Chapter 183

Chapter 183 Raid

BECKY

When I arrived at the clinic, Erika appeared to be a bit exhausted. Her eyes were slightly vacant and were underlined with deep circles. Her skin–normally a nice, creamy shade of tan, was pale, and her hair was in a slight bit of disarray.

“Erika,” I greeted her, my tone laced with concern. “What’s happened? Are you okay?”

The maid released a heavy sigh and pinched the bridge of her nose before responding. “I’m alright, Becky. It’s just been a busy morning and Ca*sandra hasn’t returned. She left at dawn to take care of some business, but she hasn’t come back. Normally, she isn’t gone this long.”

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I frowned as her words set in. “That is strange. Do you know where she went?”

Erika shook her head. “She didn’t say. She just asked me if I could keep an eye on Finnick and get him ready for the day. And then she mentioned that she wanted to get everything done early today because the Alpha King is going to return to Anemond this afternoon.

I knew at once that Ca*sandra was likely visiting the dungeon and checking with Spike, the sorcerer working on the cure to the mysterious illness.

“Maybe there was something important they discovered and she’s been delayed,” I suggested.

Erika nodded thoughtfully and then gave me a small, meek smile. “I’m sure you’re right. You know me, Becky. I’m just prone to worry, especially when Ca*sandra is involved.”

Just as I opened my mouth to respond, the clinic door flew open, and a group of heavily armed guards rushed into the lobby. They were not guards from the palace, as I could tell from their uniforms and the badges on their shoulders. The symbol was foreign to me, and their expressions were far too fearsome for normal guards.

“Where is the son of Healer Ca*sandra?” one of them demanded in a deep voice. His tone was extremely impolite and his l*ps were curled into a snarl. “She wishes to see him, so we must take him with us.”

I quickly exchanged a glance with Erika, who seemed equally concerned by the guard’s strange tone and request. Something wasn’t right here.

“And where is Healer Ca*sandra?” Erika spoke up boldly, and she raised her chin slightly to show she wasn’t scared or intimidated by the guard’s demand.

Unfortunately, the guard didn’t seem phased by her reply, and he didn’t offer one in response. Instead, his pitch–black eyes searched around the room, and then at the stairway.

My heart nearly stopped in my chest as I spotted Finnick on the landing. The boy’s gray eyes stared down at us curiously, and his head tilted to the side slightly

Chapter 183 Raid

As he opened his mouth to speak, I shook my head in his direction and then inclined my head upward. I tried to mouth the words “Go upstairs silent“, but the guard followed my gaze and spotted the boy before! could finish.

The guard sprang into action, and when we tried to step in front of him, he shoved us aside. I managed to steady Erika before she sl*pped on the cold marble floor

Above us, on the stairs, Finnick widened his round eyes and called out to us.

“Erika!” he cried as he rushed down, and once he was in the lobby, he ran right in front of Erika and faced the guard with a fearsome glare. “Don’t push Aunt Erika or Becky!”

Erika squatted down and swept Finnick into a hug. She held him tightly and gave the guard a similar look of anger as she protected him.

“Healer Ca*sandra asked us to bring her son to her” the guard repeated as if his words held stronger weight the second time.

“That’s a lie,” I blurted out, and I narrowed my eyes in the guards‘ direction. “Ca*sandra would never do that. She would come here herself to grab Finnick. So, what do you really want with him.”

The guard didn’t reply to my question and instead made a declaration of his own.

“I must comply with my duty,” he stated. “Do not interfere.”

He suddenly glanced behind him at one of the other guards, who nodded back at him. Before I could understand the meaning of the exchange, the guard shut the blinder of the gla*s doors in warning.

My stomach twisted into knots and I felt a shiver travel down my spine

The lead guard turned his attention back to me. “I don’t want to make a further fuss about this.”

As he leaned in closer, I saw his badge clearly and I suddenly remembered the pattern.

The symbol belonged to the Beta family.

I had seen it at Silas‘ terrible welcoming party.

I stared back and the guard with fury in my mind. “Does Silas know you’re here threatening two women and a child?”

The lead guard frowned and didn’t bother to answer my question either, Instead, he turned to the other guards behind him and waved his hand. “Take the child away!”

I prepared to step in to fight them off, but Erika took a step forward.

“If you want to take this child, you’ll have to take me too,” she announced bravely.

The guards stood frozen for a moment and then glanced at one another. Finally after a second of hesitation, the lead guard gave her a nod

Chapter 183 Raid

I wanted to stop her but before I could protest, the maid turned to face me.

“Stay here and wait for Ca*sandra,” she requested softly but firmly.

Her steady gaze bore through me and I knew that I couldn’t refuse her. Someone needed to remain here in case Ca*sandra returned to the clinic.

After I nodded, the guards led Erika and Finnick to the door, and I watched them leave with a heavy heart.

I wished I could do something, but I couldn’t. My mind was like a storm, and for a moment, I got lost in the torrent of my anger. Finally, I forced myself to take a long, deep breath. Erika’s implication was right. They probably wouldn’t do anything to Finnick with her around, but why did they need him in the first place?

I also couldn’t fathom why the guards belonged to the Beta family. Why were they so intense and what was their purpose?

Did they know Ca*sandra was preoccupied with something important? Were they aware of the secret business that was being conducted in the dungeon by the imposter?

I sighed and tried to consider the answer to all of my questions. I began to pace the lobby, and I wasn’t sure how long I was there, but it was long enough to make my legs ache.

I let out a soft sound of frustration and then stared out the window, I needed to get some fresh air and try to steady my nerves. If I wanted to make it through this stressful time, I needed to try to calm myself.

So, I decided to step out of the clinic, but before I could take a step toward the door, I heard a sound just behind it. I frowned and my heart began to pound.

Who was on the other side?

Before I could investigate, the door opened, and in walked Ca*sandra and a tall man.

“Ca*sandra?” I asked in shock as my eyes trailed over the pair.

They were both covered in blood.