by Sara Snow
As her wings flapped slowly, her feet lifted off the table and her head tilted to the side as she stared into my eyes. The smile on my face fell away as an odd feeling of warmth blossomed in my chest. She flew closer to my face, then reached under her hair, and pulled out an iridescent flower.
I glanced at Will as she held it out to me, and he nodded. So I opened my hand, and she placed the flower gently in it. She smiled as she held onto a finger and slowly curled it for me to close my hand.
“Thank you,” I said to her, and she nodded slowly before flying up into the tree and vanishing.
My heart rate slowly returned to normal, and I opened my palm to examine the flower.
“She blessed you,” Will said in shock. “A forest spirit blessed you. Keep that flower. Whenever you need help, whisper into it and you’ll receive it.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “She didn’t give me one.”
I laughed. “Jealousy isn’t a good look on you. She obviously liked you, so take that and be grateful.” I carefully placed the flower in the bosom of my dress. He gave me a strange look.
“What?” I asked.
“Nothing.” One of his fingers began tapping at his arm. The way he was gazing at me had my stomach clenching. “You keep surprising me, Little Wolf.”
"That’s what I do best.” I picked up my goblet and held it up. No, I didn't want our friendship to end, even if a romance could never happen. "Stay tuned for more."
He held his goblet up as well. “I plan to.”
10
Elinor
Connor stood to the left of the door. Darian, dressed proudly in his black Werewolf Guard uniform, stood to the right. They looked like the personification of night and day, with Connor’s blond hair cascading down his shoulders while Darian’s curly black hair was shaved low at the sides.
Darian’s hazel eyes fell on me, and I narrowed my eyes back at him. I still couldn’t stand the guy, and I was sure the feeling was mutual. Sure, I remembered the night I had overheard him talking highly of me to my father. Even so, he’d been sabotaging my efforts to join the Guards from the first day I expressed interest.
Hater.
“I’m sorry to see you go . . .” My father’s voice grabbed my attention, and I looked over to where he and Cyrus were talking.
“It’s for the best,” Cyrus answered. “After hearing what happened, I knew you’d agree.”
I hadn’t!
That's what I wanted to yell, and from the look on Skye's face, she had been hoping for the same—that my father would somehow try to convince Cyrus to stay. A part of me understood that Cyrus leaving was for the best, but as his little sister of sorts, it was hard for me to let him go so easily.
Yes, he said he’d return from time to time, but that wasn’t enough. To make matters worse, I knew Skye was being ripped apart inside because I, too, would leave soon. My father had only returned a day ago, so we hadn’t spoken about my marriage to Elijah just yet. But it was only a matter of time. Or knowing my father, Elijah would turn up and that would be when I was finally told what was happening.
“Thank you for saving Elinor and Skye,” my father said to Cyrus, placing his fist over his heart. “Our pack will remain open to you always.”
“Thank you,” Cyrus returned the gesture of respect. “I appreciate everything you’ve done for me.” He nodded to Connor and Darian, who both placed their hands over their hearts as well.
Skye, who had been sitting, got up abruptly and walked out of the room, leaving an awkward silence behind her. My father’s knowing eyes darted from the door she had stormed through to Cyrus and then to me.
“I’ll speak to her,” I told him. “I’ll be staying with her tonight, after Cyrus leaves.”
He nodded. “Before you leave, we have something to talk about. And although Cyrus is leaving, I think he needs to hear it as well.” I nodded and sat down where Skye had been. “I’ll get straight to it,” he said. “Supernaturals and humans were disappearing before this demon appeared. Since the demon Cyrus killed couldn’t have been responsible for those disappearances, it would appear we still have an issue on our hands.”
“What? Disappearing how?” Darian asked, his thick dark brows pulled together. Considering he was a Werewolf Guard and obviously just hearing about this now, I could understand the shock and anger in his eyes.
I had been right then. After Cyrus had killed the demon, I’d had a horrible feeling that things weren't about to get better miraculously.
“How long has this been going on?” Darian asked my father.
“A few months, from what I’ve been told. But it’s been steadily getting worse. Two more people went missing in the last week—a human and an elf. So the leaders of the various races have finally agreed to make this public. They were waiting until we caught whoever was responsible for the recent deaths, just in case the killer was the same. But since that’s been solved, and people are still going missing . . .”
“Now it is time to put others on alert,” Connor interjected, and my father nodded.
My father’s eyes darted back and forth rapidly, a thoughtful expression on his face. “We still know very little about what’s going on. So far, there’s been very little evidence to go on. But it’s becoming too much of an issue now so . . .” He looked at Darian. “Notify your Guards to keep an eye out.” Then he turned to Connor. “Double the patrols around the pack, both night and day.”
“Yes, Alpha,” both men said in unison before turning and leaving.
“Cyrus?” Cyrus stood up as my father said his name. “Since you’ll be leaving, could you keep an eye out and let me know if you see or hear anything?”
"Yes, of course, Alpha," Cyrus answered without hesitation.
“Good, thank you. Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to have a minute with my daughter.”
I frowned at that, but watched as Cyrus left before I turned to my father. I hoped against hope that he’d changed his mind.
“Elijah will arrive within the week. I’m waiting for his confirmation. Are you ready?” he asked.
I clenched my jaw for a moment as my mind took me back to the magical date I shared with Will. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”
I stood up to leave when he got up and held his hand out to stop me. “Elinor.”
I turned to him, an awkward tension sizzling between us.
“I know things between us haven’t been what they should be, but I want you to know that everything I do, even if you don’t approve of it, is to keep you safe.”
And that, right there, was my problem.
"There are other ways to keep me safe, Father.” I went to leave, but as I walked forward, the office door opened and my mother and Jackson walked in.
“Sister!” Jackson yelled, and I couldn’t help smiling. “Look, I made this for you. Mom said you’re leaving soon, so I want you to have a drawing of all of us.”
I took the brown paper from him, grinning at the paint slashed across it, creating two figures standing to the left of the paper and another two to the right at the top.
“That’s you and me at the front, and Mom and Father at the back,” Jackson explained, and across the room, our father growled.
“Why am I not in front?” he asked as his lips curved into a grin. Jackson shook his head. “Elinor and I are in front because you’re old now.”
Our mother erupted with laughter as our father gasped as if he had been stabbed through the heart. “Thank you, I’ll cherish this always,” I said to my brother.
“Good, because it was hard to draw,” Jackson added with a pout. “I wish you didn’t have to leave.”
My parents’ laughter died away, and an uncomfortable silence filled the room. I avoided looking at either of them, but I kissed Jackson on the cheek. “I’ll come back and see you,” I told him. “So don’t worry about that. I’m not leaving forever. I’ll go put this in my room so I don’t forget it, okay?” He nodded, causing his curls to bounce. “Mom, I’m staying ove
r at Skye’s tonight, okay?” I called out.
“Okay, honey,” she replied, and I quickly left the room.
I wish I wasn’t leaving either, Jackson. More than you’ll ever know.
Cyrus and I left together, planning to go to Skye’s house. She’d been home for a while already, having left my father’s office a long time ago.
Cyrus sighed. "She's pissed."
“Yeah, I feel like crap,” I grumbled, but Cyrus shook his head.
“You shouldn’t. You don’t have a choice in leaving. But I’m voluntarily leaving the pack. I mean, sure, I’m doing it to protect her and everyone here, but still, I'm choosing to leave." We descended the stairs together, making our way to the first floor. "She’s angrier at me than at you.”
“Even so, I feel horrible. And yeah, I’m mad at you, too.”
"Sorry," he said, chuckling as we made our way outside. "You two don't have to do this, you know. I don't need a party."
"It'll just be the three of us. Skye's mother has already decided to cook a massive dinner, so you're staying for the night." I rolled my eyes. "Well, you're leaving tonight, but not until late. Since you're so proud of those wings of yours, Skye and I will eventually let you fly away . . . after we finish with you.”
Elinor
"Dinner was great, Ms. Clementine." Skye's mother blushed at Cyrus's compliment as she cleared the table.
"Thank you, Cyrus." Her hazel eyes, so much like Skye's, grew sad. "I'm just sorry to see you go. You're like a son to me. I mean, you’ve always had your freedom to come and go but, this is different.” My eyes slid to Skye, who was looking away, trying to hide her teary eyes. "Oh no." Ms. Clementine held her hand up as Cyrus went to help her clear the table. "I'll do it."
We all sat in silence as Skye’s mother washed the dishes, but Cyrus couldn’t stop himself from offering to dry them. “Please, let me do something before I leave.”
Where Skye’s hair was dark and curly and fell to her shoulders, her mother’s hair was dark brown with loose curls that went to the middle of her back. She stared up at Cyrus for a moment, her face growing even sadder, then suddenly, she pulled him into a hug.
“Take care of yourself, okay?" she whispered, as she released him and stepped back. My emotions started to get the better of me as she cupped his cheek. "Come back to visit soon, all right? I think I'm going to turn in early tonight."
“I will, I promise,” Cyrus reassured her, and she patted his chest before turning away.
“Goodnight, Ms. Clementine,” I told her as she walked by the table and kissed Skye on her head. Then she smiled at me, flashing her pearly white teeth. “Goodnight, honey.”
After she left the room, we sat in silence. Cyrus and I shared a look as Skye reclined in her chair, her eyes trained on the table. I bit down on my lip, unsure of what to say. I understood Skye's disappointment that our best friend was leaving, but for her, it was more than that. The man she loved was going away.
She cried so hard when she told me about Cyrus only having three years left on Earth. I hadn't been able to stop myself from comparing the somewhat similar situation Will and I were facing. Only I was the one who would leave, while he refused to even contemplate an end to this thing between us.
I recalled the words he had said to me—that no matter what, we'd remain friends—and smiled. I closed my eyes as I went to the dragon's forest in my mind. To have visited such a magical place, to have such a calming memory to return to, was one of the greatest gifts anyone had ever given me.
“What are you smiling at?” Skye asked, and my eyes flew open.
“Oh, just remembering something,” I told her. “So does this mean you’re talking again? Whenever you get quiet, it’s kind of scary.”
She looked at Cyrus. “I guess. This is just how things have to be, I suppose.”
“I really am sorry,” Cyrus said as he sat down again, this time closer to Skye.
She smiled at him sadly. “I know and don’t be. You’re doing this to keep us safe.”
Cyrus lifted his hand as if to touch her cheek, then pulled his hand away and looked my way. I rolled my eyes. It was cute that they were trying to not be too lovey-dovey with each other around me, but honestly, I loved seeing them like this.
I had endured the fools not noticing their mutual feelings for years. “Oh no, don’t hold back on my account.” I looked in the direction Skye’s mother had gone. “But, aren’t you guys worried that—”
“She knows,” Skye blurted, looking in the same direction I was. “She overheard Cyrus and me talking the other day. But she said she knew all along that we had feelings for each other.”
"Yeah, I think most people around here have noticed that. You two are the slow ones," I laughed as Skye rolled her eyes. "But, um, there's something I need to tell you guys."
I reached into my bosom and pulled out the flower the forest spirit had given me. Skye leaned forward to get a closer look, and the iridescent flower sparkled.
“Where did you get that?” Cyrus asked as he, too, leaned in for a better view.
“Do you know what it is?” I held my hand out to him and he shook his head. “I got it from dragon territory.”
Skye frowned. “Excuse me? When did you venture into dragon territory and how? There aren’t even any close to here.”
“Will took you, didn’t he?” Cyrus reclined in his seat as Skye looked at him and then at me.
While Cyrus's face was void of emotion, Skye's face lit up with excitement. "Is that true? Will took you to a dragon territory? But how? What was it like? Did you see a dragon?"
I nodded as excitement bubbled within me at the memory. "I spoke to one. She was stunning and insanely tall." I closed my eyes for a moment. "The forest was so colorful and filled with creatures we've never even heard of. Because dragons are spiritual creatures, their territories overflow with energy. And since they are so reclusive, that energy doesn't get tainted by outsiders, you know?" I opened my eyes and looked down at the flower in my hand. "A forest spirit gave this to me—a girl who was smaller than my hand." Skye held her hand out, and I gently slid the flower into her palm.
Her brows knitted. “It’s warm.”
"Yeah, I noticed that, too. I figure it's alive. Will said that if I’m ever in trouble, I can whisper into it, asking for help, and I’ll get it.”
Cyrus's mouth turned downward. “Well, I guess it’s a good thing to have. But for a spirit to give that to you, she must have sensed something special about you. Maybe that you're pureblood and strong?”
Skye gave the flower back to me, and I returned it to my bosom. "Yeah, maybe.”
I decided not to tell them about what had happened with the Weeping Willow tree, which I still had no explanation for. Seeing the look on Cyrus's face, I could tell he wasn't too fond of this conversation. I didn't blame him for not trusting Will, but our date had only made my feelings for him grow.
We had spent hours in the forest before finally returning. I placed my elbow on the table, recalling my father's words that Elijah would arrive soon. Then, I thought about Will and I kissing each other goodbye after our date was over, even after I had told myself that I wouldn’t let things go that far again.
I shook my head as I closed my eyes while Skye and Cyrus chatted. When had I become so attached to Will? I began searching through the moments we’d spent together before our date and couldn’t tell at what moment I’d become so enthralled by him.
I'd never been a disloyal person, but I knew I’d still want Will even after marrying Elijah. A mating bond would have removed all the feelings I had for him, but my marriage to Elijah wasn’t a mated match. Sure, we might learn to love each other, but how long would that take?
What’s wrong with me?
Werewolves and vampires were enemies. Who knew what kind of chaos would ensue if anyone ever discovered our complicated and highly taboo relationship? Still, Will refused to stay away from me. And I still enjoyed being with him. A part of me genuinely
didn't care if my father found out about us. Sure, the initial disgrace would turn my world upside down, and he'd no doubt try to hunt Will down to kill him, but . . . not even the risk of that happening could make me walk away from Will.
A tear slipped from my eye, and Skye and Cyrus fell silent.
Why does this all have to be so complicated?
“Elinor?” Skye placed her hand over mine and my other hand fell away from my face. “Elinor, what’s wrong?”
“What is wrong with me?” I asked her. “I-I feel like I'm standing on the sidelines, watching everything in my life change without having any say in it. Will and I aren’t like you two. Our friendship is forbidden. There is no accepting anything between us, not from his kind and not from mine. Werewolves hunt and kill his people.” I wiped at a tear. “I’m going against everything I would have stood for as a guard by being his friend, but . . . he’s not a monster. I mean, I’m not naïve, he still has to feed, and I know he’s taken lives, but—”
I covered my face and sighed. “But I still care about him. I don’t feel like the female firstborn of an Alpha when I’m with him. I just feel like me—Elinor—without the weight of my family name.” I wiped my face and inhaled deeply, my eyes fixed on a small ant walking across the table. “Elijah doesn’t want me, and I don’t want him. What kind of marriage are we going to have when we both have feelings for someone else? At least Will and I aren’t officially together, but the humiliation Elijah’s girlfriend—or ex-girlfriend—will have to deal with every day after I marry him? I can’t even imagine.”
My face scrunched up as another thought occurred to me—something I’d thought about in the past. “And what happens if he meets his mate after we’re married?” I looked from Cyrus to Skye. “What if I do? My dilemma with Will come to an end, but what would happen to my marriage?”
I exhaled heavily as I slumped down in my chair. I felt lighter after getting that all off my chest. Nothing was solved but finally voicing how I felt, felt good.