Elena watched as Thalia dragged Borris, bound in chains, with Leo standing behind her. His clothes were singed as Thalia stopped in front of Robert. Thalia smirked. "Thank you, sister," Robert said, as his amber eyes looked down on Borris. "Please tell me you didn't burn his house down?" he asked, his eyes returning to hers.
Thalia rolled her eyes, "I didn't, but some people were already there." Robert's eyes widened.
"Who?" He asked, his fist clenching. Thalia shrugged, "He has wronged many people, big brother, but there were two lycanthropes, one wolf with a snow bunny mask, th-" Elena snorted, but quickly contained herself as two pairs of eyes looked at her. "Sorry, snow bunny mask?" she asked, her voice calm and polite.
"Yes," Thalia replied flatly. "White leather, tall ears, the whole thing. The other was a bear lycanthrope — big one, too. Got lucky with a swing, but I'm fine. Then, there was a dwarf. Barely a beard on him, but fast and foul-mouthed." Her eyes narrowed slightly, recalling how her flames barely caught him. "And then there was a Mare Tiger."
At that, both Robert and Elena stiffened. "Wild or summoned?" Robert asked.
"Summoning, I am guessing, most likely a beast-tamer, it disappeared after a few blasts," Thalia said, shaking her head, trying not to imagine what she would have seen if its void-like stripes had even glanced her.
Elena's thoughts raced through all the things she described: a wolf in a snow bunny mask, a bear lycanthrope, a dwarf without a beard, and a beast-tamer. She narrowed as she realized this all sounded too familiar.
Then it hit her, Jake and his group. She shuddered as she remembered the scent of his blood—the sight of him taking an arrow meant for her. Even if he'd seen a physician, he'd still be hurt. And he had just fought Borris's guards—and Thalia herself.
Elena asked hesitantly, "D-Did you fight them?"
Thalia's eyes narrowed, reading her like an open book. "Only the tiger, bear, and dwarf. The wolf kept his distance. They all escaped."
Elena tried not to show her relief as her aunt looked at her.
"You mean you let them escape!" Borris spat.
Thalia's boot met his chin before the words had finished leaving his mouth. His body went limp.
Robert sighed. "I was hoping to question him, sister."
Thalia froze and chuckled nervously, "Ah, right."
Robert shook his head, "Let's just get him to a proper cell."
"How is the city reacting to all this?" Elena asked, Robert looked at her, and sighed, "It's too early to tell, but there is a lot of talking and rumors, but soon things will be cleared up."
Elena nodded, "Well, we should go after Forrest soon, after this, I have a few ideas of where he is."
Thalia and Robert looked at her wide eyes, "How do you-" Her father began.
"Most likely her shadow, it seems like you have been planning on this for a while." Thalia interrupted as her eyes lingered on Elena.
Robert looked at her, then Elena, and sighed, "How many moves have you already made?"
"A lot father," Elena said, as she clutched Thimil's hilt.
Robert sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose, "I swear you and your mother's secrets."
Elena chuckled as Thalia gave the chains to Borris to a guard and instructed him to take him to the dungeon under the Ronis mansion, where she lived.
Robert nodded to his sister and followed Borris as the guards dragged his limp form.
Thalia met Elena's eyes, and she signaled her to have a private chat. Elena looked at her with curiosity, but agreed as Leo followed her.
They walked in silence. Leo and Elena looked at each other, wondering what she wanted to speak about.
They entered the Galas' mansion and entered a private room. Thalia locked the door and sat down, Elena soon taking a seat, as she held Thimil in her lap.
Leo stood guard behind her, poised and ready.
"So, you and Jake Lockvry?" Thalia said, Silence hung in the air.
Leo went for his sword and halted the golden energy surrounding him. He froze, due to his pact preventing him from hurting a member of the Falmil house, yet his eyes were cold as he stared at Thalia.
Elena froze as well, as she processed what Thalia had just said.
Thalia chuckled, "So he's your shadow?" Her gaze lingered on Leo as she found new respect for him.
Elena's eyes grew cold, her hand turning white against Thimil's hilt as she looked at her aunt.
Thalia only laughed, softly but sharply. "Relax, niece. I'm not here to expose him. I just need to be sure…" Her eyes narrowed, glimmering amber. "…that you're safe."
Elena didn't dare to show emotions; the fox in her was looking at prey, "He is my shadow, Auntie." Her own amber eyes glimmered. "He is loyal to me,"
Thalia looked at her niece, her strategic mind recognizing that she was stepping onto dangerous ground even for the Flame of Helver.
"He is not loyal to his family?" Thalia asked, remembering how Jake went into the throne room and personally cleared his family's name from the death of Henry, her nephew.
"He has many loyalties, one of them is me," Elena said smoothly, hiding the fear and panic behind her eyes.
Thalia looked at her, curious about their relationship, but she sighed, "Those eyes of his…" She paused, remembering his golden shining eyes, "Do you know the Whispering Shadow?"
Elena froze at the name, "Yes, I do, she is also known as the Singer of Harmony, why?" Her mind raced at why she would bring such a respected woman up, even in the noble courts, where she was highly respected.
Thalia sighed, "Jake is her son, no doubt about it."
Elena froze at what she just said. Leo, still frozen, his eyes widened. It was not known that the Singer of Harmony had a child, yet Jake was her child.
Thalia's gaze softened—barely. "She was a master of schemes, of whispers that toppled courts and bent lords' knees. Some say she could even influence King William. If he carries her blood… then I must ask—why is he your shadow, Elena? Is it loyalty… or manipulation?"
Her words struck like an arrow—sharp, buried deep. The memory of him getting hit flashed once more.
Her throat tightened. She said nothing.
Leo, still locked by the Pact's golden bindings, forced the words out through gritted teeth. "When I carried him back… the only thing keeping him conscious was your name."
Thalia froze. The flicker of golden light still shimmered around Leo's frame, proof that he spoke through pain.
Silence filled the room. Thalia's sharp expression wavered for just a heartbeat.
Elena sat there, her heart heavy and trembling. She wondered if she should tell her Aunt the truth of their relationship, not one of money, not one of friendship, but one of love.
She glanced at Thimil in her lap, and she caressed it. Thalia's head tilted at the motion. Elena exhaled, "Auntie… He is loyal to me, because… we love each other."
The room went still.
Hello, sorry for not posting in a bit, holidays can be hectic.
Anyway, I should probably mention that what you have been reading is my main draft of this story, so sorry if there are inconsistencies in writing or loopholes, or new things that seem major added later to the story.
This is not the final version of the story, and I am ahead of schedule, currently working on chapter 45 while this is chapter 29 lol.
After I am done with this main draft, I shall work on the final version and complete it before posting it.
Anyway, thank you for reading so far. Today's treat is 5 chapters.