Kyran

Trotting to a stop next to the newly familiar blackthorn, I pant as I assess the woods around me. It is eerily silent; no birds are chirping or squirrels flitting through branches. Taking a few slow steps forward, I feel the tingling brush of the barrier and crouch low, lying tense on my belly, ready to run if necessary. Earlier this morning at twilight as I was hastily leaving, I definitely saw a figure at the edge of the woods standing mere meters away from where I had been resting under this scraggly shrub. I am unsure if I had been seen, but I didn’t dare wait around to find out.

Are you ready? I ask Valdr with trepidation creeping up my spine.

Yes, he brusquely replies.

Releasing a breath, I crawl forward, pushing my snout forcefully through the barrier and holding it there as long as I can withstand. Magic burns and zaps around me, causing me to snarl and withdraw, shaking my head vigorously. If that doesn’t get her attention we’ll have to run through, I mumble with a snort.

I’d rather go to the groomers, Valdr’s dry voice mutters back.

Rolling my eyes as my muzzle quickly heals, I hear the faintest brush of dry grass. With my gaze snapping upward, I lock eyes with the one being I am certain I would not prevail against as she stands directly in front of me. Launching to my feet, I bare my teeth and growl lowly as my hackles rise instinctively with the threat of her presence.

Control! I demand of Valdr and together we forcibly lie down once more, finding it nearly impossible for us to be willingly submissive.

I never take my eyes off her, however. She crouches down, her willowy body folding on itself gracefully until we are face to face. With her head tilted slightly, her deep violet eyes bore into me and searing agony rips through my skull. I instantly can’t hear, can’t see, think, or breathe. My paws scrabble at the earth as a keening wail tears from my throat before transforming into a deep, rumbling growl. With every ounce of energy in me, I will my mind to shield against the onslaught of magic. Focusing hard, I push her out away from my mind and seal my mental barrier, snuffing out the inferno of pain radiating throughout my body. With my chest heaving, I hold her gaze once more, making no move against her in retaliation and remain lying on the ground. She narrows her eyes slightly as the ghost of a smile softens her sharp features.

“You are strong, capable of more than you are aware,” she murmurs in a cool tone, rising to her feet and lifting her palm in a gesture for me to stand.

Warily pushing off the ground, my head levels with her midsection and I take a couple steps back to maintain better eye contact.

“I’ve gleaned all there is to know of you, however, I wish to hear you speak for yourself. Transmuto,” she intones, forcing me to shift into my human body.

It is beyond unnerving, her having absolute control over our kind, Valdr mutters as my bare chest rumbles.

Drawing to my full height, I bow my head deeply before looking into her eyes. “Hekate,” I acknowledge respectfully, holding her sharp gaze.

“Kyran, Valdr,” she greets in return, nodding her head ever so slightly. “You have come here, three nights now, only to leave at the break of dawn. No disturbances or challenges have been presented, yet here we stand,” she murmurs as she turns her hands over before lightly clasping them together.

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My insides feel prickly like tiny bugs are gnawing their way through me and I shift my weight in discomfort. Although she did not ask a question, I answer her anyway. “Thank you for receiving me. Hear me out, if you please,” I request, pausing and she gives a slight nod. “Valdr explained to me what felt like a calling, or an urge of sorts, to follow the pull to this very place. He respected your boundary and would go no farther, always resting just outside it and finding comfort enough to sleep. I would wake here unknowingly, immediately returning to my lands fearing you would assume I’ve broken the treaty and seek retribution,” I take a breath, running a hand through my hair.

“It wasn’t until earlier this morning that I realized the reason. She lives here. Selene. I only just met her three days ago, on Friday at the market. I know in my heart she is my true mate. I do not understand though, how can this be?” I thump my palm to my chest twice, then shift to my wolf form and raise my head to show the small patch of pale fur on my chest. The mark of a deceased mate. Hekate’s violet eyes darken as her brow lowers

Shifting back to my human form, I plead, “Please, I need to know if this is true, that I am not going insane. I cannot bear the thought—” I clench my jaw, rethinking my words. “I just want to know that she is free to be with me, if she so chooses,” I murmur as I flick my gaze between her eyes.

I have a thousand questions, plenty of speculations, and even some accusations pertaining to this whole mess of a situation, though none of which I dare voice aloud. We stare in silence, her and I, for a few heartbeats as neither of us moves. Suddenly something shifts in her face, a minuscule pinch of her brow and my heartbeat falters in anticipation.

“She is not ready yet,” Hekate murmurs softly, shaking her head.

“What do you mean? Ready for what, exactly?”

Her mouth draws into a thin line as she exhales through her nose. “Selene is unaware of what you are, what she is. That part of her remains dormant, in stasis, unable to be broken by outside force. She is awakening, however, and I believe it’s from you. When the time comes, great change will be upon you, upon your kind.” Her voice grows distant and quiet.

“How can that be?” I ask, shocked, “what changes do you speak of?”

“She once roamed freely, as a child, many centuries ago. Things became…volatile when she grew into adulthood. For her safety, I had to enspell her and wipe her memory of that life and anything supernatural. Not long ago did she wake, but only with her human half. I beseech you, do not force this upon her, it will only cause harm,” Hekate clasps her hands in front of her with a grave voice.

I notice her avoidance of my questioning the changes mentioned and decide against pushing the subject, only nodding my head once in silent agreement. Hekate reaches out a hand, placing it on my shoulder and I cannot suppress the flinch that jumps at her touch. She stares into my eyes for a few breaths, feeling like she is looking at my soul and deciding whether or not to extirpate it from my body. Releasing me with a nod, she steps backward until she reaches the edge of the woods.

“Farewell, Custos,” she gestures in a wide arc and my entire reality explodes in a kaleidoscope of bursting lights and colors, twisting and pulling me in every direction at once with wind ripping the air from my lungs. On the verge of passing out, I’m abruptly deposited on my front doorstep and am crashing into my extremely distraught brother.

My gut clenches and I twist sideways, retching over the hedges lining the walkway.

“Kyran? What the fuck! How did you—where did you—are you okay?” Trey cries out as he grabs my face in his hands, his eyes bulging wide.

Wiping my mouth with the back of my hand, I push him away and then grimace, my nerves completely shot. “I just met our maker, lived, and came to a sort of understanding with one another, I think?” I stare bewildered at nothing as my mind flashes over everything that just happened.

Turning to open the door, I leave Trey there picking his jaw up off the ground and head to my bedroom to take a long, long, hot shower.