Chapter 480: To Kill

Sophia finished the last spoonful slowly, then gave Orion her plate. He took it from her without a word and passed her a cup of water, which she drank.

Orion chuckled when she was done, his gaze on her.

"You really were so hungry that you didn’t even offer me anything," he told her.

"You didn’t ask," she replied. "And yes, I was hungry—extremely so—and that’s why I forgot to even offer you a bite."

Orion chuckled.

They were back at the medical facility. Sophia’s leg was propped up on a pillow.

Her ankle still throbbed, but not too much. It was bearable.

Orion was about to speak, but then he stopped. Someone was at the door. Before she could even knock, he sighed and told her to come in.

Sophia watched him with a frown as the door opened and Brynhild walked in, a smile on her face.

Her gaze was locked on Sophia, who lit up instantly.

"Brynhild," she said excitedly.

Brynhild laughed softly. She closed the door behind her with her foot and crossed the room with practiced ease. Her steps were steady. Her long black braids brushed against her shoulders and down her back.

She stopped just short of the bed.

Sophia was already shifting forward.

Brynhild leaned down and wrapped her arms around her.

Sophia melted into it excitedly.

"I’m so glad you’re awake," Brynhild murmured into her hair. "I was scared for a moment there."

Sophia closed her eyes.

"I’m sorry."

Brynhild pulled back just enough to cup Sophia’s cheek gently.

"You should take better care of yourself," she said lightly. "At the rate you’re always in the medical facility, anyone would think you were the healer, not my husband."

Sophia snorted.

Orion let out a low huff of laughter from the corner.

"That’s not even fair," Sophia said. "Your husband enjoys this place."

Brynhild smiled knowingly.

"He does. Far too much."

She turned her head slightly in Orion’s direction.

"And you," she added, amused. "Sound unusually quiet."

Orion shifted his weight.

"She sounds more excited with you than when she woke up and found I was right next to her," he grumbled.

Brynhild’s smile widened.

"Oh?"

Sophia laughed and reached for Brynhild’s hands.

Brynhild squeezed back automatically.

"You’re allowed to be jealous," Sophia said.

"I am very jealous," Orion replied flatly. "I don’t need your permission to be jealous too."

Brynhild laughed at that. "I like it when you are honest... most times."

Orion groaned at that.

Sophia laughed harder.

"How is Raina?" she asked quickly, before Orion could defend himself.

Brynhild’s expression softened.

"She’s fine," she said gently. "She’s with Lysander now. She didn’t want to spend time with me after I fed her, so I left her with her father."

Sophia chuckled. "It’s obvious she has a soft spot for her father."

Brynhild nodded once. "I swear it’s like I’m the third wheel in the family."

Orion and Sophia chuckled at that. Then Brynhild turned to Sophia.

"I came as soon as I heard you were awake," she continued, "and because apparently half the pack has been whispering about how they saw Orion carrying you through the compound."

Sophia choked slightly.

Orion laughed.

"We went to Eldric," he said easily.

Brynhild hummed.

"I know."

He shot her a look.

"You already know?"

"I ran into Daniel and Caspian here. They were carrying Eldric and they briefed me on what the situation was," she told him with a shrug.

Orion rolled his eyes and huffed a laugh.

"So," Brynhild said, her voice shifting into something gentler, "are you going to tell me what you found?"

Orion hesitated.

Just for a second.

Then he shook his head.

"Not yet."

Brynhild lifted a brow.

"We’re going to tell everyone together," he said. "It’s better that way. I don’t want to explain it once and then explain it again to five different people. I’m just waiting for Sophia to rest for the day. Then we’ll have a meeting in the hall, all the elders."

Brynhild smiled faintly.

"That’s fair."

She nodded.

Then her expression shifted, the warmth in her eyes dimming slightly.

"There’s something else."

Orion straightened immediately.

"What is it?"

"The guards at the dungeons brought me a report earlier."

Sophia felt the subtle change in the room before she even understood why.

"They said Holly has been screaming," Brynhild continued quietly, "even with the gag in her mouth."

Orion’s jaw tightened.

"And when they removed it," Brynhild added, "she asked for you."

"Why would she ask for me?" he asked with a frown, especially since he had nothing to do with Holly. "Especially after what she did?"

Sophia tilted her head slowly, a frown on her face.

"What do you mean?" she asked softly.

Both of them turned to look at her.

Orion blinked once. Then he let out a slow, disbelieving breath.

"Have you forgotten what Holly did to you?"

Sophia froze. She frowned, then realization hit her.

Her eyes widened.

"Oh."

"We’re only keeping her in the dungeons for now," Brynhild said gently, "until we decide what to do next."

Orion looked back at Sophia.

"And that’s because we still don’t have the full story. We only know that she left you to die when you were fighting off two Trihydras."

Brynhild nodded.

"That’s all we know."

Sophia stared at them like they had grown two heads.

"What do you mean she left me to die?" she asked them.

"Shorty," Orion called out to her. "Perhaps did the venom you ingested affect your head? Do you not remember what happened before you were taken to the nest where you met Tarin?"

Sophia rolled her eyes.

"The venom didn’t affect my head, you oaf. I’m just curious as to what you guys mean, and I do remember everything that happened before I met Tarin in the nest."

"Then why are you asking like you don’t remember she left you to die when you were fighting the Trihydras?" Orion asked her.

"That’s because before that happened, Holly basically tried to kill me. We fought each other. She came at me with her sword, so when you say she left me to die, I’m confused—because this woman, who is your ex by the way, tried to kill me," Sophia told Orion.