Malric I rushed in to find Alruin in a very distorted state. His eyes were red, he was sweating profusely and his fingers were quivering. I looked at the witch, waiting for an explanation, but she was quiet. I rushed to Alruin and knelt down beside him. To my surprise, he threw himself at me, wrapping his arms around my body. I held him firmly, “It’s alright, Alruin. Whatever you see, it’s alright. We will get through whatever it is together.” I said softly and glared at the witch, “What the hell was it this time? Tried to kill him again? Did you hear of what those elder witches with the hoodies at Dunemire did? Are you trying to do the same?”“Malric!” Alruin called, his voice strained, “It’s nothing like that. Marla is nothing like them.”“Then what was it this time? Why are your eyes filled with so much terror, Alruin? You need to talk to me more. We need to do this shit together.” “I know you want what’s best for him, Alpha Malric, but it is important that Alruin sees who he
Lorak“Lorak!”I regarded him impassively, looking around the lavishly designed hall and wondering when was the last time I had stepped in here. I walked toward the couch he sat on and he wrapped his arms around me in a warm embrace. “Thank the goddess that you have finally chosen to return. I thought I would never see you again. You had me so damn worried, you old dog!”“Well, I move around sometimes, Edwin, so we might say today is your lucky day.” I replied flatly and sat down on the couch. He had a worried look in his eyes as he settled beside me. I took another look around the living room, my eyes lingering on the familiar decorations that had once been anticipated for my mating ceremony. “No one told me a feast would be happening.” He cleared his throat and rested his back on the sofa, “For crying out loud, Lorak. I have been sending you multiple invites to meetings with the council and feasts happening here and you didn’t reply any of them, not even a rejection. Was it so
Lyra“You know, Eli, sometimes, it feels as though I am leaving you in the past. It really breaks my heart.” I said, sitting in front of the mirror as he walked in. He grunted without a reply, making me wonder if he had already given up in his futile romantic pursuit of me. I picked up my glass of champagne again and sipped on it, smiling at the red lipstick stain I left on the glass. He stood at the door, staring at me in brooding silence. Usually, I would only need to take one look at him to know that he wanted me, but his eyes were not a window this time around. They were a bit more distant, more calculating. I swung the chair around and crossed one leg over the other, allowing the hem of my dress crawl up to my thighs purposefully. “What is on your mind, Eli? You seem too lost in thoughts these days.” “I am trying to understand you.” He replied flatly. “Because you have never looked more of a shadow of yourself than now.” I frowned, shocked by the bluntness of his words, “W
Alruin “A witch’s truth.”Malric looked at me, sitting close to the fire while he seeped a cup of herbal tea that had been heated to perfection by Nyari. “What?” he asked. I looked down at him from the ceiling I had been staring at for goddess knows how long. I sighed and repeated, “A witch’s truth. That’s what Marla said tomorrow would be all about. I don’t know, I feel very uneasy about it for some reason.” I replied with another sigh. “Did she tell you what it means?” he asked. I shook my head, “She said I know all I need to know, the name alone. I don’t think Cain knows either. She said it is a sacred ritual that only a few know. If you haven’t experienced it, you have no idea what it is.” I replied, “Nothing scares me anymore, Malric, but for some reason, this seems to.”“You’re only nervous because we are finally here,” he replied with a frown, “I am kind of stunned myself. The way Cain was talking about the security here, you doubt that they’d just allow the former Alph
Alruin “How much further?” I asked.Cain glanced behind me, “Well, we have gotten past the Whispering road and now the mountains. I can’t really tell, but nothing further than two days.” Malric grunted, “Two days of feeding on rabbits and berries. I’m going to be fucking sick.”I chuckled and was about to reply when Nyari laughed even louder and I saw her shove Malric slightly by the shoulder. My brows furrowed as I watched her. “I don’t know, I really do not think it is that bad. I loved watching you hunt and you have learned how to skin a rabbit now. So, I think that is still a win for you, great Malric of Vantheir.” She said and everyone froze. Nyari smiled, as if she was basking in the awkwardness of the moment.None of us had mentioned Vantheir since we left the town of the water spirit, not even Malric. It wasn’t just how she knew about who Malric truly was, but how randomly she had brought it up. I glanced at Malric, his face was as impassive as usual, but I could tell he
Alruin “What are the chances these beasts will follow us here?”“Very high.” Cain replied.“And what are the chances they will also experience these hallucinations?” I asked.He exchanged glances with Malric and Nyari. I stopped and looked at all three of them, “I’m talking crazy now, aren’t I?” Malric took my hand, “No, you aren’t, Alruin. You just need to rest. It’s been a long day already and we have been walking for so long.” He said and looked at Cain, “I don’t see any nearby town or even a sign of life for miles. We have to camp out here?”Cain nodded, “At least, we will be without the sweltering heat of this damn sun.” He remarked, “I’m starting to think I prefer Dunemire’s daytime more.” He added and glanced at Nyari, “it’s a wonder how you have had that on this entire time.” Nyari refused to take off the green, woolen jacket she was wearing for some reason, even though she was sweating profusely beneath it. She ignored Cain now and we kept on walking until the sun began