Chapter 15
Cuvera was super upset that Kiara144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp0XwTIDVfK
had told him to stay behind while Vander escorted her around the castle. He had144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzcL2yTCrpF
missed his chance to spend time with her because he was out with Vander, so she144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSBJqt0vznI
wanted to see what all the fuss was about. It felt uncomfortable being between144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWkJm14dwt
the two of them, but he felt like he had less of a choice than the prince did,144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvOPUZ32LmE
so he did as she had asked. Eliza had opted to stay in as well, mostly to keep144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcY6eHQfpZK
an eye on Cuvera, but also so Vander and the princess could be given privacy. Whatever144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf6Sx62FkmX
for, he didn’t know, but he expected it would become clear to him soon.
He took all around the castle,144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Ql0NhNEuV
introduced her to as many servants as possible then she took the time to chat144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgGGhFrklr
with them for a couple of minutes to get to know their names as well as what144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1ukSTlFAq
they did around the estate. As the future queen, he thought it was a good idea144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOmQ5cebsns
for her to get close to those who served her because, as recent events could144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6NzRhCM1Xg
attest, you never knew who might try to kill you. The tour of the castle ended144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvN6ZcjvSHd
in the middle of the night and in the central garden where only a few were144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvzl1AE3sGw
allowed to enter.
“We can go no further.” Vander144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYcF8pZkHK
said, stopping just on the outside edge of the garden. “This is for the King144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIKulpXaGL7
and Prince only. Not even the servants are allowed to tidy up in here.”
“Must be a special place.” Kiara144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8Hju7AAFA
beamed. Looking up into the sky, the moon could be seen shining just above the144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5RHs3x6uoD
garden giving it a blue-ish hue.
“This was the Queen’s project144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPVHO2RN92
before she died.” Vander explained. “It’s the last thing they have from her so144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh6EoYegtRU
the two of them keep it close.”
“What was she like?” she turned to144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5J1qIrt9NR
look at Vander. “The Queen I mean.”
“I don’t remember much about her.”144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtbwhYPy9H8
He admitted. “She died more than a decade ago, I was still young and didn’t get144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4m41F3Wxp
to spend a lot of time with her.” He frowned, trying to remember the last time144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlBzJNbPnv2
he had seen her. Kiara didn’t pressure. Instead, she just looked out into the144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡob53YiFhDe
garden with a slight smile on her face. “All I can remember from her is her144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZE5CUWVUFw
smile. It was warm and inviting, it was as if nothing else mattered in that144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBB9jmIKnc
moment other than her smile.”
“She must have been special.”144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5fEoqQh9s
Kiara sighed. “I wish I could have met her.”
“She probably would have liked144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkbwYBmwSeA
you.” Vander laughed. “She liked everyone.”
“Guess so.” The two of them sat in144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6F5JAPpd68
awkward silence for a few minutes. He didn’t want to break it mostly because he144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtos95uJzWM
didn’t know what else to say to her. Anyone could have taken her around the144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8MFeIpEyPT
castle, including the prince, so why did she want his company? He got his144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThKoASxB8y
answer a few moments later when she asked:
“How long have you been the144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2LCy6QPtoD
Ma’akti Unnatun?” he must have had a confused expression on her face prompting144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3UVnCwhap
her to laugh. “You don’t try to keep it a secret. I’m surprised more people144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQCJe6CVw6
don’t know.”
“It’s a closely guarded secret.”144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2y12DHjCOs
He didn’t want to tell her about Veyar’s warnings. It might freak her out, but144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6oSfejTsln
since she knew who he was, it made no sense to lie to her. “I’ve been with her144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnO4QILYVo7
for about ten years at this point.” He suddenly wished he had Shea with him.
“I’ve heard the rumors.” She144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXWStiBAwiB
explained. “I wanted to meet the man behind the myth and see if it was true or144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6dkkUN6SS
not. I had my doubts, but after meeting you in person I can feel her power144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf468m9PXv8
radiating from inside of you.” he froze.
“Can anyone else?” he asked.
“What do you know of the Bricenian144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH03V5fIGCG
royal family, Vander?” she asked, changing the subject.
“Not much.” He admitted.
“Our line has long held the power144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡszGTueGM4k
of sensing the power of the deities.” She explained. “Think of it like a second144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjMVQ3XwHR
sense. However, mine are heightened even further.” She held out her hand and a144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2VA8DIMyM
small little flame appeared. She quickly snuffed it out before anyone else144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMHtBAsnE4
could notice.
“You have the blessing of Azta?”144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtAV9dfdHpP
he asked.
“That’s something that only Eliza,144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjc9upTowPs
my mother, and I know about.” She smiled sadly. “Not even the man who sired me144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9xAeHtUVu
knows this secret.”
“Sired huh?” He leaned back on the144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKd0flAYCl
bench. “I guess you have no lost love for your family either huh?” She looked144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68dRGRxUbO
surprised by this admission.
“You and your grandfather seem144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsl2Cd7pQm
close.” She said. “You don’t like him?”
“I wasn’t talking about him.” He144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvesuEUoyta
clenched his hands. “My father left me when I was born, after my mother died144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFHZvYkCBLE
giving birth to me. My grandfather took me in and raised me here in the palace,144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGhDR6YpPU
but I never got to spend time enjoying myself. I was being molded to take his144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSz710w8NwJ
place, just like Cuvera becoming King at some point.”
“That’s terrible.” She sighed. “At144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWX2JmT7M1O
least the commander was there for you. And now you have Shea. How did you two144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacOUYCvUoL
meet anyway?”
“That story and the story with144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59SCq8yw5n
Unna are the one and the same.” He said. “Since you already know my secret, I144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDFqRD4dKf
might as well tell you. It started ten years ago…”
∙
“Come on, move144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUYHR2x57y
faster!” The Blade training captain, Jeremiah, shouted. He was running ahead of144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9YdJdHJgK
the small group of recruits. Vander was ahead of the group, but his lungs were144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvD1lJ7gft8
beginning to burn with exertion. They had been on this run through the woods144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYiqXDaWg2G
for an hour now with no sign of slowing down. Some of the recruits had stopped144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVgqnlGWDP
to rest, only to be left behind. If they stuck to the path, they would be fine,144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡthCNjGQXJL
but you shouldn’t be out after dark. It was dangerous. Jeremiah had stopped at144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOvDlPOr5gu
the top of the hill then turned around to watch the struggling recruits.
“Take a break once you get up144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFCGI3kovY
here.” He commanded. “We will wait for the others to catch up.”
“Yes sir!” Those who could shouted144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡecxnhEmPwZ
at him. The rest just wheezed and waved their hands.
Vander was the second one up the144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0QoD9N3sa
hill. Bree was first and was already drinking heavily from her canteen. She144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhkTAc3mqqx
looked over at him, smiled, then offered him the canteen. Vander wiped his144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJyJ5qwdtN
sweaty black hair off his face and fixed her with a small smile. They passed144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy0QNSXwr2V
the canteen back and forth while they waited.
Muun was the third one up the144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4D4kYoKoJU
hill. He had removed his coat, wrapping it around his waist, showing off his144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYiicxAhyev
muscular arms. He was the son of a blacksmith and had been working in the forge144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjBzyTwlYD
from the time he was old enough to hold a hammer. He joined the Blades, but he144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOI9pZ0CBM1
and Vander had become quick friends, and so Muun had told him that he really144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡisnjiIfVxw
wanted to have a farm out in the countryside. He just didn’t want to disappoint144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdfvcgdEpk
his father.
The fourth one on the hill was144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLkqOXx5OU
Leon. He looked over at Vander and Bree. A deep scowl traveled across his face144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZUYCKddCo
as he stood as far away from the others as possible sipping his water. Vander144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaetoNNX9PE
had no idea why Leon hated him so much and when he had tried to talk to him144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEeRwMUBtzq
about it, he just scoffed and walked away. If he had to guess it was because he144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQKwiaaXaAa
was the grandson of the current Blade Commander. Not that it mattered, he144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQa6nird3f3
didn’t get any sort of special treatment. If anything, the instructors were144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0qSszBlI5
harder on him.
After about thirty minutes of144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgR2U2oTA0Q
resting, all but five of the recruits had made it up the hill and Jeremiah was144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOP2YRHPewR
getting nervous. He kept looking up at the sky as Humjir started to dip below144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMnyvheulx
midday. They had to make it back to camp before dark or they would be in144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52wvqpNmVa
danger. Jeremiah opened his mouth to give them orders when they heard a loud144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLHT4Fd97l
scream coming from the trail behind them.
“Stay here.” Jeremiah shouted. He144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTASdH7dYKk
gripped his sword before running back down the hill at full speed. Bree, Muun144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ74sMYJnHGZ
and Vander shared a nervous look. All of the other recruits were muttering to144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCmiMoR2T3
each other with fear prevalent in their voices. Vander got up from the ground144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzrw4LsuQp3
to stand next to his friend.
“What do you think is happening?”144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYTzGZiOdtX
Muun whispered, his blue eyes alite with concern. Vander knew that only two144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPkdEkiNvt
things would make someone scream like that in the wood: either bandits or a144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3PDMNP9jmw
shadow beast. They heard another scream, this time a man’s voice, then the iron144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPKG6EV4v1T
tang of blood filled the air. Vander recoiled, but the others didn’t notice it.
“I’m going,” Vander said, gripping144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0JPSrYunA
the metal sword hidden in his scabbard.
“Don’t be an idiot.” Leon snapped.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtWagVIFCH
“Captain Jeremiah went to deal with it, you’ll do nothing, but get in the way.”
“As opposed to just sitting here144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLef96pmzip
even when our companions are being hurt?” Muun shook his head, glaring at their144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEWW9XuZ8sc
classmate. “I knew you were spineless Leon, but I didn’t think you were a144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqwKiVrJcJe
coward.”
“What did you say?” Leon snarled.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rXUDSi9d0
He drew back his arm to throw a punch, but Bree stepped in.
“Enough.” She spoke. “Leon, look144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxx2oCAUGJ
after the others up here, the three of us will go down after the captain and144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnOrDJ2T3u
see if we could be of some help.”
“Fine,” Leon lowered his hand.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbjp9pfsnK1
“But if you die don’t come complaining to me.” Vander didn’t wait for the144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2xL8MlkFp
others. He just ran down the hill as fast as he could with the other two144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLrewABUMGg
following behind. The shouts and screams of fear had quieted down, but there144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavg6qYh3yH
was still the unmistakable smell of blood lingering in the air. Bree and Leon144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt3W3QONPeT
must have noticed it because their faces became pale, but they stayed the144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPYwV7uxSn
course.
Vander followed the smell until he144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwTj25OyVdI
noticed that the foliage around them was becoming darker despite the light144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSdI4YXOZDF
shining through the canopy. Sounds of battle was coming from straight ahead,144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPkHl8WyLe9
but the dark gripped everything around them.
“The Dark Forest.” Muun wheezed.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuLDGHhpZ5m
He placed his hand on his knees gasping for breath. “How did any of us get lost144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrgUNTEYtJl
in there?”
“It’s easy to get lost in here.”144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRTZ9og68W
Bree said. “They probably got off trail and got lost. We should-“ There was144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVfT5fKSVKg
another scream coming from up ahead. However, this time it sounded like144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXglZfYse9
Jeremiah. Vander didn’t wait, he just dove through the bushes and into the144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ3fJcwJyxM
clearing. What he saw shocked him.
In the clearing was a giant Shadow144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9hcc8UfVAu
Beast. Its inky black fur rippled in the setting sunlight as its teeth dripped144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtnpAA0MQPy
with saliva. Blood soaked the ground around it its paws covered in red. The144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡesEbMRf76A
shadow beast was the most dangerous creature in the woods, but they didn’t144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuc6SkFH8M5
leave the inner circle of the forest which was why they were normally safe.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPxFYIYCI7
They were the creatures of the dark, created by the Goddess Unna to kill144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZNEoQgo3n
humanity. And they did a very good job of it.
“Why are you here?” they heard a144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgaUYSKJay9
man groaning from a tree next to him. Vander turned to see Jeremiah sitting on144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡivfaYgr9X4
the ground holding his hand to his stomach. Blood dripped between his fingers144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUPjgaPnoTn
and his face had gone deathly pale. He didn’t have long to live.
“We didn’t want to stay behind144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡputGoAZvUt
while you were saving the others.” Muun explained.
“There are no more others.”144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUg1b7X5dm
Jeremiah leaned his head back against the tree. His body shook as he coughed,144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXLBmDoPHp
blood dribbled down his chin. “The beast got us all and now that it has your144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNnwCfBJNRD
scent, you’re dead as well.”
“We will have to see about that.”144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzcoLIMYqsR
Vander gripped his iron lump of a sword. He placed it on the ground before144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaa6B74DA8I
bending down in front of Jeremiah. “I’m going to borrow your sword, Captain.”
“I can’t let you fight that thing,144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAarQsGcUGG
Vander.” Jeremiah’s body trembled. “Your grandfather wouldn’t approve.”
“I can’t hide behind him forever144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlv0bfUDDzI
if I’m going to be a Blade.” Vander said. “If we are going to die, I’d rather144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJuokwxt0I
do it facing the enemy and not running away.” Jeremiah thought for a moment144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3FKrxZ8Qgp
before nodding his head. He gripped his sword and held it out towards him.
“I wish I could have lived long144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ387bmqaD0g
enough to see what kind of Blade you would have become.” As soon as Vander took144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2TNYrGAvT
the sword, Jeremiah’s eyes dimmed as he died.
“Goodbye Captain,” Vander lowered144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7VG8R4gLVO
the man’s eye lids then bowed his head. A moment later he stood up with the144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnoNI95p6s4
sword.
It was lighter than he expected,144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfh3oTk3q0
much lighter than their practice swords. There was an elegance to the sword, it144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXKiQen7So
was a symbol of status within Eluvia, but above all it was a weapon for144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgtZkSb9Ls8
killing. There was no other purpose.
“You can’t go out there.” Muun144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0e28CTLxxy
grabbed his friend’s arm.
“This is something I must do.”144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj4lltbm0xo
Vander gave him a grim smile. Bree just watched as Vander removed himself from144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpy45l7peAb
his friend and stepped out to face the creature.
He felt light and ready to take on144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYXgYa6k27m
the challenge. The beast was probably ten feet tall and covered with muscle. He144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmIqyMLv55
could feel the animosity the beast had for him, but the feeling wasn’t mutual.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoEfcCVgZoP
It was just bad luck that the two of them had to face each other like this when144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcll7vlCD5k
normally their paths wouldn’t cross at all. But blood had been spilt and his144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOdAaJ5ugAs
friends must be honored.
Vander moved first. He ran towards144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYBXt1JTCo
the Shadow Beast with his sword ready to pierce the creature’s hide. It jumped144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaMYQ0ZdHdB
aside at the last moment, slid on the ground, then lunged at Vander’s throat.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3tOhAO4LjN
He fell backward, bringing his foot up to catch the beast’s stomach then144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxelz2ViUQr
throwing it over him. It landed on its feet then lunged again forcing Vander to144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlFIMdmOeLe
roll to avoid the strike. He got to his feet before jumping backwards seconds144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMFuaq16gO
before the Shadow Beast would have flattened him.
They circled each other warily,144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡudU1Cnp5aQ
both exhausted. For the first time since the fight began, Vander realized the144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡukjW9lYvxS
creature was also bleeding heavily from its side. That confused Vander because144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ10DBEEs9aY
when creatures are wounded, they tend to run away to tend to them, but144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6sVeX5Hft
something must be keeping it here, fighting. He didn’t have time to question it144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1X4Q0QGDHt
as it lunged at him with its mouths opened wide.
Vander shoved his sword up into144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhozCwI3yJV
the creature’s path and there was nothing it could do as the point skewered144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuk9i0fEJ4v
through its throat out of the back of its head. The beast’s massive body144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7JMu1pRzhZ
slammed into Vander knocking him to the ground. It struggled to right itself as144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHAszHe4JpO
black blood poured from the wound all over Vander. In one last ditch attempt,144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnEVVrOMBcC
the creature scratched Vander’s face. He screamed and kicked the beast off him.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCRbzntDzg3
Their blood mingled together then flashes of light shone in his eyes. He saw a144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡymXB3zH2vH
small white cub curled under a tree with her eyes hidden under her paws. He144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3LI3yJp25
felt the beast’s last wish:
“Keep my child safe.” Before144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZb7t8Omf8d
it died. Holding his bleeding face, Vander limped to where the cub was hiding.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVhjsOScid
He pushed back the bush protecting it from outside forces. Once the cub144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCHFLTN2jL
realized he was there, she jumped up baring her tiny teeth. Unlike her mother,144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vaovd7NVi
the cub was pure white. Vander held out his hand. She eyed him suspiciously but144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9KGYsYg4Nb
sniffed it. Deciding that he meant her no harm, she walked up to him curling up144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQg9ru8Y8bs
on his lap.
After that, Vander passed out144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTFSoYG1hL
holding the cub in his arms.
∙
“After that, Bree was removed from144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhi3JqKKtlV
the Blades.” Vander explained. “Leon held an inferiority complex due to the144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡftJbYHGG1V
attention I received, while Alex stayed by my side.”
“And Muun?” A sad expression144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzpd6UN2vP5
appeared on Vander’s face.
“He left three years ago after a144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2VkNbue7cV
mission that almost killed him.” Last I heard he’s living in the woods144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiu2Vm1rAfx
somewhere with his wife.”
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“At least some good came of a144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTShTsUvqB
tragedy.” She sighed. She clapped her hands and stood up from the bench. “Come,144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8R3ttU0S7r
let’s get back inside before Cuvera sends out the guards.” Vander stood up then144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykwZOmXVt3
she wrapped her arms with his. “How do you feel about Eliza joining the144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3X41LeBLBd
Blades?”
