98.

-HER-

We tried to spend some time together that day as much as it was possible for us. It was around late in the afternoon when Ares was called away to start his preparations for leaving. I decided to go with him. It was an old and deserted stone porch with huge pillars at the back of the palace.

Two Lycans were already waiting there for them there. They had come to take the wolves away. I watched the four wolves gather before the Lycans. The Lycans were intimidating to look at. They were beautiful too but it’s the law of nature that beautiful things are often dangerous.

“Women are not allowed,” One of the Lycans spoke as he eyed Celeste.

“The Queen has ordered me to come,” She told them but the Lycan simply shook his head at her and repeated himself again, “Women are not allowed. It’s our King’s order,”

I watched Celeste grind her teeth as she crossed her hands on her chest and simply glared at them.

“You have to leave all your belongings here,” The other Lycan spoke this time as he eyed the remaining three wolves. Celeste had simply stepped away. Even though she looked calm and composed, there was something about the way she moved that told me that she was furious.

Nonetheless, I watched Ares, Regulus, and Augustus take off the rings, bracelets or any kind of jewellery they were wearing.

“Take them off too,” The former Lycan spoke as he tugged at Regulus’ cloak. The three of them ended up giving up their cloaks as well. They were now only left in their shirts, trousers and shoes.

“You have to take everything off,” The Lycan added. I didn’t miss the undertone of amusement in his voice but this time, Ares growled at them.

“I think they are good this way,” The other Lycan waved his hand, “If you are hiding anything then you can still turn it in,” He added.

When none of the wolves did anything, the Lycans searched them but upon finding nothing, they gave up.

“Alright. They’re clean,” The former Lycan spoke. “We’re ready to go,” As he declared, Ares looked at me for the last time before the three of them were being walked out of the palace. I watched silently as the three wolves climbed into a carriage.

As soon as the carriage door was shut, the carriage master whipped the horses. They raised on their back foot and neighed before dashing into the sky.

“The Lycans are rude,” Celeste commented after a brief period of silence. My eyes were still glued in the sky, just where the carriage had disappeared.

“I couldn’t have known,” I muttered.

I heard Celeste sigh before she spoke, “Let’s go inside,” At this, I turned around and looked at her. She was collecting the things that the wolves had left behind. She gave me Ares’ things before stepping inside.

“Hey, Pax!” Celeste gasped. My eyes instantly fell on the snow-leopard that was patiently waiting inside. It stood up as soon as it saw Celeste and rubbed himself on her legs while he purred in delight. “I didn’t go. We can play more!” She cooed at the leopard before freeing her hand and scratched the huge snow leopard. I was left staring meanwhile.

“You don’t have to worry,” Celeste told me as she saw my pale face, “He’s my snow leopard and he’s very friendly!” She smiled at me. Contradicting her words, Pax growled at me instantly, making her roll her eyes.

“Seems so,” I nodded as I eyed the snow leopard who seemed to be getting ready to pounce at me. Celeste scratched him even more to relax him but he didn’t. I couldn't imagine how she managed that thing.

“Once he gets to know you, he wouldn’t do that. I promise!” She said before scolding the leopard for growling at me.

“Do you want to pat him? He’s very fluffy!” Celeste offered. I again looked at the snow leopard who was legit glaring at me.

“Um… maybe not today,” I told her, unconsciously turning my hands away from that animal.

“Alright, let’s go inside,” She told me. I followed her through the deserted hallways, keeping an eye on the snow leopard. I didn’t trust it a bit.

“So…” I trailed off, thinking where to start the conversation from.

“So what?” Celeste asked me as she looked over her shoulder.

“Now what?” I asked her.

“You are going to be in Zaeris now and training with the wolves and learning our ways. I will help you train and the queen will help you learn the ropes,” She told me.

“Oh, so what do we do now?”

“You can rest today. We will start from tomorrow,” She told me.

“Why do you think you weren’t allowed to go?” I asked her after a brief pause. At this, she stopped walking and looked over my shoulder, “I think they made the reason clear before you. I am a woman and they don’t allow woman at their camps,” She spoke, a bit too seriously.

“I know but do you think, there could be another reason?” I asked. Both of us knew her secret by now and I wanted to confront her about it. While I was in exile, I had thought a lot about the things she had told me in prison.

“I don’t know,” Was all she said with a dismissing tone. Although, I wasn’t going to let this conversation end. I would ask her sometime later again. I wanted her to tell me her secrets. I wanted to be her friend. She resumed walking now.

When I fell silent, she turned around to look at me again. I was now thinking about Ares. She easily read my face.

“Don’t worry. We will keep you very busy until he comes back,” She told me with a smirk before offering, “Would you like to have some tea with me?”

“Yeah, if he’s not there,” I told her. She rolled her eyes before taking me to her wing.