Chapter 259 Chapter 258
Morvan shook his head. "They haven't, but they are getting really close. Their raids are becoming frequent. I've begun to prepare the men I have, but we still need a plan that works after, or we are all going to suffer once we run out of provisions. Whichever comes first."
Rayena winced, a sinking feeling settling down in her gut. Things were never going to be easy, were they? Now they were at the edge of another confrontation.
"Anyway, I should let you go. The king is starting to get restless."
"I wish you good luck as well." She said, and Morvan nodded, giving a low bow. When a disgruntled growl cut through the silence, Rayena instantly turned back.
She hurried back to the room, to find Xenon awake and very displeased. "Sorry..." She mumbled, moving closer while he tried to close the rest of the distance. The chains held him back, and he snarled, eyes flashing.
"It's alright... I'm here. Sorry for leaving you alone. Won't happen again." She lowered herself to his side, and he came to curl against her, resting his head on her lap. She bit back a gasp, and resumed stroking his hair.
"Those chains... Do you want them off?" She asked a while later, when he wouldn't stop tugging at them. He groaned, his eyes slipping closed.
"I don't know how to get rid of them." She whispered, threading her hands through its fur. "But I'll make you get out of them soon." She promised, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Hang in there, Xenon. I'll free you from these chains."
.
.
.
More days passed and Xenon had improved greatly. He'd completely recognized Rayena by her scent and even preferred she fed him whenever she visited. Asides that, he let her linger in the room, so she spent most of her time talking, humming a tune or even reading to him. He never interacted much, just watched her while she moved around, entertaining herself, eyes gleaming with interest, and tail permanently wagging.
She'd occasionally spend naps in the room while he watched her, growling at everyone that he perceived was a threat. As much as Rayena would have loved to take him on a run, knowing that the werewolf army was still in search of them, made her hesitate.
The improvement made Morvan feel hopeful and he couldn't help but count down the days till the king would be back with them again. Another full moon was fast approaching, and this time around, the king had begun to show signs of restlessness. "I think he's going into another rut." He told Rayena one evening, after she had stepped out to have her dinner.
Rayena stiffened, glancing back at Morvan. "You believe so?"
"Well, the signs are there. He has been getting particularly clingy, hasn't he?" He asked, a brow raised. She nodded slowly. "Indeed he has. But it's a bit surprising. I reckon this is the first time he would be following the pull of the moon."
"It is the first time it's synced. Regardless, I think you should prepare yourself." He said, his voice gravely.
"Oh... Don't worry about me. I definitely will," Rayena said, giving him a light smile. "Thanks for letting me know."
"I unfortunately would not be able to stand guard while that happens. As you know, I'll be taking care of Soraya while it happens." He mumbled, and something flared in his eyes.
As he said that, Rayena saw the faint color exploding on his cheeks, and clenched her jaw, fighting to keep her amusement to herself. Morvan may never admit it to anyone, but he was clear he felt something for Soraya, as little as it might be.
"Good luck with that. Thanks for letting me know. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go see Xenon." She said, delivering a small bow and ambling away, steps light.
Morvan watched her go, amused at how happy she was about meeting the fearsome wolf. Well, he's her mate and he no longer treats her like a stranger, of course she would be happy. Staying there until she disappeared out of sight, he went on his way, going in search of Soraya.
He found her in one of the lounge areas, struggling with the piece of fabric she was embroidering, her lips contorted in a frown. It was a skill she'd picked up while in the human kingdom with Rayena, but up till now, she'd yet to master it. Sometimes she wondered why she even bothered. Rayena says this is relaxing. I just want to hurl it against a wall and be done with it.
Feeling the peculiar sensation of someone watching her, she instantly raised her head to see Morvan meters away from her. Her heart skipped multiple beats and she kept the fabric away. "Your Grace...!" She cried out in surprise, rising to her feet.
"What brings you here?"
"I came to see you." He murmured in that deep voice of his. A shiver went down her spine. "Oh... Well, here I am." She stepped forward, erasing the distance between them. "What is it you want to say to me?"
Strangely, Morvan reached up to scratch his neck, feeling like a cat on a hot tin roof. "Well... It's concerning the Full Moon which is a few nights away."
"Oh..." Soraya cut in, her eyes widening. She couldn't believe she'd almost forgotten about that. Her face reddened instantly, and Morvan cleared his throat, trying to dispel the awkward air.
"Right. Is it okay if I come to you?" She asked, fiddling with her fingers, her heart threatening to burst out of her chest.
"That's totally fine with me." He replied after a moment's silence. A flicker of happiness bloomed in her chest. She bit the inside of her mouth to stop herself from grinning out.
"Well, thank you so much." She muttered, delivering a small bow. He gave an awkward nod, briskly walking away. Soraya would have chuckled if she wasn't surrounded by people. Morvan sometimes like a little awkward boy. It was endearing to witness.
The butterflies in her belly refused to stop fluttering. Letting out a sigh, Soraya went back to her seat, ignoring the stares from the weretigers around her, a permanent smile on her face.