37. Esther #3
It suddenly makes sense why Regent is not confined to chanting to cast magic. It stands to reason why beasts naturally appreciate him, and how he has a way to soothe those blessed by Neina. And why Felia blessed were wiser than to come close unless ready to fight.
We are two sides of the same coin. My hand clutches the double-sided talisman at my breasts.
Regent is a child of the gods, as are all demigods created to watch over the temples they’re birthed from. But how did he become trapped in the body of a greer?
None of this I’ll find out tonight. It’s with an acute understanding that although I’m familiar with the faint wisp of his magic, this is not the Regent I know. The beast before me is all predator.
“I won’t hurt you,” I say although I’m not sure he understands. And why should he? Someone such as me, Felia blessed, is in every way his adversary. He should fear me, and as I see the panic in those large coppery eyes, I see it there. His weakness. The vulnerability. Dread.
I take the blade at my waist, and his claws dig into the dirt, his canines even more fierce as I gently put the blade on the ground and kick it to the side. Another drop of water echoes through the cave. The blue of his markings ripple against the water.
“I’m not going to hurt you. You know me.” I take another step forward, determined, as I let my magic become curious about his. The beast flicks his gaze back and forth, sensitive to my magic. It lets out another half-assed warning, canines still bared.
I make my way to the center of the cave, giving him space to run around me, if he so chooses, because I know more than most not to cage a beast. And then I sit, turning my back to him.
Adrenaline pumps through my veins, my heart racing. I’m not entirely defenseless with water at my disposal, but deep in my heart, I know he won’t hurt me.
“It’s cold this evening,” I say, lying on my side with my back to him. “So, if you’re going to complain about my company, at least keep me warm in the process because I’m not going anywhere.”
I look through the reflection of water glistening down the wall as Grimace curiously creeps toward the beast. He looks down on Grimace like he could squish him within seconds. Grimace sits on his back legs, and hocks, once, then twice, offering him a red flower.
A smile touches my lips, a blooming sense of pride for my little beast communicating peace. If my beast can do it, I certainly expect this demigod to do the same. Whether he recognizes me or not, surely there’s a primal tug that he can sense, just like I can.
Millions of thoughts rattle through my mind as to how Regent ended up cursed.
How does he look upon his land now that it falls into decay when he himself is the harvest god, meant to bring divine abundance?
Is this part of his reasoning and hatred for man?
The reason why he stays hidden, not only to stay away from humans, but to also hide his presence.
How long has he been walking this path alone?
Is it only on the full moon that he reverts to his godly form?
Does this change anything for me?
My heart pounds wildly as I ask myself that question.
I’ve ignored this tension between us, tried my hardest to rebuke it as sexual chemistry, but now?
Our magic mingles all the same, and I clutch at the talisman hanging at my chest. Regent is special to me, but I’m not sure if it’s because he’s the opposition to my magic, or if it’s because of something else entirely.
The ground shifts with small noises scraping as I look through the water’s reflection, watching as the great beast slowly prowls toward me. I hold onto the talisman, praying that he doesn’t reject me.
Hoping that his most primal instinct isn’t to kill me, as it should be when two strong beings of Neina and Felia meet.
Heat radiates behind me, and the beast slowly lowers. His fur is as smooth as silk brushing against me, eliciting the hair on my arms to rise. I wait a moment until the beast falls into steady breathing, his hot breath flushing down my back.
With extreme caution, I turn, meeting the gaze of a beast who has been protecting me since I arrived to this continent. I slowly reach my hand up, bristling my small fingers against his jaw, admiring his beauty.
Regent nuzzles in, the low rumble of his purr settling a peace and acceptance within me. A knowing that I want to protect him at all costs, with the gutting truth that this is the curse Regent wants broken. Most likely so he can return to his former glory.
That once I fulfill our deal, he and I will part ways, and selfishly, that makes me sad.
But I want more than anything to give him what he deserves as much as he promises to protect me, so that I can find my vengeance.
Whoever did this to him will suffer.
“Your secret is safe with me,” I whisper, petting him. A flood of relief and pain bubbles to the surface, knowing that the longer I take to unlock each element, the more pain it will bring him.
I need to free him.
But also, I’m scared to let go.