Nightsong

by Vella Wolf

  “I am tired. You should go. We can talk more later,” I said bluntly as I laid back down and pulled the covers around me.

  Raest ran his fingers through a lock of my hair before withdrawing, “Of course.”

  “Esu. When can I return to my room?” I asked.

  “Possibly by tomorrow night. Worgs recover quickly from illness, among other things. You are free to return to your room at your choosing,” he beamed.

  “Thank you, Esu.”

  Esu and Raest moved towards the exit, and it wasn’t long before I heard the pitter-patter of Esu’s paws walking up the hallway. Raest hadn’t left, he hovered at the doorway. I could still feel his presence.

  “I promise I will try harder, Sabyr. I want to be a worthy husband for you. I want you to be able to love me,” he whispered, just loud enough for me to hear. I said nothing. I didn’t even move, hoping he would think I was asleep. His footsteps sounded out the doorway and into the hall, and then he was finally gone.

  Chapter 35

  From my infirmary bed, I fought for sleep throughout the day. I was so desperately tired, but every bump, bird and voice, continued to pull me from my slumber. Everything seemed louder now, my hearing was decent before, but now it was something else. I gathered it was a symptom of my new… condition. Besides that, I didn't feel different, I feel like the same human me, but I couldn't shake the fear that more change was to come.

  Atop my bedside table, Esu had left a few tinctures, one for pain, the other for sleep. Without another thought, I guzzled down the sleep tonic. Within minutes I was lulled into a heavy haze.

  Regret for my actions came swiftly as the woman from my dreams returned to haunt me. Trapped in her torment, she granted visions of blood and death. The delights of beasts stormed through my mind. It was only when Nyx came to visit that my nightmares were finally banished. Still drowsy from the tonic, I struggled to speak. Mere mumbles slipped from my lips, and he took my hand with a warm smile. He whispered to me to return to rest and sat beside me for the next four hours murmuring comfort.

  By the late evening, my vigour had returned. Esu was right. Weakness had left me, and I felt better than ever. Eed escorted me back to my room, leaving me to my peace. As soon as she left, I changed into a light shirt and pants. Late or not, I was not going to stay in bed any longer. I needed to run, stretch my legs and distract myself from the fury swirling inside me.

  Part of me hoped this newfound desire wasn’t the Worg trying to get out. I examined myself in the mirror. I looked no different, same pointed ears, fangs and certainly no fur. The woman from my dream, her face had been burned into my memory. Was that what I looked like in my primal form? Monstrous, just like Lusin.

  I shrugged off the thought and headed down to the central garden. The grass was as thick and lush as ever. I pulled off my boots, stepping onto the lawn. It was cool from the dew and soothing on my feet. Stars shone above, as beautiful as ever and not a cloud in sight. Without the clouds, the air was cooler than it had been, but I didn't feel in the least bit cold.

  Drawing in a deep breath, I stretched out my legs and arms before preparing myself to run. In one burst, I sprinted across the green, the wind flowing through my hair. It felt invigorating. My anger melted away. Halfway across the lawn, I changed direction to sprint back to the castle. It was so good to be active again. I stopped just before the steps, looking up at the bright moon.

  “I had wondered how long it would take you to get out here,” a man chuckled in the distance. Like a wolf, he stalked across the grounds, the moon illuminating his face as he drew closer.

  “Lusin. Shouldn’t you be in the guest wing with the rest of the visitors?” I growled.

  He continued to chuckle as he came to stand a few feet before me. “It's far too loud in there. Too many pompous prats comparing dick size. Whoever thought it would be a good idea to shove a bunch of nobles in one wing, is the king of prats. I'll be looking for my own place next time.”

  I raised a brow, “Next time?”

  “Plenty of other fancy events I should be attending here. Though I certainly wasn't terribly interested in them before, you, however, have given me a perfect reason to.”

  I rolled my eyes at him and shook my head. Lusin moved a little closer, eyeing me from head to toe before a mischievous grin spread from ear to ear.

  “I know why you're out here. You can feel it, can't you? The hum in your blood. The urge to run, to feed, maybe even to fuck. It's magnificent, isn't it? Really makes you feel alive.”

  I turned up my nose at him before snarling. “I feel the same as I did before, none of that nonsense. Would it hurt you to be a little less vulgar?”

  “I don't put airs on for anyone. You might not feel it now, but you will eventually. When you do, I'll take you for that first run in the forest.”

  “Sure. Just as long as you're not expecting anything after the run and the feed.”

  The cheek in his eyes flickered away, revealing irritation. “I'm not like that.”

  I shrugged him off to return to my stretches; he lingered until he spoke once again.

  “I'm not giving up on you. I will pursue this to the end. Raest can try to discredit the pact all he wants, but at the end of the day, it was written in blood, and the others will side with me eventually.”

  I made a noise of disgust. “You know, you sound like a right prat when you follow up a glimmer of decency with that rambling. Have you ever considered how I feel? Do you care how I feel? Why would I want to be shoved into another marriage?”

  I watched Lusin’s shoulders tighten as he began to bark, “Of course I think about that, but there is a far bigger picture here. You understand that, don't you? That's how you ended up here in the first place. Do you have any idea what our union would mean for my… our people? The combination of two powerful bloodlines, a bloodline thought to be extinct! A new start for the Valan Worgs.”

  “I can understand that, but you can't seriously be telling me there aren't plenty of other candidates?! Surely there are enough pretty and powerful women for you at home. You don't need a half breed!” I hissed.

  “No, and it's far more complicated than you think. We are a dying breed. The silence… we're not immune. Do you know what happens to a mute Worg? They can't change, they are barely a Worg. Some of our children are even coming out looking almost human, and that's if they come out at all. Stillbirths, infertility, sickness and to add to the insult, some are choosing to move to places like this! Abandon their homeland! I'll be the king of bones and ashes before long.”

  I straightened up to meet his gaze, I had never seen him display fear before. I felt guilty. Always the guilt.

  “I had no idea, I thought things weren't as bad here,” I said softly.

  “You and I are the hope my people have been waiting for. I will pursue this till the end of my days, for them.”

  I wrapped my arms around myself, struggling to find words.

  “I understand Lusin. But. But surely you must see that what I'm doing is for my own people. I'm Worg by blood, but my family are the ones I left behind in Ahnell. I married Raest to save them. You can't do what he can, and therefore I could never agree to this pact.”

  He almost looked a little embarrassed.

  “I'm not giving up my right, my hope, especially not to that bloody Ashmere. You are mine.”

  “I don’t belong to anyone!” I snapped.

  Lusin scoffed at me, “Your husband would disagree.”

  I glared at him with anger, hatred and resentment. I burned that stare right into his core, and he returned it in kind. After a minute, his features finally began to break, softening into what might have been regret.

  “I am… sorry. I didn’t come here to badger you, I came bearing a gift,” Lusin said as he held out a small package wrapped in grey silk. I took it from his palm and carefully pulled it open, revealing a round, deep amethyst coloured stone.

  “A gem?” I asked, confused.

  “It's a
soulstone. A tiny piece of my magic. If you ever find yourself in the position where you need to get away, hold the stone and call my name. It will bring you to me in an instant, no matter where either of us are.”

  I held the stone up to the moonlight in wonder, “It can really do that?”

  “Soulstones are a fragment of raw magic, very potent. Its prime desire is to return to its host, and at my beck and call, it will obey. It is a form of teleportation that doesn’t rely on darker means.”

  “Does it hurt? Why don't more people use them?”

  “It hurts a little when you pull the piece, but after that, you feel nothing, perhaps an absence from time to time but nothing that noticeable. As for its use or lack thereof, it is a difficult and dangerous magic to learn. Sometimes people pull too much and cause themselves permanent harm. The biggest fear is the stone falling into the wrong hands. It could be used for harm without the owner even knowing until it is too late,” he explained.

  I wrapped it up as questions buzzed in my mind. “Why are you giving this to me? I could hurt you.”

  “I know you won't. Besides the whole betrothal thing, you are one of my people. The last Bloodmane. No matter what happens, you will always find a home with the Valan Worgs.”

  I had certainly not expected sincerity from Lusin.

  “And please keep it safe. Soulstone are rare gifts. People generally don't like to be missing parts of themselves, magic or otherwise,” Lusin grinned.

  “Sabyr, is everything alright?” A voice called behind me.

  I shoved the soulstone into my pant pocket as discreetly as possible before turning around, face flushed. Nyx walked across the lawn to me, scowling at Lusin on approach.

  “You shouldn't be out here Lusin, especially anywhere near her,” Nyx growled.

  Lusin just snorted at him.

  “I went to your room but couldn't find you, I figured you'd be out here,” Nyx said to me.

  I shrugged my shoulders at him, “I couldn't stay cooped up there any longer, came to stretch my legs. Lusin was passing by and was about to leave. Weren't you Lusin?”

  “Yes, I suppose I was,” Lusin said, oddly composed. Lusin began to walk away, waving as he always did. “Goodnight Sabyr. Remember what we talked about,” he called as he trudged away. Thank Arndell he took a hint for once.

  Nyx looked at me, tentatively. “So what did you talk about?”

  “Just that I would find a home in Vala if I ever needed it.”

  Liar, but it wasn't like I could tell him that the Worg king had not only threatened but given the means to whisk me away. Not that I ever would use it but having the option was almost a little liberating. Well, as liberating as escaping one forced marriage to another could ever be.

  “Nyx, it's getting colder. Walk me to my room?”

  With a smile, he held out a hand to me. “Let me warm that hand of yours, no one's around to see.”

  “Except probably a few guards and who else knows,” I said as I rolled my eyes at him.

  “Well, Raest went to sleep a few hours ago and my guards know better than to stick their nose into other people's business, especially mine.”

  Eagerly I took his hand, I didn't really give a shit about Raest right now. Time seemed to fly painfully faster as we walked together like old times. It wasn't long before I was at my room.

  I leaned on my door and squeezed his hand.

  “This is me then. I’d invite you to stay, but if Eed catches you in here so late, she'd kill you,” I sighed.

  Nyx gave a hollow laugh and smiled at me nonetheless. As he moved, I noticed bandages peeking out from underneath his shirt. My eyes widened in horror.

  “What happened?! Did I do that?!”

  He adjusted his shirt to hide them, and reluctantly said, “Yes, but don’t worry, I’m fine. When you transformed, I tried to stop you, but I was so useless. I just didn’t want to hurt you. Raest did sweet fuck all, just stared at you bewildered. Lusin was the only useful one. His primal form made it easy for him to subdue you before there was any real trouble.”

  I pressed my hands against his chest gently where the bandages were, he swallowed deeply at my touch.

  “I was so frightened for you, I was so scared of what was happening to you and what someone else might do. I could have killed Raest for not telling us, for putting you in such danger,” he hissed.

  I stroked over his bandages tenderly. “I'm so sorry. For everything,” I whispered.

  “Don't,” he whispered back as he drew closer, our eyes locking.

  Nyx mumbled inches from my lips, “It’s not too late, you know.”

  “Too late for what?” I breathed.

  “My offer from before. Run away with me.”

  Two offers in one night. What in Ahmanrah had my life become?

  “You know I can't,” I mumbled back.

  “No matter what happens, no matter how much time passes, the offer is always there,” Nyx sighed.

  I smiled sadly at him, grazing his cheek with the back of my hand. His thumb rolled over my chin, and before I could pull away, he leaned in, pressing his lips gently to mine. I tried to will myself back, to move away, but I couldn't. I returned the kiss, deep with longing and his hands began to wander like they used to.

  “After everything we've been through, this is how you repay me?!”

  Nyx pulled away, facing our intruder with a snarl. Raest stood before us, we had been caught in the act. My heart was in my mouth, I didn't think he would have dared to come to my room tonight.

  Nyx rolled his shoulders, his face morphing into anger. “That really is rich coming from you, friend. You knew. You knew we were together. You still stole her.”

  “You've been with countless women, each encounter more insignificant than the last. How was I to believe that this would be any different?” Raest barked.

  Gods, this was bad. What had I done? I could feel my blood beginning to thrum. Not now, not now! I forced the feeling back down, trying to lock the Worg away.

  Anger of the likes I had never seen, rippled forth from Nyx, “You think so little of me? Or is it just more lies?! Do any of your assumptions make it right to steal the potential mate of your friend!”

  Raest returned his fury, “You made no official claim!”

  “Because she had the right to choose, I wouldn't force that on her!” Nyx roared.

  Raest clicked his tongue, cooling his tone. “Your obsession with her needs to end. She is my wife! You jeopardise your position and everything else with this foolery!” he growled.

  Nyx broke into a cackle. “You think I care about that anymore?! You think I want to be general for a liar and a thief? You can all burn for all I care. I loved her, I love her! We met, we bonded, and we loved. It is you that grew obsessed from afar and proclaimed that as love.”

  Raest stood there fuming, not able to say a word.

  Nyx continued to ramble, “I’ve been your friend for over thirty years and in your service for longer. We’ve fought together and bled together. I thought that you would always have my back like I’ve had yours. But then this. Not just Sabyr, but the lies and secrets. It’s like none of us know what’s going on anymore. You’re not the man I knew, you’re just a shadow.”

  Nyx then turned to me, sorrow and madness filled his eyes.

  “I should have done this when I had the chance,” Nyx said. With that he pulled at my shirt, the top button popping off and he sunk his fangs into the soft meat between my neck and shoulder. I cried in shock and pain, trying to push him off me, but his grip was firm. Raest was utterly stunned, frozen in place.

  “Nyx! Stop! Are you insane?!” I cried.

  He lifted his head, the look he gave was terrifying. Red black blood ran down his chin. Two sets of teeth now marked me, and blood poured from the wound. He gave me a sickly smile and leaned in to kiss me once more, but a pale hand gripped his shoulder. Nyx was thrown across the hall as if he were nothing more than a doll. A mighty crack sounded as he collide
d with the wall. He wheezed painfully, gripping his chest.

  Fury flickered through me, and once again I swallowed down my monster, now was not the time. I panted, pained as my feet refused to budge.

  “You dare mark my wife! I should kill you for that! Do you have any idea how many men have died for less?!” Raest roared.

  “Damn right I did,” Nyx wheezed. “Now you will always have a reminder of how you robbed us and how she'd rather be with me.”

  Darkness poured out of Raest like a wave, smothering everything in its wake. It billowed and howled toward Nyx, and at last, I found my feet. I bolted towards him, leaping in front of him, covering him with my body. The shadows halted mere inches away from me, buzzing angrily.

  “Move,” Raest howled at me.

  “I won't let you hurt him!” I cried.

  The darkness raged at my response.

  “He just violated you! Do you know how serious that mark is?!”

  I shook my head over and over. “I don't care. I won't let you fucking touch him!”

  The storm began to slow, it recoiled about a foot as Raest muttered,

  “Will it always be like this? How can any of us live like this? I thought I was doing what was right.”

  I couldn't understand his ramblings, and before I could ask him anything, a brilliant light burst from the stairwell. A huge fox, roughly the size of a horse, came bounding down the hallway with guards in tow. The fox abruptly paused halfway down the hallway, muttering something to the guards. It continued alone towards us. Its fur was strawberry blonde, eyes a dark maroon, three long tails sat on its rear, bathed in dark fire. The red, violet and black flames flickered around its form as it padded closer. It stopped a few feet away from us, its eyes studied Raest, then Nyx, then me and my bite.

  “I apologise. I brought the guards because I thought there was an intruder.” Verona’s voice came from the mouth of the fox. This was her primal form. She was magnificent.

  “Raest, withdraw your shadows. This is over,” Verona said calmly. As requested, Raest pulled back his shadows until nothing remained.