[LYCANS’ REALM]
The coins vibrated on the floor, clanking as they added to the slight trembling she could feel around her.
Aniya’s heart jumped. Quickly, she dashed to her bed and grabbed Arlo, taking him swiftly into her arms.
She could hear a bell ringing from a distance. Voices of terrified people seeping into the air, even with her ordinary human hearing, the building chaos felt loud to her.
What was going on?
Before she could make it out of the room, though, she felt someone sweep her away, and in a flash, she was in an enclosed space, an arm around her, so that she held Arlo between them.
She knew it was Ikrus; with such speed and the feeling of momentarily ease that went through her, it could be no one else.
She hated the Matebond for many things but for this little ease that she could feel right now, she appreciated it a little. Even if this relief was a lie that everything was alright, it was better than the sheer terror she had been experiencing.
The rumbling continued, she could feel it all around her and she held onto Ikrus even more, patting Arlo to stay calm. Her eyes were closed, her heart hammering, her body trembling slightly with fear.
“What is happening?” She asked, her voice trembling.
“The Sun is up and merging with the moon. But do not fear, I am here. It will be alright.”
“Is this because of the trouble at the North border? Is it time?” She asked, now looking up at him. However, the room was dark, and she couldn't see his face.
It gave her comfort that he was there though. Arlo’s silent snoring filled the room as he fell back to sleep. He was an expert at falling asleep even in the face of trouble.
“No. It is something different, the Elder Superior will find out about it later. It is alright, Aniya. Only be afraid when I am.”
“I don't know if you are afraid, Ikrus. I can't even see you!” Her voice was still trembling with fear just as she was.
There was silence.
Then the rumbling again; she could feel the room they were in tremble, too.
Her one-arm grip around him tightened; she bit her lips and shut her eyes, pulling Arlo to herself, afraid of what would become of her son, scared of what would become of her.
They would all die!
She felt the weight of his hand on her head, as he pulled her closer to his chest. She could hear the steady rhythm of his heart, forgetting momentarily how much she hated him.
“Does it sound like I am afraid?”
“No.” Finally, she relaxed into his arms and allowed the rumbling to fade into the back of her mind, listening only to his heartbeats, as he pulled his hand away.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Some moments passed and she spoke.
“I think it is over.” She tried to pull away but he held on to her.
“Stay still. I can still hear it.”
She did.
Silence took over again, as she listened to his heartbreat.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
“How does it make you feel?”
“What?”
With her ear pressed to his chest, she could hear the vibrations of his words.
“The mate thing? The bond. You know how it makes me feel, you have this supernatural hearing, enhanced abilities; I’m sure you can see me right now.”
“Your eyes have a little gold in them.”
“Oh…”
“I search for you in every room I enter even though I know you will not be there.”
She looked up at him, listening to how his heartbeats began to race.
“I worry about you, ceaselessly. My sanity hangs by a thread whenever I think that you are hurt, or angry at me.” His voice dropped to a rougher and low pitch. “And I want you, every moment, I want you.” He paused. “The bond is demanding. It controls us with a possessiveness to do and feel as fate demands.”
Aniya let out a breathy laughter.
All those words and for a moment, she almost thought that he was someone she could love, until he added that one last bit - that detachment to show that none of what he felt was actually him.
He was right, if they were, it wouldn't be so easy for him to plan on killing her.
“It makes me feel like I care for you beyond measure.”
“Indeed,” she scoffed. “Ikrus, I won't let you kill me. I would rather kill you—”
He pressed a finger across her lips, signifying for her to be quiet. Then he pulled her closer and took a deep breath, while he patted Arlo gently in his sleep.
“This moment is too perfect. Hate me later.”
____
____
The first thing Alaris heard was Belladonna’s sobs.
“Nightshade?”
She was there, seated on the floor and he went to her.
He knew all that had happened; it had seen it; he had just been controlled by it.
That was all.
He believed that Belladonna also had the same experience.
“Nightshade?”
“I couldn't save him. I had one chance. Eli.”
His eyes widened. She remembered then.
That gave him relief.
Her mind was healed, he didn't have to hide anything from her again.
“He told me to take it, he told me I wouldn't be able to have that chance again, but I didn't listen, and now…” she wiped her tears away as more ran down her cheeks. “He is gone forever.” Then she let out a breath. “I saw him, Alaris. He bade me farewell, and told me to live a good life.”
He cupped her face in his palms, wiping her tears away.
“You should live a good life.”
A moment of silence passed between them.
“Did he say anything about me?”
“He said he is glad he escaped you.”
Alaris scoffed, flashing her a smile. “I will still get my revenge. There is always a way.”
His hand held hers to pull her up, but sparks tingled in their skin at their point of contact and they both flinched.
“The gems,” Belladonna gasped as she stood up, trying not to touch Alaris again. “I feel it inside my chest.”
“Nightshade…”
“I know you lied about the merging.” She didn't know that he had lied to her about it until now… until this moment. It was something she just felt like she knew, as if the gem that had now merged itself into her bestowed upon her some knowledge about it.
“I’m sorry, I just really needed you to come here and I didn't know what to say to convince you—”
“Using Eli as an excuse would have been enough.”
“It wasn't an excuse. I wanted to help, but I also needed your help, and I knew you would question me about what would happen to the Life Gem when it would be time for you to leave.”
She looked at him squarely. “You know how I feel about lies. If anyone was to lie to me, I wouldn't expect it to be you.”
“It will not happen again.”
“It won't.” She smiled. “Once I help you with the creation of your armies, I will leave to find my sister.”
“You are not in a hurry? After discovering the lie and acquiring this new power, it would only be justified that you want to leave immediately to get your sister, especially because you don't trust the Lycan.”
“Well, I do now. I saw him with Aniya and Arlo. He called her perfect and she looked at ease in his arms, Arlo too. It was only for a brief moment, then I saw other things, the images moved too fast.” She took a break from speaking too quickly. “You were right. The Lycan will not hurt his mate.”
Something flashed in Alaris’ mismatched eyes, then it was gone.
“What did you see, Alaris?”
“Nothing I haven't seen before.”
Belladonna looked around.
There was no one anywhere.
Then she began to walk in the direction of their hideout.
“Wait,” Alaris called out, not moving an inch. “We must start with the creation immediately. The White King already knows where we are and he will send his army soon.”
“I’m hungry. Once I fill my stomach, we can create a thousand armies. Just give me some instructions and I will obey.”
He smiled. He hasn't expected her to take finding out about that lie so well. It was almost like she didn't care.
“I am so relieved that you are not angry,” he said, as he went behind her, then his smile vanished when the light of the moon made him see something that he wished he hadn't seen that night.
There was a streak of silver in her hair.