21. Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-One
Rune howled and stumbled back. The cracking jerked his limbs and his back. Then it stopped.
The beast panted, his head low.
“I’m sorry, I don’t know—” Finding the words to apologize was impossible. I don’t even know what happened or if I caused him pain.
The werewolf steadied himself. Blue eyes lifted my way.
“Rune.” My voice broke and before I could blink, thick furry arms wrapped around me. Not so tight that I’d break… just holding me close. Like a werewolf hug.
Something inside me flowed out, like the fear I wouldn’t be able to handle this. That Rune’s werewolf would kill me.
Searching for him in the middle of the night, a dangerous werewolf, to know if this... thing. The living, breathing draw between myself and a male I barely knew, yet recognized every inch of him. Inside and out. Fae shaped and beast.
Whatever this unyielding force was, I knew it was worth pursuing.
Rune lifted me up and placed me on his arm. My face level with his at full height.
“Uh, hi there, big guy.” I waved, and the beast rolled his eyes.
A werewolf rolled his eyes at me. If that didn’t scream Rune, then I don’t know what did.
“Well, I came out there to find you. To um... see if this side of you liked me.” It was strange talking to a werewolf. Could he even talk back?
Rune huffed and stomped his foot. The ground beside us shook and rocks from the earth shot into the air then landed in the grass. Placing my hand against his broad shoulder, I leaned over and smiled.
“You’re mine.”
He spelled you’re mine with rocks for me.
“You can control the earth in this form too. That’s fascinating.” And scary. Very scary actually. Not only did enemies need to fear his fangs, claws, strength, and body. But he could manipulate the ground while ripping you to shreds.
“I wonder if I could turn into a werewolf too. I mean we’ve touched.” I closed my eyes and focused on my core. Peeking through one eye on the skin of my arm. I wondered what I’d look like. Maybe I’d have brown fur, or would it be black like his since I absorbed Rune’s core magic.
The werewolf shook his head, his ears shifting around while he held me. He was so strong.
“It was worth a try.” I wiggled and looked down. What now?
Rune made the decision and started walking at a normal pace.
“You look handsome, by the way.” I yawned. The swaying in his arms, soft fur brushing against me, and the warmth radiating off his body soothed the tension in my body.
His gaze darted to me then focused on the trees ahead.
A body lay contorted and ripped with fresh blood in the weeds. I wanted to feel bad for Harron, but the gnawing sensations in my stomach from guilt never came. Verin’s soldiers were after me and I wasn’t sure why, but he was willing to give me up, his princess.
“This makes two attacks from Verin’s soldiers in the past month. I wonder what the urgency is.” My father was heading near the evil king’s land soon. Did he know more and hid the information from me? My mother never kept things from me unless it was important, but maybe they were both in on it.
Thoughts rolled through my head, and I couldn’t stop them.
Rune said nothing while holding me close. My fingers scratching the fur on his arm without realizing it.
Rustling leaves and sticks breaking snapped me back into reality. Grazing deer saw Rune and raced away. Come to think of it, wherever we walked, there were no owls hooting, or creatures I’d seen earlier.
As impossible as it was, the woods themselves appeared to give Rune space. Turning to look behind us, there were definitely lower branches we should have hit.
Did the trees clear a path for the beast?
A shiver raced up my spine and Rune looked me over.
“I’m okay.”
Ahead, the moonlight vanished and I had to squint to make out where Rune was taking me.
“Is that a cave?”
It was.
Rune gently placed me on the ground and nudged me forward with a whine and a nod. I think that was him asking nicely for me to walk into the cave first.
There were no lights, and the walls at my fingertips were damp.
“I wish I knew how to use my father’s fire power. Then I’d light our path, but I’ve never been able to conjure it. He says it’s just a hard power to feel.”
The darkness felt heavy, but not in a frightening way. More like it was past my typical bedtime and the inky black wrapped around me like a blanket.
A thunderous sound echoed from ahead and made me pause. Rune huffed and nudged me forward as gently as a massive beast could.
Sparkling light danced along the edge of the cave walls, the noise growing louder, and louder.
A waterfall.
We were in a cave behind the waterfall near the palace. I stepped closer. With some help from the moonlight, I saw a rocky climb around the edge of the falls leading home.
Rune brought me back to the palace.
“Making sure I got home without being eaten by the big bad wolf?” I teased and turned just as big werewolf arms snatched me up and lowered his big body to the ground with me nestled against him.
“You’re such a softy.” I giggled and he snarled. Which only made me laugh more.
“So, I’m to be snuggled in your arms until the sun rises?” My head rested against his chest, the sound of his breaths and heartbeat drowned out the falls.
His answer was to squeeze me tighter and nuzzle my neck.
“Goodnight, Rune.” I yawned and allowed a werewolf to snuggle me into the morning.
***
“Sapphira!”
“Sapphira, please hear me.”
“Sapphira, I have fresh focaccia.”
Nyx’s voice came from the edge river and woke me up.
I stirred and a very male, and furless arm tightened around me.
Puffs of soft breath caressed my shoulder. Rune was fast asleep in Fae form.
“Sapphira, come on. Your father wanted to see you for breakfast.”
Looks like my time with a werewolf was over.
Rune remained asleep as I gently lifted his arm and crawled away.
Or so I thought.
“You know my hearing is beyond that of typical Fae with the earth vibrations, and the beast.”
He peeked at me through sleepy eyes and a half grin.
I stood and looked over the path around the waterfall. “I’ve gotta go, but we should talk.”
“The change is tiring. I’ll be taking movements slow.”
That made sense.
“I’ll meet you here in three hours.” I wanted to talk without potential audiences, and this cave seemed perfect. Rune nodded with a yawn.
“Maybe get some more sleep. You had a rough night killing enemies.” I winked and darted from behind the waterfall.
Nyx was standing at least a hundred feet away with her head in her hands when she noticed me.
“Okay. Thank goodness.” She exhaled, then groaned.
“Your father wanted to have breakfast with you, but I made up a lie that you had a sour stomach to buy time. But it seemed important so we’ve gotta get you ready or my ass is getting a disappointed look from your parents.”
She wrapped her hand around mine and we started walking.
“Why are you smiling? You know they could technically order me away. One bad fashion call, or not waking you up at the proper time, Nyx is gone.” My friend waved her free arm around dramatically.
I smiled. They wouldn’t ship her off. Even if they wanted to, I wouldn’t allow it.
The only way Nyx could leave was if she wanted to. Even then, I may bribe her with pretty dresses and baked goods.