Ruteron

Chapter 11
Nalani had been moved back to her room.
Her body, although still weak and not fully recovered, had returned to normal.

Bertold carefully checked her pulse and heartbeat, and to his relief, everything was stable.

He handed her a cup of honey water, his face showed a look of calm professionalism, but his eyes showed admiration for Nalani’s miraculous return.

“Mita,” she said to the mute maid gently, “you can use sign language, right? Go and tell Karyan that his bride has returned to life. Tell him about Nalani’s condition as best you can.”

Mita nodded. She hurried off to meet Karyan.

As Bertold watched Mita leave, he couldn’t help but ponder the faint glow he saw on Nalani’s chest. It was an anomaly that he did not reveal to Karyan, guided by the instinct that told him to keep this secret for now.

It wasn’t long before Karyan walked into the room, Karina following behind her, and Mita quietly following. Karyan’s eyes widened, shock taking over his usual composure as he saw Nalani leaning back on the bed, sipping honey water with Bertold’s help.

“Nalani,” he sighed, the word barely managed into a whisper. He stepped to her side, his eyes scanned Nalani’s face for signs of discomfort. “You... are alive.”

Karina, who stood a step behind him, wore the same expression of astonishment.

She glanced at Bertold, who remained calm, but his fingers were tapping restlessly on his thigh – a small movement that showed his agitation.

“Yes,” Bertold confirmed, his voice steady. “She’s weak, but her vital signs are stable. She’s on the road to recovery.”
Karyan’s eyes shifted from Bertold to Nalani, his relief clear but shadowed by confusion and a hint of anger. “How?” he asked, his voice rough and full of emotion. “How did this happen?”

Bertold looked at him calmly. “Sometimes, life finds a way even when we think that all is lost. I did what I could with the knowledge I had.”

Karyan nodded slowly, still looking like he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. He reached out, his hand trembled slightly, and with some hesitation grasped Nalani’s free hand. “I thought you were dead,” he murmured, his voice was thick with unspoken emotion.

Nalani looked up at him, her eyes tired but filled with the courage to defy. “Oh, you must be disappointed that I’m still here,” she whispered.

Bertold stepped back, but his mind was already racing.

The light he saw – it was unlike anything he had ever encountered. He had to understand it, to unravel the mystery that had brought Nalani back from the brink of death.

But for now, he kept the knowledge to himself, trusting his instincts to keep it a secret.

Standing next to Karyan, Karina was equally astonished. She stepped forward, her eyes fixed on Nalani’s pale face. “I don’t know how you came back,” she said in surprise. “You were obviously dead.”

“I don’t care how I came back,” Nalani said. “I’ve been starving since I woke up, but that old man over there only gave me honey water.”

Karyan was soon roused from his astonishment, and turned to Mita. “Go to the palace kitchen, and tell the servants to bring all the food. Human food,” he added hastily.

Worried that the servants would serve fresh blood and meat-supplements for the sick wolves.

Mita nodded and quickly left the room.

Karyan looked back at Nalani. “What else do you want?” he asked, realizing that he had to be a little kind to Nalani who had just returned from the dead.

“I want you to leave,” she said. “I’m tired, hungry and want some peace.”
***
Karyan sat alone in his private room, the dim light reflecting the long shadows dancing on the walls.

His mind was in chaos, trying to digest the events that had transpired. Nalani’s return from the dead was the most astonishing thing.

Despite his cruel games and mocking humor, Nalani was his, and he could not imagine losing her.

However, the killer was the second thing that plagued his mind.

The woman steadfastly refused to reveal who had hired her to kill Nalani. This made him uneasy, feeling that there was someone within his territory who had ill intentions towards Nalani.

“Radoff!” he shouted, his voice echoing off the stone walls. Moments later, the door creaked open, and Radoff stepped inside.

The man was a mountain, his massive body almost filled the doorway. His black hair was colored with white on the top of the head.

“Yes, Alpha?” Radoff’s voice signaled his presence.

“Bring the assassin to me,” Karyan ordered, leaving no room for debate.

Radoff nodded, his expression was simple, and disappeared to carry out the order.

Karyan leaned back in his chair, his fingers drumming on the wooden armrest.

He couldn’t shake the feeling that the attempt to kill Nalani was just the beginning, a prelude to a greater threat.

As he waited, his mind went back to the moment she saw Nalani sitting up in bed, drinking honey water with Bertold’s help.

The disbelief and then the wave of relief almost overwhelmed him. Nalani was alive, and despite everything, she was still his.

The door swung open again, breaking his reverie.

Radoff entered, dragging the assassin behind him.

His hands were bound, and his eyes stared around the room, filled with resistance and fear.

Karyan rose from his chair, his presence dominant in the room. He approached the woman slowly, his eyes narrowed as he looked at her.

“Now you will tell me who you are and who sent you,” he said, his voice low and threatening. “I will not tolerate deception in my own court.”

The woman lifted her chin, her lips forming a thin line. “My name is Ordas Bermund of the House of Ruteron. I told you, I do not know,” she replied, her voice trembling yet firm. “I was given my assignment through an intermediary. I never met the person who hired me.”

“The Ruterons....” Karyan growled. “You are professional assassins.” Karyan’s eyes glazed over, and he leaned closer, his gaze never leaving her face. “You expect me to believe that you know nothing?” His voice was like a deadly whisper. “There’s always someone who knows something.”

She swallowed hard, “I swear, my lord, I don’t know anything else. Please, I’m just a pawn.”

Karyan glanced at Radoff, who tightened his grip on the woman’s shoulder. “She’s human. Take her to the basement,” Karyan ordered. “We’ll see if time in the dark will help her remember.”

Radoff nodded and began to drag her away, but Karyan’s mind was already elsewhere. He had to root out this threat, find out who wanted Nalani dead and why. He would not rest until he had his answers.

When the door closed behind Radoff and the hitman, Karyan returned to his room, his mind filled with uncertainty.

He knew one thing for sure: whoever was behind all this would pay dearly for threatening what was his.

“Ruteron?” he muttered. He knew one of them, a long time ago. Perhaps a visit was in order soon.
***