Chapter 232: Chapter 232

In the dimly lit room, Shelby made her way to Ingrid’s bed and sat by the little girl.

"Today had been tiring.... Hasn’t it?" Shelby whispered as she lightly moved a few hairs from the sleeping girl’s face.

Even as an adult, Shelby was unsure how she felt about everything happening. It was as if she had already accepted and was willing to take anything that was thrown at her in this new world that Ian had introduced her to. Ian and his assistant had initially been the only non-humans she had known, which had been somewhat acceptable.

That was even when she learned that someone was ’watching over her’. This turned out to be Murray, of course. Somehow, Murray’s presence made the fact that Gabriel was not fully human more acceptable. This was because Gabriel had demonstrated his ’abilities’ way before and from the onset of their meetings.

Her mind drifted back to the first day that she had come to the Thornston estate, her wedding day. This was when Gabriel asked her about Murray, the man who had always been beside Shelby. Looking back to that day made Shelby smile. ’It’s been long indeed.’

Adding Ingrid to this group told Shelby only one thing: There were more of these non-humans around them than they thought.

Frankly, Shelby subconsciously believed that the non-humans should have been able to identify themselves. However, Ingrid and possibly her father as well made everything more complex. The possibility of a being targeting Shelby in the form of a human was as scary as it sounded.

’Do I now have to look at people twice and wonder what they are?’

"First, it was a Fae, then a mer-person, then a witch-helper...." Shelby whispered and then scoffed. Almost immediately, her eyes widened as if she had come to a realization.

"If there are witch helpers, then that means that witches also exist? OMG!"

[A/N: Shelby? Really? Face palming myself!]

Shelby shook her head and laughed at her own analogy. She was glad that there was no one there to hear her because it sounded ridiculous to her own ears.

She shifted down and lay by Ingrid. The sleeping girl immediately moved towards her and placed her face right by Shelby’s thigh. This little action made Shelby smile as she continued caressing Ingrid’s hair fondly. Her movements were so gentle, as if she was with a very precious individual, and that was precisely how Shelby considered the children.

She had grown closer to them over the time that she had been in the Thornston mansion. There was only Samatha left....

Shelby was not sure how to handle that problem. For someone who had never had children, one would say that Shelby had excelled in her first task of being a mother to three. However, the subject of handling an adolescent was different.

Even biological parents had a hard time handling such children, not to mention a stepmother. Despite this, Shelby knew that she was up to the challenge. At least Ingrid had given Shelby a chance, but Samantha.... dear Samantha, was genuinely different. Even at that time, Shelby had no idea where the eldest child was.

She continued to run the day’s events in her mind, and then her mind rested on one thought, ’I have not harmed anyone, so who is so bent on getting me killed?’

Ian’s room, just around the same time....

After Shelby left Ian in the cold room, he could helplessly stare after her. With a heavy sigh, he walked slowly to his room and then straight to the bed. He took in the room and the changes that had taken place since his Elfin had started sleeping in there. In essence, not much had changed there, but Ian looked at the place in a new light. It was like everything there was anew.

He would have wished that they had used a different and bigger room, as he had more than enough rooms in his East wing to spare, but Shelby would have none of it.

Thinking back, Ian knew that the room held a lot of memories that he would have wished to forget, but then all the memories that he had with his Elfin were in that very room. With that thought, he could not help but agree with her. That had become their abode, their sanctuary.

Ian did not even let the children in there. It was strictly theirs!

"What did I usually do when she was not here?" Ian asked himself, frowning. He wanted to find something to do to occupy himself, but he could not even remember what he loved doing alone. It was as if his life was truly empty without Shelby, which was absolutely ridiculous.

He looked at the clock on his phone only to see that it had been barely ten minutes since she had left.

"Oh, man! When will this night be over?" He ran his hands through his hair and let the braid at his back loose.

Ian settled back in the bed and stared at the ceiling. He pictured Shelby’s bright blue eyes and beautiful smile in his mind.

"Yeah, this will do!" he whispered to himself, trying to keep the image in his head. However, after a few minutes, he also wished that he could hear her voice. It was then that he decided to listen in on her thoughts instead. At that time, he just wanted anything that would link him to her, and he felt that listening to her was the sure way to go.

’I’ll just peek in and listen ... nothing more than that!’ Ian told himself.

He was acting like a person who was hopelessly in love. The first words he heard from her told Ian that Shelby had been more affected by the recent issues than she had let on, so he found himself directly interjecting his thoughts to her directly. Ian had forgotten that this was supposed to be a peek. Shelby should have never known that he was listening, but he could not help himself.

’No one can get near you with me here. Do not worry!’

Shelby bolted up in the bed, and Ingrid stirred at the disturbance. She patted the little girl slightly until she fell into deep sleep.

Shelby had totally forgotten that she and her husband could then communicate without being near each other or even by speaking out loud.

’Were you listening?’ She asked back while lying on the bed and pulling Ingrid close.

’Mmmmm.... Do not worry too much. We are here to protect you. Even Ingrid made sure to protect you when she could. I am so proud of her!’

That made Shelby smile yet again. The day’s proceedings had been very overwhelming, but it was not every day that one’s stepdaughter would take such an action to save her. It felt good even though Ingrid had killed someone ... or rather something.

’Ingrid was distressed today though.’

’I don’t think that she was distressed about the kill... but it was on the attempt on your life...’ Ian stated, making Shelby sink into another thought spree. His statement was quite true, and Shelby did not know whether she should be bothered about that or not. She seemed to be continually changing daily after she met her husband. She lifted her hand and marvelled at the glowing ring on her finger.

’Don’t be worried, I’ll make sure that she does not stray....’ Ian added as if he could sense Shelby’s mood. He was back in their room and lying on the cold bed. The room felt so empty without that ’little girl’ that he had taken as his wife.

He cleared his throat as if his next words were heavy on his tongue, ’With that.... Avril issue, are you okay?’

Shelby frowned, for that had been so random. They were talking about the kids, and then Avril came into the conversation. Just like that?

’What issue?’ She asked,

’That... sister issue... are you okay?’

’Oh, that? Why would I not be?’ Ian remained quiet, not quite understanding her words so he rephrased.

’Are you okay with her becoming your ’sister’?’

’Why not? I have never had an older sister, and she is related to the family; it should be my honour that she wants to accept me as her younger sister. Besides, Avril should not have even requested that of me. She is already your sister, which automatically makes her my elder sister-in-law... right?’

Shelby chuckled at the turn of the conversation, but she was happy that Ian had brought it up. She was very much okay with the said proposal until she was not, but there was no need to say that.

It was rather evident that Avril had not been happy upon seeing Shelby initially, but Shelby hoped that they were past that point and they could really be ’sisters’. He went ahead and explained the sisterly relationship in detail to Shelby.

’So that was how it was....’ Shelby thought.

The two continued talking deep into the night. It was like their own haven for a date.

Shelby suddenly chuckled.

’Our final guest is here...’

Ian smiled for he knew who Shelby was referring to. Who else could it be than Gabriel?

As usual, Gabriel got up in the middle of the night scared yet again. He had tried Samatha’s door, but it was locked, so he headed to the opposite room, Ingrid’s room.

He rubbed the sleep in his eyes and carried his pillow,

Shelby beckoned him, and he practically ran to the bed, squeezing himself between Shelby and Ingrid.

Shelby rubbed his back fondly until Gabriel also drifted off. Shelby looked at the two children and wondered about their future and where it was headed. Could she protect and nurture them, considering what they were?

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