Inside the packhouse, everything seemed too still, as if waiting for something to break the silence.
Tiana stood at the doorway to Valen’s room, a slight frown on her face. She wasn’t sure what had made her curious, but something had been bothering her about him ever since he arrived at the pack. Valen was too composed, too charming, with just the right amount of mystery around him to make anyone question his true intentions. She had to know more, and if that meant snooping through his things, then so be it.
With a quick glance down the hallway to make sure no one was coming, she quietly slipped inside. Her heart beat a little faster as she stepped carefully, her eyes scanning the room for anything out of the ordinary. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Eva’s judgment, but something about Valen had unsettled her ever since the night he’d first arrived. There was a coldness behind his charming smile, a hidden agenda that she couldn’t put her finger on.
She moved to his desk first, her fingers brushing over the books and papers scattered across it. Her gaze lingered over the objects, each one seemingly ordinary, but Tiana’s instincts screamed at her that there was more than met the eye.
Then she saw it—a small, silver pendant resting atop a stack of papers. The rune carved into it was unmistakable. It was a blood rune, used by vampires to signify loyalty, binding, and sometimes even control. The moment she laid eyes on it, her pulse quickened, and she grabbed it with trembling fingers, holding it up to examine the intricate details.
“Shit,” she muttered under her breath. “What is this?”
She stuffed the pendant into her pocket, her heart hammering in her chest as she turned to leave. But just as she was about to exit, she heard footsteps approaching from down the hall. Tiana’s eyes widened, and she quickly slipped out of the room, closing the door behind her as quietly as she could.
She leaned against the wall, her breath coming out in quick, shallow gasps. She had to tell Eva. This was bigger than her suspicions. The pendant meant something, and Valen’s connection to it couldn’t be ignored.
As Tiana hurried down the hallway, she spotted Dany standing at the end, an amused look on his face.
“You know you shouldn’t touch other people’s stuff, right?” he called out to her, raising an eyebrow.
Tiana rolled her eyes, but her expression was serious. “So is trusting hot strangers with jawlines that sharp,” she shot back, walking past him with a huff.
Dany chuckled softly but followed her. “You found something?” he asked, his tone more curious than anything else.
Tiana stopped, turning to face him. She couldn’t hide the worry in her eyes. “There’s something off about him,” she said, her voice lower now, almost a whisper. “I don’t know what it is, but I don’t trust him.”
Dany stepped closer, his expression thoughtful. “Are you sure it’s just not the fact that he’s… well, Valen? That he just happens to be way too charming for your sister?”
Tiana bit her lip, looking at the floor for a moment before meeting his gaze again. “I’m sure. It’s something deeper. I just don’t know what. But Eva’s too blinded by her feelings for him. She’s not seeing it.”
Dany raised an eyebrow. “So, what are you going to do about it?”
Tiana hesitated, her fingers itching to show Dany the pendant she’d found, but she knew she needed to go to Eva first. She needed to hear her thoughts on it. “I have to talk to her. She deserves to know. If there’s even a chance that Valen’s hiding something, then I’m not letting her walk into it blind.”
As the two of them walked toward Eva’s room, Tiana’s heart sank. She could already feel the weight of what she had to say pressing down on her chest. Eva had been through so much already. Could she really handle the truth if Valen was hiding something so dangerous?
When they reached Eva’s door, Tiana knocked softly, trying to gather her thoughts. It took a moment before Eva’s voice came from inside.
“Come in,” she called, sounding exhausted.
Tiana opened the door and stepped inside, Dany following close behind. Eva was sitting on her bed, her legs crossed, a tired expression on her face as she flipped through a book. She looked up when they entered, offering a small smile. “What’s going on? You both look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
Tiana took a deep breath, steeling herself for what she had to say. “Eva, I think there’s something you need to see,” she began, her voice unsteady.
Eva tilted her head, clearly confused. “What’s wrong?”
Tiana pulled the pendant from her pocket, holding it out toward her sister. “I found this in Valen’s room,” she said quietly, watching Eva’s reaction carefully.
Eva stared at the pendant, her face falling as she recognized the blood rune. “Where did you find this?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
“In his room,” Tiana replied, her words weighted with concern. “And I don’t think it’s just a decoration.”
Eva’s stomach dropped as she looked at the pendant in her sister’s hand. She turns it around, and realizes it’s a pendant. When she opened it, they all gasped.
“No,” Tiana whispered.
Dany gulps and turns to Eva. “It’s Danielle’s. Why does he have her picture?”
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
Summary & Review: Comrade
