Chapter 15
Cuvera was super upset that Kiara113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTT9Pg2IyKI
had told him to stay behind while Vander escorted her around the castle. He had113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoo25rojBXD
missed his chance to spend time with her because he was out with Vander, so she113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm4y2i07gO4
wanted to see what all the fuss was about. It felt uncomfortable being between113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnkXpDGJED
the two of them, but he felt like he had less of a choice than the prince did,113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pcp1tzjto
so he did as she had asked. Eliza had opted to stay in as well, mostly to keep113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWAwGW3hw6C
an eye on Cuvera, but also so Vander and the princess could be given privacy. Whatever113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYubrpoGiti
for, he didn’t know, but he expected it would become clear to him soon.
He took all around the castle,113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzROJKMIcc
introduced her to as many servants as possible then she took the time to chat113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsAu2qEd7ea
with them for a couple of minutes to get to know their names as well as what113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7PUhKazl5I
they did around the estate. As the future queen, he thought it was a good idea113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcy9s8N9Ps6
for her to get close to those who served her because, as recent events could113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjKycSBJERf
attest, you never knew who might try to kill you. The tour of the castle ended113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtbMZBJ1yR8
in the middle of the night and in the central garden where only a few were113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ybxRN2pp2
allowed to enter.
“We can go no further.” Vander113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTi0jJjSOPx
said, stopping just on the outside edge of the garden. “This is for the King113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvNd1JYZpx5
and Prince only. Not even the servants are allowed to tidy up in here.”
“Must be a special place.” Kiara113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbx0lu8t0H
beamed. Looking up into the sky, the moon could be seen shining just above the113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjzw4WogQDa
garden giving it a blue-ish hue.
“This was the Queen’s project113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJN0HWh6KM1
before she died.” Vander explained. “It’s the last thing they have from her so113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwayQUL3cFZ
the two of them keep it close.”
“What was she like?” she turned to113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhh4T8v5gpH
look at Vander. “The Queen I mean.”
“I don’t remember much about her.”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmP9xRdt6TE
He admitted. “She died more than a decade ago, I was still young and didn’t get113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOj0nBBws3C
to spend a lot of time with her.” He frowned, trying to remember the last time113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHBukvqu7zD
he had seen her. Kiara didn’t pressure. Instead, she just looked out into the113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOxXcBdBUH
garden with a slight smile on her face. “All I can remember from her is her113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwLykeszbp
smile. It was warm and inviting, it was as if nothing else mattered in that113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5cetpR280L
moment other than her smile.”
“She must have been special.”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1Z6pduhri
Kiara sighed. “I wish I could have met her.”
“She probably would have liked113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzI3mTXPxad
you.” Vander laughed. “She liked everyone.”
“Guess so.” The two of them sat in113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ3G5O8xeQ9
awkward silence for a few minutes. He didn’t want to break it mostly because he113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTilVDTBBfm
didn’t know what else to say to her. Anyone could have taken her around the113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ03SWb5AW3t
castle, including the prince, so why did she want his company? He got his113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡexW4j4IdL1
answer a few moments later when she asked:
“How long have you been the113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxobLssG1W7
Ma’akti Unnatun?” he must have had a confused expression on her face prompting113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHQLHoOP2C
her to laugh. “You don’t try to keep it a secret. I’m surprised more people113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNeU6d0Exa4
don’t know.”
“It’s a closely guarded secret.”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrB7TMWjsDF
He didn’t want to tell her about Veyar’s warnings. It might freak her out, but113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6UNTSUixEI
since she knew who he was, it made no sense to lie to her. “I’ve been with her113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFxfVrAm2L7
for about ten years at this point.” He suddenly wished he had Shea with him.
“I’ve heard the rumors.” She113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZWtxmAhaj
explained. “I wanted to meet the man behind the myth and see if it was true or113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFT2UUBTV0E
not. I had my doubts, but after meeting you in person I can feel her power113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9xqgGUZEn
radiating from inside of you.” he froze.
“Can anyone else?” he asked.
“What do you know of the Bricenian113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzns9stOoO
royal family, Vander?” she asked, changing the subject.
“Not much.” He admitted.
“Our line has long held the power113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Wa2NxpR8E
of sensing the power of the deities.” She explained. “Think of it like a second113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxscbPAZUe
sense. However, mine are heightened even further.” She held out her hand and a113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLT8NQceDOc
small little flame appeared. She quickly snuffed it out before anyone else113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2z6BqCUW7g
could notice.
“You have the blessing of Azta?”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJcBfxWX6AU
he asked.
“That’s something that only Eliza,113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRmgd1voLt
my mother, and I know about.” She smiled sadly. “Not even the man who sired me113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohknFlZpbd
knows this secret.”
“Sired huh?” He leaned back on the113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9TzDPkwkwW
bench. “I guess you have no lost love for your family either huh?” She looked113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡib84IUBU1T
surprised by this admission.
“You and your grandfather seem113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG6cJhy5v2W
close.” She said. “You don’t like him?”
“I wasn’t talking about him.” He113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmlGky19W7Q
clenched his hands. “My father left me when I was born, after my mother died113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7JBI25Eqc6
giving birth to me. My grandfather took me in and raised me here in the palace,113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCdUIvOKfse
but I never got to spend time enjoying myself. I was being molded to take his113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxAb4TOfF6
place, just like Cuvera becoming King at some point.”
“That’s terrible.” She sighed. “At113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg50eZWaXB8
least the commander was there for you. And now you have Shea. How did you two113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJ78TvW1cz
meet anyway?”
“That story and the story with113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXVRWLKBy1Y
Unna are the one and the same.” He said. “Since you already know my secret, I113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsmfXtC2HqY
might as well tell you. It started ten years ago…”
∙
“Come on, move113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0D4J1ZKQRr
faster!” The Blade training captain, Jeremiah, shouted. He was running ahead of113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx9weQner3a
the small group of recruits. Vander was ahead of the group, but his lungs were113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCXVdY31Kcd
beginning to burn with exertion. They had been on this run through the woods113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFibbR4yJB
for an hour now with no sign of slowing down. Some of the recruits had stopped113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60f711dUdC
to rest, only to be left behind. If they stuck to the path, they would be fine,113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9wkxpwx4I3
but you shouldn’t be out after dark. It was dangerous. Jeremiah had stopped at113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmcc3RgomD0
the top of the hill then turned around to watch the struggling recruits.
“Take a break once you get up113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmojd34UZhV
here.” He commanded. “We will wait for the others to catch up.”
“Yes sir!” Those who could shouted113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUpkZjjcwi
at him. The rest just wheezed and waved their hands.
Vander was the second one up the113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gyGW2JCLr
hill. Bree was first and was already drinking heavily from her canteen. She113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJyTx867shF
looked over at him, smiled, then offered him the canteen. Vander wiped his113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKD2remNVf
sweaty black hair off his face and fixed her with a small smile. They passed113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThzVrqWLQd
the canteen back and forth while they waited.
Muun was the third one up the113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBRDfxuE1T
hill. He had removed his coat, wrapping it around his waist, showing off his113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3NTY8PQ7gZ
muscular arms. He was the son of a blacksmith and had been working in the forge113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78aPmgifbR
from the time he was old enough to hold a hammer. He joined the Blades, but he113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPInF5h17m
and Vander had become quick friends, and so Muun had told him that he really113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgSXXQvogrL
wanted to have a farm out in the countryside. He just didn’t want to disappoint113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDGeC1jAGYj
his father.
The fourth one on the hill was113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYyRXDtOZ1S
Leon. He looked over at Vander and Bree. A deep scowl traveled across his face113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3bk6UF7PQe
as he stood as far away from the others as possible sipping his water. Vander113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnojK31Fper
had no idea why Leon hated him so much and when he had tried to talk to him113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WZCfE4gMF
about it, he just scoffed and walked away. If he had to guess it was because he113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXlShIGA02M
was the grandson of the current Blade Commander. Not that it mattered, he113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6k5Ac2z94t
didn’t get any sort of special treatment. If anything, the instructors were113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe636paKhQk
harder on him.
After about thirty minutes of113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbyCX1kN0BO
resting, all but five of the recruits had made it up the hill and Jeremiah was113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Uw0iHbhRJ
getting nervous. He kept looking up at the sky as Humjir started to dip below113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4z55snHbQP
midday. They had to make it back to camp before dark or they would be in113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgs2Gi5VWmd
danger. Jeremiah opened his mouth to give them orders when they heard a loud113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTSQggiu1t
scream coming from the trail behind them.
“Stay here.” Jeremiah shouted. He113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡniUG34y9qV
gripped his sword before running back down the hill at full speed. Bree, Muun113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFZmR4S192
and Vander shared a nervous look. All of the other recruits were muttering to113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsLZZiP8xIo
each other with fear prevalent in their voices. Vander got up from the ground113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZc3ig8Qfhp
to stand next to his friend.
“What do you think is happening?”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqNOPlqlFB
Muun whispered, his blue eyes alite with concern. Vander knew that only two113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsF4OC1nTvl
things would make someone scream like that in the wood: either bandits or a113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpNDbbbofC
shadow beast. They heard another scream, this time a man’s voice, then the iron113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOdjJX4pLth
tang of blood filled the air. Vander recoiled, but the others didn’t notice it.
“I’m going,” Vander said, gripping113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB2dl17jy4j
the metal sword hidden in his scabbard.
“Don’t be an idiot.” Leon snapped.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3CVAse79g
“Captain Jeremiah went to deal with it, you’ll do nothing, but get in the way.”
“As opposed to just sitting here113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkSSptBI14
even when our companions are being hurt?” Muun shook his head, glaring at their113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRVLwlxDV1s
classmate. “I knew you were spineless Leon, but I didn’t think you were a113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlqfBBTwp62
coward.”
“What did you say?” Leon snarled.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡen6W6hJjhN
He drew back his arm to throw a punch, but Bree stepped in.
“Enough.” She spoke. “Leon, look113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxpNtQDigK
after the others up here, the three of us will go down after the captain and113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDDymk0MFPj
see if we could be of some help.”
“Fine,” Leon lowered his hand.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmK3t1ACrGo
“But if you die don’t come complaining to me.” Vander didn’t wait for the113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHNGi3QMwkL
others. He just ran down the hill as fast as he could with the other two113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQvobrPQhv
following behind. The shouts and screams of fear had quieted down, but there113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpiSbBJ3K54
was still the unmistakable smell of blood lingering in the air. Bree and Leon113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8zeOIi2nq
must have noticed it because their faces became pale, but they stayed the113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWAWoTo2UW
course.
Vander followed the smell until he113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ0c80U4ite
noticed that the foliage around them was becoming darker despite the light113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR1Lj8jh2wl
shining through the canopy. Sounds of battle was coming from straight ahead,113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqXJ8ZdtGl0
but the dark gripped everything around them.
“The Dark Forest.” Muun wheezed.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEvwxtCyZBM
He placed his hand on his knees gasping for breath. “How did any of us get lost113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8upLavjSZ
in there?”
“It’s easy to get lost in here.”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjOF2jbwmBM
Bree said. “They probably got off trail and got lost. We should-“ There was113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1cFTqbyvCt
another scream coming from up ahead. However, this time it sounded like113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvEPnEu54M4
Jeremiah. Vander didn’t wait, he just dove through the bushes and into the113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMn0eth2q5x
clearing. What he saw shocked him.
In the clearing was a giant Shadow113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcovCIzdL7s
Beast. Its inky black fur rippled in the setting sunlight as its teeth dripped113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1X2OoFpWGv
with saliva. Blood soaked the ground around it its paws covered in red. The113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbNN2ziDRu
shadow beast was the most dangerous creature in the woods, but they didn’t113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQIXWhFraba
leave the inner circle of the forest which was why they were normally safe.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡolcdLlxKCE
They were the creatures of the dark, created by the Goddess Unna to kill113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVRMR4E4Oz
humanity. And they did a very good job of it.
“Why are you here?” they heard a113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHoNnpu7jSk
man groaning from a tree next to him. Vander turned to see Jeremiah sitting on113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3tmbm6Kgqv
the ground holding his hand to his stomach. Blood dripped between his fingers113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC5ahZI3klK
and his face had gone deathly pale. He didn’t have long to live.
“We didn’t want to stay behind113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6BAVDOZ46b
while you were saving the others.” Muun explained.
“There are no more others.”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf6fawhnaUd
Jeremiah leaned his head back against the tree. His body shook as he coughed,113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITE4prmGPK
blood dribbled down his chin. “The beast got us all and now that it has your113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJehsGfZcae
scent, you’re dead as well.”
“We will have to see about that.”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDooIUhB7i
Vander gripped his iron lump of a sword. He placed it on the ground before113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡinjut4oVaQ
bending down in front of Jeremiah. “I’m going to borrow your sword, Captain.”
“I can’t let you fight that thing,113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrOOde0G3nz
Vander.” Jeremiah’s body trembled. “Your grandfather wouldn’t approve.”
“I can’t hide behind him forever113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMQbJZcS2h
if I’m going to be a Blade.” Vander said. “If we are going to die, I’d rather113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjnd5GPCD4l
do it facing the enemy and not running away.” Jeremiah thought for a moment113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3qq63Tql4
before nodding his head. He gripped his sword and held it out towards him.
“I wish I could have lived long113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqCI9diNXxt
enough to see what kind of Blade you would have become.” As soon as Vander took113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBHHuIp74Ih
the sword, Jeremiah’s eyes dimmed as he died.
“Goodbye Captain,” Vander lowered113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8XYYV7rg4W
the man’s eye lids then bowed his head. A moment later he stood up with the113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHnMPxJ2yIk
sword.
It was lighter than he expected,113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDmJdLDoNW
much lighter than their practice swords. There was an elegance to the sword, it113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1PAUuuDysY
was a symbol of status within Eluvia, but above all it was a weapon for113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDDHwSYMdd
killing. There was no other purpose.
“You can’t go out there.” Muun113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8LN1VggzKi
grabbed his friend’s arm.
“This is something I must do.”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv6bQ5sKH8G
Vander gave him a grim smile. Bree just watched as Vander removed himself from113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRjKpp2gS8
his friend and stepped out to face the creature.
He felt light and ready to take on113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡECSBXQl6gr
the challenge. The beast was probably ten feet tall and covered with muscle. He113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5J7Tu1SMgC
could feel the animosity the beast had for him, but the feeling wasn’t mutual.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95gNgnkomB
It was just bad luck that the two of them had to face each other like this when113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ruaR5d1Oi
normally their paths wouldn’t cross at all. But blood had been spilt and his113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJdqZsPGD9
friends must be honored.
Vander moved first. He ran towards113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ09vyjH1ppk
the Shadow Beast with his sword ready to pierce the creature’s hide. It jumped113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMU9mk661h
aside at the last moment, slid on the ground, then lunged at Vander’s throat.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO39ifoTsvI
He fell backward, bringing his foot up to catch the beast’s stomach then113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTk61HLADqA
throwing it over him. It landed on its feet then lunged again forcing Vander to113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDsFZF6FyGU
roll to avoid the strike. He got to his feet before jumping backwards seconds113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzuPkNIZuj
before the Shadow Beast would have flattened him.
They circled each other warily,113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8FO5sbG2Sw
both exhausted. For the first time since the fight began, Vander realized the113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJVruzwh6xK
creature was also bleeding heavily from its side. That confused Vander because113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwoa5c4NLD
when creatures are wounded, they tend to run away to tend to them, but113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1PDWl48Gdp
something must be keeping it here, fighting. He didn’t have time to question it113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡePchIXsHIY
as it lunged at him with its mouths opened wide.
Vander shoved his sword up into113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rTSRekLDw
the creature’s path and there was nothing it could do as the point skewered113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCu3Vhr0vcs
through its throat out of the back of its head. The beast’s massive body113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1wGUaRX1b
slammed into Vander knocking him to the ground. It struggled to right itself as113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGhTczutv4l
black blood poured from the wound all over Vander. In one last ditch attempt,113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvLuCNr9ccA
the creature scratched Vander’s face. He screamed and kicked the beast off him.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIyKe1zWIJ
Their blood mingled together then flashes of light shone in his eyes. He saw a113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiScpREZ0HE
small white cub curled under a tree with her eyes hidden under her paws. He113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiTLDMzclLF
felt the beast’s last wish:
“Keep my child safe.” Before113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZrM4L0Dds
it died. Holding his bleeding face, Vander limped to where the cub was hiding.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXTas1hneDM
He pushed back the bush protecting it from outside forces. Once the cub113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWs32syw3tH
realized he was there, she jumped up baring her tiny teeth. Unlike her mother,113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1wInqdggYt
the cub was pure white. Vander held out his hand. She eyed him suspiciously but113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4uL2yAvNka
sniffed it. Deciding that he meant her no harm, she walked up to him curling up113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuBrRnafy5d
on his lap.
After that, Vander passed out113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbV3EvLoTpK
holding the cub in his arms.
∙
“After that, Bree was removed from113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRS8gNuj50
the Blades.” Vander explained. “Leon held an inferiority complex due to the113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP0SsKbBnV0
attention I received, while Alex stayed by my side.”
“And Muun?” A sad expression113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoynbAUKYQv
appeared on Vander’s face.
“He left three years ago after a113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98b8fCJnfY
mission that almost killed him.” Last I heard he’s living in the woods113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡky9dTvF11t
somewhere with his wife.”
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“At least some good came of a113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ85FYn10wcS
tragedy.” She sighed. She clapped her hands and stood up from the bench. “Come,113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpq2zZCv7d
let’s get back inside before Cuvera sends out the guards.” Vander stood up then113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUNRdm3zlv
she wrapped her arms with his. “How do you feel about Eliza joining the113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0epZ87LiSl
Blades?”
