Annabelle had her eyes towards the windows, looking into the distance. Her eyes were unfocused, lost in the events of the past. Her heart broke all over again when she thought back to Riftan and she shut her eyes. She didn't want to be relive the pain she felt that particular day. A lot of years had passed and still, the pain remained fresh on her memory.
"So you took Layla to the human world. Why? What were you protecting her from?",Riven asked quietly, one hand holding Layla's palm while his eyes never left the Sorceress.
Annabelle heaved a deep sigh and formulated a lie to tell Riven. She didn't tell him the real origin of Layla's birth;no that was her own secret. She only told him the part he needed to know. How she escaped the annihilation and gave her daughter to Maria, to keep her safe. She was about to answer when Henrietta cut in rudely.
"What about Layla's father?",Henrietta asked.
Annabelle scowled at the witch. She didn't like the interruption and she certainly didn't like the witch.
"Her father is dead!",she said darkly, turning her eyes away before they discovered she was lying. She had never been good in lying. "He died in the annihilation. And to answer your question...",she said and turned back to Riven. "I was protecting her from enemies that could have tried to harm her"
"Why then did you fake your death?",Henrietta asked again. She didn't believe most of Annabelle's words and it was obvious in the way she stared at the Sorceress.
Before Annabelle could snap out a snarky retort, Riven interrupted her.
"Leave us Henrietta. You too Cade, Caleb". He wanted to be alone with Annabelle before he asked the main question bothering him. Silently, Henrietta left with Cade and Caleb behind her. Riven waited until the door closed behind them before his attention returned to Layla. He was relieved to see her healthy complexion was back, but there was a brooding look in his eyes, a thoughtful expression on his handsome face.
Annabelle stared at her daughter intensely. Her heart overflowed with love and pride. Although Riftan really hurt her, she had to admit that they both made a beautiful daughter. Layla was a spitting image of Annabelle, with only Riftan's hair and eyes. And Annabelle didn't regret the passion she shared with Riftan years ago.
"If she's really a Sorceress like you, why does she go through such pain?",Riven finally asked.
Annabelle gasped and his curiosity was piqued instantly. He noticed that she avoided his eyes and he knew instantly that she was hiding something.
"What pain?",Annabelle asked, puting on an expressionless face while her heart thudded heavily within her.
"Layla goes through terrible pain every full moon",Riven told her while he watched her expression closely. "At first it wasn't so serious but lately, it turned intense"
"That's what made her unconscious", Annabelle said slowly.
"It is". Riven watched Annabelle carefully, waiting to hear what she would say. His eyes observed her closely, like he would stare into her soul. He seemed to be waiting for something.
Annabelle schooled her expression and took a deep breath. Lying was so difficult for her, but she had no choice. She couldn't tell Riven the cause of Layla's pain. Intense pain every full moon meant Layla's lycan powers were gradually manifesting and if she didn't subdue it in time, it would unleash. If Riven knew what his mate really was, he wouldn't let her take Layla away from the island. And the only reason why she came back to this island was to take Layla away. She had to find every possible way to succeed.
A frown settled on her face, scrunching up her eyebrows. Her expression meant her next words won't be pleasant to hear and after a long silence, she finally looked up at Riven with a serious face.
"It's complicated. You can't keep her with you",she told him.
Riven was taken aback by her words. He had been expecting something bad, but certainly not what she just said. A scowl settled between his brows and he stared at Annabelle like she just grew horns on her head.
"What do you mean I can't keep my mate with me?",he asked incredulously. The thought of leaving Layla never crossed his mind, not even once. And he was sure Annabelle was spurting nonsense.
"Like I said, it's complicated", Annabelle said again and gently dropped Layla's hand she had been holding. She stood up and walked towards the window to stare outside. The island had changed much since she left. "She's vulnerable", she said over her shoulder.
"Explain", Riven demanded.
Annabelle turned around and stared at him while she leaned against the wall.
"Being with you drains her spirit and makes her vulnerable", she explained slowly. "As each day passes, she grows weaker with the pain. I was lucky to arrive on time to save her. But she can't remain with you. She can't remain on the island"
Riven slowly let go off Layla's hand and balled his hands into tight fists. He was having a hard time controlling his anger and he didn't want to lash out and disturb his mate.
"Are you trying to say I make her suffer? That... that I'm the cause of her pain?",he asked in a tight voice laced with anger. He looked towards Layla who was still unconscious and a dreadful feeling settled at the pit of his stomach.
"It's not that you can't be with her", Annabelle quickly reassured him. The lie was getting too difficult for her to say. "Her powers as a Sorceress are manifesting, but her body is weak and can't contain such tremendous power. I can't tell what suffering she has been through, I've missed out so much of my daughter's life. All these makes her body and spirit extremely weak. She is at her weakest point"
Riven took a step away from the bed as if his presence alone would bring back the pain and make Layla turn weak again.
"It doesn't mean you can't touch her Riven", Annabelle said tiredly.
"Then what exactly do you mean? I'm not sure I understand you",Riven said in annoyance. He didn't like what Annabelle was insinuating. How could he be the cause of Layla's pain? She was his mate, for the love of the goddess.
Annabelle sighed deeply and went back to sit beside Layla. She wished Layla would wake up soon, so she could start making up for all the lost years they were apart.
"What I mean is this",she said to Riven, her purple eyes sharp and precise. "As a Supreme Alpha, your aura is extremely strong and powerful. And it clashes with Layla's spirit. Being around you and other shifters is dangerous for her. Your aura suppresses her and makes her weak"
"So she's weak because she's surrounded by powerful auras?"
"Something like that",Annabelle said and shrugged. "Like I said before, it's complicated"
"What are you suggesting now?",Riven asked, dreading her answer but wanting to hear it.
"I will have to take her away from the island. Away from you"