Page 95 of Marked
A gentle hand rested on my shoulder, and I jumped, opening my eyes. When had Ace walked up behind me?
“What’s that?” he pointed at the closet. A piece of fabric had been caught in the door.
With a sigh, I replied. “He’s never been known for his housekeeping.”
“I’m surprised the bed is made.” Ace brushed past me to enter the room and walk over to the closet. As he opened the door, materials spilled out, smacking into his body before falling to the floor.
My heart stopped at the sight of leather pelts and reams of wool.
No.
I rushed over to the closet and peered inside, my nose immediately assaulted by the smell of dust and grain from the storage house. I leaned to the side and sneezed.
“What is it?” Orion appeared beside me, his voice filled with concern.
“Leather, wool and what looks like a barrel of grain,” Ace answered for me.
“Leather, wool and grain?” Orion placed his hands on his hips and turned to me.
I looked away, not meeting his gaze. My mind reeled. This didn’t make any sense. Why would he do this?
“What am I missing, Mouse?” Ace whispered.
“Leather, wool and grain are the supplies stolen from the storage house,” Orion said. “Isn’t that right, Emi?”
“A red scarf was also retrieved from the looted storage house and the same scarf was last seen with Paul,” Ace added.
“He’s not a thief,” I said. Not anymore. Why would he do this? Why would he be working with the same men who not only framed me, but tried to kill me?
“Is he a pure blooded galeon?” Orion asked. He hesitated before adding. “Are you?”
“No, of course not,” I said. My mind stumbled over the events of the last few days as if frantically trying to solve a complicated puzzle. The thief was connected to the rogue hunters and the rogue hunters were killing galeon descendants somehow with magic of a true blood immortal. It looked like they were trying to frame me for it, but what if it wasn’t intentional? What if it was because Paul was involved?
Paul could be the killer.
The killer had to be immortal.
The immortal had to be a pure blood.
The immortal was killing galeon descendants.
The only immortals known to successfully kill bonded galeons were…
No. No. No. No. No.
My mind refused to accept this line of thinking.
Ace’s eyebrows furrowed as he gave me a questioning look, clearly perplexed by my behaviour. Meanwhile, Orion stood in the corner of the room with a doubtful expression on his face. Rather than pushing for answers though, he turned and strode out of the bedroom, his footfalls echoing down the quiet hallway. I moved to follow, but Ace stepped in front of me, blocking my escape.
“You never knew your parents,” Ace whispered. “It could be possible without you knowing.”
“I’m not.” I lifted my chin, despite his words touching on something I never wished to discuss.
“When did you say you got hit in the chest with an arrow?” Ace asked.
“I didn’t.”
He narrowed his eyes at me. “You’ve only lied to me three times since I returned.”