FOREVER KNIGHTS: #3 Forsaking the Vanquished

WaterRose, Meadow Mountain, Grier Country

SEBASTIAN

Quandary was at the foot of her bed when Elsabet woke this morning. The sun beamed in, in an array of rainbow lights as it drifted through the waterfalls pouring over the bailey to filter in her window.

"Good morning." She stretched like a feline herself before suddenly tipping over to embrace him tightly about the neck. "Where have you been!"

She leaned up to stare into his wide golden eyes.

Her blue ones were inordinately huge this morning. Her hair in long silver-blonde tangles sweeping wild over her shoulder and down her back. She wore an oversized chemise which swooped low on one shoulder.

Exposing the vulnerable part of her neck that he so badly wanted to sink his panther teeth into.

And mark her as mine. But as always, he resisted the urge. Shifting in dissension, he gave a low rumble in answer.

“He was keeping you from me, wasn’t he?” She accused.

What? No. Bast was beginning to wonder if anything he did was right.

Quandary stared at her before shaking his head and sending fur ruffling down his back.

Leaning into his face, she rubbed his cheeks and puckered her lips as she murmured lovingly to him.

He rumbled back at her. Damn her.

Get this close to me, when I'm human, woman.

“What about that master of yours?” She straightened, and Quandary slipped off the bed after her. “He’s rather strange is he not?”

Yet, devilishly attractive, admit it. He watched the swing of her hips as she walked in-front of him. Making his throat rumble as he sent a glance Heavenward. Willing himself patience.

Her barefoot step was soundless down the corridor.

“Well, let me tell you! I’m quite done with that man of yours telling me what to do. Thinking he lords over everything here!” She gave a wide gesture.

I do rule here. His dark head whipped to look at her. I built it.

“He doesn’t lord over me!” She proclaimed. Glancing at Quandary, who was in step with her. “In-fact were he here now I’d surely tell him so! That insufferable cad be damned!”

Quandary jerked to a stop and promptly sat in the corridor. Highly tempted to duck into a chamber and emerge as a man, to see if she was truly as bold as that.

She's not. She's blustering. His gold eyes narrowed on her.

Elsabet sighed, gown sweeping as she knelt before him. “I meant no insult, Friend.”

Yes, you did. Just not to me as the panther but to me as the man. He huffed in disagreement. Still, he could catch her wildflower scent and the linger aroma of sleeping woman. Her skin still sweetened from her rest.

She gave his cheeks a scratch. “In truth I can see the appeal he holds for you.”

‘For you’, she says.

She stared into gold eyes which seemed to see through her. “I find even I’d be susceptible to his charms, were I not careful. All creatures seem drawn to him…” She frowned thoughtfully. “He’s a beast of many secrets."

You've no idea. He eyed her. Tempted to reveal he was her beloved pet.

"Secrets he’ll never tell me.” She added. Rising, she turned in a swish of velvet. The metal circlet around her forehead keeping hair from her face as it poured over her shoulders when she straightened. Heading for the bench before the stained-glass window to stare out.

Watching for whatever she spends all day watching for. The panther rose and headed the opposite direction.

She watched him disappear into one of the empty chambers down the hall knowing he often roamed through them all, patrolling the grounds.

She watched him thoughtfully.

“Don’t beat yourself up, Woman.” A feminine voice muttered in annoyance. “All women want Bast.”

"What?" Eyes narrowing, Elsabet peered down the dark corridor. Head whipping as she tried to find the source of the voice.

“Whose there?” She whispered. Unwilling for Bast to hear she spoke with someone new.

Switching her eyes red, she saw in the dark, intent gaze flicking through the shadows. Catching a hazy outline leaning on the banister.

“Who are you?” Elsabet hissed. Rising at the end of the hall. Elsabet marched closer to her. “I knew of no other woman here?”

“Territorial?” The other woman’s purplish eyes glowed in the darkness as she straightened to tower over Elsabet.

“No. Captive. Get me out.”

“I’m not here to do so.” She gestured to her length. “I’m Spirit Running. How are you hearing me?”

As Elsabet neared, she realized the woman’s outline wavered like a reflection on a pond.

“Ah.” Elsabet waved a dismissive hand. “You’re the shadow.”

“Shadow?” The taller woman cut in, offended. “My name is Calisto.”

“I’ve glimpsed you around this Castle.”

“How?”

“I sense things.” Elsabet said dismissively. Giving the woman her back to go downstairs.

She abruptly whipped around to call up. “Does he know you’re here?”

“Bast?” Calisto queried. Lifting dark brows. “I’m not sure if he does or not. I haven’t been able to speak with him in a long while.”

“You’ve spoken to him?” Elsabet turned the whole way around to glower up at the woman.

“Is that jealousy I hear in your voice?” She laughed.

“No!”

“It is…”

“It’s okay, Woman. All of us love Bast at some point or another. Even I thought I did for a time before my Raese.”

Curiosity peaked, Elsabet couldn’t resist. “Whose Raese? Is he here with you?”

She sighed heavily. “If only…I’d give anything to be by him again.”