FOREVER KNIGHTS: #16 To Keep Her

Harridan hamlet, Paladines

CHAVIAS

Chavias searched for his place of peace in order to face what he was going to do. Sabine.

She’d become his solace.

He saw her in his mind’s eye. Felt her every footstep on the cold floor as she entered the corridor. Calling for him in her singsong voice this morning.

Checking for me in the Manor. As she often does.

Chavias felt her words even from where he was. Shaking them away he gathered the strength to kill those before him. The tiny army the villagers mustered to stand against me.

Against Radix Malorum in order to protect their storehouse.

The pain of cutting them down tearing through him with every agonized cry. Chavias mourned their deaths. He thought of letting one of their dull blades cut him down. Even as he considered it, his arm swung his blade to instinctively block theirs.

And he thought of her. Sweet Sabine. Calling to me.

Making him yearn. To be there whenever she searches for me.

But I can’t.

Night Manor, Mane Country

Sabine was restless tonight. Staring at the ceiling of her chamber.

Feeling her disturbed thoughts from downstairs, Chavias wished for her to enjoy the blessed peace of sleep.

What’s she thinking about? He tried to refrain but eventually succumbed to peering into her mind.

Sadly, he found her thoughts heavy with him changing into a wolf, horrifying yellow eyes set on her, and the strength of his violent jaws, the way his fur ruffled in malcontent.

My fault she’s not sleeping. So, he reached into her room and gave her a soothing wave of energy. Feeling her subside into slumber. Have some peace. You deserve it.

She didn’t hear the padded footfalls of the dark wolf strolling into her chamber to sit back on his haunches next to her. Watching over her to ensure nothing disturbed her.

I’ll be gone before she wakes. I’m not causing her any further fear of me. His yellow animal eyes shined as he watched moonlight turning her face and hair to a frosted hue. Her hair pooled on the pillow in lush waves. The same shade as the ivory bedding. Shining in the darkness. Black lashes rested delicately against her high cheekbones.

Such contrast to those huge blue eyes. Making her face vibrant with life when she turned the innocent gaze on him. Her frame was full-bodied and feminine. The coverlet molding those delicious curves.

He hadn’t lied. The fat moon does make me hunger for everything.

Especially for her. He indulged his pleasure in looking at her. Allowing his mind to wander to fantasies of laying next to the woman. Watching the first rays of light trickling in to dance over her face.

To see her gorgeous eyes blink open in the morning light. To feel the softness of her body… His moan was a growl in his wolf’s throat.

Would she smile to greet her lover?

A tendril of hair fell over her face as she slept, teasing the side of her nose.

He outstretched his neck to carefully nuzzle the hair from her face.

Sighing softly, she luckily didn’t wake.

Chavias went to walk from the room tossing a last, lingering, look back. Tipping onto back legs, his limbs straightening until he stepped naked into the corridor. Cocking his head made white specks appear before him. His eyes flicked upward, and they floated to cinch his hair from his face. The leather tether winding around it. Once outside the door, he slid to the floor and drew his knees to his chest to rest his elbows on them and cradle his face forlornly.

Sabine awoke to the morning light pouring over her. Sitting up, she looked knowingly around the empty room. “You were here last night.” She murmured. “I felt your presence.”

No answer came.

“I cannot recall a time I ever rested so peaceful.” She climbed from the bed and stepped into the corridor to check for him in his chamber. As she often did.