Lienna
Days passed, and though the shifter kings promised to help me harness my powers, the truth was that they had been unable to do anything. Issues kept popping up from various parts of the realm that needed their immediate attention, and before everything descended into chaos, I barely got to see them. This filled me with a lot of dread because I had just begun to realize just how important it was for me to be able to harness the power that was residing in me – for when they would be in need of it.
Today, however, promised to be different. It was the day for the shifter kings’ customary hunt, and I had been invited to join them the day before by Caspian, an act I readily agreed to. I was excited to spend time with them in a more relaxed setting, away from the pressures of ruling the realm.
I was in my room, brushing out my hair and placing it into a neat braid. I tied the end with a small leather strap and tugged gently to make sure it was secure. Satisfied with the way I looked, I dusted out imaginary wrinkles from my dress and smoothed out the fabric. The dress was a simple but elegant one, made of a comfortable material suitable for riding and walking in the woods.
I took a deep breath, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves. I had never been on a hunt before, and I wasn’t sure what to expect. But I was determined to make the most of it and enjoy the time spent with the shifter kings.
With a final glance in the mirror, I set out to leave. I made my way to the courtyard, where I knew the others would be waiting for me. The sun was shining brightly overhead, casting a warm glow over everything. I spotted them from a distance and saw they were already mounted on their horses. My heart skipping a beat, I immediately rushed to meet them.
Adonis was the first to see me, and his brows furrowed slightly as he stared at me. “What are you doing here? Is she following us?” He asked no one in particular, his deep voice laced with a hint of bewilderment.
I stopped, holding my breath as I struggled to find the words to reply. Caspian must not have told them I was coming along.
The rest of the shifter kings had turned to stare at me as well, their faces a mixture of surprise and curiosity. I felt like an intruder, and my heart began to pound in my chest.
“Yes, I invited her,” Caspian answered before I got the chance to speak, turning to look at Adonis. “Would that be a problem?”
I exchanged glances between the two, my heart racing with anxiety. Adonis’s expression was unreadable, but Caspian’s grey eyes seemed to hold a hint of challenge.
“That depends,” Adonis replied, his voice measured. “I don’t want anything slowing us down.”
Caspian glanced at me then, his gaze piercing. “Do you know how to ride a horse?” He asked, his grey eyes, which had taken on a silvery glint, staring down at me.
I swallowed hard, trying to find my voice. “Yes, I can,” I answered, my voice barely audible, but I think he heard just fine. I had learned back when I was still a werewolf Lord’s daughter, and I was determined to prove myself.
Caspian nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. “Then, we will give her one of the horses so she can ride with us.”
He beckoned to a soldier who was closest to them, instructing him to get a horse. The latter immediately hurried off, and a while later, he was returning with the most beautiful golden brown horse I had ever seen. Its coat glistened in the sunlight, and its eyes seemed to sparkle with intelligence.
Without a second thought, I immediately walked up to the horse, gingerly running my hands across its skin, my eyes wide with wonder. The horse nuzzled my hand, and I felt an instant connection to it. “Come on, climb on and let’s go,” the soldier said, and I immediately snapped out of my trance, deftly climbing onto the horse and adjusting myself.
At the shifter kings’ signal, we began to move, their entourage surrounding them while I lagged behind, struggling to keep up. It had been so long since I had ridden a horse, and they were moving rather quickly. The wind whipped through my hair, and I felt a rush of excitement mixed with a hint of fear.
After a while, I got the hang of it and was able to keep up with them. We rode deep into the woods, the tall trees and broad branches blocking the harsh sunlight and scattering sunlight around us. My initial nerves forgotten, I began to enjoy the scenery. The smell of earth and vegetation filled my nostrils, the air was in my face, and the rhythmic pounding of the horses’ hooves seemed to fill me with an odd sense of peace.
I was starting to see why the shifter kings never failed to embark on their customary hunt. The freedom and exhilaration of riding through the woods, surrounded by nature, was intoxicating. We moved deeper into the woods, where it became harder for the sunlight to penetrate due to how thick the vegetation was.
Finally, the shifter kings slowed to a stop, and so did their entourage. I did as well, looking around as I tried to figure out what was going on. They alighted from their horses, and we did as well. Sliding between the soldiers, I watched as the kings came together, speaking in hushed tones for a moment before Adonis and Hermes grew into a half shift, their bodies contorting into powerful, wolf-like creatures.
They took off into the woods with the speed of light, leaving the rest of us behind. It was my first time seeing them in their beastly forms, and it was indeed a sight to behold. I felt a shiver run down my spine as I watched them disappear into the underbrush.
It didn’t seem like Caspian would be joining them in the hunt, so I immediately walked to him, keeping my steps tentative. While I walked, I stepped on a branch, breaking it and alerting Caspian of my presence. He turned around, and when he saw it was me, his features relaxed slightly. Using that as a consolation, I went to his side.
“Sorry for intruding, but if I may ask, why didn’t you join them in the hunt?” I asked, glancing up at him. The gentle breeze picked up his hair, blowing the tendrils around. Even in this moment, Caspian still looked devastatingly handsome.
“That’s because, unlike them, my beastly instincts aren’t so prominent,” he answered, his voice calm as he stared straight ahead. It looked as if he was monitoring whatever Hermes and Adonis were doing.
My brows furrowed in confusion, but he was willing to offer an explanation. “I can’t shift just because I want to. And it’s not necessary to force one. I only shift when the need arises.”
I nodded, intrigued by his words. “So, I may never see you in your dragon form?” I asked, and he chuckled, finding the question amusing.
“Maybe yes, maybe not,” he said with a hint of a smile. “I only join in with them because I don’t like to be left behind. Hermes and Adonis do the majority of the hunt.”
I nodded, looking ahead even if I couldn’t see what he was seeing. The sound of rustling leaves and snapping twigs filled the air as Adonis and Hermes began to return with the animals they had killed, making it into a pile. It was fascinating yet grotesque to witness how they killed the animals, but I had to understand that this was one of the ways for them to relieve stress, and it seemed like everyone was enjoying themselves, with the soldier keeping guard, ever vigilant.
They stopped their hunt, and it was time for the refreshments. A soldier went ahead to pick up fresh game from the pile while others prepared the spot where the meat would be roasted. Not wanting to be useless, I also helped, preparing the soft grass where the shifter kings would be seated and arranging fresh fruits and wine. Hermes and Adonis came to join us, and they had already changed out of their blood-stained clothes. Caspian was already seated, waiting for them.
They joined us on the cloth we had laid down, and I went to collect some of the meat that had already been prepared and served to the shifter kings, standing close by while they ate. I continued to do so till they were filled and was about to leave to offer them some privacy when Caspian pulled me, causing me to stumble into his thighs. I let out a yelp, the action completely unexpected.
“Where do you think you’re going?” He asked, peering at me, his eyes sparkling with amusement. I blushed, lowering my gaze, feeling a flutter in my chest.
“It’s time for your training,” he said and I snapped my head to look at him.
What!?