chapter fifteen

“Handmaiden? Seriously? That was what you could come up with?” Akira said without waiting for answers as she threw those questions to Rune.

Rune on the other hand was more focused on their privacy.

He ensured that they were both alone in the library before he turned to Akira.

“I will answer all of your questions but you need to be quiet and trust me?”

Akira's brows flustered, “what's going on?’ she asked, her voice shaking, “what's it this time around?”

“Whew!” Rune breathed.

“And a hand maid?” Akira repeated, returning to the same subject, “what was that about?”

“There's no way she could have survived that!” Rune said mindlessly as he collapsed on a chair in the library.

Now Akira was more worried about him than she was about the lady outside.

“Survived what? And who is she?” She asked

Those questions snapped Rune out of whatever state that he was in.

“Well then this is officially your first lesson in this pack house, grab a seat!” He ordered.

She obeyed without questions while Rune wandered into the library and disappeared for a few minutes before reappearing with a hand filled with books.

He dumped them all on the table causing a loud noise that echoed throughout the library. “Here!”

“When was the last time anyone read any of these books?” She asked.

“Well, they were waiting for you specifically, so let's start from your questions.”

Satisfied that she was given the opportunity to ask the questions that troubled her, she sat upright and started with the first one that had bothered her all night.

“Who is she?” Akira asked.

“I thought you were going to have it easy, but apparently the universe is heavy on you having things the hard way.” Rune sighed

“Still doesn't answer my question? Who is she?” Akira repeated again.

“That's your replacement, plan b, your contingency, whatever works for you.”

Akira's heart skipped a beat; replacement was a term that triggered her fears. And it just had to be after the horrible nightmare she had, “what's that supposed to mean to me?” She asked.

Rune grabbed the smallest, yet thickest book amongst the pile and flipped through the dust covered pages,

“The royal blood is free to have another ready wolf in the absence of his fated mate or in the rare chance of being rejected to bear him and heir.” Rune read out as he passed the opened book over to Akira.

She received the book with both hands; shaky.

“Do you understand what that means?” Rune asked.

“No? I mean, isn't that why you brought me here?”

Rune rolled his eyes, he was really avoiding to spill it all to her but he had no choice.

“That was the lady he was going to get married to before you showed up.”

“His ex?” Akira asked.

“Yes!” Rune said, snapping his fingers repeatedly, “something like that except they do not have any connection. She was hand picked by the elder wolves during her childhood, groomed and trained to be a royal in the rare cases where the alpha rejects his mate or he doesn't find her on time.”

“Oh… why then did he go ahead with bringing me in here if he did have a wolf ready for him, last I checked Kai is still being a bitch about me being his mate.”

“Ideally, humans have no place in our realms, it's not just possible to be mated to one. You can't see us unless we reveal ourselves to you.” Rune explained.

“Still doesn't answer my question.”

“It does,” Rune continued, “it explains why Kai is being a bitch; In your words not mine…”

Akira rolled her eyes as Rune highlighted that part of her statement.

“... about being mated to you. Now as for the part of why he still decided to keep up with you even though he had a female wolf ready for him, the answer is quite simple, she's dead.”

“Hold up…” Akira said, “I need a time out. Are there two wolves handpicked by the elder wolves like you said or?”

“No, there can only be one, the alpha isn't given the choice of free will in this aspect. He either settles with one of each or risks losing the throne to another successor.”

“but his plan b…” Akira said with her fingers making air quotes in the air, “...is dead like you said, so how come she's alive and suddenly standing in the kitchen?”

To that question Rune had no answers,not even the books said anything about that.

He went just as confused as Akira was, he was certain she died, forgotten.

“I do not know, I am in shock too, I guess this explains why the mystery lady you spoke off was bold enough to kiss Kai and why I could not think of her.” He answered.

Curious, Akira asked,“And how did she die if you do not mind me asking.”

“Houndras.” Rune answered as he started searching through the pile of books.

Akira gasped, she was never going to get used to those creatures being mentioned.

“Houndras?” She repeated, “aren't they the same creatures that…”

“Yes darling…” Rune answered as he pulled out another book from the pile, this was larger than the first and thick, but not thicker than the first book he pulled out earlier.

“...the same creatures that set you on this crazy path. You have them to thank for all that has happened to you so far.”

Akira could sense the sick humour in his tone, “ha ha ha, really funny.” She said dryly.

“Here, there they are….” Said, his eyes lighting up.

The flare in his eyes died almost immediately as they appeared.

“What is it this time?” I asked.

“It is written in the old texts…”

“Well, let's try other books.” Akira suggested as she flipped through the books laying in front of her.

She flipped through three more books before settling on the fourth.

“Here's something” she said as she passed the book to Rune who took it from her expectantly.

“Well then, I hope you're ready for your first lesson.”

Akira nodded while Rune read aloud.

“Þa Wordes of Dreogan – Of Houndras, the Unwitan Beasts” he read.

Akira gave him a confused look and he responded with a shrug of his shoulders.

“Hark! Hark, all ye kin of wolven blood,” he continued, “ye that runneth 'neath moon’s pale gaze and drink deep of the night. Taketh heed and bind these words to heart, for the age of peace is waning, and shadows stir with ancient wrath.”

“In the misted eld-time, when the skies yet burned with wyrm-fire and the earth was soft with the tread of giants, there came forth fell wights unknown to beast or man.”

“ They are hight houndras, so speaketh the old claw-marks in stone. Naught of the wolf they are, nor hound nor hellborn warg, but a thing apart—birthed in dark forgotten ‘twixt the breath of realms.”

“That sounds horrible.” Akira said, cutting him off.

“There's more you need to know about them, relax!” He said as he flipped to the next page.

“Aha!” He exclaimed.

“No human eye may know their shape. To mortal sight they are naught but air and happenstance. Yet we who carry the curse of blood—lycan, war-wolf, moon-touched—we see. Aye, and we suffer.”

“Wait wait…”Akira interrupted again

“Just wait till I finish,” Rune said, “maybe the answer to your question is somewhere here.”

Without uttering another word, he continued,

“The houndras stride where the veil is thinnest, their paws silent, their jaws wide as grief. They bear no voice, save the moan of fallen trees and the cry of stones undone.”

“ Where they pass, ruin blossoms. A homestead falls, and man shall say, *“Earthquake, aye,”* but we know. A fire takes a barn, and man cries, *“Lightning from the heavens,”* but we know.”

“They walk in shadow, cloaked not in fur but in malice woven. Their eyes are voids, deeper than tombs, and their breath withers hope. They need no pack, yet oft they come as one—five, ten, more—like the black wind before the storm.”

“Beware, oh kin of claw and fang. When the woods fall still and the birds forget their songs; when the moon hides her face and the beasts of field flee in silence—then they are near. Bolt thy den and speak not their name, for to name them aloud is to draw their gaze.”

“Let this be writ in claw and ash: the houndras cometh not for meat nor mirth, but for the ending of all things forgotten.”

“That's it?” Rune asked, frustrated as he flipped through the pages hoping to find more.”

“Can I ask my question now?”

“Hmmmm.” Rune sighed, “fine.”

“If they can't be seen by the human eye and they can only be seen by those with wolf blood how come I can see them?” She asked.

Rune paused, his mind wandering far in thoughts.

“I've always wanted to ask you, what are you?”

“Really? You're going to throw that question back at me?” Akira asked.

“The book did say something about those who are moon touched, you can be in that category.”

“But I am not…”

“We would figure that out, all we need to do now is keep you safe, Mirabel would be pissed if she finds out that the handmaiden turned out to be Kai's mate. We just need to keep you safe for now.”