Chapter 106 We must take it by force
Ira's POV
“No,” I whisper, stepping back.
Bukasvad doesn't allow me take another step before he grabs my hand.
“Get off me!” I wrench backward with everything I have, hissing in pain when my lower back hurts a rusty iron crate. Pain flares sharp and bright.
“Valira calm down.” He says right before I hear a a clap.
“What in…” I gasp as blue light ball appears on his palm. My eyes follow its trail as it begins to float up to the ceiling where it hangs, providing light enough for me to see the tall slender guard.
“I won't be able to keep that up for too long as it drains a lot of energy.” He says, sounding so relaxed like he didn't just kidnap me.
My heart slams against my ribs, my stomach dropping when realization hits me. “You are a stray.” I whisper.
Bukasvad frowns and runs a hand through his hair. “You sound like them. I'm a warlock, not a stray.”
“W..why am I here?” I stutter.
“Stop acting stupid Valira. You know why you are here. I've been trying to get your attention but you keep running from me. In space and now here? What more do I need to show you for you to drop this false identity you've carried?” He sounds mad but doesn't look it and that freaks me out.
“My name isn't Valira. My name is Ira. You have the wrong person so please get out of the way.” I say as fiercely as I can.
“Only one person ever called me Boo.” His eyes turn soft. “No matter how many times my name was pronounced, Valira never stopped calling me Boo. All who knew me by that name are dead. All but you.”
“I don't even know you!” I say, feeling like crying… needing to wake up from this nightmare.
“Yes you do. Maybe not this version of me, but don't deny me Valira and calm down because we both know you are not actually scared of me. It's impossible for you to be scared of your guidian.”
I watch as he folds his hands across his chest.
“My guidian?”
“Hm. I know you remember me. Listen, I never abandoned you. Your father did what was best for you. But now, it's time to take your rightful position. It's why I'm here. It's why I've been serving under this pussies for years. I’m only here because of you.”
My chest constricts, stricken with panic.
“I’m not a stray.” I rush out. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m not like you. I’ll never be like you.”
Something crosses his face, like pain mixed with disappointment.
He takes a step forward and I flinch. But he's right. I'm not scared of him. I'm more worried about what this means for me… I'm scared of knowing who I truly am.
“Your parents left you in my care Valira, I'll be damned to let them down.”
“And this parents, where are they now?” I ask, my hands clenching as I already know what to expect.
“They were killed in the war. It's why you mustn't stay here any longer. You can hide under a disguise for too long. Your aura will eventually burst open. By then if you haven't mastered your strength and power, you might harm yourself and those you care about… Or even be used as a weapon against your own kind.”
“And what exactly is my kind?” I whisper lower than all previous questions.
Bukasvad studies me for a while before answering.
“You’re the last sempyr, Valira.”
A smile breaks out on my face, growing into a grin that quickly blossoms into a humourless laugh. “I'm not just a sempyr, the worst specie of strays, but I'm also the last? Yeah, I totally believe that.”
“It's impossible for you not to have noticed you are more than just werewolf.” He says more to himself than me.
“What makes you think I'm a sempyr?”
“I don't think you are. I know you are.” He says way too confidently. “The alpha king is about to wipe everyone of us off. We've lost a lot of allys. You are our only hope,” he adds in a softer tone.
I shake my head until it hurts. “I’m not. I don’t have any powers, I’m weak, I couldn't even…” My voice breaks. “I couldn't even save Anna and Oren. I'm not what you believe I am.”
Without muttering another word, he sighs, stepping back as he reaches behind his back.
The sharp sound of sword being drawn cuts through my ears before my eyes register what's happening.
“Stop! W..what are you doing?” I stammer as the metal glints under the blue light.
My lungs stop working the moment he swings the sword at me, the blade aimed at my neck.
My hand reaches up to block my face but before I can, a gust of wind rushes from behind me, icy and heavy.
It slams into him like a physical blow, throwing him backward into a pile of abandoned crates. Bags of spoiled grain burst open as the crates fall on them.
“Fuck,” I hear Bukasvad’s pained groan, unable to see him now that the blue light has gone out.
But then I hear the clap and the ball of light is once again in his hands.
He groans quietly now, swearing under his breath as he pushes himself to his feet, one hand cradling his chest, the other still gripping his sword.
“Hell,” he mutters, coughing. “I was just demonstrating. No need to knock the lights out of me.” he sounds as though he's addressing someone behind me. “I’d never hurt her and you know that.”
At his words the wind vanishes just as fast as it had come.
Bukasvad straightens slowly, brushing dust from his uniform as if he'd been expecting the reaction he got.
“Still want to deny your truth?” he asks. “You don't look the littlest but surprised about your aura so I'm guessing it's not the first time it has fought for you, right?”
I cannot answer, several thoughts plaguing my mind. I've always known the wind was odd but even then I'd hoped…
“You are only scared of being your true self because you've been made to believe the lies about your kind.” He mutters, gently taking my hand in his.
“I know this is a lot for you but you’re our last hope,” he continues. “Without you we can’t take proper revenge for everyone we’ve lost. Mothers, fathers, children… bloodlines wiped out because the wolves decided we were too dangerous to exist in their world.”
My breathing turns shallow and painful.
“So I’m a monster?” I sniff, tears running down my face.
His hand tightens warmly.
“You are not a monster. Don’t believe a single word those idiots say about us. You are the rightful heir to that throne. We hoped you’d bring balance when you were crowned. That once again there'll be peace between both worlds. But now…”
He exhales slowly. “Now there are too many enemies inside the werewolf courts. Too much hate. So we must take it by force or be wiped out.”