Chapter 448: Shadows Between Friends

Two days ago

Orion had just stepped out of his house, the chill of the snow biting through his cloak. The wind whipped at the edges, carrying the faint scent of pine and frost. He straightened his shoulders and exhaled slowly, letting the cold air sharpen his thoughts.

He had fallen asleep immediately he lay on his bed. It seems Sophia wasn’t the only one that was exhausted after all. He also had to go see her at the medical facility, but there were things he had to do first.

He had just told the guard that had been watching over his home to get some rest when he noticed two figures approaching him.

One slouched, a hand on his lower back as he walked, while the other walked like the former guard/warrior he was, one sleeve moving with the air as he walked determined.

Orion almost smiled from the sight. He wondered if perhaps Madam Tyler would join too, so their group would be complete.

He closed the distance between them, using the pathway they were on.

"Lovely morning," he said to them.

Caspian rolled his eyes. "Indeed."

"Is anything the matter?" Orion asked them.

He already suspected there was something wrong, but he asked nonetheless.

Both men inclined their heads.

Caspian nodded. "It’s been a while since you left."

"A few hours," Orion told him.

"Exactly, but there have been certain developments, and I hate to say this, especially when you dislike working a lot, but all of them require your attention," Caspian told him.

Orion nodded. "I’m hardly a boy..."

"I watched you grow up. I even watched your father grow up. You’ll always be a boy to me," Caspian told him.

Orion chuckled but nodded.

He turned serious again. "Does everything involve Eldric?" he asked them.

They had all gone to Eldric’s home earlier in the morning when the sun wasn’t even up, especially because Jeffrey wanted to see Eldric.

Daniel and Caspian exchanged a look. Daniel lowered his voice. "Eldric is involved, yes. But not solely."

Orion nodded. "Did Jeffrey get to see him yesterday?" he asked them.

Caspian had gone to Mary to get the key to the house after all.

They nodded. "Yes."

"But before we talk about Eldric," Daniel told him, "there are other matters to discuss."

Orion’s expression remained composed, though his fingers flexed beneath his gloves. "Go on."

Daniel’s jaw tightened. "I accompanied Wesley to inspect the body." He paused, as if measuring the weight of his words. "He came back with some trainees and told me you requested I go with him?"

Orion nodded. "I did. I stopped by on my way to find Sophia."

Daniel nodded. "Well, like you said and like Jeffrey said, it was a body from the enclave. It was a messenger."

Orion inclined his head slowly. "I knew the person was from the enclave, but I did not know it was a messenger."

Daniel nodded. "The messenger bore a letter which I took. But that is not the primary concern." His eyes flicked to Caspian, and they both lowered their voices further.

"It was the body itself," Daniel whispered. "The manner of death... it was as if two beasts had struck together. The Trihydra and the Skylur together. It..." He swallowed, voice tight.

Orion only inclined his head. After what he had experienced the previous day, he wasn’t surprised. The two beasts could be working together.

He exhaled, the cold air misting around his mouth. "I have news to share as well," he said, "but it seems that will have to wait?"

Caspian nodded. "We have the issue of Eldric too. The one inhabiting his body is... not him. Although I’m sure you got that from earlier this morning."

Orion’s lips curved faintly. "Honestly, I didn’t find out this morning," he told them.

Both men exchanged a look of disbelief. "Really?" Caspian asked, voice low.

Orion’s gaze sharpened. "Even standing before his house, the scent is different. I have noticed it for some time, but I withheld it. I intended to confront Eldric alone. But he has been avoiding everyone except Sophia. But then I’m not surprised she could not tell that he was a different person."

The men said nothing. They just stared at each other. Eldric did specify that he would talk to Sophia, so perhaps that was why he showed himself to her.

"I want to pay a visit to him," Orion told them.

They nodded, and all three started to walk together towards Eldric’s home.

As they passed through the pack, children called out to them.

"Alpha Orion!" some called, their voices bright and eager. "Are you going to play ball with us today?"

"Not today, maybe some other time," Orion called out.

They looked so disappointed.

"What about elder Daniel?" they called out.

He laughed. "I’m up for a good game, but I’m busy now."

Orion lifted a gloved hand, a small smile tugging at his lips. He tossed coins to them.

"Go get some snacks for yourselves," he said, eliciting squeals and grateful bows.

Orion’s gaze flicked briefly to Caspian. "How was Jeffrey when he discovered his husband was not... truly his husband?"

Caspian exhaled sharply, the sound rough with tension. "He nearly broke down. He demanded answers from Eldric, asking him where his real husband was... he was close to losing himself entirely."

Orion inclined his head, lips pressing into a thin line. "I cannot say I am surprised."

Caspian reached the porch first, the snow crunching beneath his boots. He unlocked the door before opening it, this time making sure the key was with him. Orion and Daniel followed, stepping inside with caution. The firelight from the hearth cast long shadows across the floor.

Eldric sat in a wooden chair before the fire, adjusting his glasses, eyes fixed on Orion.

"Orion," he said, calm and measured.

Finally, Orion was standing directly in front of Eldric.

He smiled. "You are good at avoiding people," he told Eldric.