Bonded

Levent Kartal · 08-11-2012, 08:45 PM

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This will be verryyyy interesting.

North and north he’d roamed, and now Levent was heading south toward home again, weary in more than just body. His trip had done very little for him, and all he wanted to do was return to Cercatori d’Arte—and maybe Hotaru’s arms, if she would allow him. She had to be tired, too, from dealing with the puppies by herself, but perhaps they could share their comfort. It might make him feel like a real person again, rather than a soul and body that seemed detached and at odds with each other.

Mai snorted tiredly and shook her head, and the merchant smiled faintly at her, murmuring a few words to reassure her they would be able to rest soon. She responded doubtfully, but the disdain in her voice he’d gotten used to wasn’t present. Either she was just that exhausted, or she was getting used to him—and he was faintly hopeful that it was the latter. He’d annoyed her with his presence a lot lately in hopes that she’d just learn to deal with him, and this might be the breakthrough, that she was beyond caring anymore. He didn’t want to truly break the beautiful horse so that she became compliant but resentful, but he didn’t think he could truly get that far. She was strong-willed and reminded him of Hotaru in some ways.

“Do you hear that?” Wilson sounded tired as well, but the note in his voice had Levent stopping and pricking his ears. It was barely audible, but he thought he heard water. For some reason, it sent chills through him that hearing a normal stream couldn’t, and the look on the cat’s face proved he felt the same. The wolf scowled and began to lead Mai in that direction, the tom balanced in the saddle, until a scent familiar as anything hooked sharp claws into him. He stiffened then, and growled an order at Wilson.

“Go straight home.”

The white cat looked at him, eyes narrow but unreadable, and leaped from the saddle to go scampering off in that direction. Mai looked after him longingly, but Lev tugged gently on her lead and continued toward the sound of water and smell of demon.

There she was, reclining by warm pools and swollen with child. His paw pads started sweating, but he wiped them on his fur and kept hold of the lead until he was able to tie it to a tree. Wordlessly and expressionlessly, he looked at the dog, knowing that he’d spent much of the past few days searching for her. Now that they were both here, he didn’t know what he should say.

How could he? Amy had teased out his lust for immortality, and she had mauled one of his pack mates. The images matched each other, forming the true picture of who she was—who he’d always known she was, from the first time her teeth tore into him. The only problem was that he had changed—gained loyalty, and a family, lives beside his own that he wanted to preserve.

What could he say to a monster like her?

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