Chapter 40
“The people are not understanding, nor do they care for children who live on the street, the world of man is complicated. But i am not an ordinary man.”
“what do you mean?” The girl frowned, “i’m not quite sure that i understand.”
“i am what they call a shifter, i can transform into any animal that i wish.” He said slowly, knowing that this information he was giving her would determine whether or not he would remain with them. “it is a gift i was born with, and i cannot change it, but where i come from it is classed as a curse from the gods; people like me are not accepted across the sea. So, we flea to other kingdoms.”
“how many of you are here?” She asked him, smiling to show that she would not judge him for who he was, just as he didn’t her. “where are the others?”
“an army is here, my army. We plan to overthrow the deus traitors and take the kingdom for our own.”
“why haven't you done it already then? Why haven't you attacked the deus?”
He sighed, shaking his head in anger and defeat. “because even though we are shifters, we need more power. We need someone who can guide us to the high priestess.”
“my mother.” The half-breed gasped after a moment, “she used to work for the high priestess, surely, she knows.”
“do you think she would help?”
“i’m not sure.” She said, her voice ringing true. “she was loyal until she met my father, she may not want her dead.”
“the high priestess has brought Nothing but misery on people all over the lands, yours and mine. I hope your mother will see that and aid me, but i am also unsure, we do not exactly get along.”
Astria nodded, agreeing with what he was saying, but also hoping that her mother would see the benefit of helping him. “how did you come to command an army?”
“i suppose that if you help, you would find out in time.” Dane said, mostly to himself; his eyes somewhere far
away. “i am the king of my people, but i was not born into royalty. I fought to obtain it.”
“a king?”
“yes, i killed the last king.”
“why?” The half-breed asked, unsure why he would do such a thing; his land must be strange indeed.
“the old king was much like the high priestess, greedy and controlling. I allow people the freedom to choose, especially when it comes to who they wish to bear children with.” He explained, being as honest as he could.
“why are you telling me this now?”
“i want you to help me, i want thiS land under my protection, and i want you to convince your father and mother to join me. I want us to destroy the high priestess and her armies.”
The half-breed turned her head towards the dense wood, peering into the darkness as she thought for a moment, without the high priestess astria and her mother would be free and so would the fera. The lives of everyone across the entire kingdom would change, but for the better, people would no longer live in fear. That is something the girl had wished for in every dream she had since leaving lacus, she needed it, longed for the freedom to choose her own fate; without fear of prosecution.
The girl nodded, agreeing that should they manage to convince her mother and father to help kill the high priestess, the land could be a better place. For everyone. “alright, dane. I will do all that i can to help you. But only so that everyone is set free from the deus and free from that woman who calls herself the high priestess.”
“i am glad that you see it the same way, once the high priestess is dead, we will all finally be free to live as we choose. Not how the deus deem we should.” He smiled wildly, genuinely pleased that she would do all she could to help. Even if they couldn’t convince her parents to help, he would appreciate that she had tried.
Astria sighed deeply, no matter how long or little she slept, her eyes were heavy and her body weakened. Perhaps she had used too much of her power against the deus a few days prior, though if she hadn’t, her and dane would not be having this conversation. They would all be dead. She shivered slightly, deciding that they should move closer for warmth, slipping herself into his arms as she felt most comfortable there. She felt somewhat safe with his muscles around her petite frame, her heart racing slightly, though she couldn’t understand why. Why did she feel so nervous? Like a child who was about to be scorned.
“it’s strange, i have never been this comfortable around another being before, especially one who is from the blood of the deus. You are a very specially girl astria, never let anyone break your spirit. It is so unique.” He smiled softly as he placed his head against hers, tightening his arms around her.
The young half-breed laughed
slightly, it was a small and unsure sound. “if i didn’t know any better, i’d say that was a declaration of love.”
Dane chuckled as he spun her around to face him, her legs at either side of his hips. “then you clearly do not know better, that is exactly what it was.”
Astria gasped as he pulled her closer to him, unable to stop the small sound that escaped her lips as he pressed his own against hers. Her heart raced as she embraced him as he did her, entwined in each other as the moments passed by. Eventually, though neither of them knew how much time had gone by, they broke away from each other’s lips. The half-breed had never been kissed so passionately before, nor had she kissed anyone at all. He had stolen her first kiss, her first intimate moment, yet; she found that she didn’t care.
She had hoped somewhere deep within her that this would happen, that he would fall for her as she had him, she hadn’t been able to admit it to herself. After all, who would want to love disgusting creature such as her, a creature that in the eyes of the deus didn’t deserve to be alive.
“come.” Dane smiled, “we should get some rest.”
Astria nodded her response, unwilling to trust her own tongue. What would she even say? Thank him for the kiss maybe. Though that would seem foolish all things considered.