Arrival

Life had changed very drastically for me since my true ident.i.ty was discovered. Dragon had, indeed, taken a public vow in the face of the riots and had taken an oath to be responsible for me, vouching for me and putting his t.i.tle and credibility on the line for my sake. He stood in front of the throngs of people as they shouted out fearful and angry proclamations that I would wreak havoc on their city, eat their children and slaughter them all in the night....

tAnd Dragon still stood there, defending me, even while I shook and cried like a b.l.o.o.d.y child. He put his honor on the line, and I would do my very best to uphold his honor.

tThe first few nights had been the hardest. When the guards told Dragon that it was time to leave, to return to his home, and I couldn't go with him… the strange new noises and creaks in the night, the overwhelming feeling of being alone…

t.i.t was terrifying.

tI knew that way out here, n.o.body would be able to come to my rescue. I had no help out here. I was alone. Secluded, isolated from everything that I had once known.

tBut that wasn't all that had to be put into place.

tThe guards were constantly watching my every move, waiting for me to make one wrong choice. They reported all of my behavior directly to the king. I had tried glaring at them for quite some time, but after one guard threw a rock at me and hit me above the right eyebrow...I had stopped looking at them for the most part. Getting in some menacing glares wasn't worth getting hurt over.

tAnd just as the king had said that I would be, I was, indeed, confined to a measly two acres of land. I had a small hut built into the roots of a large tree and into the ground. The occasional supply runs out to my property came to just the edge of the line, and if the suppliers happened to spot me, they would drop my supplies onto the ground and run. Guards always accompanied them to the line of my property, but they were still so terrified to even look upon me that it was outright hurtful.

tI was forced to start taking cla.s.ses with Dragon's mother now, since she felt that I still needed an education. Not that I had much time for education outside of my duties to the king and the city, now, but she insisted that the remainder of my time be spent studying. A young woman should be educated in the ways of a woman. Not that it would matter, considering that I would more than likely never get a chance to really… be a woman.

tMy life would never be the same.

tI felt as if I were a criminal.

tI often felt bad for Lord Dragon, because I knew that he tried his very best to make me comfortable. He would bring me clothes, special herbs and spices for food, he would bring me bathing salts for when I was able to get help filling my bath. He tried very hard to be sure that I wasn't living in a bad way out here, all alone. And he tried to stay with me as much as he could, when he wasn't doing work for the city or for the king. He put in a great deal of effort to spend time with me. He was trying. But… it wasn't always enough for me.

tI often ran off into the forests of my property and thankful that the king had given me property with plenty of trees, a good stretch of river and a waterfall, even a couple of caves; trying to hide from my life….

tI learned the hard way that there was no escape.

tTime continued to pa.s.s, ever so slowly. As I got older, I became darker and felt more at war with the Woodelf half of my lineage.

tI was fifteen now, and I'd had four and a half years of living in my little piece of land. It had been hard at first. I had struggled. But Dragon had visited me every single day, even if he didn't arrive until late in the evening or even into the nights. I would feel him stroke my forehead tattoo before he locked up and left each night.

tI looked back, and I remembered when Drakul, Dragon's father, had been instructed to start my combat training to be sure that I was ready at the beck and call of the king, whenever he may have need of me.

tAt first, training was awkward. We knew that if I did well with training and the king saw a good use for me, he may simply change his mind and start breeding me for his army. But after a few years of training, Drakul became like a father figure to me, and we grew quite close.

tAh, the day when my training began. My brother had come into town and out to my property, as well as Dragon, and they both stood by and watched as my first tests began.

t"Good morning, la.s.sie. I need you to understand something. There has never been a female warrior in any of elven culture. I have never had a single woman to try out for my cla.s.s before. You are a first, indeed. And I hope that you succeed. Although, your success is a double-edged sword, of course. Now, there are three tests to determine your capabilities. First, you must be able to make a bullseye on the target with a bow and arrow. Then, with the same weapon, you must be able to hit a moving target. A bullseye is not required for that. The third and final test, is that you must be able to hit a moving target while running."

tI smiled. "I am ready to try," I said.

tHe nodded. "Good. Here," he said, handing me his bow and arrows. "Good luck."

tHe went to stand about a hundred feet away from me, and set up a target with a red circle in the middle of a tree. He stood beside of it.

tSuddenly, I wasn't so confident. He was going to stand beside of the target while I fired? What if I missed and hit him? Or killed him? Doubt ran through my mind. I looked at the bow. I didn't even know how to use this weapon. I had never shot a bow and arrow before...

tI heard his warm chuckle as he came up from behind me. "You hold it like this," Dragon's voice instructed, moving my hands into the correct position. He put the end of the arrow between my first and middle fingers, my thumb resting on the b.u.t.t of the arrow, and he helped me to set it on the bow string properly. "There. Now, pull back. Touch your fingers to your mouth, and aim your vision directly center, looking only at the red circle. Do not look at anything else. Envision your arrow hitting that circle. Clear your mind, and concentrate only on your shot." Then he let go of me and backed away. "Now, you're ready."

tFeeling better and more relaxed, I closed my eyes, and took a deep breath, poised to release the arrow. I opened my eyes, and saw only the red circle. I let out a breath as I released the arrow from my fingers, and I watched it as it flew.

tAnd I stood, dumbfounded, as my arrow hit directly center in the middle of the red circle. Drakul looked, mouth agape, at the arrow.

t"It went clear through the board," he said, amazed. "And that was your first time ever shooting an arrow?"

tI smiled. "I feel great!" I laughed. "I feel so powerful."

t"You should," my brother spoke up. "That's not an easy task for experienced archers. You should be proud. You hit dead center in the bullseye and shot through the board. That's not a common skill. Especially not for someone of your level."

tI smiled, my face hurting with the force of it. I was so happy.

t"Yes, indeed," Drakul said. "Now," he said, grabbing a rope that was tied to a branch, and I saw that it led up high in the trees, and was tied to another board with a red circle in the middle of it. Only this time, it was swinging through the air.

tAnd all of my pride and joy fell away as I looked upon my new task. Sure, I had made a bullseye before...but this was only my second time ever shooting an arrow. Would I be able to hit a moving target? At least a bullseye wasn't required for this one.

t"Kysael," Dragon said to me from the side. "Just use the same method I told you earlier. Only see your target. Do not see anything else other than that red circle, or the board. Follow it with the tip of the arrow, and narrow your vision to learn its swing pattern. You can do this."

tI took another deep, calming breath. Dragon's words helped to soothe me. I did as he instructed me to do, and put my fingers to my mouth. I focused on the tip of the arrow, and matched it up with the board. And as my body swayed to keep it lined up with the board, I watched for a few moments, learning its swinging pattern as Dragon had said to. Then, I focused on only the red circle on the board.

tAnd as I foresaw its next move, I shot where I knew it would be in its next swing.

tMy family gasped as I hit the edge of the bullseye on the swinging board.

tDrakul let go of the rope, shocked, and the board came cras.h.i.+ng to the wooden planks of the platform beneath our feet.

tHe shook his head, laughing. "Aye, la.s.sie, I believe you're going to be quite well suited for this cla.s.s," he said.

t"I'm ready for the final test," I said with a smile.

t"Oh, I'm sure you are, la.s.s." He went and grabbed a board with a strap on it, and strapped it to his arm. Then, he faced its surface toward me so that I could see a red bar, above and below where his arm was. The part that had his arm behind it was left unpainted. "Now, your third and final task is to hit this board, the part that doesn't have my arm behind it, while we are both running."

tI was shocked. "You are my moving target?" I asked, frightened.

t"Don't worry about it, la.s.sie. You'll do fine, with as well as you have done so far. I've never had anyone do so well on these tests. Apply the same techniques to this that you have to the other two tests. Focus on only the red bars on this s.h.i.+eld. If you hit the unpainted part, and it goes through the board, it will shoot into my arm."

t"Are you sure about this?" I asked, nervous.

t"Don't worry, Kysael!" Dragon laughed. "My father has had much worse wounds than that and I am right here. I am a world-famous healer, after all. A little arrow wound is nothing. He does this with all of his students. As he said, just focus on the red bars. Only see the red."

t"A.....alright," I said, shaking. I pulled the arrow and string in my fingers back to my lip. I once again lined up my sight with the end of the arrow, and lined the end of the arrow to match up with the red bars, and I started running as Drakul did.

tI took a deep breath, and after a moment of watching, I released the arrow at the spot where the red bar on top would be when Drakul took his next step.

tThe arrow flew and splintered the board as it pierced all the way through it in the top, left-hand corner of the red bar on the board.

tDrakul unstrapped the board from his arm and tossed the s.h.i.+eld down, clapping his hands. "Well done," he smiled. "You have pa.s.sed with a higher success rate than any man I have ever tested. Congratulations. You are now my student.... or that is what I would say, were this a normal test, and you actually had a choice."

tDragon pulled me in for a hug last. "Those tests are specifically set up to make people fail, but you succeeded!" He smiled. "I knew that you could do it."

tI hugged him tight. "It's all thanks to you, for teaching me what to do, and helping me."

t"I can't take all the credit, here. You are amazingly skilled. You outrank any beginner I have ever seen. Well done!"

*

September, 1097 A.D.

t.i.t was several years after that, now, and I was becoming quite efficient in the art of hunting. I had proven to him that I was successful in training, and any time he went outside of the inner ring of the city, I was to accompany him as his guard. I often stayed by the King's side, following his whims and his orders as I was deemed to, and I kept my mouth shut and did what I was told. He was not kind...but he was not overly cruel, either, I supposed. He had me perform menial tasks for him around the outskirts of the city… as long as I had supervision. And my supervision wasn't allowed to be simply Lord Dragon, either. I had to have actual guards with me at all times. But I saw it as an opportunity to get out of my little plot of land, and the adventurous side of me, the wild part, enjoyed the freedom more than anything I had ever experienced.

tNow, I was being sent on my first official mission and not just errands. My mission was to hunt down a powerful, high ranking criminal in order for an a.s.sa.s.sin to dispatch them. It was a hush-hush mission, given directly from the king himself. The guards did not have to watch me this time. He was trusting me. And if I was successful, this could be my ticket to working my way into the city and having the life that I desired. Well… the life that the Woodelf half of me desired, in any case.

tI hid in the trees, my face tattoos burning with the antic.i.p.ation of blood about to be spilled, and my eyes burned.

tI had still ever only fed on animals and the occasional supplies that were brought out to my humble little home, but being around the scent of the blood of people all the time was... enticing, since I had begun to give in to my Darker self, the Wraith lineage. This was no different, as I remained in my position.

tI had left clues for my a.s.sa.s.sin, and he would be arriving shortly to eliminate the target.

tI heard the owl call, and I mimicked it to let the a.s.sa.s.sin know my precise location, and I felt the branch bow slightly as his weight settled.

t"Which man?" I barely heard his voice whisper, and his voice was smooth and warm, reminding me of hot soup on a bitterly cold winter's night. I looked at him, and I was stunned to see a handsome young man, around my age.

tHis hair was a sandy blonde color, and his eyes were the same color as a cloudless, sunny blue sky. They were second in beauty only to Dragon's eyes. His aura was a deep mossy green color, but he was hiding it mostly because of our target. But I could still see it, just barely, with my strong Wraith eyes.

tHe had a soft face, rounded and he had a nose that curved nicely upward toward the end, reminding me of a Greek statue from European countries.

tHe had thick, full lips, and his eyelashes were thicker than almost any man's I'd ever seen.

tHis skin was a nice, rich tan color that was typical for most of the Woodelves, and his handsome face was covered in traditional war-paint for our nation. He had the a.s.sa.s.sin a.s.sociation tattoo on his shoulder.

tI brought myself out of my staring, my eyes returning to the ground below us.

t"Gray coat over iron armor, steel boots, steel gauntlets. No helmet, brown hair, dark skin. Mid-thirties, around six feet tall. A steel great-sword with gold filigree in the handle."

t"Target sighted, locked on. Approaching in approximately twenty-four seconds."

tAs we watched our target, he whispered. "You are quite beautiful. Locate me in Havengrove when this mission is over with."

tI started at his statement, just as he dropped out of the tree and landed with grace on the earth beneath us, and an enchantingly dark and dangerous, delectably seductive but captivating and bewitching song flowing from his lips....and before it was over, he was taking out the target's guard with ease before dispatching the intended target, killing both of them with quick slashes to the throat with his dagger, and they were dead in mere seconds.

tHe briefly looked through pockets and satchels, finding what it was that he was after, before he signaled for me to clear out, and I saw him leap into the trees and disappear into the night.

tI was slightly appalled, being as it was my first time seeing someone a.s.sa.s.sinated and then having their corpse looted. It felt wrong.

tI hated that the King forced me to be his puppet, and I hated my nation for the laws that it enforced. But I put it out of my mind. I had to get home.

tI hurried back, and I could hear the enemy searching the forest for us. Unfortunately for them, we were already long gone from the scene, and they had no idea who had a.s.sa.s.sinated those men.

tAs I arrived back to the city, I didn't know what I should do. I was merely a weapon of war for this Woodelf king and his city. I didn't fit in anywhere. Could I really be allowed to have a life, meet a man, marry, reproduce?

tI went back to my home. I knew that the guards would alert the king to my arrival, and he would send word for me whenever was ready for my report. I did, however, find Dragon waiting there for me. Once I arrived, the guards left to go tell the king that I had returned.

t"Oh, Kysael, you've returned, I see. Are you hurt? Was your mission successful?" He asked when he saw me walk up to my home.

t"I am uninjured. The mission was a success."

t"That's good, then. I am sorry that you had to witness that," he said sadly. "I know that... murder isn't something that a young girl should be having to witness in such a way."

t"It's alright," I told him. "This is my duty to the king."

tHis eyes were sad as he watched me. He came and raised his hand, almost as if to lay it on my cheek... but then he withdrew it, and sighed, his hand falling to his side. "I wish that I could have given you a better life. I do."

tI smiled. "Its fine, Lord Dragon. You have given me a great life. You raised me in my mother's place, and taught me everything that I know. So, it's alright. But, anyway, I have a question."

t"Of course, what is it?"

t"Who was the a.s.sa.s.sin on this mission?"

t"Hm?" He looked at me. "What's going on?"t

t"He....he told me that...I was quite beautiful, and to locate him when I returned to Havengrove."

tHis eyes widened, and he looked away for a moment. "And... you wish to locate him?"

tI looked at the floor. "Well....the last time that I was brave enough and that I asked, the King said that if I completed my duties, he could see what else I could serve to do in this city, right? So... does that mean, that like other women, I could...possibly marry?"

tHe startled, his eyes meeting mine again.

t"Kysael..."

t"I would...like to be able to be free one day, and to have a family."

tHe stood, and he came over and pulled me into a hug. "Despite all you have been through, you are such a fine young woman. But we have been over this, Kysael. The king wouldn't simply allow you to be with whomever you wanted to be with. He would be in complete control of who you wed, when you were allowed to wed, and he would decide when he wanted to breed you. You cannot have the life of a normal Woodelf maiden, Kysael, and it is sad but true that I must continue to inform you of this. The King wouldn't let you fall in love. And there are not many in this city that would have you willingly."

t"But I'm not a woman, my Lord. I am simply a b.a.s.t.a.r.d Wraithling, a desolate and dark creature that is nothing but a weapon.... a slave, all because I am an abomination."

t"Don't let all that ignorant old king's talk get into your head, Kysael. You have a mind. You have feelings, and thoughts of your own. You are not his puppet."

tI looked away. "I've made you angry..."

tHe gasped. "No," he said softly. "I just wish that you wouldn't speak of yourself or think of yourself that way."

tI nodded softly. "Ever since I was ten...I've been a weapon for the king. I grew up with no parents, no one but you, my Lord. I have no real family. The only one that I have ever had...is you. You taught me how to talk, to read, write, you taught me how to eat, hunt. You taught me how to live."

t"I-"

t"But....I do not have dignity, because I am not a Woodelf. I do not have pride, because I am considered an abomination, I am a b.a.s.t.a.r.d. I am not free, because I am feared. I am the King's weapon, his servant, his.... whatever he decides to deem me to be." I finished with disgust. My eyes filled with tears. "The king has made it no secret that he wishes to....to bed me, Dragon. Since his mate's pa.s.sing, he has made many...suggestive comments about such. He has even allowed his hands to touch me. Thankfully, before things go too far, he seems to remember himself."

tHis face was surprised and angry, his hands balled into fists and shaking and he looked away. "He should not have said or done those things," he grated out, his tone dangerous.

t"I just want to have freedom, my lord."

tDragon sighed. "I know. But one day, Kysael, perhaps the King will see that you are safe and you are valuable to this city, and he will change his mind and let you go free. And then, you will be able to live the life that you desire." I could tell from his expression, his tone...that he himself didn't believe that anymore, but he said it all the same in an attempt to comfort me.

t"But what if I'm past the marrying age? And everyone in this city is abusive toward me, my Lord. How am I to find someone to wish to unite with me and continue my bloodline? This a.s.sa.s.sin… he was kind to me. What if he is the only chance that I might have?"

t"I....well...." He sighed, rubbing the back of his head, looking anywhere but me. He was hiding something. Something important. But I didn't press the issue. I knew better. I knew that Dragon wouldn't tell me anything that he did not want to talk about. "I don't feel that now is the time to discuss it, but the King and I... Well, we have a prior arrangement about that subject. You need not concern yourself."

t"What was his name?" I asked. "Even if the king allowed me to marry, it would more than likely be arranged, simply forced. But this a.s.sa.s.sin, he...he showed interest in me, despite what I am. I would like to find him and see what his purpose was."

tDragon sighed, and scratched the back of his head, before he grabbed a sheet of paper with his father's handwriting, no doubt a report and my orders for the mission to begin with. Since Drakul was the one who gave me my missions from the king, and Dragon was the one in charge of my care, Drakul simply sent the orders through him.

tFinally, he found something. "His name is Kelose, he is of the h.e.l.lebore clan. He was only recently accepted into the a.s.sa.s.sin a.s.sociation, showing great promise as a prospective bringer of justice." He leveled me with a cautionary glare. "But be warned, Kysael. The AA is a very dark and dangerous group, and their members suffer horrifying consequences for their murders. Every time they end a life, they get closer and closer to the transformation of becoming a Darkelf, which is the most detestable of the Dark Realm. Their bodies even begin to undergo physical changes the more that they kill. Please, tread with caution."

t"I will, my Lord. But I am used to treading around darkness. Now, I'm going to go and find this 'Kelose'. I will return before it gets too late."

t"Kysael--"

t"I have one more question."

tHe sighed. "What is it?"

t"Why did he sing? It was unlike anything that I've ever heard in my life. What....what was it?"

tDragon paused. "You were.... enchanted by this tune?"

t"Yes, very," I told him honestly. "It made me feel.... drawn to him."

t"That is the purpose of his Spirit Song. He lures his enemies to him, making them feel peaceful, at ease, even drawn to him. It makes them let their guard down, and he can dispatch them with little trouble, as long as they are weaker than he is."

t"Spirit Song?" I asked.

t"The most spiritual elves have at least one. It is not something that every elf has the ability or apt.i.tude for. Just as all elven races have aura that varies in shade from elf to elf, all of the elven races also have the gift of The Voice. It was gifted to us by the creator, to enhance our talents and our skills.

tWhen you have a particular talent, something that you excel at, you can pull your spirit into a song to help you with that activity and make you even further successful with it. You can become a legend with it. Kelose has always been known as a smooth talker, and has a way with persuasion. Many in this city will tell you that he has persuaded them into many things, mostly things that they did not desire. I once heard that he sang to a n.o.ble lady, and that she gifted him with three sacks of diamonds. Be warned, Kysael. I suggest you proceed with caution if you insist on proceeding at all."

tI smiled. "I will. Please, go on home, my Lord. You have taken enough time out of your evening to visit me. Good night."

t"Good night, Kysael."

tI left, and the fluttering in my heart finally began to cease. I'd always held Dragon in high regard, and I'd always.... very deeply cared for him. After I had been cast out of the city to live on this tiny plot of land, our visits had grown increasingly precious to me and I had grown ever fonder and… more desiring of Lord Dragon and his visits with me. I wanted him beside of me. I wanted him to be mine, just as I felt that I was his.

tBut alas, he was a n.o.ble, a Woodelf Lord who could never be with someone as lowly as me. Though, I idly wondered if he ever would marry. Considering his angry disposition, and how little tolerance he had for people in this city, I doubted it.

tI was walking through the forest, back toward a spot near a bridge that connected a sector of the city. It was the far line of my property, and the middle of the bridge was the furthest that I could go without getting into trouble. I knew that it would still be a while before the king got back with me about my mission, so I had some time.

tAnd on that bridge, I found Kelose. He stood, and he faced me.

t"I wasn't sure that you were going to be coming this way, but one of my friends told me that you are often seen here, looking into the forest in the direction of the city… That this is your property line.

t"You are Kelose," I said softly. "You are of one of the middle ranking clans in the city, the h.e.l.lebore clan, your brother is one of the palace guards who also studies under Lord Arkasil of Knowledge and your father is on the War Council. You are the son of the head of the clan."

t"You are very good at collecting information. I've heard of you, as well. You are Kysael of the Cedar clan; your mother was married into the Ash clan. Your mother was executed publicly in front of the n.o.bles for having a b.a.s.t.a.r.d daughter, and you were named of the Cedar clan because your father was not of the Ash clan. You are a Woodelf-Wraith Hybrid, and you are in service to Lord Dragon, who is charged with your care, and to the King. You have a brother who is an a.s.sistant for the blacksmith. It is odd to me, though, how you have turned out to be such a soft and mild-mannered woman with a dark and brooding Lord such as Lord Dragon raising you. Everyone knows he is not necessarily a happy man. Have I left anything out?"

t"You left out the part that I am a slave of violence, and that I am not allowed to marry or to be courted until the King decides to allow it, and I am forced to be in service in order to live. I am also confined to my land unless he deems me allowed to leave."

tHe startled. "So, that was true..." He trailed off. "You are quite beautiful, and unique. You are not like any other woman in this city."

t"You sound as if you are wanting to court me," I said softly. "And as I have already told you, I am not allowed."

tHe came to stand in front of me. "Then I will go and I will talk with the king personally, and tell him that I have expressed interest in your hand."

tI scoffed. "Good luck," I told him, turning to leave. "Oh...and by the way.... you are quite handsome." And then I walked, making my way back to my home. I heard him chuckling as I left him there, alone on the bridge in the forest.

*

December, 1097 A.D.

tAfter that night, I continued to be sent on missions to hunt and track down enemies of our nation, and Kelose was always the a.s.sa.s.sin sent to dispatch them and to work with me. We would often sit and talk afterward, and he was kind to me.

t"I don't understand why it is that people have such a problem with your kind," he said offhandedly. "We are allies with the Wraiths. It makes no sense to hate them, or to hate you for being a hybrid."

t"The Woodelves are all about 'purity'," I said. "It's a stain on my mother's bloodline. That is why she was executed. I also happen to be a b.a.s.t.a.r.d, so that didn't help matters."

t"What of your father?" He asked.

tI shook my head. "I've never known him, and my mother was never around to tell me of him. And Dragon has already told me everything that he knows, information of which he is very limited on. I know the circ.u.mstances of which my conception came about, but.... well, not who he was or what he was like. Although, I have the idea that he was generally as all other Wraiths are, black hair and blue eyes and pale skin."

t"So... I've been meaning to ask you something."

t"Go ahead, then."

tHe hesitated. "What is the connection between you and Lord Dragon? I've seen you with him, and... well, the way that he looks at you as something precious, and... well, I mean....you look at him as if he's your universe, if I'm being honest with you."

tI felt my cheeks heat up. "Why do you wish to know?"

t"Has he asked for your hand yet?"

tI startled, and then I laughed. "Oh, I don't believe that Lord Dragon sees me like that. He raised me, and he has always been there for me, but he doesn't see someone like me that way."

t"I would not be so sure. I've seen how he looks at you, heard how he speaks with you, and I have seen the way his aura s.h.i.+mmers and trembles when he's around you."

tI gaped at him in shock. "His aura trembles around me...? Surely, you must be mistaken. He doesn't see me in any romantic way, I am positive. If he did, he would have told me. He did raise me, after all."

t".... But you see him that way," he said softly. "I can see it in your eyes when you think of him."t

tI looked at him. "And what about you?"

tHe met my eyes. "I believe I've already told you what I think about you. But I am... very intrigued by you. You are beautiful. And you are kind, and not haughty like so many of the Woodelf maidens."

tI smiled. "So, I am humble."

t"Yes," he said, his voice serious. "I believe that you would make a fine bride. And that's why," he paused, and he kneeled before me, reaching into his backpack and pulling out a beautiful blue fabric. "That is why, I have obtained the King's permission to court you."

tI startled. He'd convinced the king to allow me to be married? "What? How in the world have you managed that?"

t"Oh, I have my ways. I have a way with persuasion. Kysael, I know that we haven't known each other all that long," he admitted as he looked into the distance. "But there is no other that I would rather court, and you are unattached as it happens. So... will you accept my proposal?"

tTears filled my eyes, and I smiled as I nodded, and he came and embraced me tightly.

tPresenting a betrothal gown was customary to our race upon asking for a woman's hand in marriage. It was a beautiful, royal blue gown with a low, heart shaped neckline that lay just over top of the b.r.e.a.s.t.s with halter-straps, tight sleeves, and a low back. It led down to a large slit in the gown that went from the top of the leg to the floor.

tThe shock hit me hard. As a hybrid, I had not expected to get married at any point. What with my heritage, I didn't believe that anyone would have me, even if the king had decided to allow it. It was more than I could process in my young mind that he had actually persuaded the king to allow this.

tLater that night, Kelose and I had gone our separate ways, and as I made my way home, Dragon dropped down out of the tree above his cabin and landed beside of me.

t"Good evening, Lord Dragon," I told him happily.

t"You're in a good mood," he said, giving me a small grin and a fleeting glance. "Congratulations."

t"Thank y--wait, how did you know?" I asked.

t"The king told me that Kelose asked for your hand....and that he accepted Kelose's proposal," he gave me his trademark smirk. "Don't be so surprised. I am technically still your guardian, after all. So, it seems that you've made quite an impression on him."

t"I suppose. How do you feel about this?"

t"As long as you are happy, that is what matters. And if you are happy with him, then I am happy for you, though I won't hide my concerns from you on the matter. But it is your decision, and I hope that he doesn't use his abilities to turn it to be his decision. As long as it truly is your decision, I will accept it."

t"Thank you," I said. "Now, I need to get some rest. I have another mission in the morning."t

t"Actually, I came to tell you that I need your a.s.sistance for my trip to Irasil. I have already gotten permission from the king. I'm going to help out with their injured, as they've faced a pretty serious battle. But the road is a little unsafe, and while I am perfectly capable of defending myself, other medics will be on the mission and I am not going to be able to protect all of them on my own if we were to be attacked. So, you-"

t"I'm the secret weapon because I look like any other woman."

tHe hesitated. "Exactly."

tI bowed to him, and he tensed. "I will gladly accompany you," I told him.

t"Kysael, you don't need to bow." He had me stand straight again. "We leave out first thing in the morning, at sunrise."

t"Yes, my Lord." I looked away. "My Lord?"

t"Yes?"

t"Do you think that I will make a good bride?"

tHe startled. "What?"

t"It's just...that's what Kelose said. He thought that I would make a fine bride. And I....my heart felt funny," I told him.

tHe smiled. "I am glad that he makes you feel that way."

t"I'll see you in the morning, then," I told him, and then I went inside, thinking of the strange expression on his face when I talked of my being a bride.

*

January, 1098 A.D.

t.i.t was snowing. My mission with Dragon to Irasil had been a success, of course, and though we had indeed been attacked on the road, Dragon and I were more than enough to take care of them with just the two of us and protect everyone else. It wasn't a very large ambus.h.i.+ng party anyway; it had only been six men. Not any trouble at all, really. A little too easy, honestly. It made me paranoid,

tWhen we had reached Irasil, I had been amazed and I had been overwhelmed by the beauty of the mountain fortress. It was the home of the Mountain elves, a slightly more powerful and agile breed of elf than the Woodelves. Their territory was a lot more difficult to maneuver, and they had to live with it since the beginning. But they were at home there, and it was a fascinating place to me. Their towers built into the rock, their high windows and spa.r.s.e, beautiful foliage interwoven into the mountain side and even their very buildings. It certainly was a strange sight, one that I was in awe of. It was snowing, and it snowed often in these mountains. The had much different living conditions than we Woodelves did.

tI wondered if anyone ever felt this way when they came to Havengrove. Awed by how our people could live in this place, do things that they do in their everyday normal life and be amazed by it.

tSuch as I was awed in Irasil by watching women carrying babes while climbing up steep cliffs, using only one hand and their feet to climb. Watching elderly be able to jump from one cliff to the next, a jump that was at least fifteen feet.

tThe Mountain elves looked at us a bit strangely, dark looks in their eyes. Dragon did seem to notice that much, at least, and we hurried to return home as quickly as we could get there. Something was off about our Mountain elf cousins. I was thankful once we were back home, despite how horrid my circ.u.mstances were.

tNow, it was mine and Kelose's first winter together, and it was snowing. A beautiful sight in our ancient forest city. We both wore thick coats that were lined on the inside with wool, and fur lined the opening of my hood. I was prepared for winter after that incident when I had been nine. I never left without my coat.

tKelose and I ran and twirled around as it fell, playing. We balled up bits of snow and threw them at each other. We pulled each other down, rolling around in it.

tHe lay in the snow, laying his arms and spreading his legs, moving them back and forth in it.

t"What are you doing?" I laughed.

tHe gaped. "You've never made a snow angel?"

t"Snow angel?" I asked, curious. He laughed at me; a warm sound that made my head fuzzy.

t"Yes, a snow angel! I can't believe you've never made one! Come on!" He pulled me down into the snow, and he showed me what to do with my arms and legs.

t"But what is the point of this?"

tHe just smiled and stood, pulling me up with him, off of the ground. Then, he turned us around and showed me our snow angels, and I smiled.

t"It looks like an angel!" I laughed.

t"That is the idea," he laughed with me. I loved the sound of it. His laugh was warm and full of life. "You have so much to learn," he smiled at me.

tI gave him a hug, and he lifted his hands to my face, cupping it, before he pressed a heated kiss to my lips. The kiss burned my lips in its intensity, making it hard for me to breathe.

tSwooning, I had to pull away, laughing it off.

tHe brushed the snow off of my back. "There, we go," he whispered. Then he pulled me into another hug. "Are you cold?" He asked me.

tI shook my head. "No, I'm warm," I said. "But I'd like to be even warmer," I smiled.

t"Then allow me to heat you up some more," he teased, and pulled me into a kiss that had my head swimming and my body heating up in ways that I couldn't explain.

tI'd never felt anything like this before, and I could feel heat pooling in my abdomen. I kissed him back with fervor. I pulled away, breathless, when he playfully nipped at my neck, and I shuddered. My fingers clung to his dark skin at his neck, bringing him to kiss me again. We kissed heatedly again, before he pulled away and began balling up snow and throwing it at me, bringing me out of the heat.

tAnd I felt a presence, and looked up into the trees over our head, seeing a figure in a white cloak up on a branch in a tree a few yards away, and I saw his s.h.a.ggy and sleek, shoulder length hair that was almost black, and he was looking over his shoulder in our direction, his back to us. His olive colored aura was soft, dim almost, flickering a bit. He was tense, not relaxed.

tI'd come to learn, as a child, that he often kept watch over me, making sure that I was alright, and had become even more watchful since my ident.i.ty had been discovered those years ago.

tI just smiled. He was always looking out for me. And I knew that it wasn't his intention to invade my privacy, because he was not in ear shot of us, even for elven ears. He was just being sure that I was safe, and I appreciated his nearly constant gesture of protection over me. Dragon was my hero, definitely.

tAnd once he saw that I'd caught him, he smiled warmly at me, before taking off into the forest, out of sight, letting me have my privacy.

tAnd my heart swelled with gratefulness.

*

May, 1098 A.D.

t"Good job, weapon," the King said as I threw the criminal out of the tree to land on the ground before him. "You have been doing excellent work. Drakul is right to want to promote you, and now that I have seen what you are capable of, I will grant it. You will begin receiving orders directly from me, soon, and you can continue to pay your way through my rule." He turned to Drakul. "You may proceed on with her as planned." He turned back to face me. "You are now allowed to come into the middle ring of the city, as long as you have clearance orders from Dragon, Drakul or myself. You are free to wander the outer ring of the city and are no longer confined to your property. Do not disappoint me." He then turned, and left Drakul and I standing there in our place.

tDrakul nodded, and he looked over at me. "You are promoted. Do you also have the buck that I asked for?" He asked.

tI dropped to the ground, letting loose the buck from my shoulder as he came up to see my prize. I set my bow and arrows down before I inspected the buck that I'd killed. "Yes, and I am glad that you are promoting me, master Drakul. I've come a long way in these few years."

t"You have. If you stay on this path, you will become an excellent hunter for this city, and hopefully these uprisings and impeding war will come to an end before it starts. You will be a fabulous huntress, very powerful and great. Perhaps even greater than myself. Now, go on, I know you've been waiting to go meet him at the gate. Kelose is returning today, isn't he?"

t"Yes, they had their most important and difficult a.s.sa.s.sination so far, a few days ago, in a nearby city. They're supposed to be returning today," I grinned.

t"Well, you can go on, now. I have to get this buck skinned and ready for sale," he said. "But.....err....Just...don't let his actions discourage you. He will be different. Rekium has been expressing concern lately."

tNot knowing what he meant but not willing to dwell on it, I bowed, and quickly took off in the direction of the outer city gate.

tI met him at the gate, and flung myself into his arms. He was covered in blood, but I didn't care. His face was concealed by the hood of his cloak, but I was too happy to see him to mind. His arms wove around me tightly, and he took a deep sniff of my hair.

t"Kysael," Kelose said softly into my hair, squeezing me tightly. He said my name as if it were a prayer, a holy word that he was simply blessed enough to utter from his mouth. It made me feel hot, and made me shudder against him.

t"Kelose," I smiled, looking up to try to see his face. He hid his face away from me, but I ignored it to ask my question. "How did it go?"

tHe sighed, and pulled out a piece of parchment with a golden seal on it. "Here is the doc.u.ment that the man stole from the King," he said softly. "I retrieved it...after I killed him..." His voice held a strange darkness that I had never heard before, and his tone changed.

tI felt confusion, fear...I didn't understand. Why was he so different? I knew that he had been taking on many more a.s.sa.s.sinations lately, but he'd always been fine before. Kelose had always been so cheerful, smiling all the time and vibrant and happy...It certainly wasn't like this was his very first kill or anything! Why was he so dark?

t"Kelose...? Why do you hide from me? Have I done something wrong?"

tHe sighed, and slowly removed his hood.

tI startled as golden eyes stared back at me.

tBoth Dragon and Drakul had warned me of this. The a.s.sa.s.sination organization left heavy toles on the souls of its members, and when they killed in the name of our nation...their bodies and natures would change. They would slowly become consumed and corrupted by the evil nature of their careers, and soon, they would become completely different beings altogether...until it destroyed them. But the speed at which they lost their holy elven light determined how much darkness was in their hearts....and this....

tI've only known him for a few months and his eyes had already changed color? Even his aura has changed! It's no longer the shade of green that I knew and loved...its...a dark, goldish-green. What does this mean?

tWhat did that mean? Did that mean that there was already darkness in his heart, for him to succ.u.mb to the changes so quickly? Did that mean that.... that he would turn into a Darkelf after only a few more a.s.sa.s.sinations? These fearful questions whirled around my mind, making me feel unsteady.

tHe cupped my cheek in his b.l.o.o.d.y hand. "Do not fear me, love. I am alright. And I do not wish to see you frightened. This will be a good thing. It will make me strong, so that I may protect and provide for you."

tMy eyes welled with tears, and I cupped his face and pulled him down for a kiss. When I pulled away, his eyes were back to being closer to their natural hue, but the dark blue ring on the outside of the sky-blue irises was tinged with gold.

tStill, it was less worrisome, and I tried to put my fears out of my mind.

t"I have good news today, too," I grinned, playing with his warrior's wolf tail. He had grown out the top of his hair to pull it back into a small, poofy tail in the back, the sides and back of his hair cut short, down to his head.

tHe barely smiled. "And what is that?"

t"I've been promoted to an elite hunter for the king. I should be able to be free soon enough." I laughed.

tHe smiled a little bigger this time. "That is impressive. I'm proud of you."

tI frowned. "I had thought that you would be much more excited," I pouted.

t"I'm sorry, love. I'm just...I feel different. Something has changed...I have killed people, a lot of people, and I suppose that it has put a weight on me. I just don't feel like I used to anymore. I feel as if I am stranded in the dark. And I suppose that I should have prepared myself for this fate, considering that this is the career path that I have chosen. I just want to be able to have a good, flouris.h.i.+ng career so that I could take care of you..."

t"Oh, Kelose," I said, hugging him. I reached and brought his face down to mine, and kissed him. I used my senses, and didn't feel any guards around to watch me today, and I was thankful. I pulled us into the forest, and went to lie down on a pile of soft moss. "Perhaps I should give you something in return for your sacrifice...."

tHe looked at me, his face confused, wary even. "What are you doing?"

t"Lay with me," I told him. He didn't argue as he lay beside of me on the moss. "Do you love me?" I asked.

t"Always," he said. "That's why we're getting married in two months," he reminded me.

t"Then that's what I'm doing," I said, and I put his hands on me as we kissed. His hands-his dark, tan hands-squeezed my mounds of flesh as mine squeezed into his nearly white hair, loose now from its wolf-tail, falling around his face in a way that I wasn't used to. It heated me further, and I began pulling off his clothes.

tHe tugged at my clothes, and then his burning mouth was on my pale flesh, and I moaned against him as I flipped us over for me to be on top of him, kissing his bare chest. His muscles rippled under his dark skin, the tan of his flesh making them more defined to my view.

tAnd then, he tilted his head to the side, and I latched into him with only slight hesitation. I'd never drank the blood of a person, before. I'd ever only fed on animals. His blood was an explosion on my tongue, salty and meaty, more than anything I'd ever had before, and I lost myself in it as he moaned out against me, and his hips moved underneath me.

tI finished feeding, and we sat there, bare chested against one another. I wasn't willing to give him my purity, because I knew that would get us killed. I knew that women were checked just before the wedding ceremony to be sure that they were pure, you could not avoid that. If I wasn't pure, on top of everything else, I would surely die. And that was something that we were not willing to do just yet.

tBut there was something else that I could do, something to tether him here, to me, so that he perhaps wouldn't lose himself in his a.s.sa.s.sinations.

tI felt my stomach and my chest ache as I pulled my spirit up into my throat, and I could feel him do the same, as we breathed our spirit into one another.

tAnd then we lost ourselves in one another that night, there in the moss in the forest. And, so...we began the earliest stages of the Soul Bond. We gave one another a part of our souls, and we were forever connected. Our mouths and hands loved one another, and we struggled very hard to not go any further.

tAnd somewhere, somewhere in the forest, I could hear footsteps quickly running away from the scene, running away from us, and for some reason...my heart ached and I felt empty...because there was only one person it would be. It was always him. The guards never watched me this far out from the city anymore.

*

June, 1098 A.D.

tWe were on another mission together, and when he had landed to make his move and a.s.sa.s.sinate this target, they had been prepared for him, taking away his element of surprise. It was a mid-ranking Darkelf, and he was quite powerful. He slashed his blade across Kelose's abdomen, and I gasped as I felt it sear in my own flesh, burning me. It was unnatural, and I couldn't understand what was wrong with me. I had felt Kelose in pain, I had sensed it and it had caused me severe discomfort. I couldn't describe how his pain felt to me.

tKelose was finally able to overpower the Darkelf, and he huffed as he retrieved an item to confirm his death, and pulled himself away, back to the forest's edge, grasping his wound.

t"Kelose!" I said softly, coming to help him away. "Come, we must get out of here immediately."

tI helped him back to the city, not yet making him aware of what I had felt of his pain. I already had a plan. I would go to Dragon. Dragon should know, I hoped, he was a medic. I didn't think that the first stages of the soul bond travelled that deeply into the body and soul, it should not be affecting me this way.... should it? I didn't know enough about it.

tAnd so, I had gone to my Dragon, begging him to explain why this was happening to me. Kelose was on the bed beside of me, getting treated for his wounds, as I quietly explained to Dragon what had happened.

tHe took his time examining me, a look of unease and anger brooding on his face. My body shook in fear, as hung his head and shook it, sighing softly, confirming my fears as he pulled his hands glowing with lavender aura away from my abdomen and my chest. "So... you are Soul Bonding," he said softly. "It seems that you overestimated how much of your souls to give to one another that night. A little would not have caused this much damage. But the two of you.... you were practically consuming one another that night."

t"What are we going to do?" Kelose asked. His eyes were wide, fearful. "The wedding is still almost two months away," he said softly. "The Soul Bond is something sacred, something even more holy than marriage to our culture. If we show any signs of this Bond before the wedding..."

tDragon looked at me, pity on his face. "Kysael..." He shook his head. "What were you thinking? Do you have any inkling of an idea how serious this matter just became? You should have known better! You d.a.m.n sure didn't know enough about this Bond to try to partic.i.p.ate in it in any sort of way! "

t"Please, please don't chastise me, Dragon. Please don't lecture me. I'm already saying enough cruel words to myself. I can't take anymore, especially not from you!" I cried. "Why didn't you stop me? Because it's clear that I was not entirely in my right state of mind. I am an adolescent! Weren't you there? I heard you running away! You could have done something!"

tHe sighed heavily. "Kysael, I don't know what I can say to you. You're old enough to make your own decisions, and it's not my place to interfere with that. I have been the one to raise you, what you do now that you are of age is your own decision and I am supposed to be able to trust that you are able to make the right decisions based on everything that I have taught you! I didn't raise you to give a huge part of your soul to someone in a sacred Bond before you were even married to him!"

t"But I-"

t"You have your duties, but I have always seen you as a free girl, free to make your own choices. I know that I have taught you what happens to people who break the law," he said softly. "Woodelves don't take well to law breaking, and you should d.a.m.n well know that by now! And the Soul Bond is no laughing matter. It completely changes how you behave, and if something were to happen to him, it would deeply affect you. Especially with how much of yourselves you gave one another! If anyone found out, they wouldn't need to get any more proof of your disgrace to our race. Who knows what they would do..."

t"Can you just...tell me that everything will be alright?"

tDragon gave me a hug. "I can't tell you that. But we can always hope." He hugged me tightly to him, pulling my face into his body in the same comforting way that he had since I had been a child. The gesture made my heart pound, and tears come to my eyes. "I will always be on your side," he told me.

tAnd I cried as I wrapped my arms around his waist. I knew that he was disappointed in my decision, but I knew that he was more upset at himself for having allowed it to happen when he'd had the opportunity to stop me.

tA Soul Bond could become visible to all, and it was a sacred Bond that wasn't supposed to take place until after one was married. It was something that was so sacred to our people that if they found out, they wouldn't simply execute one party, but both. Intimacy before marriage often got the female party killed. We may not have been physically intimate, as I still had my purity...but the Soul Bond? There was no allowance for the disgrace of such a pure and holy bond. It was the epitome of purity to our people.

tDragon was right.

tI should have known better.

*

July, 1098 A.D.

tI shot awake in bed, burning pain rus.h.i.+ng through my mind and in my body. Something was wrong. My connection with Kelose, it felt like. Something was wrong with it. My Soul Bond...I could feel him burning, but then...but then I realized that it wasn't his pain, it was him feeling my own pain. I was left in a dizzy, disoriented state from it all.

tBlood came pouring out of my mouth, and I gasped. Suddenly, I remembered that Dragon had spent the night that night, asleep on a bed of furs next to mine that he had brought over to sleep on. "Dragon!" I called. He must have heard the panic in my voice, because he rushed into the room immediately. His body was glistening, and I realized that he had been out hunting nearby. He sat his bow to the side, rus.h.i.+ng over to be beside of me.

t"Kysael!"

t"Something is wrong, Dragon. I'm burning!"

tHe looked over my body before he told me to hold on, and he rushed out of the room. Off to get his medic kit, I a.s.sumed.

tI tried to stand, but my legs gave way, and I vomited more blood. I couldn't understand what was wrong. I mean, yes, I had fed on Kelose, and we'd begun the Soul Bond....but.... what did that have to do with anything? How could that be affecting how I was feeling now?

t.i.t wasn't long before Dragon rushed in, and he helped me back onto my bed as he examined me.

t"Kysael...." He took a sample of my blood from the floor. "This..." He did some glow with his fingers, before nicking a spot on my arm and taking a sample, comparing the two samples. "This vomit is not your blood. In fact, it isn't the blood of a person at all. And I already know what it means, but I expect you to be honest with me."

t"W... what?"

t"It's the blood of an animal, from the looks of it. It smells of hog. Is that the last thing that you fed from?"

tI startled. "Well...yes, but...

tDragon leveled me with a firm expression that I couldn't bring myself to meet. "Did you feed on him?" He asked, moving his eyes to look at the floor where the blood lay soaking into the ground. His question was full of accusation, already knowing the truth but demanding an answer from me anyway.

tI looked away. "I...."

t"Kysael!" He scolded sharply. "How could you do such a thing?" He groaned. "You are finally given some level of freedom from the king. You are able to marry. But...but then.... You start a Soul bond of all things! And now, on top of it all, you have fed from him? Do you have any idea what fate is lying in store for the two of you? Are you simply that determined to ruin your life, and his, and mine? This isn't just about you anymore, Kysael. This involves my life, for vouching for you, and it involves his life, too. And if you continue to make these decisions, you're going to get us all killed! This must end, Kysael. Now."

t"But-"

t"No!" He shouted, his tone giving no room for debate. "I will not allow you to throw both of your lives away, possibly my own as well, just because you desire to make ridiculous decisions. I am taking control of this situation now."

tWe suddenly heard Kelose's voice in the other room. No doubt, he had sensed my pain and sickness through the Soul Bond, and he had rushed over to help me. I could practically feel his panic.

tDragon sighed, and he looked at me with a sad expression. "It seems as if I am going to have to be the adult and fix yet another one of your mistakes, Kysael."

tAnd then he kissed me.t

tMy mind spun out of control, all of my feelings for him throughout my childhood and my adolescence rus.h.i.+ng back to the forefront of my mind, and I could feel a soothing, magical feeling envelop my senses as I wrapped my arms around his shoulders, pulling him in closer as I moaned into him.

tI could feel him hesitate for only a moment before deepening the kiss with me. The heat rushed through my entire body, and all my pain flew out the window as pleasure set in. Dragon's arms tightened around my waist, and I could hear his breathing quicken.

tThis had been everything that I had ever wanted-

t"Kysael? What's wrong?!" The door burst open as Kelose flung it open, reminding me of his presence in the house, but what he walked in on was something that I had never expected to ever take place. Suddenly realizing the severity of the situation, I ripped myself away from Dragon's lips and embrace to gaze over at the door, seeing Kelose's body frozen, his face hurt. I looked away from that look that ripped my heart into pieces.

t"...I....Kelose, I..."

tSilence. I looked up, and I saw his now emotionless face, tight and tense. His body stood perfectly still. He wasn't even breathing, literally holding his breath. Dragon squatted beside of me, watching Kelose with cold, calculating eyes. He was gauging his reaction, to make sure that he didn't do anything stupid.

tI knew that Dragon was cold, and brooding, and intolerable toward the people of this city, but I knew that he genuinely did care, even if he didn't want to admit it to anyone...or even himself. He was just a harsh person, especially when he was so cautious of me this way, making sure to stay by my side, ready to defend me.

tBut in this moment, I could feel the hatred pouring out of him, his aura darkening significantly, his eyes cold and unfeeling.

t"K....Kelose?" I chanced speaking. His eyes sparked, boiled with rage as he glared at me and his aura changed, became unstable and flickering in his anger. I shouldn't have spoken.

t"You were lying about your feelings for me the entire time, weren't you?" He asked, his voice deathly calm. The golden rings around the outside of his irises began to overflow, and the golden hue took over and flooded over the rest of his blue coloring, his eyes a deadly golden color. I suddenly felt frightened, wondering in one part of my mind if he intended to a.s.sa.s.sinate me.

tThe fact that this was even in question in my mind hurt more than I cared to admit. Dragon stirred beside of me, bringing himself to stand, hovering beside of me, sensing the same rising dark energy that I felt.

tI startled. "What? No! Kelose, no, I didn't-Dragon kiss-"

t"-You wanted to trap me in a marriage with you! Everyone else was in on it!" He accused, pointing a finger at me. Dragon put one foot in front of me, s.h.i.+elding me. "This was your plan all along, to trap me and then tell me that you only wanted me as your food source! You lying b.i.t.c.h! I should have known that something was wrong from the first moment that you chose to give me part of your soul to me before marriage!" He shouted.

tI sobbed into the blood covered blanket. "No!" I cried. "No, you don't understand! I've always cared for you; I'm telling you the truth!"

t"You can't even say that you love me! Admit it! You have only ever truly loved Dragon, and that will never change! I was only a means to try to escape the fact that you didn't feel that you could ever have him!" He finally took notice of the state of the room. "And what's all this blood on the floor? Another one of your victims? Heavens, to think that I've actually let you feed on me! You were just using me as a personal blood source!"

t"No!" I denied his accusations, but he stormed out, slamming the door behind him without another word. "K... Kelose," I sobbed. "No!" I grabbed my stomach. "What have I done?"

tDragon's prediction had come true. I had given Kelose a part of my soul before marriage, I had started a sacred Bond with him before marriage that was only for those who were married for many years, and not only did I lose him, but I lost all respect for myself, as well.

tI gripped my stomach, vomiting more blood onto the floor as Dragon rubbed my back with light circles, trying to comfort me, and then everything spun, and I was falling.

t"And you must face the consequences for your sin," I whispered to myself, and I saw Dragon rus.h.i.+ng to catch me as I fell unconscious to the floor.

*

October, 1098 A.D.

tI wasn't eating the way that I was supposed to. I had lost a significant amount of weight. I was allowing myself to be injured during training and on missions regularly, so that I could be allowed to stay home to recuperate and not be out on missions. I didn't want to do anything other than lie in bed all day and wither away.

tDragon tried to give me my s.p.a.ce, but I would often wake to find him by my bedside, healing the damage on my body, looking at my face with a mixture of sorrow and irritation.

tI didn't think that he was angry, necessarily.

tJust quietly bearing this on his own shoulders, since he had pushed me into this situation. He felt responsible. But I knew that he'd done what he had felt to be best for Kelose and for myself, so I wasn't angry at him anymore.

tI didn't speak anymore, nor did I sing or dance. I barely did anything those first few months after Kelose deserted me. He besmirched my name around the city, proclaiming how angry he was and that I had wronged him.

tTruthfully, I could hardly leave my home anymore. People came to my property and they threw things at me and, and the people who lived in the middle ring shunned me. People even went as far as to spit on me, while others ran and kept their distance.

tThe only reason that the King didn't execute me was because Dragon and his family vouched that I had ended my relations.h.i.+p with Kelose because I'd decided that I wanted to be with Dragon instead. It was easy enough to believe because of something that had happened in the past, some agreement with Dragon and the King. I didn't really know, nor did I care. It didn't matter.

t.i.t wasn't as if I cared about my future anymore.

tKelose refused to work with me on missions anymore, and anytime I was hunting for an a.s.sa.s.sin, I was always disappointed to see someone other than Kelose to meet me at the site. Kelose didn't even want to see me, and I couldn't blame him.

tI was a monster.

t"She's not in any condition for that," I heard Dragon say outside of my bedroom door one day. Drakul had come to talk to him about something very important, obviously, but I didn't care enough to pay much attention. It was sad that his father had been made to come all the way out to my tiny home to speak with his own son, whom still didn't live here with me.

I zoned out and though I heard the words, their meaning and the forming of them was completely lost on me.

t"You promised, Dragon. And she has been left alone, now! And the king insists that she marry and continue her bloodline, thanks to her various abilities that our race lacks. He wants to exploit her heritage. She has no other choices! But the other suitors he has tried to line up for her are threatening revolt over the idea, and he so eloquently reminded me of the vow we had made him that you would take up the gauntlet and do it."

t"I hear you, father, truly. I did make you a vow, as well as her mother and also the king. But she isn't ready. She needs time. She is in no condition to enter such a contract at this time. I will go and discuss this with the king."

t"Don't wait too long, Dragon. Or else this matter may be taken out of our hands altogether. Our king is merciless. He has been very generous so far. He could decide to skip marriage altogether and simply force soldiers to breed with her as if she were a dog in heat to produce strong soldiers. His patience is already wearing thin. We need to take action, quickly… before he does. It's the best thing for the girl. She's been through enough."

tI was so distant from my own mind that while I heard the words, I simply just could not understand. And I didn't care what happened to me anymore.

*

July, 1099 A.D.

tMy teeth were biting into the flesh my own arm, not even caring about the pain. I wanted to hurt myself. I may as well.

tI sensed a familiar presence, and I let out a big sigh.

t"You can come out, Lord Dragon," I told him softly. Surely enough, he came stepping out of the forest, into my sight. "You don't have to hide," I laughed.

t"It's not that. I always watch over you, but I don't like to disturb you until you tell me that I can approach. I know that you have a lot on your mind." He looked at my home. "You have made some improvements, I see. You have done quite a splendid job," he told me with pride. "It is very nice, Kysael. You added a room and made the home taller, adding another floor. It looks nice."

tI scoffed. "Not as nice as your cabin in the middle ring," I laughed softly. "Brother helped a lot, and brought me a lot of the wood and supplies that I needed. He brought me nails and hammers, also, and taught me what to do."

tHe smiled. "I'm glad that you were both able to work on this project together," he smiled before giving me a pointed frown toward my arm. "Why on earth are you biting your own arm?"

tI laughed. "I don't really know," I told him softly.

tHe glanced at the guards in the trees. Since Kelose had left me, guards had been sent to take a report on my activity a few times a day, just to a.s.sure the king that Dragon and his family were telling him the truth and to ensure that I really had simply left Kelose to be with Dragon. We had to be sure that the story was believable.

"Would you like to go inside? There is something that I need to ask you."

tI nodded. "Sure, of course, my Lord."

tHe followed me into the house, and sighed. "I do hate that they have to follow you around. It's nothing personal, it's just orders from the king. So.....how are you doing?"

tI smiled sadly. "I'm alright."

t"It's been a year today...You are not really alright, are you?"

tI sighed. "No, I'm not alright. But I will be. Everything will be alright."

t"You're strong," he smirked at me. He came to me, and lay a hand softly on my shoulder. "I am sorry, Kysael. That's why I got here so early today. I wanted to be sure that you're alright."

tI smiled. "Thank you. And my lord," I laughed. "I'm only strong because I have someone like you looking out for me," I smiled.

tHe wiped his thumbs under my eyes, and it was only then that I realized that I was crying. "You're wrong, Kysael." He pulled me into a tight hug. "I am strong because I have trained well to be able to protect you. You are strong because of what you have went through, and because you are more than an ordinary Woodelf woman. I have to train especially hard to even keep up with you, honestly," he laughed.

tI smiled against him. "So... you're only strong to protect me?" I asked.

tHis chest rumbled with a chuckle. "Partly," he admitted. "You have been great motivation for me, at least. And you've went through more already than many go through in entire lifetimes, Kysael. You are no longer the little girl spouting dreams and singing, and you're no longer the little girl disappearing into the forest to explore, causing mischief. You are no longer the fragile child who was so lonely and sad because she had to stay home all the time when school was out. You are strong, now."

tMy arms tightened around him. He finally pulled away, and rested his hand against my abdomen again. That is where I felt the pull from the Soul Bond the strongest, the pit of energy in my body. That was where the pain stemmed from.

t"I can promise you, that someday you will be with someone who will lead you to make wise decisions, who will love you no matter what happens. And I am sorry for what I had to do to fix what happened."

tI cried as he took my shaking body into his embrace again, one hand stroking my hair as I sobbed against him.

tAfter a moment, he pulled me away. "There is...something that I should really discuss with you," he said softly.

tI sniffled. "What is it?"

tHe hesitated, struggling with what he was going to say. "You are almost a year pa.s.sed the marriage age, Kysael. And you only have one year left to meet the requirement."

tI nodded. "Yes, I remember. I have to be married by eighteen, or I'm breaking the law. But I had intended to talk to the king and ask for more time."

tHe sighed softly. "Don't forget it, Kysael. Even if he extends your time, once you hit the extended deadline, he will have no mercy if you do not own up to your end of the bargain. He allowed you to marry, and now he expects for you to do so."

tI nodded. "I won't forget."

*

September, 1100 A.D.

tI had spoken to the king. And he had extended my date for marriage until I was nineteen...only one year after the required deadline. It wasn't much time, but at least it gave me a little more time for myself.

tMy missions grew even more numerous than before, but I didn't mind. Keeping busy kept my mind from thinking of Kelose. Since I had gotten back to being busy, I wanted to stay busy. I wanted to be out, doing things and working. It made the pain not quite so harsh.

t.i.t was the yearly autumn gathering in the city. Each year, on the first day of autumn, everyone gathered in the city for sales from the shop keepers and for delicious, fresh hunted food and fresh farmed fruits and vegetables from the farmers. It was a big celebration as we gave thanks for the harvest and the hunt. I had just turned eighteen the month prior to this one.

tThis year, it had been the a.s.sa.s.sin trainees' jobs to work with the hunting and arching trainees to hunt down the meat for the gathering, as a training and collaboration exercise.

tAnd, of course, I had seen Kelose. We had talked to one another in pa.s.sing, with Lord Dragon by my side, since his students were also taking part. He had taken over the arching unit from Drakul, and Drakul still remained the head of the Hunting unit.

t"h.e.l.lo, Lord Dragon....Kysael," Kelose had acknowledged us as he went to pa.s.s us.

tSince what had happened, what he'd walked in on, despite that Dragon was way above his rank and he knew that he had to show him respect by using his t.i.tle, he still managed to make it sound disgusting.

tI glanced at his body, and forced my eyes away. His muscles had grown, his presence was heavier, darker. His aura was golden with just a small touch of green, not at all what it once was. His tan skin was even darker than it had been last I'd seen him. He was taller, but still half a head under Dragon's height, but a head higher than my height. I would guess his height to be around seventy-two or so inches, while I was at a measly sixty inches, and Dragon was probably around eighty inches tall. But I wasn't good with numbers or estimations. I didn't really pay much attention to things like that anymore unless I had to.

tKelose's energy was darker, a bit fouler but not....in a necessarily evil way. It frightened me, and made me want to swoon at the same time. His eyes were an even brighter shade of gold than I had seen them last, and that was always startling.

t"h.e.l.lo," I whispered, not daring to meet his gaze again.

t"Kelose," Dragon said softly. "How are your missions going?" He asked, making polite conversation.

t"Quite well, thank you. I should be graduated by next year, or so master Rekium has informed me."

t"That is impressive, most don't graduate from under him so quickly. I am glad to hear all is well," Dragon said.

t"I trust that you have been well," Kelose said, looking at me.

tI quickly met his eyes, and was caught by his smoldering gaze. My breath hitched, and Dragon wrapped an arm protectively around my shoulders. My body began to shake, and my eyes blurred with tears. My heart raced. My body felt suddenly, inexplicably hot.

t"She has been doing better," Dragon said softly, squeezing my shoulder gently to strengthen me.

t"She seems a little on edge," Kelose said smugly. He came directly up to me, and leaned in. His eyes held mine captive. "I can practically feel your heart fluttering like a bird's wings in my own chest, Kysael. Do calm yourself," he chided lightly, giving me a knowing smirk.

tOf course, he could feel it. We'd been in the first stage of the Soul Bond, the Body Bond. He could feel my pulse inside of his own body.

tDragon tensed, his hold tightening slightly on me. "I'm sure that her heart is only beating faster because of the hunting," Dragon said, a heated gleam in his eyes and a tense smirk on his face.

tKelose bowed. "Of course, that must be it. Good day, my lord.... Kysael," he said with a grin, and he turned on his heel and left.

tDragon pulled me off to the side of the forest, where no one but the usual guards keeping their vigil on me could see us.

t"Are you alright, Kysael?" He asked me softly.

tMy eyes burned, and my vision wavered with tears. "It's...it's so hard, Dragon," I whispered.

tHe pulled me into a hug. "I know," he whispered.

t"His eyes pull me in, like a weight. When I see him, my soul pulls me so hard.... toward him. My soul, the very fiber of my mind, pulls me to be with him. It hurts so badly," I choked out.

tHe patted my head, and looked off to look at Kelose, back with his group. "Yes, Kysael. Finding one whom your soul connects with on a spiritual level is something that can be very dangerous if things don't go well. You are left hurt and devastated, while he moves on with daily life. It affects him as well, but instead of the love and painful heart ache that you allow to fill your heart and mind, he allows anger and bitterness and irritation to fester there. His heart grows harsher and darker each day, as yours grows sweeter and lighter."

tI nodded. "I see it, too. Every time I see him, my lord, he is darker. He is...his presence is stronger, heavier. The air is denser around his body. His energy is.... more sinister. He...somewhat frightens me..."

tHe pulled me into another hug. "I am sure that everything will be alright, Kysael. Things will work out however they are supposed to. I promise. He is just getting more powerful, and because of your attachment to him, your bond, you feel it physically in your own body. It will more than likely always affect you. But you will be alright. And I am always here for you."

tI smiled. "Thank you, Lord Dragon."

tAnd then we set to work again, and I tried to put Kelose out of my mind.

*

July, 1101 A.D.

tMuch had changed in the three years since I had lost Kelose. I was now eighteen, fixing to be nineteen next month.

tFor the first few weeks, I couldn't eat. I couldn't drink anything, not even water. I couldn't keep anything down. I didn't want to be around people for a while. But I finally grew strong enough to move past that. I began letting people in. I began letting Dragon in again.

tKelose had refused to have anything to do with me after that, and had called off the wedding. But we'd seen one another in pa.s.sing, as we had that day of the hunt last year. I had been such a coward, relying on Dragon to protect me the entire time Kelose had stood there. I had been weak.

tBut now, I was strong enough to face him again, without Dragon's protection. I was strong enough to face him alone.

tI had matured. I had begun taking on more hunting missions for the city, as part of my will to become free, perhaps one day be able to leave my service and simply be free to roam the wilds. I strove to become a magnificent huntress for, rather than the city, myself.

tI had upgraded my small home into a more accommodating s.p.a.ce. It had two small bedrooms, a storage room for food, a table with one little chair to eat at. It wasn't much. But it was something to call my own.

tKelose had become a very well-known a.s.sa.s.sin in these parts. He was very skilled in his profession. And he made a lot of money doing so.

tHe had grown physically, as well. His face had begun to grow a thin line of hair, lining his jaw and chin. His eyes grew hard. His voice deepened. He had grown taller. His skin was even darker tan than before. His hair had lightened from long hours in the sun, blonde but still somehow almost white. Well-toned arms and legs and torso had become muscular from his long hours of working and strengthening those muscles.

tI knew it. Today was the day that I could face him again. I sent a messenger bird to his cabin, asking him to meet me at our mossy place near the river, close to the outer gate of the city...the place where we had become one.

tI got dressed in a beautiful yellow gown that I had, and let my long, ashy, silvery blonde hair hang loose, free of bindings.

tThis yellow gown accentuated my b.r.e.a.s.t.s, but in a modest way, so that I didn't look like a harlot, but I knew that Kelose would appreciate the modest amount of cleavage.

tI rushed to our special place, and it wasn't long before he arrived there.

tHis eyes were not the golden hue that I was expecting, but rather the color of the sky, the color that I had fallen in love with initially. His gaze was calculative, and expectant. He was waiting for me to talk.

tI cleared my throat. "I have grown since I last spoke to you, Kelose. I have become strong, a valuable huntress for our nation. I have moved out of Dragon's home, and built a place of my own, with my own two hands. I have grown in beauty and in charm. I am asking you, Kelose, to be with me again. Let us start anew."

tHis eyes widened a little, surprised, before they swept over my body, taking me in. I could feel the heat from his eyes. I could feel his desire, and I began to hope, somewhere deep in my heart. His eyes carried heat along my body, and my heart raced in antic.i.p.ation.

tAnd then his eyes met my eyes again, and finally closed, a pained expression on his handsome face. "I'm sorry, Kysael. I can't." And then he turned, and walked away.

tAnd I... myself, who had become so strong, I thought.... was left there, once again left alone by him, crying into the ground. Had I not grown after all?

tI had thought that I had grown up, and that Kelose couldn't hurt me this way anymore.

tBut I had been wrong.

tNothing had changed.

tMoments later, I felt my sobbing body pulled into arms, and I let myself cry into Dragon's chest as he sat on his knees beside of me, rocking me as if I were still a child. Rocking me when I was in pain, as he had done for as long as I could remember.

t"I'm sorry," I whispered. "I'm so sorry, Dragon."

t"Whatever for?" He asked.

t"I keep needing you. I keep needing for you to come to me and comfort me.... I thought that I was strong enough to finally face him, and he..." I sighed. "He doesn't want to give me another chance!" I cried. "And nothing has changed. I'm not stronger, as I had thought that I was. I'm still crumpled on the ground, crying!" I pulled away from him harshly, punching the ground. "I'm not improving!"t

tHe stopped my punches, and took my fist in his hands, glowing with healing powers, healing the cracked bones and lacerations from the rocks in the ground.

t"These hands...." He paused. "These hands will bring greatness to the world. You'll see. You were strong enough to face him, strong enough to stand before him with your head held high. You were strong enough to meet his eyes, and to tell him what you thought without hesitation. You have grown stronger. You're still speaking. You're not a lifeless heap on the ground that I have to force to eat and drink to keep you alive anymore. And I am very proud of you. You aren't weak because of this. You're still much stronger than before."

tI laughed through my tears, hugging him before he brought us to our feet, and he escorted me back home.

*

August, 1101 A.D.

t"Excellent job, la.s.sie," Drakul complimented me on another hunt. "You tracked him down with ease and the guards were able to get him back into custody. You're almost ready for the final exam, and then you will graduate my cla.s.s and become a full-fledged huntress for the city! You will be taking missions directly from the King and the war council, with no more of the sc.r.a.p jobs that I hand out to you. You will gain access to the inner ring of the city, and your guard detail will greatly decline. The king is finally awarding you for the trust you have worked so very hard to earn. Are you excited?"

t"Absolutely!" I said, a little breathless. "I'm thankful for this cla.s.s, master Drakul. It has truly made me stronger. I feel so powerful."

tHe gave me a hug. "Go on home, la.s.s, you've done more than enough for today."

tI hurried home, but I didn't feel like doing anything else. I always had so much less energy, now.

tBefore Kelose and I had separated, he had allowed me to try his blood. And ever since, I could hardly stand to stomach animal blood. And the more he would let me feed on him, the less I could keep animal blood down. I needed the blood of a person, not just a wild beast in the forest. I craved it.

tI almost hated Kelose for that. He had ruined my diet. I forced myself to hunt and drink and eat, so that the guards who followed me to keep tabs on me could report that I was eating my normal diet to the king. But if they knew that I went home often times just to throw it all back up, they would report that back to the king, and the king would figure out that I had tried someone's blood.

tI sighed, and answered the door when a knock sounded.

t"Oh, h.e.l.lo, Dragon. I haven't seen you in a while, though I know that you are always with me, watching over me. I've missed talking to you, though. So... How are you?"

t"I am well...are you alright?" He asked, looking at me as if I were about to explode. He walked inside and shut the door behind himself. I went to my kitchen and sat down.

t"Why, yes, why wouldn't I be?" I asked, confused.

tHe hesitated, opening his mouth to say something that he thought better of, and closed his mouth again before he decided what he wanted to say. "You look pale."

tI let out a little laugh. "That's because Kelose let me feed on him, and now I vomit every time I drink animal blood." I sighed. "And I can't start hunting people, now can I?"

tHis eyes got wide. "You haven't been able to keep down your normal diet since you two separated? I knew that you'd gotten sick that one time, that you've battled sickness a few times, actually but.... truly?"

tI shook my head. "I've thought about asking Kelose if he would mind feeding me a few times a week, so I wouldn't continue to starve. I even thought I might be able to pay him to do it," I laughed.

tHe looked away; his body tensed. "Kysael...That's why I'm here. I thought you might need someone to talk to, but it seems that you're not yet aware. I didn't want to be the one to tell you this, in all honesty. I suppose, however, that I must. Kysael, Kelose....well...Kelose got married today..."

tI startled, standing from my seat. "W... what?"

tHe squeezed his eyes tightly shut. "Kelose got married today, Kysael. To the niece of the king, Lunariel is her name, I believe. I... I'm sorry, I know how you feel about him..."

tI fell to my knees, and his body tensed, watching me with trepidation. And I began to vomit the meal I had just drank.

tHe rushed to my side, his glowing, healing hands hovering over my stomach. When I finished vomiting, he pulled out a handkerchief and waited for me as I wiped my mouth, and then he quickly pulled up the sleeve of his tunic.

t"Here," he said, worriedly. "Feed from me, Kysael."

tI startled, and looked at him from my tear-filled eyes, and I shook my head. The room spun around me and I could barely make sense of his words. I felt lightheaded. "What? No, I can't. I can't do that to you. You need to leave. You have to-"

t"-I have to protect you. Now, do what you need to do and take what I am offering to you. Go on. Do it."

tHe held his bare arm out to me, and before I could stop myself, my fangs latched into the skin of his forearm gently.

tHe hissed in pain, and then, after a moment, I could tell that the heat had set in.

tWhen I fed from something, my teeth released pheromones into their bodies to cause them to feel intense pleasure from the sensation, so that it made it easier for me to feed, for them to be fed from, and they wouldn't be struggling the entire time.

tHe looked at me from half-closed eyes. "That is truly a very...intense experience. An intensely intimate experience..."

tI closed my eyes. His blood wasn't as masculine, as meaty, as Kelose's blood had tasted to my tongue. It was sweeter, smoother, with no metallic after taste. It was rich, and so warm.

tFinally, I had replenished what I had thrown up, and I released my fangs from his arm and sat back, breathing deeply in relaxation and observing him quietly.

t"No wonder Kelose would allow you to feed from him...that is a very...pleasurable experience," he said, looking for the right words. "It's something that sounds so incredibly vile, and yet..." He laughed. "I don't know how to describe that."

t"So, I've been told." I sighed. "Why would he marry someone else...?"

tHe patted my shoulder. "I'm not sure, but I intend to find out more about this. You deserve to know the truth."

t"Thank you, Dragon."

t"I will always be on your side. If I haven't proven that by now, then you need your vision evaluated," he laughed. "I will always be here for you."

tAnd I believed him. And as I watched him, his mouth still moving, talking to me, I drifted out of time, into the far recesses of my thoughts. I let my mind leave the confinements of my body, walking around in the s.p.a.ce of the void.

tMy name is Kysael of the Cedar clan. I am a nineteen-year-old Woodelf-Wraith hybrid. I was a hybrid of both the Light Realm, and the Dark Realm. Something that had never been. An abomination to my mother's people, and more than likely an abomination to my father's people, as well. I didn't belong anywhere.

tI was from the grand Nae, or Woodelf, city of Havengrove. It was a city that lay in the center of a valley, deep in the forest, between the mountains. The city was a large circle, with three walls. The thick, st.u.r.dy outer wall that protected our city, was made of stone and trees. Many homes were made out of large, towering trees with pathways carved out of the trunks and it was all interwoven into each other. It was very hard to describe, but it was beautiful. Beautiful lanterns hung from the trees, lighting the forest in the night.

tAbout three miles inside of that outer wall, there was another wall made of stone, that held the inner city and most of the bulk of our people. The intricacy and beauty of the city was amplified here as there was more population here, and underneath many of the trees in the tall and thick roots were built little shops. There were many homes built inside of the trees, many built around the trees, but very few on the ground.

tAnd about five miles inside of this inner wall, there was another wall that made up the Royal ring, the heart of Havengrove city. This two mile across part of the city held the palace, and the homes of all of the most wealthy and n.o.ble citizens. The detail of the intricate woodwork was at its peak in this portion of the city, and just outside of the towering castle built into a cl.u.s.ter of large trees was a courtyard, with stone and wood making up the floor. Here and there were tables built from roots sticking up to sit and eat, and there were fountains everywhere and beautiful lighting that made the entire kingdom simply.... magical.

tI lived in the outer ring, in a small home built inside of and under a tall, big fir tree. It extended out to be built around the tree as well. It was small, but it was home.

t.i.t was a Woodelf home.... Woodelf city.... Here I was, in the Woodelf city, and I wasn't even accepted as part of their race. I had an entire other race as part of my heritage, a race that I knew nothing about.

tMy mother had been executed for her transgressions against our race, for her mating with and having offspring with a different race. I didn't know her, nor the circ.u.mstances of my conception or birth, other than that she had been given no other choice. I had never gotten to know her, and hear it from her own mouth. All I had was what I had heard.

tMy father...I didn't know much at all. Going off of what Dragon had told me of his knowledge from what my mother had told him, he didn't know all that much either. All I knew was that he held a high position, because my mother had said that he was the leader of the group...whatever that meant.

tAnd that he had raped her. I didn't know when she had met him...how she knew him...why he had taken advantage of her. And I couldn't ask her. But Dragon had always done his best to raise me to be a respectable young lady that my mother would have been proud of, and to keep me safe. He had promised her before her execution that I would stay in his care.

tDrakul had been almost like a father figure to me, especially since I had become his student. His wife kept me in supply of the goopy concealant that I had to cover my Wraith markings with to be able to enter the city, despite everyone already knowing what I truly was. No one was willing to let me enter the city unless my marks were hidden.

tDrakul and his wife and Dragon, my brother...they had always fought to defend me, saying that it didn't matter if the marks were hidden, I should be allowed to enter the city. Sometimes I wondered what Drakul and his wife really thought of me. What Dragon really thought of me, or my brother....

tMy thoughts flipped and flopped around in my mind. I was so frazzled by everything that was going on. Kelose....Kelose had gotten married.

tKelose was close to graduating the a.s.sa.s.sin a.s.sociation, and that meant that he would be needed for missions all over the continent, if I recalled correctly. He was held in high regards by the citizens, because he and his team a.s.sa.s.sinated some of our most powerful threats, and some of our most despicable traitors. And with every a.s.sa.s.sination, I had watched him in horror as he grew darker and darker, more and more serious.

tHe had grown handsome and strong. He was no longer the sweet, child-faced young Woodelf I had met. He had shown me just how...far he had walked away from me. And I didn't know if I would ever be able to catch up to him. But I could never remove him from my heart, nor my soul.

tFor we had begun something that was sacred, an ancient bond for our people that was not to be taken lightly. It was only to be started after decades of marriage. But we had not waited to be intimate, not waited to begin this bond...and now, we were forever tied to one another, and the void left in our hearts would never fade.

tDragon had tried to fill that void, staying with me regularly and joking, laughing. But it wasn't the same as it had been before I had lost Kelose. Kelose had pulled out part of my heart, and that was something that couldn't simply be undone.

tI sighed. Dragon had done nothing but try to help me for as long as I could remember. He had always silently, unseen, followed me and watched over me. He was even letting me feed from him now. And that was something that I had never wanted, not from him. Not from my sweet, compa.s.sionate protector.

tDragon gave me a hug. "I have to leave, but I will return tomorrow. Will you be alright until I see you again?"

t"Yes, Dragon. Thank you."

tHe smiled. "It is my job. You don't need to thank me." And then he turned and walked to the door, and then leaped down to the ground, not fooling with my rope ladder that led down to the forest floor. I looked out the window and watched him look back at my window and smile at me, and then leave.

tI could never have found anymore with a bigger heart than that of my amazingly fierce, loyal, beautiful Lord Dragon.