Chapter 9 Dangers in Varethin
Byron
The dragon lands were in danger. Hollowborns that had fled the night we found the werewolf seem to have crawled out of their hiding places and were now causing chaos. The horrifying part of this was that they were walking in daylight.
Ever since the attack of the Hollowborns started two decades ago, not once have we ever come across them during the day. They were creatures of the night, trapping supernaturals and stealing their magic for themselves. It was how they survived, how they fed.
Their curse was that they couldn't walk during the day. Their skin would burn and they would disintegrate into ash when sunlight touched them. But today had just proved the theory wrong.
It had been just two Hollowborns that crossed our borders. Two. And although it didn't take much time to kill them, I was still pissed. Somehow, they had managed to slip in through the weakest part of our borders. The guards on patrol had been distracted and were easily killed. It was infuriating.
The other heirs and I were strengthening the wards around Varethin and reinforcing security when I had felt it. I had felt her screaming in pain.
I didn't know how that was possible, but I didn't question it. Especially as the other heirs paused as if they'd felt it too. We exchanged one look and I immediately called on my shadows. I shadowshifted all of us directly to Drakmor College.
We'd broken up in The Orb. I searched the sleeping areas for first years. That was when I saw the brightness and rushed here.
I stared at the cowering girl again and wondered what kind of powers she had to summon a faelight that bright. I've never met anyone in this realm that could do that, no less an untrained werewolf who had barely had her first shift.
“Explain everything that happened.” I demanded, my arms crossed as I leaned against the massive desk in my study.
She shivered at the sound of my voice, her hand hung low as she subtly shifted behind Thomasina. I had summoned both of them to my study after saving her. The other heirs had gone back to the Keep to relay the reports from our recent attack to the High Lords.
“Forgive me, my Lord. I have no excuses for abandoning my duties.” Thomasina said, her head hung low.
The werewolf stared at her, a flicker of surprise passing through her features, but she didn't utter a word. She raised her head and our eyes met. She flinched as if I did more than just look at her. She definitely thought of me as a monster.
Why wouldn't she?
I had humiliated her on her very first day and killed two people in front of her. It didn't matter that the two of them deserved to die, I was a monster in her eyes.
I released tendrils of shadows and it raced towards her. My shadows gripped her chin, lifting her face so she was looking directly at me. Her eyes widened with fear but I didn't release her.
“Speak.”
Her lips quivered slightly. She closed her eyes briefly and exhaled a breath.
“I saw him when I came out of the bath.” She narrated everything that happened, starting from how she followed him from the bathhouse, when the cloaking spell fell, and why he wanted to kill her.
I hadn't known the royal guard personally, but I knew of his situation. He was from a small village near the borders we shared with Thornwood. His mate had wandered too far into the woods and crossed over to the werewolf's territory.
Rumours had it that she was captured by members of Christopher's inner circle while they ran in their shifted forms. There was no concrete evidence that they had done it so it didn't count as an act of war. And the Dragon had gone into their lands, not the other way round.
The High Lords had brought him to the Keep after that as a form of consolation. I should have suspected that something like this would happen. There had been too much bad blood between our kind for centuries. Bringing a werewolf here would trigger the people that were hurt by them.
That was another problem added to my ever growing shit list.
A paper appeared on my desk beside me. I didn't need to open it to know who it was from and what it entailed. The werewolf's eyes flickered with surprise, and I wondered if she had never witnessed that type of magic before.
“You are going to teach her everything about cloaking spells, how to detect them and see through them. You are not allowed to let her out of your sight, except during your classes. And when you do leave her side, Raihn should assume your position immediately. I do not want a repeat of this ever again. Do you understand?” I said, my gaze fixed on Thomasina.
“I understand.” she said without hesitation.
Raihn was the only other person I trusted to look after the werewolf. He was a first year student and had grown up at the Keep. He was one of the strongest candidates for this year's Crossing. Since they were in the same grade, he could be with her at all times.
The werewolf didn't seem too pleased with my order but I couldn't care less. I had brought her here, it was my responsibility to keep her safe. It didn't matter if she did not like the idea of someone being with her at all times.
I waved my hand in clear dismissal. Thomasina bowed and immediately dragged her hand so she would do the same. The werewolf merely blinked, not following her lead. It was the second time she had refused to bow to me.
I wanted to punish her like I did on the terrace, but the paper beside me glowed, urging me to read the content. I decided to let them go instead.
I waited till they left before picking up the paper. Sure enough, it was a message from my father, summoning me to the Keep. I knew it was regarding the Hollowborn.
With a sigh, I shadowshifted from my study to the throne room. The High Lords were already seated on their thrones, the heirs stood before them. I stood beside Aidas and bowed.
Kalias was the first to speak. “You sure took your time, Heir of Shadows.”
“Apologies, Your Grace. I had to take care of a little problem.” I lowered my head slightly before raising it to meet their gaze.
“Does this “little problem” involve the werewolf?” Rigel asked.
“Yes.” There was no use denying it. The chances that they already knew what transpired was high. But I doubt if either of them would mention it. They clearly had no intention of keeping the werewolf alive, healing power or not, by sending her to Drakmor.
“Since you have taken care of your little problem, how about we face the bigger issue at hand?” My father said casually.
I raised my eyes to meet his, the reminder of what transpired few hours ago was fresh between us, the mental torture. His lips hooked up in silent mockery before he averted his gaze in clear dismissal.
I tightened my fist, forcing the shadows that threatened to whisk out back inside me, but it was a losing battle. I couldn't afford to lose control. Not here, not right now.
As if he felt my apprehension, Aidas calming power washed over me, cooling my anger instantly. He didn't tear his gaze away from the dais but he didn't need to. I knew he could see me from the corner of his eyes.
I gave him a small nod in silent appreciation and reined in my anger.
“Are you certain it was a Hollowborn you killed and not a creature wearing its skin? They have not been known to walk in the sun.” Kalias said thoughtfully.
The three of us glanced at each other. The possibility of it never crossed our mind because it was almost impossible. There was no sane reason why anyone would cloak themselves to look like a Hollowborn.
And just as I was about to tell them that, Rigel spoke, “You seem unsure, a terrible trait in an heir. You come to us with this absurd discovery without making any further research? Have you gone mad?”
Neither of us said anything. Their theory was absurd but it wasn't impossible. I have witnessed Hollowborns burn the second sunlight touches them. There was no way they could suddenly walk during the day.
But who would be foolish enough to wear their skin and why?