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Their echoing roars are deafening, and when I look back, Yelm has his eyes closed, still pained and angry. I know why he fought. When I was younger, I would have too. I hated the humans for what they took from us, for what they did. You can hate your masters, those who created you, and still love them, and I did. But you can’t let that hate blind you to possibilities. They killed his family, and we undoubtedly killed theirs. He holds onto a child’s anger, not seeing how it will hinder our people or his life. I hate to see him go, to toss him out and make him be alone again, but it’s the only way. If he stays, he will be a threat to my people and her.
He will do anything to get revenge.
Even betray or hurt his own.
He’s blinded by it.
Maybe some time alone will help that.
“Take him to the south and make sure he has supplies,” I order and look back at him. “One day, I hope I see you again, Yelm, and I hope you understand why I do this. You are so full of rage, brother. It will eat you up. I hope you find someone who takes that away and replaces it with hope.”
“You betray our people for one little human!” he snarls as he is lifted between two people, struggling to stay alive. “You will bring death to us all!”
“No, that is you, brother.” I nod and watch as he is led away. Turning back to our people, I scan their faces. “I need a volunteer, a messenger to go to Tribe Acumen.”
Hren steps forward, a smart, older strong warrior. He’s a good choice. He also has friends there. “They have another human. Tell them we must meet. Tell them if they harm the human, not only will it bring the humans down on their heads, but me as well.”
He blinks but nods, silently moving off to do just that.
“Tonight, we feast in celebration of a new future! A future of happiness, new friends, and new chances, not just fighting and death!” I declare. It will give them something to celebrate. I watch as food is brought out, ale too. I make the rounds, saying hello and talking before sneaking back to my room, needing to see her.
Aria.
Roroak is still at the door. He smiles. “You always did have a way with words.” He sighs. “She tried to come out, but I told her to wait. She is most…impatient, your human, and she has a strange tongue on her.”
Snarling, I slam him into the wall, the adrenaline from the challenges still moving through me. “You will not look at her tongue!”
“I meant her words!” he wheezes.
“Oh.” I drop him. “Yes, she does, doesn’t she?”
He glares at me but straightens. “Yes, now I’m going to eat while you have fun with your human. I hope you know what you are doing.”
I watch him walk away.
Me too, brother. Me too.
All I know is that I’m willing to risk it all for her, for a better life with her at my side.
SEVENTEEN
ARIA
As soon as he steps into the room, I leap to my feet and race to him, about to check him over, before I freeze. I clear my throat as he watches me curiously. “Sorry, just… Are you okay? I heard fighting and roaring.”
“That’s typical down here.” He smirks, and then there’s a knock. He blocks me as he answers it, speaking in a different tongue, and when the door shuts again, he hands me a metal plate. “Here, eat. There’s a celebration out there, and they made you food.”
“A celebration?” I take the plate, hesitantly sitting down before picking through the food. There’s some raw meat, but I ignore that and eat the other bits. “Shouldn’t you be with them as the reigner?” I sound out the word, unable to make the growling syllables.
He grins widely at me, his sharp fangs on display, like I’ve done something to be proud of, and like a stupid idiot, I preen under his proud gaze. “I have seen to my people. I would rather be here with you, little human.”
“Is that so?” I tease, unable to help myself.
He makes a strange grunting growling sound that has a shiver going through my body, his dominance almost washing over me. Sometimes, he’s almost human, but other times, he’s completely monster. Like now, as he paces with his tail curling through the air, his horns shining in the light, his eyes slitted, and his fangs hanging over his lip as he jerks his head at the plate. “Eat,” he demands.
Rolling my eyes, I do as I am told, simply because I am really hungry. The food isn’t bad. Sure, there’s some old chocolate that’s suspicious, but when I take the first bite, I almost come. I don’t think I’ve ever really had any until this moment, and I can’t stop myself from devouring it like a beast.
When I blink my eyes open, I find him before me, and I fall back. His eyes are completely black now, his fangs seem bigger, and his tail whips behind him as a low growl emits from his body. My own eyes widen as his claw-tipped hand reaches through the air, making me completely immobile. He twists his finger and ever so carefully, slides it across my lips and cheek, pulling it away to show me some melted chocolate. With his black eyes still on me, keeping me pinned under his gaze, he lifts his finger to his plump mouth and sucks it clean.
