6. Dravik #2
Turning slowly, I take in the two-ton orange bull standing near the tunnel exit.
Puffs of smoke plume from his two massive nostrils as he angrily paws at the ground.
His eyes glow a bright orange as he opens his mouth wide, letting out another bellow before lowering his head and aiming his horns straight at me.
Rufus.
Rufus is my familiar, and he hates us. He only tolerates us when we give him treats—and even then, it's only for a moment. As long as I’ve been bound to him, Rufus has been a violent, angry bastard, and we have all done our best to avoid him.
And now he’s here.
Nyx and I look at each other, our faces paling.
“Gods help us.”
“What’s wrong?” Willow asks, stepping forward.
“No!” we both yell, hauling her back before she gets too close.
Intrigued, Rufus raises his head, taking Willow in with large, wary eyes.
“Who is that?” Willow asks. “He’s so cute!”
“That’s Rufus. My familiar,” I say. “He fucking hates me.”
“Not just you,” Nyx points out. “He hates us all. He lives to torment us. Unless we’re giving him treats. He likes the honey buns from your world best.”
“Aw. That’s kind of cute,” Willow says.
“Yeah. Except we don’t have honey buns.” Nyx’s expression is grave.
“Okay. Here’s the plan…” I look around the space for an exit. “Nyx, I’m going to distract his big, dumb ass, and you take Willow and run.”
“Deal.” Nyx is already reaching for her. “I will remember your sacrifice, brother.”
“Oh my God, would you two stop being so dramatic!” Willow says. “He looks friendly!”
“That’s how he tricks you.” Rhune shivers. “He’s a vicious, grumpy bastard. He will gore you if you so much as look at him wrong. He’s a bad bull. A very bad bull.”
As if offended by this statement, Rufus lets out an angry bellow, and Rhune spreads his wings in front of Willow. “I’ll protect you with my life, my Willow.”
He comes at us fast for something his size. Head down, he shoves against my shoulder, hard enough that I stumble back into the wall. I catch myself, already bracing to grab him by the horns if I have to, but he's not paying attention to me anymore. He's looking at Willow.
“Careful, Rhune! Don’t make any sudden movements…”
Willow must not have heard because she's already wriggling free of Rhune's embrace. She slips free before he can tighten his grip and steps into Rufus’s path.
"Willow, no—" Rhune reaches for her, but it’s too late.
She steps within inches of his horns, and every muscle in my body locks up in terror. Gods, no…
Instead of attacking, Rufus lowers his massive head and noses her shoulder gently. It’s nothing like the shove he just gave me. It’s almost… loving.
My brothers and I look at each other, all of us scared to move.
Willow isn’t scared, though. She reaches up and scratches the flat of his forehead, right between his eyes, and even smiles as she does it.
Females are truly terrifying creatures…
Rufus leans into her hand, eyes sliding shut, enjoying every moment of her touch. I've known this bull for as long as I’ve been alive, and he's never once let any of us pet him without trying to take an arm off. But with Willow, he welcomes it. It’s incredible.
“See? He’s not a bad bull. He’s good. Aren’t you, Rufus?" She grins widely.
Rufus moos, and his front legs leave the ground in a show of happiness.
Nyx, Rhune, and I stand off to the side, mouths open. I'm just as stunned as they are, unable to believe what I'm seeing.
She tamed Rufus.
“Unbelievable,” Nyx says. “How did you do that?”
“Do what?” Willow giggles as Rufus licks her cheek, the sound filling the air and wrapping my heart in warmth. “He just wanted some love.”
“No. Rufus wanted blood,” I say. “Until he saw you.”
Rufus gently nudges her backward, and Willow lets out a little squeal as she falls back onto the bed. Sasu, Circe, and Kevin crowd around her, pawing impatiently, trying to get her back into bed.
Willow laughs. “I think they all want to snuggle.”
I watch silently as she crawls to the back of the bed, making room for Rufus to settle in at the foot with the other familiars.
He takes up so much space that Sasu ends up curling up on top of his back instead of finding a spot on the furs.
Nyx and Rhune climb in next to her, somehow finding room between all the familiars.
The room quiets around me. Rhune has Willow tucked against his side again, and Nyx is already half asleep with one wing draped over both of them protectively.
I stay at the edge of the bed instead of in it. I don’t belong there. Not now. Not yet.
The pot is still behind my back, and my arm has gone stiff from holding it this long. I still don't have the courage to give it to her, and I’m starting to think I never will.
Ironic, considering I pride myself on my unwavering courage. But with Willow, I’m softer. Weaker. I don’t know what to do about it, what to do with these feelings.
Instead of staying and breaking my own heart further, I turn and quietly exit the room, leaving them to their happiness.
I go looking for Cin by scent, the same way I'd track anything else, and it leads me to a room a few doors down. The empty space looks unused.
Cin is crouched in the corner of the room, hiding his face in the shadows. Noox is curled around his throat like a necklace, his iridescent scales catching the faint light pulsing from the exposed root spreading through the walls.
“How are you feeling?” I ask, cautiously approaching. Cin has grown more volatile over the past few cycles, and I never truly know which version of him I’ll encounter. My brother or the monster that lives inside him.
Thankfully, when he faces me, his eyes are clear. “I’ve been… better.” He turns away, closing off his expression. “I had to leave for her safety,” he says. “I don’t… I can’t control it when I’m around her. I’m worried that I’ll snap, and…”
“It’s okay. You don’t have to explain it to me, Cin.” He’s afraid he’ll try to kill her again.
He nods slowly. “I think I’d like to be alone now, if you don’t mind.”
“You sure?”
“Positive.” A shudder goes through him. “It’s easier to control when I’m alone.”
My heart breaks for him. All of this isolation must be killing him. But it’s not like either of us can do anything about it.
All I can do is obey his wishes.
“Call if you need me. Okay?”
Cin nods, but I know he won’t.
I leave the room and stop just outside the door. The plant is heavy in my hands, and I stand there staring down at it. I stay like that for a long while, only raising my head to gaze down the passage, back toward the room where Willow sleeps between my brothers.
I don't understand how someone so small could have such a big impact on us all.
I want her more than I know what to do with, and no amount of fighting it has made it easier.
If there's one thing I hate more than anything, it's losing control of myself.
But I'm starting to think losing her would be worse. Far, far worse.
So I’ll do everything in my power to keep her safe.
And maybe, one day, I’ll make her mine.