Chapter 332: Chapter 332

Even Shelby was uneasy listening to this. The fact that she had been at the same table with a witch was terrifying! She started mentally counting the other species she had met since Ian came into her life. The most important question on everyone’s mind that went unsaid was, ’Why were all the beings getting attracted to Shelby?’

Shelby took in a deep breath and then re-iterated,

"She said that she had always wanted to meet me in person. It was more like some nostalgic feeling of a sort. She also added for my ears only, ’You’re such a lovely person, and I hate for what is to come. It was nice meeting you. Take care of yourself.’ At that time, I thought it was bizarre for her to say that to me, especially considering all the emotions that emanated from her. That was our first meeting, but it seems to make sense now."

Shelby turned her fear-stricken face to ask Ian, "What do you think she meant about what was to come?"

Ian had no clue, either, and that distressed him.

’What was the purpose of this so-called power if he could not protect the one person who meant the world to him?’ He held Shelby closer, more to reassure himself than to reassure her.

"Stay away from that man, who calls himself your friend...."

Shelby nodded. She had no desire to meet Royston if all she had heard was true... then she trusted these three men more than a crush she had lost contact with for some time. She did not even want to think of what he may have asked for from this Timeless Witch person.

Ian sat very quietly, lost in thoughts for what seemed like hours, and then finally, he met the assistant’s gaze and asked,

"Be extra careful going forward. What of the other tasks?"

Currey and Murray exchanged glances, and then Currey continued.

"Her Highness’ drawing seems like a dead end. We cannot find anything on the hooded figures, and nothing leads back to the culprit from the park or who those Faes that keep coming back are."

Ian started tracing small circles on Shelby’s arms as the two listened with rapt attention. They were not surprised, though. Whoever wanted to harm Shelby had come prepared. It was a classic case of them being in the light and being stared at from the dark.

They knew it was all a singular person acting behind the many people causing them to be confused. They could only leave everything to time and hope that when that final attack came, which they had no doubt that it would, they would be able to save the one woman who completed Ian.

"Where are those artworks?"

"It’s in the hidden room so that no one would stumble upon it mistakenly,"

Ian nodded as Currey pointed to a small room with a door that nearly blended with the whole layout of the room, making it more challenging to spot if one did not already know about it. That was the perfect hiding place as no other being could get in there. Then out of the bloom, as if from Shelby’s perspective, Ian asked,

Shelby’s heart skipped a beat at the name. It had been a long time since she had last heard of it, and Shelby had nearly forgotten her emotions and dissatisfaction with this name and that person. Memory upon memory flooded Shelby’s mind in the few seconds that followed. Surprisingly, the children never reminded Shelby of Aliya. Shelby had grown to love the three children like hers and never associated the sentiments whiling through her to them.

’Why was Ian asking of this name again? Does he miss her? Why does he-’

The presence of the bond between them should have been enough to assure Shelby that she needed to believe in Ian. This worked most of the time, but it was seriously lacking regarding that dreaded name: Aliya.

The moment the name was spoken, a familiar, sharp sting pierced her chest. She tried to hide it, swallowing the sudden tightness in her throat as if forcing it down would make the feeling disappear.

But it never did. Maybe it was because Shelby knew.... —knew—how deeply Ian had loved Aliya to the point of secluding himself from the world for two whole years. No matter the reassurance, there would always be that small part of her that would plunge into despair when the name Aliya was mentioned.

Her ring pulsed, almost like reminding Shelby of it’s presence and the fact that she could count on the bond between her and Ian, but this did not work. Maybe it was the fact that she was feeling a little insecure from the whole Timeless Witch and Royston issue, but Shelby’s thoughts started spiralling out of control.

Shelby knew that Ian loved her and was committed to their life together, but this would never stop that name from unravelling something inside her.

She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, searching for any flicker in his expression, anything that might betray a lingering attachment. But this time, there was nothing. Shelby was best at knowing Ian’s state in the first few weeks they had ’met’.

However, this time, Ian had not even flinched. There was the presence of a different emotion that Shelby could not place. She knew she was being ridiculous, but Shelby could not help but think of what would happen to their bond if Aliya was still alive. Would the bond have formed or would Ian have been tied to Aliya instead in that same way?

Why do I still feel this way? She thought, helplessness tightening its grip on her heart. It made no sense—she had tried everything to push the growing feeling away at that moment, to remind herself that his past was just that: the past. He had chosen her, every day, in every way that mattered. And yet...

The jealousy gnawed at her, subtle but persistent, like an ache that refused to heal. Shelby hated feeling this way—hated the smallness, the insecurity, the constant comparing to a ghost she had never even met.

Aliya’s gone, she reminded herself again, as she always did at the start of their relationship. But that name—her name—echoed in Shelby’s mind like an unshakable shadow, reminding her of a part of Ian’s life she could never touch, no matter how much he loved her. Her vision started clouding as if her state of mind was pushing her down. It was as if she was suffocating. This was weird and too unusual.

Despite this, Shelby tried to smile and nodded, pretending the ache wasn’t there, all the while wondering why, despite everything, she couldn’t escape the helplessness that always followed that name. Even though it had been literally weeks since she had heard of that name and also the fact that she could feel....

’Feel that?’ Ian whispered through their link. It was a calm and reassuring voice. Ian could feel Shelby’s internal turmoil and thoughts on Aliya. She was like an open book in front of him. Ian never knew that Shelby was that vulnerable when it came to Aliya. That made his distress shoot up!

’I’m sorry that I made you feel that way. I LOVE YOU..... Nothing is ever going to change that! Also, know that you could always open this link and feel my emotions for you!’

In that moment, Shelby felt a rush of assurance from him, from their link, shrouding her in a warmth never felt before and she realized that he knew!

Ian pried into Shelby’s thoughts as soon as he saw her awkward attempt to show that she was okay. He was shocked at her internal dialogue.

’I’m sorry, My Elvin! I’ll do better!’

Shelby gasped out loud.

In response, Ian held her tighter. He felt distressed that she was still harbouring those sentiments. He had taken it for granted that she was okay, but he had forgotten that Shelby had witnessed how he had wallowed in self-pity over Aliya.

Currey and Murray exchanged glances but never said anything.

They knew one fact that even Shelby did not know about herself: ’Her hold on Ian was something that even the universe could do nothing about unless...’

The two knew that Ian and Shelby were using their mind link to talk, so they kept quiet until they finished.

"Continue, Currey..."

Ian’s raspy voice filled the room. He never changed his posture and held onto Shelby as tight as he could, kissing her softly in the hair, face and neck.

"We found nothing strange about Miss Aliya and, surprisingly, her fiancé too!"

Ian asked while he maintained that link with Shelby. It was as if he was hinting about something, and that strange emotion was back, but it disappeared as quickly as it had arrived.

"Ingrid is a half mer-child and therefore, one parent is! This is not about a recessive gene or anything, so dig well!"

Currey accepted the command. He was also puzzled, but there was one thing Currey was sure about. He had met both Aliya and Tyler, her fiancé, but ...

He sighed, knowing that whatever he knew or did not know needed to be backed by evidence. He had to hold his words until he could prove what his thoughts were telling him.

"Also, dig out everything you can about Tyler. We need to get to the bottom of this."

Shelby finally calmed down and then asked in a tiny voice,

"What about her?" Ian asked and kissed her temple.

"If both Ingrid and Gabriel are other species, is there a probability...."

"She is definitely human!" Currey interjected.

"However, we’ll still keep checking for any other traits or possibilities."

’Are you okay now?’ Ian asked through their link, and she nodded. He turned her so that she was facing him on his lap and kissed her lips lightly.

"I love you, my Elfin... Never doubt that!"

Shelby wrapped her arms around him and sighed, beseeching herself for being silly on that matter, but sometimes, she just could not help it!

Currey did not need more details to understand the question.

"Miss Brianna is in safe hands..."

Shelby couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow at that. The thoughts of the other person were temporarily shoved aside as she was interested in this as well. Shelby did not want to think of how Brianna had stooped so low so as to try and kill her. However, she was sure that whatever hands her former friend was in was not a good one.

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