A Whisper in the Woods (Fated Folktales #1)

27. Chapter 27

Chapter twenty-seven

Bratan

M y heart pounded as I ran at a near-uncontrollable speed. I couldn’t risk changing into my true form. I had to remain discreet. The air was sharp in my throat, cold and stale. Every direction only yielded more trees and no results. No one was here.

But I couldn’t rest until I found that wretched devil.

Something stung my eyes, and to my immense disbelief, something wet fell from one of them. I swiped it with one finger and inspected it, my stride momentarily hitching to a stop. The small tear glimmered, mocking me. I rubbed it away, trying to ignore the fact that tears had been foreign to me until the events of late. Other than when it concerned Leena, the only moment I could remember crying was the horrific night when the forest went up in flames and my mother along with it.

Even then, the fear didn’t compare to how it consumed me now. I was Leena’s sole protector and the only one who could fight back. She didn’t have the strength yet; I hadn’t seen any inkling of her powers. Even if I had, it would take time for her to learn how to wield them.

I would end this—whatever it was—before it really began.

Brushing my hand against my thigh, I smeared the tear away. There was no time for this, this fear, this emotion. I had to find Melora and put an end to this once and for all.

Lunging forward, I managed to run even faster, weaving through more of the forest until a familiar chill coated my skin. Accompanied by a whistle.

The air was void of sound, and I knew she had come. I whipped around, rage spiking. The old woman smiled. Wispy, tangled hair fell to her hips. Each time I saw her, she looked a bit different, more aged and disheveled but thick with power. Why she always appeared as an old woman, I would never know. She was a shapeshifting deity that controlled the wild demons of the world below. She could appear as youthful and strong as she pleased.

Perhaps it really was to taunt me whenever she was one step ahead.

“Fancy a chat?”

I gritted my teeth. Speak of the devil. “It’s you, isn’t it? You’re doing this to her.” I was ready to pounce at the creature, but she clucked her tongue in recognition of my gathering strength.

“Oh, Bratan.” She shook her head with a sigh. “You can’t be talking about that human, can you? That pathetic little thing? ”

I felt my eyes go hot, turning black, the immortal blood seeping into them the way only a monster like me could do. I couldn’t hold back anymore. My true form tore through my human exterior and shook the earth like the weapon I was.

“How dare you speak of her like that. As if you are someone significant. You’re nothing more than a shadow skittering around corners and hiding with the others.”

Melora inspected her hand as if a ring hugged her finger. “Bratan, you fool. How could you fall for the girl?”

I was too angry to go back to my less lethal form, but I couldn’t talk to her as enormous as I was, so I shrunk to just a few feet above her head and grabbed her by the cloak.

“If you speak ill of my wife again, I’ll have no choice but to punish you.” My voice was unearthly and cruel, but the woman didn’t budge. “And you were the one to initiate the deal and to push for me to find a bride. What are you plotting?”

A smile splintered across her face. “You know you only need an heir. If she produces one, you won’t need her anymore. Why don’t you—”

“Watch what you say next, Melora,” I hissed.

Her eyes widened, emphasizing the malice in her smile. “Or what?”

“I’ve told you before. I don’t think I need to repeat myself.”

A rickety laugh tumbled from her throat. “You think you can harm me? Oh, child, if you could harm me, you would have already. ”

Her words struck me, hitting a raw nerve, but I couldn’t let her know it. “You lied to me about your arrangement with the village. You worked with that hag to force Leena to come here.”

The woman’s mouth snapped shut. “And?”

“ And? What do you mean And? You tricked me! You tricked her! You told me she’d come willingly—”

“I said no such thing. I told you the humans would leave your people alone if you made them a deal. You’ve told me before that you’ve needed help to guard the woods, and we both knew you needed a companion. But you’ve also expressed to me that you wanted a Leshy to help you. This was the perfect solution. You needed peace and an heir, so I got you a bride.”

“I only specified that I wanted a Leshy to help me because I didn’t want you to squirm your way into anything, Melora. Your sense has been disintegrating for years. I just didn’t realize how much.”

“You took that human girl to wed, and her village hasn’t bothered you, and you haven’t bothered them,” she said, ignoring me. “You got what you wanted, and since you bed that girl, you will soon get an heir.”

My claws twisted in her cloak, tearing at the fabric, but when I didn’t respond, a look of understanding flashed across her face. She let out a steady stream of laughter. “You didn’t follow the simple rules of the arrangement, did you? What did you do?”

“It doesn’t concern you,” I growled .

She cackled. “You can’t help yourself, can you? Well. It’s not my fault what happens from here. I’ll stop helping—”

“I never needed your help! Especially if this is what you consider helping!”

“Then why did you ask for it?”

“Fine. You’re right. I did ask for help, but I merely wanted guidance because of the humans in that village. I now realize how foolish I’d been in thinking you were sane enough to do anything resembling aid. I didn’t ask for you to kidnap Leena and force her to marry me. You’ve been unreliable, and now cruel, ever since Mother died!”

“Yet you can’t stay away from me, can you?” she snapped. “And I got you that girl—Leena, is it? I don’t know why you’re so angry. You’ve taken to her so well, like a little puppy. I thought you’d be thanking me.”

“Stay away from her,” I snarled, shaking her by the shoulders, “or you’ll regret it with your dying breath.”

The old crone laughed. “You can’t kill me, you fool.”

“Believe me. I’ll find a way.”

“Is she really worth—”

“How did you do it?” I asked in a rushed breath.

“Do what?”

“You know damn well what!” My form started to shift again, but hers did too. Her true form was not reminiscent of a woodland monster. She was evil incarnate. Darkness. A demon—a dark spirit with no body. Just ashy smoke. She had nothing to hide behind but nothing to tie her back, either. Her form slid from my elongating fingers.

In that form of nothingness—just dark mist and glowing eyes—something like a mouth split open to rattle out another vicious laugh. “Once you get your fill of that human girl, you’ll come crawling back to me.”

“I’ve never once crawled to you or anyone.”

“That’s not what I meant.” She wasn’t hostile in speech, but in aura, she was abhorrent. “You’ll need me like you always have. As a mother, since your own died, and as an aide to save you from the mistakes you constantly leave in your wake.”

“I don’t need your help, Melora. Leave my woods before I do something you won’t like.”

“As if you could hurt me.”

“As if I wouldn’t try,” I barked. “You should know better than anyone that if I set my mind to something, I see it through.” The threat hung in the air, finally sending her back into her human form.

“Try all you like, Bratan, but you can’t do anything to me, and if you so wish for me to leave you alone—to no longer offer any protection to your woods—then so be it.”

“I don’t need anything from you,” I growled. Once again craning my neck to look into her milky eyes, I continued. “And if you, or any of your followers, so much as frighten my bride again, I’ll summon every creature in this world and every other to rip you apart. Over and over. Until there is nothing left of you but dirt that will forever crumble beneath my feet. ”

For a moment, fear flickered in her hollow gaze, but it was quickly replaced with fury.

“And what about whatever you did to that village?”

“What of it?” I snapped.

“You think they’ll sit idly by and do nothing to your precious wife?”

“What are you getting at?”

“You’ve created quite a mess for yourself, Bratan. Your little world is quickly falling apart. Soon, it’ll topple completely, and I won’t have to lift a finger to watch you burn. Or her. And you no longer have my aid.” She laughed again, a drawn-out, creaky sound that grew mad as her head fell back. “I think I’ll enjoy watching that particular show.”

I was done taking this. My claws lengthened twice the span of the woman’s body, forming where my hands once were. But before I could use them, power encircled her, and she blasted me against a tree. I undulated in and out of my true form until I found my bearings and let myself ignite. Letting out a soul-splitting roar that shook the trees, I reached out to slash her—to shred her to pieces. Before I could make contact, she whisked into mist and fled the woods.

Panic swelled in my chest, and I couldn’t help the unruly wail that rattled out my throat. My branch-like arms cut the trees behind me until I plunged them into the dirt to get a hold of myself. I thought of Leena and her smile, her sweet countenance, and carefree dancing. Slowly, I returned to my human form. Melora was right about one thing—I’d once again made things harder for myself. And harder for Leena.

I had to find a way to destroy Melora, no matter the cost. As long as that cost wasn’t Leena.

I closed my eyes and steadied my breath. I couldn’t allow myself to become a beast—an uncontrolled monster. I needed to keep my head. Each time I didn’t, I made things worse.

There was no way Melora would give up, but I couldn’t allow her any sort of home in, near, or around my kingdom. I may have officially made her my enemy today, but she’d sparked that rivalry when she laid her knotted finger upon Leena’s back.

I would make enemies with every creature in the world and beyond if I had to. As long as it kept Leena safe, I’d gladly burn everything to ash.

***

Leena

The front door creaked, jolting me upright. My eyes were dry from staring off all night; I wasn’t sure how long Bratan had been gone, but the sun gleaming through the window indicated it was early afternoon. I got out of bed so quickly I was dizzy, but I pushed through, ran down the stairs, and jumped into Bratan’s arms before he could so much as take off his cloak.

“I was so worried.” I buried my face in his shirt, grabbing hold of the ends of his cloak’s collar. His hand found the nape of my neck, and he curled my hair into his fingers and pressed a kiss atop my head. I thought I might sob. “Did you find out what it was?”

“I believe so.” Something held him back from saying more. I wanted to press it, but the darkness that shadowed his far-off gaze told me it wasn’t the time.

“We should rest. I have a feeling you slept about as much as I did, if you slept at all.” I lifted a hand to his face, but his expression was the same. He didn’t even blink. “Bratan?”

He blinked, suddenly out of his trance but still not entirely there. He looked to Theodora. “Thank you for being here. You may leave now.”

The maid dipped her head. “Of course, Your Majesty.” Then she turned to me. “I’ll see you in the morning, Your Majesty.”

“That won’t be necessary,” Bratan said. “I’ll be with her. You should find Damir. He’ll have instructions for you.” A curious look passed between them. I knew that that should have been the most unsettling part of the exchange, but all I could focus on was the panic in Bratan’s eyes and how his irises were no longer green but completely black.

Theodora glanced at me. It was so quick I wondered if it’d actually happened. And then she was gone. “What was that about?” I asked .

“What?” He unbuckled his boots, illuminated by the glint of the crackling flames.

“I’m talking about the cryptic instructions you gave Theodora.” I walked closer, only stilling when he sat upright and I saw his face. The fear etched there was so potent it made me want to cry. “What happened?” I whispered.

“I think something is coming.” The words came out in a clipped rush—a punch to the gut.

My blood went cold. “What?”

“There are two parts at play here. I’m not sure how to stop them, but I think they’re connected.” He took my hand, pulling me closer and looking into my eyes. “But I will get to the bottom of it, and I’ll squash it all before it gets worse. I’ll protect you. No matter what. Remember?”

I stayed locked in his fierce, uneasy gaze until, finally, I nodded. But he didn’t smile like I thought he would. That was typically how we worked. I would smile, and he would smile back. He would promise me something, I would nod, and he’d be gleeful. But not now.

He pulled me into his lap and wrapped me up in his arms. I buried myself in him, nuzzling into his shirt and curling up in his lap. “So don’t be afraid, my love. I’ll take care of it.” His fingers gripped my hair as he added, “And anyone who stands in my way or so much as touches you won’t live to speak of it.”

“Don’t talk like that,” I said, pulling away.

He frowned. “Don’t you want protection?”

“I don’t want you to kill someone for looking at me wrong. ”

“Come now, Leena, you know that’s not what I meant.”

“Isn’t it?”

I hated the sick feeling that mixed with the intense pounding in my chest—this stressful, anxiety-ridden tension between us. It was nothing like the usual tension that typically accompanied our union, the kind that set fire to my blood. I didn’t want to fight with him. We were in danger. We had to stick together.

“No, it isn’t. I’ll protect you, but I’m no animal.”

“Good.” I tried sounding tough, but I still felt like crying. I clutched his shirt until my knuckles were near-white. “I’m so scared. I—” I choked on a sob as he held me, and I let him soothe me and wrap me up in him.

He shushed softly, stroking my hair and back before rising to his feet and cradling me as he took me upstairs. I let my composure completely fall; any self-consciousness or shield broke down as I curled myself deeper in his arms.

I knew I was safe with him, but this new, chaotic world was completely beyond my comprehension. I didn’t know the rules or the Leshy or what lay in this realm. I didn’t know what creatures lived here and what was possible or impossible. All I knew was how strongly he felt for me and of our deep connection that seemed to have sprouted long before we met. Like the seed was always there, ready to be watered and brought to life—to fill the woods that belonged to us. The world we were sworn to protect.

He laid me in the bed, my hands still desperately clutched onto his tunic. He rounded his body around mine, and I cried against him. The sun poured into the room, only slightly warming my chilled skin. And I kept on crying. He didn’t say a word. He only held me, occasionally shushing me as the sun warmed my chilled skin. It was exactly what I needed. I had fourteen years of built-up sorrow that I’d pushed down since my parents died, and it was all coming out. I’d reached my tipping point. Every bad day and horrible night, every lashing and beating, and every time I wanted to mourn my parents but couldn’t because I’d be punished by an uncle who didn’t accept any action or thought he considered a weakness.

All I ever wanted was to feel safe and have the freedom to feel without fear. Now that I could, it was all coming out.

When my eyes were dry and my eyelids grew heavy, he spoke. “I need you to understand something, little dove. I am the protector of this forest and all in it, including and especially you. I am no animal, but I am a monster. If someone tries to kill my people or my love, I will not stand idly by.”

My stomach sank. “What does that entail?” I held my breath, not sure if I really wanted to know the answer.

“That I’ll do what is necessary to protect you.”

“Why does that make me nervous?” I sniffed and wiped my face with the back of my hand. It was warm in his embrace and with the thin rays of sun peeking in on us, but an uneasy hollowness left the room devoid of comfort. “I desperately want to believe you, Bratan. That you’ll…” Do the right thing. I wanted to finish, but I couldn’t say it .

Unfortunately, he could already read my face like a picture book.

“Like I said, I’ll do what is necessary. Nothing less, nothing more.” His voice was calm and low, a soothing melody rocking me to sleep. “Sleep, little dove. We can talk more when you wake.” I laid against his chest, letting him hold me again, letting him convince me that I could trust him.

It was odd, but I wasn’t nervous anymore. I trusted him. I understood where he was coming from and what needed to be done, but my life before this one had been about strict to-dos and don’ts. And in the years since my parents’ death, I’d learned that no one could be trusted and that it was safer to be still and fade into the background. To never speak up. Truthfully, I had no idea what was right when it came to fighting back or protecting people. My entire adolescence and adult life had been spent keeping my head down and trying to survive, but now I was in charge of critical actions as a protector of this forest.

I didn’t like the idea of retaliation, but I also didn’t like the idea of innocent people dying and us standing by. These villagers and this forest were mine to protect, too, and it already felt more like home to me than Woodsmeadow ever had, even without Grandmother here. Finding Bratan was like finding a part of myself. He sealed the safety and love into my chest that I thought was forever gone.

My eyelids couldn’t stay open anymore. His arms were too warm, and my tears had drained me. I hadn’t realized I’d been shivering until it stopped—until I was so comfortably tucked against him, and he placed me against his chest, securing me under his protective wing. Part of me still hated that I welcomed the protection, but I was scared and had decided to jump wholeheartedly into these feelings, riding the wave and accepting it all as it came, no matter how irrational. I really ought to fight—to do something—but I didn’t want to deal with the details right now.

I wanted everything to fizzle to a stop, so I let him hold me until I was whisked into a dreamless sleep. A welcome, warm slumber.