Chapter 72 - Suspicious Valia

Around the time the sun began to rise, I stirred from my sleep and took a moment to observe Damon as he lay beside me, snoring softly in peaceful slumber. His presence brought me a profound sense of comfort; being wrapped in his warm embrace was an irreplaceable solace. There was truly nothing more precious to me than this simple, serene moment.

With a gentle sigh, I slipped out of bed and struggled into a silk robe. Ever since I entered the final trimester of my pregnancy, my body had been overheating more frequently, causing me to sweat profusely. During these times, the only remedy seemed to be stepping outside for a breath of fresh air. I knew Damon would disapprove of me leaving the house, but I reasoned that a brief walk in my own backyard would be harmless, especially with Luke's patrols securing the territory around the clock.

I carefully tiptoed out of the room, passing the clock that showed it was just after five in the morning. I made my way downstairs and quietly exited through the back doors, closing them softly behind me. The crisp, cold air was a welcome relief to my overheated skin and lungs. As my breathing steadied, I looked up at the sky, which was transitioning from dark charcoal to a soft light blue. I couldn't help but wonder, even with Luke's vigilant patrols surrounding the quiet woods, if Tessa might still be out there, observing me from the shadows.

The sight of the forest always brought Evan to mind, evoking memories of the small moments we shared. Each time I thought of him, my heart ached slightly, reminding me that he was too good for a world filled with such turmoil.

I ventured a bit further into the yard, unable to resist the allure of the cool air. Even the dark, deep woods seemed inviting in this moment. My steps led me to Damon’s mother’s grave, where I paused to bow my head in a silent gesture of respect for him. I reflected on the first time I had seen Damon here, bent over her grave, his knees in the mud, and completely disheveled.

Reluctantly, I turned to head back toward the house. I had strayed too close to the edge of the trees, which marked the boundary of the woods. Suddenly, the trees stirred, and someone emerged from their depths. A sense of unease gripped me at the thought that this figure might pose a threat. I tried to convince myself it could be one of the patrols or perhaps even the gardener, who was often up before dawn.

As I turned to return to the house, a curtain of silky black hair caught my eye mid-turn. My heart skipped a beat when I recognized Valia, hurrying from the woods. I hurried back inside, waiting for her to enter before confronting her.

When Valia stumbled in, her eyes widened in surprise at the sight of me. "Ava—you’re up," she exclaimed. Her hair was disheveled with leaves, and she wore black pants and a gray turtleneck. Her complexion was unusually pale, and she carried a faint scent of rusted iron. My sensitive stomach churned at the unpleasant odor, and I struggled to remain composed.

"I went for a walk," she explained, "where were you headed?"

"I couldn’t sleep, so I decided to take a walk to clear my head," she replied with a tone of honesty. Despite her frail and nervous demeanor, it was hard for me to grasp how someone like her could find solace in a solitary, moonless walk in the forest.

"You're not afraid? Going into the woods at this hour?" I asked, pressing further.

Valia fidgeted with her hair, hiding behind its long strands. "I hadn't had a chance to explore the forest since I arrived, and I couldn’t resist. Besides, I’ve faced much scarier things than whatever might be lurking in those woods."

I chose not to probe further. The overpowering stench from her clothes made my stomach churn more intensely. I gave a brief nod and headed back upstairs to my room, heading straight for the bathroom.

I tried to stay as quiet as possible, lifting my hair and leaning over the toilet as I vomited. After cleaning up, I returned to bed beside Damon and soon fell asleep, putting aside my concerns about Valia and the unsettling scent that lingered.

Several hours later, Damon woke me up. The clock read that it had been three hours since I had ventured into the backyard. My face lit up with a smile upon seeing him, but that joy quickly turned to confusion and then to horror. Standing beside Damon was a man I had never seen before, leaning over and staring intently at me.

"Who is that?" I asked, blinking to clear my vision as I sat up in bed.

"That’s the hybrid I mentioned," Damon explained.

The man extended his hand towards me, bowing his head slightly and kissing the top of my hand. "My name is Mariso," he said with a polite and formal tone. "It’s my pleasure to serve and protect you."