Chương 10: Chapter Ten
Chapter Ten
I wake to the sound of birds. Seagulls specifically. My limbs are sore, but I’m able to move them. I groan when I realize I currently have a face full of fur. I pat Kia, letting her know I’m awake. She doesn’t move so I try to push her. She pushes down harder on me, silencing me. Mainly because her fur is in my mouth now.
“I don’t know where she went.” That is Alek’s voice. “The Valkyrie spotted these drag marks, but I can’t pick up a scent trail. It’s like it vanished. Where would she have gone from here?”
“Why did she even leave?” Silas asks.
“That’s like asking why the Goddess’s even let that man exist. No one knows, and you’ll need to talk to the source to even get close to the right answer. My guess is that she was running from that piece of filth. I’m still kicking myself over it.”
“If she’s running from him, wouldn’t it be safer to be where she’s surrounded by guards? No, I think she’s looking for him.”
“She’s not that stupid.” Alek says, giving more thought to his next answer. “Maybe he came after her and she got away again? If he is claiming her as his mate, then he’s not going to be far from her.”
“We don’t know that for sure,” Silas responds in a hard tone. “Alier said Senja said Greyson was able to use a shapeshifter’s ability by drinking its blood. Do you think he used it again and tried to go after her in the infirmary?”
“How can he even do that?” Alek demands. “I know you can’t do that, and I don’t think your old man can or you.”
“I don’t know.” Silas yells, where I then hear a sudden crack.
“Careful. This is balham country. You’ll be dead before you see them, so do not offend them. I’m not surprised that Senja chose to surface in Aqina. The balham are especially protective of her.”
“What if we track Kia then?”
Alek snorts. “Good luck with that. Balhams have scent pockets in their feet that cover their smell to others, but other balhams can pick up on it.”
He groans. “Where would she have gone?”
“How should I know?”
“You dated her!” Silas snaps.
“Yeah, and look how well our breakup is going.” Alek barks back.
“To be fair, you kind of deserve it. Why did you want to break up anyway?”
“Because she wasn’t the one I wanted to spend my life with. She’s perfect on paper for me, and was once my best friend, but I never held passion for her. Also, with her being her, her role was much higher than I could measure up to.”
“Then why didn’t you tell her that? Did you really have to break up with her like that? Then, you know, get her disowned?”
“Yeah, I could have probably done all of that a little bit better.” Alek sheepishly admits.
“Ya think?” Silas snaps. “Now think. Where would she go?”
“I still think she’s with the balham for safety.”
“Hiding is not Senja’s style.” Silas argues. “She’s likely going to find Greyson.”
“You said that already,” Alek responds in a singsong voice.
“I know,” Silas growls. “These are drag marks, and they also have some hints of blood. She’s hurt. I know that much. What dragged her out was either an enemy, or a friend.”
“Or this might not even be hers.”
“It’s her scent. It’s hers.”
“And how would you know this? You’re not a werewolf, nor lycan. If you know her scent, you’d have to memorize it.”
“And you didn’t?”
“I haven’t seen her in thirty years, and I had no interest in remembering it.” Alek says, making my eyes roll. I sure knew how to pick them.
“Why are you so mean when it comes to Senja?” Silas demands
Alek lets out a long breath. “Let me tell you something Silas; falling in love with her is the worst mistake you can make, because there is nothing you can do to get over her. The only way you can, is by convincing yourself you hate her.” Alek waits a minute before speaking again. “Don’t think I didn’t notice. She’s impressive, don’t get me wrong, but she’s destined to someone Aquanian, not vampire.”
“What do you mean?”
“One of the things Senja is running from, is an arranged marriage. Alier has managed to talk her parents into allowing suitors and experimenting with potential mates. However, it’s going to be the same thing that happened thirty years ago. The second Senja starts showing affection for someone, her parents will start hounding them and drive them away. It’s why I never knew her true feelings for me, and why she always appears hostile. She’s never been allowed to show true vulnerability to anyone.”
“Why do they keep insisting she looks for a mate then?”
“Mostly to drag her down. They figure after enough heartbreak; she’ll give in and marry their choice.”
“That’s insane,” Silas says while I still try to move Kia.
“That’s Senja. There is no way to handle her, you can only wear her down.”
“That doesn’t sound like a good idea.”
“Give it another three decades and she’ll start listening to her parents’ wishes.” After another moment of silence. “If she makes it that long.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means, if this Greyson doesn’t kill her, her parents are going to force her into the throne. Senja will be a century in a few months, the age the Goddess’s have selected Senja to reach her full power. If Greyson successfully mates with her by then, then the power of the Gods will be in his hands. If she doesn’t take the throne then the Goddess’s power will be lost until someone else can be chosen.”
“Why can’t they wait until another is chosen?”
“Because the last one was selected fifteen hundred years ago, and the others have taken their thrones. All centuries older. Only when all of the Gods and Goddess’s Chosens’ are assembled, can Diestra be united. Shouldn’t you know this?” Alek asks, an annoyed tone in his voice. “Your old man is the Vampire Chosen, and so are the current rulers, besides the Aquanians. Without Senja, you’re pointless.”
“So if Senja dies…”
“We all do,” Alek answers.
“And if I die?”
“We all do,” Alek answers, “though without you there is no chance. Which means, we should head back and reassess our plans. Besides, your father’s men will be here in a matter of hours. If you don’t want the balham to get you, they will.”
“I’m not worried about him. I’m worried about Senja,” Silas says, as I hear pacing in the sand.
“What you should worry about, is who is hunting her. He obviously attempted to make a claim. He doesn’t know her breeding, or he would have known where to bite her. Then next time, we won’t be that lucky.”
“Alek, you’re a genius!” Silas yells. “Grab your things. I know where we’re going next.”
Kia finally lets me get up at that point. I sit up as I gasp for breath. “What is wrong with you?” I hiss at her. “You could have killed me.”
“Did you hear something?” Silas asks as Kia stands.
“Where do you think you’re going?” I whisper as I try to hold her back by her saddle packs, realizing she released me since she’s going to come out of hiding. “Get your furry ass back here,” I hiss as she steps out of hiding, taking my clothes with her. “Kia!” I hiss.
In a matter of seconds she’s out of my sights. I groan internally and sink back down into the grass. I hear Kia growling followed by Alek yelling; “Where did she come from?”
“Kia get back here!” Silas yells as Kia snarls.
“She bit me!” Alek yells while Kia’s growls deepen.
I facepalm. “Kia, sevane!”
“Senja?” The boys both yell as Kia lets out a warning yell. Ah, they stepped close to our hiding spot. That’s why she came out. I hear Kia take an audible snap.
“What is with her?” Silas yells.
“She’s protecting her cub.” Alek yells, “Senja call her off.”
“If I had clothes, I’d think about it.” I call back, just slightly annoyed by this. She nearly suffocated me to try to hide me, but the second they got closer she reveals our location.
“Where are your clothes?” Silas yells while Kia growls a warning.
“Senja!” Alek begs.
“Oh alright, look away.” I say as I stand up, well aware my muscles are still in a bit of pain. I put my hand on my hips as I look at Kia. Her ears are back as she’s crouched low, getting ready to bite Alek and Silas. Both have their eyes covered.
“Kia sevane!” I bark, giving her my order in a direct tone, my eyes growing slightly brighter to assert dominance over her. She whimpers as she comes back to me.
I kiss the top of her head as I rub it, using her body for cover. “Good girl.” I kiss her head again and grab my clothes from her saddle packs. I start getting dressed. I put on a seafoam green wrap that covers my breasts, and a matching pair of shorts that cut off just below my butt, but I have a skirt train attached that goes to the back of my knees for cover.
“You can look now.” I say as I step out from the bushes.
“Where have you been?” Alek demands as I walk to the edge of the sea, ignoring them and looking out at it. He’s right. I did get to Aqina.
“In those bushes,” I say as I turn around, feeling a shift in the air. I’m going to hate this part.
“Why did you leave?”
“I believe Silas knows the answer to that one.” I say, feeling my back warm. “Kia, Intara.”
“Know what?” Silas demands.
“I’m hunting him. Now I get to find out what he is.” I kneel on one knee at that point as I feel my magic pull the wind up.
“No you don’t!” Alek yells as I push off, allowing my wings to spread. He misses my legs by a breath. “Get back here.”
“Only if you catch me,” I say as I start climbing in the air, making my wings push. Time to find some answers. Let’s see what I can find at the Aullirian Library.
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