Chapter 15
Cuvera was super upset that Kiara142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZNDNhT3us
had told him to stay behind while Vander escorted her around the castle. He had142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQH2WOWIXY
missed his chance to spend time with her because he was out with Vander, so she142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Fg449qaNS
wanted to see what all the fuss was about. It felt uncomfortable being between142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2Vlc2Jv1U
the two of them, but he felt like he had less of a choice than the prince did,142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPc9Sf6ldIA
so he did as she had asked. Eliza had opted to stay in as well, mostly to keep142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvLxI02ddpn
an eye on Cuvera, but also so Vander and the princess could be given privacy. Whatever142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9aflLwptrj
for, he didn’t know, but he expected it would become clear to him soon.
He took all around the castle,142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSVBpdWd5fA
introduced her to as many servants as possible then she took the time to chat142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡClmUSxPCF7
with them for a couple of minutes to get to know their names as well as what142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAoPNVwvtg
they did around the estate. As the future queen, he thought it was a good idea142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSWTiuy4CR
for her to get close to those who served her because, as recent events could142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErGMsoCQSS
attest, you never knew who might try to kill you. The tour of the castle ended142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl9KNJiGbeu
in the middle of the night and in the central garden where only a few were142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNugvrBMrm1
allowed to enter.
“We can go no further.” Vander142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRUIszMKTbQ
said, stopping just on the outside edge of the garden. “This is for the King142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3Q8FcmGYT
and Prince only. Not even the servants are allowed to tidy up in here.”
“Must be a special place.” Kiara142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWarmUru6u
beamed. Looking up into the sky, the moon could be seen shining just above the142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2byHWLatw
garden giving it a blue-ish hue.
“This was the Queen’s project142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCpCzpZT9X0
before she died.” Vander explained. “It’s the last thing they have from her so142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1BLhlwIrKP
the two of them keep it close.”
“What was she like?” she turned to142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZq1K3qp0Q
look at Vander. “The Queen I mean.”
“I don’t remember much about her.”142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuxyS8kxKHY
He admitted. “She died more than a decade ago, I was still young and didn’t get142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPo2IjB2WO4
to spend a lot of time with her.” He frowned, trying to remember the last time142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP0Jx4GHmkU
he had seen her. Kiara didn’t pressure. Instead, she just looked out into the142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1qWkWOleB6
garden with a slight smile on her face. “All I can remember from her is her142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFS4AxteBAd
smile. It was warm and inviting, it was as if nothing else mattered in that142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkwToEDg3sO
moment other than her smile.”
“She must have been special.”142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWnYYwP7Ug9
Kiara sighed. “I wish I could have met her.”
“She probably would have liked142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8H2tI3V0Iy
you.” Vander laughed. “She liked everyone.”
“Guess so.” The two of them sat in142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52K3nnjhy1
awkward silence for a few minutes. He didn’t want to break it mostly because he142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtbGv33GjVN
didn’t know what else to say to her. Anyone could have taken her around the142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzSdPsgcSOy
castle, including the prince, so why did she want his company? He got his142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVYuL11JNY
answer a few moments later when she asked:
“How long have you been the142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa06X8i2ZiL
Ma’akti Unnatun?” he must have had a confused expression on her face prompting142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHRVdg8YtVT
her to laugh. “You don’t try to keep it a secret. I’m surprised more people142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtiQqykChXR
don’t know.”
“It’s a closely guarded secret.”142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmY7RPaQwL
He didn’t want to tell her about Veyar’s warnings. It might freak her out, but142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpk3PuJ7gog
since she knew who he was, it made no sense to lie to her. “I’ve been with her142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTvUjBhwAIE
for about ten years at this point.” He suddenly wished he had Shea with him.
“I’ve heard the rumors.” She142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZhszEkIyj
explained. “I wanted to meet the man behind the myth and see if it was true or142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdut5q0atU
not. I had my doubts, but after meeting you in person I can feel her power142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqHuAba36O
radiating from inside of you.” he froze.
“Can anyone else?” he asked.
“What do you know of the Bricenian142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMu6dlkhc2H
royal family, Vander?” she asked, changing the subject.
“Not much.” He admitted.
“Our line has long held the power142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjPCxtHIrVX
of sensing the power of the deities.” She explained. “Think of it like a second142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fDllOXMOr
sense. However, mine are heightened even further.” She held out her hand and a142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVyjjco4Rcs
small little flame appeared. She quickly snuffed it out before anyone else142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQrH52z1Osi
could notice.
“You have the blessing of Azta?”142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh18EApk0Ye
he asked.
“That’s something that only Eliza,142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWkxtRWxTL
my mother, and I know about.” She smiled sadly. “Not even the man who sired me142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡudcBJCEpy9
knows this secret.”
“Sired huh?” He leaned back on the142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvDW7JsNQZU
bench. “I guess you have no lost love for your family either huh?” She looked142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkhs5pHCeA
surprised by this admission.
“You and your grandfather seem142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1ImoCXsp0
close.” She said. “You don’t like him?”
“I wasn’t talking about him.” He142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEvhpizCA9O
clenched his hands. “My father left me when I was born, after my mother died142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZsU0wBXVcQ
giving birth to me. My grandfather took me in and raised me here in the palace,142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSi80VNsAz
but I never got to spend time enjoying myself. I was being molded to take his142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrA8BdW45Du
place, just like Cuvera becoming King at some point.”
“That’s terrible.” She sighed. “At142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQkeSMyb0hO
least the commander was there for you. And now you have Shea. How did you two142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQXQ6qs4sZ6
meet anyway?”
“That story and the story with142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhfWemk9KJ8
Unna are the one and the same.” He said. “Since you already know my secret, I142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCFUZNys110
might as well tell you. It started ten years ago…”
∙
“Come on, move142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyeUQ6EVPgT
faster!” The Blade training captain, Jeremiah, shouted. He was running ahead of142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAGYDFWGhnb
the small group of recruits. Vander was ahead of the group, but his lungs were142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC1kD7zHOm4
beginning to burn with exertion. They had been on this run through the woods142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmH0e4Y3CrR
for an hour now with no sign of slowing down. Some of the recruits had stopped142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6g3p5RXTZC
to rest, only to be left behind. If they stuck to the path, they would be fine,142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2hbqNv5nur
but you shouldn’t be out after dark. It was dangerous. Jeremiah had stopped at142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Y2Ch5U7xn
the top of the hill then turned around to watch the struggling recruits.
“Take a break once you get up142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHm1XMLAgur
here.” He commanded. “We will wait for the others to catch up.”
“Yes sir!” Those who could shouted142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkqCcxO8WT
at him. The rest just wheezed and waved their hands.
Vander was the second one up the142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljaOiQv6m1
hill. Bree was first and was already drinking heavily from her canteen. She142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqPq5qmKFm
looked over at him, smiled, then offered him the canteen. Vander wiped his142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTT8AqpZV7z
sweaty black hair off his face and fixed her with a small smile. They passed142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3SBYyUpeu
the canteen back and forth while they waited.
Muun was the third one up the142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzEupkwp2g
hill. He had removed his coat, wrapping it around his waist, showing off his142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52hfTYrrJE
muscular arms. He was the son of a blacksmith and had been working in the forge142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡorajHhpxuw
from the time he was old enough to hold a hammer. He joined the Blades, but he142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9E3REeAuym
and Vander had become quick friends, and so Muun had told him that he really142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhXsX8NxpG0
wanted to have a farm out in the countryside. He just didn’t want to disappoint142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhajT8ioMF
his father.
The fourth one on the hill was142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKiSO6L8z4
Leon. He looked over at Vander and Bree. A deep scowl traveled across his face142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9MMSMzT0V
as he stood as far away from the others as possible sipping his water. Vander142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxPbgw8ElX
had no idea why Leon hated him so much and when he had tried to talk to him142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZrCk3wxDn
about it, he just scoffed and walked away. If he had to guess it was because he142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVhQmVuLrle
was the grandson of the current Blade Commander. Not that it mattered, he142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhdr79Mp9Zk
didn’t get any sort of special treatment. If anything, the instructors were142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhUyVNHMKMj
harder on him.
After about thirty minutes of142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7d8SqP7hPE
resting, all but five of the recruits had made it up the hill and Jeremiah was142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXDyaPUPLj
getting nervous. He kept looking up at the sky as Humjir started to dip below142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXB840S5FUK
midday. They had to make it back to camp before dark or they would be in142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqLCDib08k
danger. Jeremiah opened his mouth to give them orders when they heard a loud142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4nc0KlUv8Z
scream coming from the trail behind them.
“Stay here.” Jeremiah shouted. He142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyPXw15cqWx
gripped his sword before running back down the hill at full speed. Bree, Muun142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJOhRvSeOPe
and Vander shared a nervous look. All of the other recruits were muttering to142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfp0bf8iYDV
each other with fear prevalent in their voices. Vander got up from the ground142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlzM1gjEbcX
to stand next to his friend.
“What do you think is happening?”142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5WP9bVMGNv
Muun whispered, his blue eyes alite with concern. Vander knew that only two142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9UV6ksXpZe
things would make someone scream like that in the wood: either bandits or a142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBI2KmXNlc
shadow beast. They heard another scream, this time a man’s voice, then the iron142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjhQ11Os4Sl
tang of blood filled the air. Vander recoiled, but the others didn’t notice it.
“I’m going,” Vander said, gripping142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2MYZ62p5My
the metal sword hidden in his scabbard.
“Don’t be an idiot.” Leon snapped.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡScaH2lYFLU
“Captain Jeremiah went to deal with it, you’ll do nothing, but get in the way.”
“As opposed to just sitting here142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6QyjzqLIKU
even when our companions are being hurt?” Muun shook his head, glaring at their142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWspBShIax
classmate. “I knew you were spineless Leon, but I didn’t think you were a142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ09LquPgHxl
coward.”
“What did you say?” Leon snarled.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15UyCyNcTM
He drew back his arm to throw a punch, but Bree stepped in.
“Enough.” She spoke. “Leon, look142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWjcSbZHM1
after the others up here, the three of us will go down after the captain and142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg8y04bigzw
see if we could be of some help.”
“Fine,” Leon lowered his hand.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08Sd4AP4R7
“But if you die don’t come complaining to me.” Vander didn’t wait for the142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZABcSHSWI
others. He just ran down the hill as fast as he could with the other two142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVSGHvFBUWG
following behind. The shouts and screams of fear had quieted down, but there142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltKjt2rVoB
was still the unmistakable smell of blood lingering in the air. Bree and Leon142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbIzrCDkazE
must have noticed it because their faces became pale, but they stayed the142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBeUAe6Hjo
course.
Vander followed the smell until he142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Fas00YlHU
noticed that the foliage around them was becoming darker despite the light142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqK5ToZmVD
shining through the canopy. Sounds of battle was coming from straight ahead,142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1G7FrWWKFP
but the dark gripped everything around them.
“The Dark Forest.” Muun wheezed.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6N0vVSvlKr
He placed his hand on his knees gasping for breath. “How did any of us get lost142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVgysqMaVFh
in there?”
“It’s easy to get lost in here.”142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡycVG8UNIYq
Bree said. “They probably got off trail and got lost. We should-“ There was142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtth2mn56bm
another scream coming from up ahead. However, this time it sounded like142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe84EfSSShV
Jeremiah. Vander didn’t wait, he just dove through the bushes and into the142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFOLwHsB4w1
clearing. What he saw shocked him.
In the clearing was a giant Shadow142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡviA01VD0Z9
Beast. Its inky black fur rippled in the setting sunlight as its teeth dripped142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPDQPFZtKn
with saliva. Blood soaked the ground around it its paws covered in red. The142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2a1k9a1OK
shadow beast was the most dangerous creature in the woods, but they didn’t142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF3gNNQ5iiS
leave the inner circle of the forest which was why they were normally safe.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOV9vSoQPPX
They were the creatures of the dark, created by the Goddess Unna to kill142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn8OYY8YbpX
humanity. And they did a very good job of it.
“Why are you here?” they heard a142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡekMdVePRAS
man groaning from a tree next to him. Vander turned to see Jeremiah sitting on142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrzP3peAfn5
the ground holding his hand to his stomach. Blood dripped between his fingers142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCBqj4Sc6DH
and his face had gone deathly pale. He didn’t have long to live.
“We didn’t want to stay behind142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSs6NHkLF3
while you were saving the others.” Muun explained.
“There are no more others.”142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡduuInuRjne
Jeremiah leaned his head back against the tree. His body shook as he coughed,142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQL9rpseY8
blood dribbled down his chin. “The beast got us all and now that it has your142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgiZiOAFYU
scent, you’re dead as well.”
“We will have to see about that.”142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjcajkiLxQ8
Vander gripped his iron lump of a sword. He placed it on the ground before142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8XmSgOOxZn
bending down in front of Jeremiah. “I’m going to borrow your sword, Captain.”
“I can’t let you fight that thing,142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxYXK7zrFEn
Vander.” Jeremiah’s body trembled. “Your grandfather wouldn’t approve.”
“I can’t hide behind him forever142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyU1GmqPYeo
if I’m going to be a Blade.” Vander said. “If we are going to die, I’d rather142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWOzG0ObJbf
do it facing the enemy and not running away.” Jeremiah thought for a moment142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhbIkXF3dd
before nodding his head. He gripped his sword and held it out towards him.
“I wish I could have lived long142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYHI6cH8Sl
enough to see what kind of Blade you would have become.” As soon as Vander took142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgwcflAEgTL
the sword, Jeremiah’s eyes dimmed as he died.
“Goodbye Captain,” Vander lowered142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0QxCEOCAGV
the man’s eye lids then bowed his head. A moment later he stood up with the142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xMXFBnz8V
sword.
It was lighter than he expected,142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyamR33mxVe
much lighter than their practice swords. There was an elegance to the sword, it142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMAQcQZIVE
was a symbol of status within Eluvia, but above all it was a weapon for142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMNt4ZhoZo6
killing. There was no other purpose.
“You can’t go out there.” Muun142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL9ghNEYoby
grabbed his friend’s arm.
“This is something I must do.”142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDfDGnQOtML
Vander gave him a grim smile. Bree just watched as Vander removed himself from142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSRlcjkoB7
his friend and stepped out to face the creature.
He felt light and ready to take on142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGcTpM0DoF
the challenge. The beast was probably ten feet tall and covered with muscle. He142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvMPqmPNUy
could feel the animosity the beast had for him, but the feeling wasn’t mutual.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFaEIwEmwc
It was just bad luck that the two of them had to face each other like this when142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6u8Ch4jI3
normally their paths wouldn’t cross at all. But blood had been spilt and his142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNfyeznrihk
friends must be honored.
Vander moved first. He ran towards142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAUymjURxZ
the Shadow Beast with his sword ready to pierce the creature’s hide. It jumped142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPX1q3IlW3F
aside at the last moment, slid on the ground, then lunged at Vander’s throat.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwC3t692elK
He fell backward, bringing his foot up to catch the beast’s stomach then142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRo4hcCUSPL
throwing it over him. It landed on its feet then lunged again forcing Vander to142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvr1mNAfpUZ
roll to avoid the strike. He got to his feet before jumping backwards seconds142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUarBNwoJg
before the Shadow Beast would have flattened him.
They circled each other warily,142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzUILjiSbe
both exhausted. For the first time since the fight began, Vander realized the142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUL6klKIQw
creature was also bleeding heavily from its side. That confused Vander because142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWpFgYbOilt
when creatures are wounded, they tend to run away to tend to them, but142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVW7PpBNwit
something must be keeping it here, fighting. He didn’t have time to question it142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWCLtiINPSX
as it lunged at him with its mouths opened wide.
Vander shoved his sword up into142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLJrAxmpNW
the creature’s path and there was nothing it could do as the point skewered142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOznMm0xVq
through its throat out of the back of its head. The beast’s massive body142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6cYjppvfCd
slammed into Vander knocking him to the ground. It struggled to right itself as142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9dvGsyUSw
black blood poured from the wound all over Vander. In one last ditch attempt,142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKIeDp5jGO5
the creature scratched Vander’s face. He screamed and kicked the beast off him.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSYA51mvYN
Their blood mingled together then flashes of light shone in his eyes. He saw a142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKdoIsu3Ri
small white cub curled under a tree with her eyes hidden under her paws. He142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPamXAgVFu9
felt the beast’s last wish:
“Keep my child safe.” Before142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFze5spYDTq
it died. Holding his bleeding face, Vander limped to where the cub was hiding.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyieNI9Febj
He pushed back the bush protecting it from outside forces. Once the cub142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOuunA3ljxI
realized he was there, she jumped up baring her tiny teeth. Unlike her mother,142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZK6Os0epF
the cub was pure white. Vander held out his hand. She eyed him suspiciously but142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbrCoBIi97
sniffed it. Deciding that he meant her no harm, she walked up to him curling up142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7gt6l7Ji2
on his lap.
After that, Vander passed out142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37IJ3EWYnb
holding the cub in his arms.
∙
“After that, Bree was removed from142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdaoeT7EmtS
the Blades.” Vander explained. “Leon held an inferiority complex due to the142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQYa8irWOeP
attention I received, while Alex stayed by my side.”
“And Muun?” A sad expression142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVgJ3086fy
appeared on Vander’s face.
“He left three years ago after a142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkcb0679ziy
mission that almost killed him.” Last I heard he’s living in the woods142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mCttTIAyD
somewhere with his wife.”
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“At least some good came of a142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ04LTaGNRzU
tragedy.” She sighed. She clapped her hands and stood up from the bench. “Come,142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPnzbznJqo
let’s get back inside before Cuvera sends out the guards.” Vander stood up then142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEs9eshVWN1
she wrapped her arms with his. “How do you feel about Eliza joining the142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrO7boNLVK
Blades?”
