Chapter 28
As soon as their voices disappeared deeper into the belly of the mountain, Carwyn sprinted in the other direction. Not in fear – she knew Kier would protect her – but simply to avoid conflict until Selene calmed and he resolved any misgivings the dragoness had.
She took a perch at the entrance of the cave and watched the rippling water in the distance to pass the time.
As she listened to the calming, energetic crash of waves against the side of the mountain, a few seagulls flew past, squawking horridly as they did, while the smell of brine refreshed her senses.
It was still early morning, so she was forced to sit in the shade. But it wasn’t the cold she shuddered from.
Even in human form, she’s frightening.
With her back against the cave wall, barely an hour passed before she sensed movement from inside. It was impossible to miss the sound of heavy paws as they approached.
Carwyn quickly scrambled to her feet to greet them properly, and to close the distance so she wasn’t at risk of accidentally being thrown off the cliff’s edge if Selene turned on her.
She imagined the dragoness would be overly volatile, all things considered.
Carwyn intended to offer her as much forgiveness and grace as humanly possible due to what had happened to her.
Both dragons were huge, forcing her to uncomfortably crane her head to meet their gazes. She connected eyes with Kier, reading them to make sure it was safe before shifting her focus to Selene.
She forced a weak smile, not wishing to be overly joyful in case it came across as insensitive towards her plight, but she also didn’t want to seem disinterested.
“Hello,” she greeted, nodding her head in respect.
She’d learned enough about Selene by dream walking to know she was high-handed and prideful.
She’d probably prefer Carwyn to kneel, but she wasn’t willing to put herself on such a feeble level, as that would likely disgust the dragoness at the same time.
“I’m Carwyn. It’s good to finally see you walking around. ”
Selene’s gaze narrowed on her before cutting to Kier at her side, who quickly rounded to be between them in a neutral position.
“She can tell us apart.”
Kier chuckled lightly. “I told you, she’s perceptive.”
Selene rolled her eyes. “Yes, but even dragonkind struggle to tell us apart.” She flapped a paw at Carwyn. “She noticed straight away.”
“You have larger spikes than him,” Carwyn answered. “Your eyes are also a different colour of red.”
She’d been looking too deeply into Kier’s for days to not be able to spot the difference. His were like rubies, hers like cherries. Selene grumbled and shook her head around, seemingly both displeased and delighted at the same time.
“I have always hated how people confuse us. We look nothing alike,” the black-scaled dragoness stated haughtily...
next to her brother who nearly mirrored her.
She lowered her large head to be at a closer level to Carwyn.
“I believe I owe you an apology. After Kier’s recount of events and learning how much you have sacrificed to wake me, it wasn’t deserved. ”
A genuine smile filled Carwyn’s face as relief crashed through her like the waves against the rocks below. “I imagine you were disorientated when you woke.”
“Yes, well...” Selene rolled her head in a disgruntled fashion. “After everything dark witches have done to me, I think I had every right to be infuriated when I thought I saw one standing over me.”
Carwyn’s smile turned into a grimace, and she peeked at Kier due to the tiniest growl rumbling from his chest. She brought her gaze back to the dragoness, surprised that she was willing to bring it up so carelessly.
“I’m truly sorry for everything you have gone through. I can’t imagine how–”
“Cease,” Selene stated sternly. “Your apologies do nothing to quell my anger, and I don’t wish to hear them uttered by someone who had no part in it. I’m satisfied with the fact that Kier has already disposed of them and protected me from their wicked intentions.”
Carwyn widened her eyes at him. “You did?”
His lids lowered in annoyance. “Of course. How do you think I brought her here? You didn’t think I’d let them live after what they did to my own kin, did you? Besides, they knew where her lair was.”
Yes, but... her inner thoughts whispered. I didn’t know you did it by yourself.
That would mean he took on a coven – one that she’d seen in Selene’s memories was strong – on his own. Just how formidable is he?
“The point is,” Selene interjected, “he has informed me that you aren’t a threat. I also wish to thank you properly and apologise for any hurt I caused you – although that was your fault for courting your own death.”
“Selene,” Kier warned darkly.
“What?” she complained, shooing him with a paw. “Balor knew such risks when he went frolicking. Dream walkers have no one else to blame but themselves if they get hurt doing something so invasive.”
“Perhaps you should have stayed asleep,” he threw at her.
Selene lifted a paw to inspect her pristine, glossy-black claws. “I would’ve haunted you in your dreams, Nightmare.”
A small laugh broke from Carwyn. Selene cocked a brow, whereas Kier turned a puzzled frown at her.
“What?” she asked around a mouthful of giggles. “She’s funny.”
“Ugh. No, don’t take her side.”
A vicious, fang-filled grin pulled Selene’s maw upwards. “I see female camaraderie is also present in witches.”
“Sure is.”
Kier let his head tip back as a groan fell from him, and Carwyn’s laughter deepened. Neither one of them needed to know it was also bubbles of relief that her first official meeting with Selene was going so well.
A squeal tore out of her when he smacked his tail against the back of her ankles, and her feet came out from under her. She fell onto her arse, lips parted in disbelief.
“Be careful. You’re much smaller and easier to pick on.”
She puffed out her cheeks, but her annoyance quickly faded at his answering chuckle. This was good. Light-hearted.
I guess this is a good sign that I might be able to continue my journey, Carwyn thought as she climbed to her feet once Kier held out a singular, huge claw as support. Then she brushed the dirt off her skirt and backside. If Selene looks upon me fondly, it’ll be easier to convince her to let me go.
Admittedly, she’d been nervous things would be delayed in having to convince her. Carwyn never considered the improbability that she wouldn’t have her freedom, not now that she and Kier were getting along so well and he would help her plight. It’d just become a matter of when, not if.
She gave the dragoness another smile.
Selene wasn’t looking upon Carwyn, but rather at Kier’s retracting finger.
Kier approached Selene, who lay at the entrance to his cave.
By her tapping tail, he knew it displeased her that she wasn’t basking in the hot sunshine. The ongoing storm outside seemed fitting, especially as it flashed with white before giving a satisfying, energetic boom amongst the cloudy horizon.
From the moment his sister had awoken two days ago, the gods had decided to share in her inner turmoil and offer a mirror to her heart and mind.
The fact that she had remained so long without returning to her own lair was telling in itself.
Even if on the surface she acted as though nothing was amiss.
But he knew the mighty ShadowStalker, and her lack of independence was duly noted.
Every hunt she wanted to enact, she forced him to accompany her. She slept by his side, or under his treasure in the next alcove if he sought his bed of coal. She ate with him, when in the past she’d often told him she found his quick and messy mannerisms off-putting.
She hadn’t given him a moment of peace to be alone with the other female in his home either.
He was both irritated and thankful for that.
He wanted to spend time with Carwyn, but alone, with Selene out of his lair – even if only for a short period so they could have true privacy.
The moment he had it, the first thing he planned was to get under that pretty female’s skirt, especially as she flitted around his fucking home like a delicious meal he wanted to sink his fangs and cock into.
At the same time, he knew the little witch’s stares were simmering with frustration. There was an unspoken question on her tongue he wanted to avoid.
She wants me to ask Selene about her leaving, he thought, plopping down next to his sister on his belly and mirroring her position.
And he... well, he refused to give them a moment together without him to speak of the blood debt.
It was a delicate task of everyone getting in each other’s way, although Selene only did this due to what she’d gone through.
He shouldn’t have been so surprised by her next words.
“I’ve been reconsidering that male, Malachite.”
Kier’s brow cocked at the sight of her pensive and faraway gaze. “I thought you didn’t like any of the males I presented to you.”
Her eyes cut to him. “I was too hasty.”
It concerns me that her mind has gone this way, Kier thought, crossing his arms before placing the side of his jaw in his awaiting palm.
“Why Malachite?”
She waggled her head dismissively. “You were right. He would be quite fitting as a mate.”
Despite the true reasons for it, perhaps this was a small blessing in an otherwise horrid situation.
That male likes her quite a lot. Malachite wasn’t the only male who’d shown an interest in his sister, but he was, in Kier’s opinion, the best contender for winning his stubborn and overbearing sister’s heart.
She was hot-headed, cruel, and daunting. Recalcitrant to a fault, she would absolutely refuse someone lesser than her.
And Malachite the Tempest was definitely not inferior in strength or power. He, however, was ruthless in a cold way, and that was the reason Selene had snubbed him at first.