my waist, drawing me against him as if shielding me from something neither of us could yet see.

My breath caught. My body reacted strongly, almost instinctively, and the bond I had with him thrummed in a faint pulse that reminded me of an unopened book waiting to be read.

I didn’t know what this meant. I only knew that it scared me how natural his touch felt now.

The chamber doors slid open.

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