Chapter 9
The busy port bustled with activity as ships of various sizes and designs lined the docks, their sails fluttering in the warm breeze. Merchants, sailors, and locals moved about, creating a vibrant tapestry of colors and sounds. The air was filled with the scent of saltwater, exotic spices, and the hustle and bustle of trade.
Meera peered out from inside her carriage, her gaze fixed on the lively scene unfolding before her. Wooden crates and barrels were being unloaded from ships, and the rhythmic clatter of hooves and wheels echoed as carts transported goods along the cobblestone quays.
As Meera adjusted her cloak, the daily market distracted the onlookers, providing her with the perfect opportunity to slip away unnoticed. Zeya followed behind as the two girls swiftly exited the carriage. Hustling through the crowd, Meera navigated the paths, her senses heightened by the sights and sounds of Azmeera. The distant calls of seagulls and the rhythmic lapping of waves against the docks accompanied her as she made her way toward the waiting ship.
"Hold it!"
Meera jumped out of her skin as a large hand fell upon her shoulder just as she was able to walk up the wooden plank to Eryx's ship.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Clutching her cloak, Meera turned to face the large man behind her. She peered up at him and recognized his features immediately.
"Hello, Knox," Meera said quietly. "How nice to see you?"
"Princess," Knox's face fell as if he was disappointed to see her.
"Oh, don't be like that, big guy," Zeya laughed and patted the man's shoulder. "It's just Eryx's mate."
"He's not in a good mood," Knox said.
"When is he ever in a good mood, Knox?" Zeya sighed. "Let's go, Meera."
"Are you sure?" Meera hesitated. "If now is not a good time-"
"Eryx will always have to make time for you," Zeya said. "Never feel bad about it. You are entitled to all his attention, time, and dedication."
Meera's eyes flickered towards Knox.
"You made it this far," Zeya reminded her. "Don't you want to know what happened to Selene's children?"
"The ending better be worth it," Meera muttered as she followed Zeya onto the ship.
"Only time will tell," Zeya turned away and led Meera through the men on the deck.
Zeya moved across the ship's deck with a confidence that seemed to radiate from her very presence. Men, seasoned sailors and rugged crew members, instinctively lowered their heads in respect as she passed, an unspoken acknowledgment of her authority. Zeya's posture, demeanor, and the unwavering gaze in her striking eyes created an aura of command that left those around her compelled to show deference.
She navigated the crowded deck effortlessly, seemingly unaware of the effect she had on the men who instinctively yielded to her authority. The sway of her hips and the determination in her step painted a portrait of a woman unyielding and resolute, accustomed to being in charge. Meera, trailing behind Zeya, couldn't help but notice the effect the girl had on those around her. The bustling activities on the ship momentarily paused as the crew acknowledged Zeya's presence.
"Eryx?" Zeya called out as she headed into the captain's cabin. "Look who I brought back with me."
Meera looked around as the men watched her walk by. They didn't say a word but their eyes held millions of questions. She watched them until she came to a stop beside Zeya.
"I'm telling you," Zeya complained. "I want Henry's little dick over an open fire."
Meera's eyes widened at the girl's sudden language. She gasped as Eryx straightened up and looked over his shoulder.
"I thought I smelled you," he said, his voice carrying a hint of teasing acknowledgment
Meera stared as Eryx turned to face her with an air of casual confidence. His features were striking, combining rugged charm with an undeniable handsomeness. The captain's cabin provided a backdrop that accentuated his allure – a mix of sea air, sunlight filtering through the small windows, and the subtle creaking of the ship beneath.
His raven curls framed his face, adding an untamed quality that only enhanced his appeal. The white shirt he wore emphasized the tan he had acquired during his time in Azmeera, making him stand out amidst the maritime surroundings. Eryx's stance exuded a relaxed strength, with his hands casually clasped before him and his feet planted shoulder-width apart.
Meera found herself momentarily captivated by the sight of him, her eyes tracing the contours of his face and the lines of his form. The combination of his physical attractiveness and the enigmatic aura that surrounded him left her momentarily speechless. Meera felt a flush rise to her cheeks as she struggled to find words in response. The contrast between his playful tone and the intensity in his silver-gray eyes added to the mystery Eryx effortlessly projected.
"Zeya?" Eryx spoke without taking his eyes off of Meera.
"What?" Zeya asked, fussing with the stain on her dress.
"Tell the crew we're leaving," Eryx said. "We have the princess."
Meera's eyes widened. Her heart sank to the bottom of the ocean as her body kicked into flight or fight response. She bolted towards the door without so much as a second thought.
"Meera, I'm only joking!" Eryx leaped forward and hooked his strong arm around her waist.
"Let go of me!" Meera shouted as she tried to push down his arm.
Suddenly, the steady ship began to sway. The waves underneath grew restless as Meera's heart pounded inside her chest.
"You're an asshole," Zeya clicked her tongue and shoved Eryx back. "Meera, don't listen to him. We're not kidnappers."
Meera sprung away and positioned herself against the cabin walls as Eryx and Zeya stared at her. Her hair had come undone from the braid she had down her back. Her rapid breathing made her perspire and gasp for air.
"Relax, Meera," Eryx said, holding up his hands to show her he meant no harm. "I apologize. That was an insensitive joke."
"How do I know I can trust you?" Meera asked.
"I mean if we did leave with you, you can will the ocean to sail the ship back to Azmeera," Zeya muttered with a shrugged.
"Right," Meera said, almost as if she had forgotten.
"You have more control of this situation then you think you do," Eryx explained.
"Do I?" Meera pushed away from the walls as anger took over. "You're going to bring down the Vorean Fleet? Blockade our harbors? Send away Silverkeep ships? What in the hell is wrong with you?"
"Do you really want Henry around?" Zeya asked. "Even after everything that happened today?"
"What happened today?" Eryx's brows knit together as he looked over his shoulder towards the girl.
"Noth-" Meera began but Zeya beat her to the punch.
"The little twat attacked me!" She said. "With his toothpick sword. And he hit Princess Marcella."
Eryx's face darkened. He turned towards Meera with his eyes hooded and full of anger.
"Did he hurt you again?" He asked.
"No," Meera shook her head. "But Zeya...."
"I'll be fine," Zeya rolled her eyes. "I know a thing or two about royal pain in the asses throwing a temper tantrum."
Processing the words and seeing the small scar on Zeya's chest, the muscles in Eryx's jaw clenched along with his fists.
"You should have let me handle him," he said, looking at Meera.
"Henry is not my problem right now," Meera held his gaze. "You are."
The small cabin seemed stifling with the tension Meera and Eryx created. Their eyes locked with one another fought to see who would look away first. The air grew warm as the rolling waves under the ship slowed.
"I have some errands to attend to," Zeya spoke. "I'll leave you two to talk."
Meera's eyes flickered towards the girl as she turned and walked out, leaving Eryx and her standing inside the small wooden cabin. Despite her unease, Meera maintained a façade of confidence, her eyes meeting Eryx's with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion.
"So," Meera cleared her throat. "I'm your mate?"
Eryx's hard shell cracked and he rolled his eyes, "Zeya told you?"
"Not all of it," Meera said, watching Eryx walk over to the table and pull out a chair. He motioned for her to come closer.
"How much did she tell you?" He asked.
"About the wolves and the elements from the gods," Meera walked over and took a seat. "Still don't know what being your mate means."
"It means we're equals," Eryx explained, his silver-gray eyes holding a depth that seemed to draw Meera in.
"That's what Zeya said."
"Yes," Eryx nodded. "Did she tell you why we're two sides of the same moon?"
Meera shook her head, her dark locks falling gracefully around her shoulders.The scent of pine and cedarwood filled the small cabin as if every surface of the room was soaked with it. Meera hoped she would be able to steal some of the scent. She ran a hand through her dark locks to make sure they would trap the intoxicating smell.
"Where did she leave off?" Eryx asked.
"She said you were a ......wolf?" Meera swallowed. "Is that true?"
Eryx looked up, his face calculating every small change in Meera.
"Yes," he spoke with honestly.
"What does that mean?"
"It means I can shapeshift into a wolf," Eryx explained matter-of-factly.
"That's not possible," Meera objected immediately. "People can't do that."
"People can't control water either, Meera," Eryx countered, a wry smile playing on his lips.
"Yes, but you saw me doing that," Meera responded, her disbelief surfacing as a defense mechanism. "I haven't seen you... wolfing."
"Wolfing?" Eryx chuckled, the sound resonating through the cabin.
"You know what I mean," Meera said, her voice tinged with frustration. "How can a man turn into a beast? That's impossible."
"Says the girl who had a broken wrist last night," Eryx remarked, highlighting the absurdity of the situation.
"I...." Meera didn't know what else to say. The revelation of Eryx being a wolf, a creature of myth and legend, clashed violently with the reality she had known. The air in the cabin felt heavy, charged with the weight of secrets, and Meera struggled to process the unfolding truth. It was easier to believe in her abilities when she could feel it coursing through veins. But how can a man of Eryx's size.....
Meera shook her head, attempting to reject the idea that seemed too fantastical to be real. She tucked her hands under her thighs, trying to anchor herself in the face of this newfound reality.
"Let's say all this is true," she began, her tone trembling with uncertainty. "And you're a... wolf, and I am an... elemental..."
Eryx nodded in affirmation.
"How did this come to be?" Meera questioned, her mind racing to comprehend the intricacies of their shared fate. "Zeya said you were reincarnated?"
"Yes."
"Was I... reincarnated too?"
"Yes."
Meera's heart pounded in her chest, a symphony of fear and disbelief echoing in her ears. She pulled her hands out from under her thighs, gripping the fabric of her dress as if seeking an anchor in the storm of revelations.
"After the wolves received their gifts," Eryx began, his touch gentle as he reached out to hold Meera's hand. Slowly, he pried open her fingers, and his touch became a soothing caress as he traced the lines on her palm. The warmth of his touch seemed to transcend the physical, creating a connection that went beyond words. Meera felt a strange comfort in his presence, even as the story unfolded.
"They began to go mad with the power. The four brothers pushed their duties aside in order to conquer land and kingdoms for themselves."
"What did the gods do?" Meera asked, her curiosity mingled with a growing sense of unease.
"They let Selene handle her children," Eryx explained, his voice carrying the weight of ancient sorrow. As he spoke, his finger continued to dance across Meera's palm, creating a delicate pattern that seemed to echo the complexities of their intertwined destinies.
"They were angry," Eryx continued his touch now a gentle reassurance. "One of the brothers could not control his rage. He tore his mother apart."
Meera gasped at the gruesome tale, a shiver coursing through her. Instinctively, she tried to pull her hand back, a reflex to distance herself from the darkness of the tale. Yet, Eryx wouldn't let her retreat. His touch persisted, a grounding force amidst the unsettling narrative.
"Who was it?" Meera's voice cut through the somber air, her gaze fixed on Eryx with curiosity.
"No one knows," Eryx sighed, a hint of relief washing over his features. "When Selene took away the elements, she gave them to four noble families. Whoever killed Selene wanted to find all the elements and regain all the power for themselves."
Meera absorbed the gravity of his words, her voice reduced to a whisper, "That can't be good."
Eryx nodded, acknowledging the ominous truth. "Every generation when the wolves are reincarnated, we never know which one of us will crumble in the darkness. It is our ancient duty to find the elements and protect them at all costs from the wolf who hides in the darkness."
"There are more of you?" Meera's eyes widened with realization.
"Yes," Eryx smiled, a subtle glimmer of relief in his eyes because of how well Meera was talking to all the news. "Me, Zeya, Sven, and ... Jasper."
"Four wolves for the four elements," Meera concluded, her mind piecing together the puzzle of their shared fate.
"You are my mate," Eryx explained, his words carrying a sense of reassurance. "My wolf chose your element."
In the quiet cabin, the revelation hung in the air like a delicate equilibrium between the weight of the past and the uncertainties of the future.
"So there are others like me," Meera exclaimed, her eyes widening in fascination. "Earth, fire, and air."
Eryx nodded, acknowledging the uniqueness of her elemental status. "We only know of one other beside you. Like I said before, it is very hard and rare to come by an elemental. My father was the wolf before me. He never found his elemental. Most wolves don't."
Intrigued, Meera couldn't help but delve deeper into the lore. "What happens when they don't find their elemental?"
"They pass on the gift to their firstborn," Eryx explained, offering a glimpse into the intricacies of their ancestral legacy. "I got it from my father. Zeya got it from her mother."
Driven by a desire to connect with her kind, Meera inquired, "Who is the other elemental? Can I meet them?"
Eryx's expression shifted, a sigh escaping his lips as he leaned back, stretching his legs. "No," he responded somberly.
Curiosity burning in her eyes, Meera pressed further, "Why not?"
"Because their wolf chose the shadows," Eryx admitted, his gaze drifting away as he ran a hand through his hair. "Jasper had always been an outsider. He was what we called a lone wolf."
A chill enveloped the warm air inside the cabin, and Meera sensed a heaviness in Eryx's words. The revelation about Jasper's choice stirred an unsettling feeling within her.
"After he found his elemental," Eryx continued, his eyes now fixed on Meera's legs, "they took off together."
Meera's heart skipped a beat. "And now they're going to hunt down all the other elements?"
Eryx nodded gravely. "Yes. That is why I must bring you with me to Voreios. You will be safe there. We will train you and teach you everything you need to know about your element. We have hundreds of books for you to learn from. You won't have to hide there."
The light in Meera's eyes reached a peak before it began to dim. Eryx watched it happen before his eyes as the excitement in Meera's face drained like a swamp.
"If anyone finds out about us," she whispered. "They will burn us to ashes."
Eryx leaned in closer. He held her gaze and said, "You think Voreios has stood for centuries protecting the four kingdoms from the Northpass by fearing what people like Henry and Darwin think?"
"The Northpass...." Meera said slowly. "So are all the stories true? Of monsters and beasts in the forest?"
"Some," Eryx said. "Not all."
"Have you ever seen these monsters?"
a playful smirk graced Eryx's lips, suggesting a hint of amusement at her curiosity. In a spontaneous move, he grabbed the hem of his shirt and swiftly pulled it over his head. Meera caught off guard, involuntarily jumped back in her seat, finding herself face to face with the striking sight of Eryx's chiseled physique.
Eryx's skin, smooth and bronzed, seemed to absorb the warmth of Azmeera's tropical sun, leaving an impression of a man who had spent his time exploring the sun-kissed beaches of the kingdom. Meera felt her eyes involuntarily tracing the contours of Eryx's well-defined chest as he stood, his gaze directed downward as if searching for something.
Aware that it wasn't proper behavior to openly ogle someone, Meera attempted to divert her gaze, but she found herself captivated by the sight before her. The play of sunlight on Eryx's skin accentuated the lean muscles and the subtle lines that spoke of both strength and agility. Despite her attempts to maintain a composed demeanor, Meera struggled to look away.
"This one," Eryx pointed to the right side of his ribs. "I was clawed by a shadowfox."
"What...." Meera slowly rose to her feet to examine the smooth scar. "What's a shadowfox?"
"A fox with the ability to blend into shadows and move without being noticed," Eryx explained. "It has the power of illusion and trickery."
"How did he manage to get you?" Meera reached out, her finger trembling with hesitation.
"Sven and I thought it was a good idea to track down a shadowfox and find it's den," Eryx, noticing Meera's curiosity, took her hand and placed it over his scar.
Meera stilled as the sparks flew up her hands and spread all over her body. Eryx's warm skin shivered under her touch as if he felt the force rock through him too.
"It's so long," Meera said.
Eryx's brow raised and his mouth twiched, "Pardon me, Your Highness?"
"The scar," Meera titled her head back to look at his eyes.
"Yes," Eryx chuckled, the sound rumbling through his chest. "It wa-"
The creaking sound of the wooden door echoed through the cabin as Ozmen entered. Meera, caught off guard, gasped audibly and instinctively jumped away, creating distance between herself and Eryx. The atmosphere in the confined space shifted instantly as Ozmen's gaze shifted from Meera to Eryx, his eyes narrowing with a mixture of disapproval and anger.
The tension in the room became palpable as Ozmen's eyes hardened, and his normally composed demeanor gave way to a simmering anger. Meera, feeling a surge of fear coursing through her, struggled to find the right words to explain the unexpected situation.
"Meera," Ozmen's voice cut through the air with a stern tone. "What the hell is this?"
Oh boy....this is messy.....Also any idea what this might all mean?