Chapter 44 Ashwiyaa
Chapter forty-four
Ashwiyaa
“Protect those who protect you. Loyalty is everything.”
Seraphina disappeared into the woods an hour ago, joining Talon and Astraea in their playful escapades.
I know she won’t go far, and that she is safe so long as she stays on pack lands.
Plus, I know Astraea and Talon can keep her safe.
The young girl is different; there’s something uniquely otherworldly about her.
There is no doubt that she’s more than just a legacy.
The blood of Tuatha de Danann or, as some know it, Tribe of the Gods, runs thick through her veins.
Astraea will surpass all of us in powers and abilities.
I just hope she survives her Renascitur.
I pick up a handful of stones, rolling them between my fingers, their cool, smooth surfaces grounding me in the present.
With a flick of my wrist, I skip them across the water.
The rhythmic plink-plink-plink of the stones touching the surface brings a small, fleeting sense of peace.
The slow flow of the river, shimmering under the afternoon sun, is calming and tranquil, a stark contrast to the chaos that defined my time in Faerie.
As I watch the stones disappear beneath the gentle ripples, I reflect on how far I’ve come. My body really took a beating—I’ve never been so battered and bruised in my life. The deep gashes and bruises have faded to mere memories etched on my skin.
We’ll be heading back to Boulder tonight. As I think about it, a sense of resolve hardens in my chest. This time, things will be different. This time, I’ll reach out to the Kotov brothers. If they want Seraphina, they can come to me for a change. I’m done playing by their rules.
Kai is in Portland with Nesrin and Lukas, securing a car to get us out of here and stocking up on supplies.
It’s going to be a long drive from Portland to Boulder.
Kai promised to buy a phone so I could get in touch with Penn once we hit the road.
I know Demitri will be furious with me for being late and not getting in touch, but it’s not entirely my fault.
I sigh and close my eyes, letting my senses drift on the wind.
Though it’s peaceful out here and the air is cool, there’s tension in it, like the calm before a storm. I can feel it in my bones.
“You’re more powerful now.”
“You have nothing to worry about now that you have let us in,” the voices whisper in my head.
I crouch down by the water’s edge, dipping my fingers into the cool, clear stream. The sensation is refreshing, invigorating. It washes away the remnants of my fatigue, a gentle reminder of the healing power of nature.
“I’m sorry I locked you away for so long,” I finally reply.
“You were scared.”
“And alone. With no guidance from your tribe.”
My heart still aches every time I think about them—my tribe, my chief, and my family. It’s a deep, gnawing pain that never truly goes away, no matter how much time has passed.
I used to believe in them so completely. My tribe was my home, my sanctuary, the place where I thought I belonged. The chief was a figure I respected, someone I looked up to. And my family . . . they were my world, the people who were supposed to stand by me no matter what.
But they all turned their backs on me—the way they looked at me, not with love or understanding, but with fear, with judgment.
The truth of what I am was too much for them, and instead of standing by me, they abandoned me to face it alone.
“It’s okay, child. You’re allowed to feel that bitter pang of loneliness that comes from being cast out by those who were supposed to love you unconditionally.”
“But you have a new pack now. Kai is your mate, and you belong with him.”
“He is your home.”
I respond with a soft hum and rise to my feet, my gaze fixed on the fish gracefully swimming in the river.
The wind gently tousles my hair, causing it to cascade over my face.
Immersed in the enchanting beauty of nature, I raise my hand and skillfully weave my long ebony locks into a seamless braid, relishing the smooth texture as my fingers glide through the silky strands.
As I quiet my mind, I let the world around me melt into the background.
The forest comes alive in my heightened senses—rustling leaves, the soft padding of creatures moving through the underbrush, the distant call of an owl.
Each sound, each movement, sharpens my instincts, guiding my attention to every flicker of life in the shadows.
But there’s something else—a subtle hum at the edge of my consciousness, growing louder with each passing second.
My mind latches onto it, dissecting the layers of noise until it becomes clear.
A car. The engine roars through the silence, its speed too fast, too reckless.
This isn’t Nesrin and Lukas; I would recognize their careful approach.
And besides, there’s no trace of Kai’s energy.