The Weaver's Source

Chapter 53

"Don't do something so stupid and foolish again. Find me. I'll deal with your premonitions." He instructed firmly, his voice low with anger. "I've not kept you safe so far just to lose you to your courage."

My rage subsided a little at his words and sensing that sickening fear for me wedged in him, fuelling his dark anger towards me. "I would've gone to get you but they would've died by the time I had found you and told you what was happening."

Grigore looked like he was going to toss a retort back but he wobbled slightly as a wave of exhaustion washed over him. I reached out to grab him, worried he was going to fall over, and wrapped my fingers about his wrist and pressed myself into his arm. Grigore caught himself however and stiffened at the contact, his gaze snapping to me. Something burned in him sharply and he yanked me into him sharply, shoving his fingers into my hair to cage me to his chest. He surrounded me solidly, burying his face into my hair and wrapping a strong arm around my waist, holding onto me tightly as if he feared I'd slip through his fingers. My anger melted away in a second as surprised shyness ushered in at his sudden rough embrace.

"Never do that again, Lyra." He growled heatedly.

"I'm sorry, Grigore. I just...do you know what it's like to feel helpless? To sit aside while you watch everyone die around you by monsters you've lured in?"

He said nothing.

"I want to be strong, Grigore. I want to face everything like you do and I want to stand up for myself. I know I need to stay safe, getting eaten would just make everything worse, but...I want to be more."

Grigore was quiet, his song brushing against me with that angry heat, but there was something soothing about it. "You start off small, not with half-demons that threaten even experienced mages. The first thing in a hunt is you assess whether you can actually manage it. Don't bite off more than you can chew."

My breath caught, hope flashing. He was giving me advice, instead of telling me to keep out of the way.

But Grigore abruptly let me go and sharply stepped away from me, his expression still guarded and dark. "I need to find Jacob and sleep, Lyra. Go to Lillith and explain to her what's happened. I'll come to you later."

I nodded and watched as he marched off through the field, leaving me to watch him go with pink eyes before I turned to seek out Lillith. I did want to go see her and learn more about how my magic worked but there was something I wanted to do first. Walking with a faint hobble, I slowly traced my back to where the attack had happened.

It took some time to get there. The mud was wet and slippery and often I fell. My ankle grew more and more tired and painful but I pushed onwards. Soon I found the site. The few remaining guards of the town were surveying the area, gathering up the bodies and trying to wash away some of the blood. I don't know why I wanted to come here. Part of me wondered if last night happened at all but seeing the destroyed caravan and the littered body parts told me it was true.

As I looked on, my eyes completely taken by the shredded bits of flesh, I hadn't notice someone turn and notice me. Her face lit up and she jogged to my side.

"You." She said softly.

My eyes flicked over to her face and I knew her to be the woman I found last night. A smile came over my face. She had managed to get to the inn okay.

I gave a small cry of surprise though when she suddenly flung herself at me and held me tightly. She was crying now and wouldn't let me go. I was a bit bewildered by this. No stranger had ever cried at me like this before. Ever. I slowly let my hand pat her back until she finally calmed down. She pulled away and smiled weakly.