Army Dreamers.

Winter's POV:

The heavy metal door slams shut behind us, leaving behind the wolves. Her grip on my wrist is firm but not tough. She takes a few steps forward, prompting me to follow her.

I cautiously follow, leaving a little distance between us.

The hallway we pass by this time, I didn't see all through the time I was looking around. The walls seem different here, instead of the usual gemstones or stone walls, a long line of torches. The air hums with something alive, like the feel houses that have been lived in for decades feel like.

I swallow.

“This part of the house is more quiet. No one comes here. At least not anymore.”

Not anymore?

Why not?

I dare not ask though.

I nod in silent agreement.

The walls are lined with what must be centuries old claw marks, and when I spot the Bite of the Beast, an ancient symbol for wolves, I can't help but touch it.

It feels like I touched a live wire. I jump.

She laughs. “Yeah it does that sometimes.”

Sometimes??

The hell is that supposed to mean?

My insight hums quietly in the background.

She doesn't say anything anymore as we walk, and we pass the line of wolf portraits. I get another chance to admire the sheer beauty of the place, the walls lined with heavy torchsticks that surely come alive at night. When she stops I follow, not really sure but I'm how to react, but I look up and see we're in front of a stone wall.

No joke. There's a huge disc that looks like a ceiling medallion but it's on the side of the wall. Oddly enough, it fits the vibe of this building perfectly, but my insight tells me to be wary.

Regardless, I'm confused.

I turn to face her. I'm about to speak when she shushes me, her eyes shining. She looks around, as if checking to see if anyone is coming. She then pulls on a random torch and to my surprise, the thing I thought was just a random ornament creaks loudly and opens, revealing a room.

I gasp.

She laughs.

I enter on her lead, ignoring my insight.

It's obvious the room hasn't been used for a long time, with dust coating several furniture pieces. It seems this room was once a chamber of some sorts, probably for the Alpha and his advisors. There's a giant center table with an inbuilt compass, but it's broken, permanently facing South. Four chairs heavy with age surround it, and when I pass by one, I spot what looks like a symbol. I step back, noting a…a bite mark?

My insight rings out like a siren.

I try to scan the others without alerting Sabrina, but they're coated in dust.

Dammit.

Said Sabrina takes me by surprise when she takes a seat on one of the massive chairs.

The one right at the head, the north side of the table. The sun hits the room at an angle that makes the scene come alive. The light is now at the center of the compass, reflecting back on the window at the opposite end.

The air in the room changes almost immediately. It almost feels alive. Goosebumps erupt on my skin.

Now she looks more like the goddess of war whispered about. She puts her feet up, shocking me. This doesn't look like the kind of stuff you put your feet on, or sit so nonchalantly on.

She smiles at me, signaling at me to take a seat. I don't know if I want to do that to something that looks like it should be in a museum, not locked away, getting dusty. I choose to sit in on the edge of the table next to her.

“Sooo…” she says starting.

“Sooo…” I continue for her.

She laughs, “So I've heard a lot about you..”

I laugh nervously.

“Hopefully good things?”

I for one have heard a lot of things about Sabrina.

Amongst my people and other creatures, she's known as Sabrina the Slayer. Brutal in her killings. Looks as deadly as her kills. When in battle, the sound of her maniac laughter is heard on every corner of the battlefield as she finishes her enemy. Rumors say she's over 7 feet tall and wrecks havoc wherever she goes. They say her hair is permanently stained with the blotch of her enemy’s blood, and she reeks of death.

Among other really scary stuff.

Only some of it is true.

Up close and personal, she doesn't look that scary at all. She does look every bit of the warrior, standing well over 6 feet, absolutely jacked with a well sculpted 8-pack outlined in the compression shirt she's in. She's so well built it's an effort to not cower under her frame. She's what humans would call a muscle mommy. Her hair is really long, like nearly waist length. contradicting the tales. It's dark red, a beautiful shade too, but she doesn't smell like death or any of that stuff. She actually smells good, despite the fact she was just working out.

“Mostly. Everyone knows the basics about you. Daughter of the high wizard, insanely powerful, cold as ice and relentless as hail. One of the rarest witches to sight.”

I cover up my surprise. Wow. The other creatures really think highly of me. If only they knew the truth. I was not a powerful being, at least not among my own people.

She continues. “You know Winter, you are one tough lady to find. Most people don't even know what you look like, so they can't even avoid you.” This one was true. I just hated going out. Especially during the day. It was unecessary and dealing with witches was a hassle.

“But everyone knows that, what I’m really interested in is…were you aware of the crime your father was about to commit?”

I rear backwards like I've been hit. Is that what this is about? “What no! Why would I even?- I don't even remember the last time we spoke.”

She nods, “For some reason, I believe you. You're a good soul I can tell.”

The compliment takes me by surprise.

I smile softly. “Thank you. And thanks for having my back out there.”

She smiles back at me. “It’s no problem, you didn't deserve all that.”

I nod. “Are the others like that? They want us dead right?” The memory of the wolves during the mating is still fresh in my mind.

She laughs sadly. “Lots of people lost their people in that war.”

My jaw clenches. I really don't want to remember that. The blood. The tears. The bodies.

So many bodies.

“Everyone did.”

“Time eases memory but never the pain.”

I nod in agreement.

“Draken…he was really mad. He mentioned something about Nico? I-”

“Forget about it. It's not your fault. I'm still teaching the younglings how to let bygones be bygones. Some things are better left in the past Winter.”

I get the hint and keep shut.

“Winter.”

Her voice is quiet.

“What feelings do you have for Keon?”

I try to deny any claim but she looks at me dead in my eyes. I close my mouth.

“You don't have to answer…Just make sure you know what you're getting yourself into. You know the type of reputation he has.”

Of course I did.

Ruthless.

Merciless.

Cruel.

But the Keon from two days ago was nothing like that…

“You know his brother will not tolerate it. People always underestimate him, or use him for Keon, and he hates it. The decision you make will most likely affect your people.”

I immediately understand her message. Choose wisely or war.

Then all of my efforts would be for nothing.

Dammit.

But if my heart may or may not belong to two wolves…how do I get it to stop loving one and focus on the other completely?

Fuck.

A low voice sounds in the room, “I hope I'm not eavesdropping.”

I know that timbre anywhere.

“Keon? When did you get here?”

Well shit.