Thirty-Three
Varos
Avalon raced through the trees, tracking the deer that had passed by hours ago. She’d been successful since her first hunt. Once she knew the ropes and learned to trust her instincts, it seemed to come as easy as breathing. Seconds later, she had her fangs deep into the animal as it softly laid down for her to feed on. She never tortured them, charming them first with her antidote to ease their final moments before draining their life out of them.
Varos loved that about her. Even after she’d been turned, her gentle nature remained. Not once had she thought about letting her beast take control.
He knelt next to her and combed his fingers through her hair. “Well done, my little dove. You did fantastic.”
She hummed as the deer’s body fell heavy and its soul left its body.
“Beautiful,” he praised once more.
She sat up and gently laid the deer’s head on the moss beneath them. “It feels different having to kill them yourself. I never gave it much thought, just bought the meat at the store and then ate it. But this…” She trailed off her fingers running through its fur .
“I think you are giving them a calm end without suffering.”
With her weight now against him, Avalon closed the deer’s eyes. “I try to. I want them to know I appreciate it.”
“Rest assured, their last moments are the most peaceful they’ve had in their lives.”
Avalon sat still for a moment before standing and observing her surroundings. “Marcus might be home by the time we get back.”
Marcus had left the day before to go on his own special hunt. After a month in isolation, Marcus needed to leave. Avalon had been very receiving of his needs, though she made it clear that she wouldn’t be joining. She didn’t mind them giving in to those urges, but she wouldn’t. It had been a long, open conversation in which neither of the sides had judged.
They took their time hiking back, Avalon taking in the surrounding nature and the beautiful landscapes. Alaska was picturesque, and she spent most of her days in the wild. When they weren’t hunting, Lysander trailed along, relishing in the quiet moments he’d been ignoring for years. Avalon had brought peace to them in a wonderful, loving way that they’d been missing for centuries.