FOREVER KNIGHTS: #15 Insatiable Beasts

“Because I’m a wolf.” He shrugged. “You already know that.”

“Yes…I suppose I do. But it’s still unsettling. Why does it only do that sometimes?”

Currently, because I’m worried about you. And slightly frustrated.

“Because it depends on my moods.” He sighed. Cocking an eyebrow at her he said, “Come, drunken wife of mine. Let me show you something.”

Unfolding his fist from his cheek he offered her the open hand.

When she hesitated a bit too long, he snatched the hand laying idly on the tabletop and guided her to her feet. Steadying her when she nearly toppled over the bench.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes.” Her fearful green eyes met his eyes which were now a controlled, soft blue.

Holding that delicate little hand, he lifted it above her head and slowly turned it. Forcing her to spin with it, until her back was to him. He tugged her close against him again. Enjoying the feel of her.

In moments he had hoisted her by her waist to put her on the front of the massive silver stallion.

In minutes, the beast was carrying them at a rapid pace. Alazar had one hand on her belly and his warm chest pressed snugly against her back. His other hand expertly guiding the rein as he led Sivikon through the grove.

Her head dropped back on his shoulder and lolled sleepily. “It’s too dark to ride.”

No. I can see.

“Since when has that stopped us?”

You’ve drug me to taverns on nights far darker than this. Then made me and my eyesight lead the way.

Alazar leaned around her. Pressing her forward some so he could lean against the horse’s neck and whisper near the steed’s ears.

“Take us to WaterRose, Sivikon.” The horse gave a jerk of his head and increased the pace.

Sivikon would know this path blind. Alazar knew.

Bast very often took the stallion on breakneck runs through the wood.

Sivikon knew precisely when to leap a fallen log, when to duck past a low-hanging branch. They progressed almost motionlessly.

Riaura became nervous. “Where are we going?”

Well she sounds a little sobered. That’s something.

“Beyond the woods.”

“I’ve never been this far.”

I’d hope not.

They crept around trees and he palmed the back of her head to help her duck branches, as Sivikon wound through the black depths with serpentine grace. Some limbs so close, they toyed with her hair as Sivikon rushed by them.

She stared down at the alabaster mane and coat.

She’s noticing he’s too pure a white. Flecked with bits of silver in the moonlight. He wondered if she’d heard tales of such animals.

It’s obvious he’s no normal beast.

Abruptly the clearing poured open, bathed in moonlight. The scent of roses lifted from nearby. They could now hear the sound of rushing water.

As they broke through the trees and hit the span of meadow on Meadow Mountain, she looked up and realized the impossible speed they were travelling and when Sivikon lifted his head in excitement to see WaterRose soon, Riaura glimpsed the shadowy haze of a horn under the bright moon’s glow. It was composed of flickering starlight in tiny specks which formed enough filaments to make it visible to the naked eye.

Alazar knew the moment she saw it because she stiffened in shock in his arms. Yes, he is unique.

As they ran under a bit of cloud cover it vanished as quickly as it had appeared.

Alazar cast a glance down at her as he whispered. “Reveal.”

He flicked his wrist. A small white ball of light formed in his palm, levitating into the air above them. It grew in size until the whole clearing was lit in an unearthen silver glow. Then the light exploded into tiny silver, sparkling shapes.

Sivikon stopped to nudge a silver ball with his snout.

The ball squeaked and unraveled into a tiny person who jerked on thin, translucent wings and flew away. A trail of dust followed her.

Alazar touched Riaura’s elbow. Running his palm over her forearm in a caress that warmed her skin. He cupped the back of her hand. He gently shook the small hand loose from its death grip on Sivikon’s mane. Then turned it palm up.

Realizing he was opening her hand for one of the tiny people she squeaked and tried to jerk her hand away. “I’ve heard of NetherFey. They chomp!”

“These aren’t NetherFey, Woman.” He chuckled. Fighting to steady her hand back out. “They’re Meadow Mountain Fey. And like everything else they’re drawn to be near my brother, so they lurk out here. But you can’t see them until the right light hits them. They mask themselves.”

So people and animals won’t hurt them.

He reached out to one of the silver balls with her palm and caught it in her hand.

The dainty creature within gave a high-pitched shriek and uncurled from her ball until she knelt in Riaura’s hand. Looking up at Riaura wide-eyed under a fall of copper locks.

When Alazareth bounced Riaura’s hand, the tiny thing took flight and disappeared into the night.

One landed in Riaura’s hair, immediately entangling in it.

It tickled, and she instinctively reached to slap it.

“No!” Alazar caught her hand and seconds later the tiny thing escaped.

She turned to look at him.

“You’d kill something so small and helpless?” His eyes were narrowed on her and he dispassionately tossed her hand away.

“Don’t be angry with me!” She cried. “I didn’t know. I’m not used to-to all of…this!” She gestured to the sparkling silver balls unfolding all around them. Brightening the night surrounding them like bits of starlight.

“I-I-didn’t-not intentionally.” Her eyes were lowered in shame.

His supposed his accusation was wounding.

She’s right. She doesn’t know. He sighed.

When she looked at him again the anger had drained from his face.

He nodded past her to get her to look up.

When she did, her jaw dropped, and her hand flew to cover her mouth. Shocked at the massive construction before her.

WaterRose.