Chapter 43

A/N: These needed to go together. Sorry it took so long. I decided to cut all these double the word count chapters up so there will be weird breaks, but I also feel like you don’t want super long chapters
Tyson
Grace’s phone went to voicemail again. I assumed that they must be busy. I’ll call or text later. They’re still likely re-organizing an entire council. Taking over a kingdom is different from inheriting one…
There will be resistance, but I know with as headstrong as Grace is, they should be fine.
Aureus’s fight yesterday was really good, though I found out that I lacked enough knowledge of his language to understand their banter. They spoke old words that I didn’t know, nor had I seen in my studies.
I need to learn more fluent Draconic.
I didn’t understand his dialect…. But I was bittersweetly proud for my brother-in-law. He barely managed, but he made peace with whatever emotions he had and just went for it. I don’t think I could…
But my bond with my family is different. Whether on purpose or not, my family bonded me to them. I hold attachments to my pack as well, and for it I am thankful. It gives me something to cling to when being a man is too hard… when being the beast is what I actually want.
“Your highness, your lunch is here.” Said Clementine, delivering my meal herself.
“Ulissa could have brought it.” I said casually.
“Of course sir.” She bowed.
Today was a leg of lamb, different, but still not what I wanted….
I grew tired of cattle. I wanted fresh…
I was growing tired of processed foods… Meat shouldn’t be cut into with a knife and fork, but to be civil, I have to eat civilly…
But at least I was left to eat in peace. I even got to eat the bones like I wanted, but I was still hungry…
I haven’t been eating enough lately for my stomach to growl so offended, but this will have to do.
I have work.
Samira saw about 3 days of Jang’s worst moments of his life, so she won’t be up until likely tomorrow morning. The day after if I’m really unlucky. Its not because of the magic, it’s more the fact that this is her first time, and Xaxas mentioned her being remade…. I should have asked about that, but if she was, it means that this is also her first time using heavy magic only a royal blood could cast…
Class, race, sex, gender, nor age usually matter… but your lineage might. The Gods pour more energy and effort into their Champions and their blood, because unlike many human kings, the supernatural ones were on the front lines…
There’s also Compatibility. She is a Light creature, but grandmother’s light magic resides within the parameters of the Night Court. I doubt grandmother would give resistance, but Samira still has to learn how to manage and control lunar magic, when she was born and taught Solar magic.
And of course, because of the War and Arveils Terrible treatment of Lulliba, she hesitates to give blessings or aid light creatures. Their disowned daughter - abusive father relationship creates the magic rift.
Another example I thought of, was if a witch was made by Apolis, the Valcano God. They could be able to create a volcano or summon lava; top tier, over the top fire magic the world’s never seen… but they’ll *never* have the ability to cast the same level of water magic. Posidion, God of the Oceans HATES Apolis. A fire witch would NEVER get water powers. Not unless they were probably somehow Posidian’s bastard… I could see that.
The gods have a lot of kids.
I sensed Jang, however he seemed too nervous to actually finish coming up the stairs.
The servants collected my dirty plate, and I grew tired of him sitting there, debating like that.
“Jang come in.” I shouted loud enough for him to hear. “Don’t apologize.” I stopped him before he could, as it was the real reason he came up.
“I wanted to check on her majesty.” He said sheepishly.
“She’ll rest the rest of today. You did nothing wrong in this instance.” I said looking at him perk up a bit. “I’m not going to shout at you or throw any blame at you. Grandma used you because I know of all the mortals here, you are the most in need.”
“Thank you for your kindness master.” He bowed his head. “I mean your highness….”
“You’re fine. Thank you for the honest concern, however, you should worry about yourself. How goes things now that you were partially mended?”
“….First dreamless night in two and a half decades.” Said Jang. “I scheduled an appointment with Martha, but she hasn’t approved it yet.”
“Ah, Jabari told me he saw her leave a bit ago with a Shadow Warrior.” I said dismissively. He’s under no obligation to stop her unless she screamed for help, or I command it.
Something was up, but Jang isn’t the man to deal with it.
“I wished she’d have waited a day or two… She told me she was headed to Mehico. She invited me as well… but it seems she picked Shadow Warrior Ramon to go with her….”
“Oh?”
Interesting…. Jang’s mate is dead and Martha is single as far as I know….
“I declined. Martha’s younger than my late grandchildren. Plus I don’t want to disappoint her.” He chuckled.
He said it in thought so he didn’t have to say it out loud… Xaxas made it so the only thing his cock could do, was to exist as only decoration in that regard… He made it so that he receives no joy from any aspect of life… Even food tastes of dirt in his mouth.
I knew that because as good as my lunch was, its scent turned him off, even though he was actually pretty hungry.
I think that was the last straw. I’d had enough of my pitiful Sixth haunting my halls as much of an apparition as his mate.
“Come hunt with me.” I offered, and he bowed his head.
“I haven’t shifted in decades sire… I… I don’t even know if Xùnsù will hear me. We don’t even speak…” He admitted.
I peered into his blue eyes… I didn’t see his wolf, but I know he’s there. No werewolf that can shift is without one… and any Omegas without a wolf age like a human. That only happens in towns like Sapphire, where wolves and mortals mingle without issue… The pack where my missing True Third, the Frosted One lives.
Damn…. If I’d have taken him and removed his curse, I could have reached inside Jang and pulled his wolf out into the forefront. The best I can do right now for him, is try to take his mind off things…
/Shakira, watch my mate with Jabari. No one comes up, not for any reason. Not even to clean./
/Do I have permission to use for-/ I cut her off.
/Yes./ I linked a little annoyed.
I heard her ‘yes’ from outside my office. I also heard the throat clear.
/It will be done sir./ She linked, and I saw her salute me when she came up.
“I’m sick of cooked food… come tag along.” I said getting up, and taking off my shirt. He did with me. Jang was as excited as a pup the night before Winter Solsticemas. I could get it though… Up until now, he’s been isolated, and excluded.
If he can shift, there was no one to enjoy the hunt nor its spoils with.
I shifted and he followed me like an obedient pup, past Shakira.
“Enjoy your hunt sir.” She bowed.
I nodded. I trotted right out the front door. It was opened for me, but I made sure not to full on run. He jogged behind me, however, so did some of the female hyenas. They shifted, while he broke a sweat. When we got close to the edge of the forest, I had to slow down even more.
He was really out of shape… We hadn’t even gone a mile.
[Jang what’s your wolf’s name?] I asked stopping short of the trail that led to the forested hills.
“Xùnsù…. I don’t even remember what it means anymore.” He said quietly.
Even the hyenas took a little pity for that. A shifter’s inner beast, for the races that have them… The name is sacred. I am Tyson, son of Bryson…. Had I been an inner wolf, my name would be likely ‘Virtue’, since ‘Venerable’ is the name of my father’s inner wolf… Wolf names follow the same gender as the parent. So, Grace’s name should be something light themed. ‘Glitter’ is Mother’s wolf… ‘Shimmer’ is taken by Grandma Eclipse, mom’s mother. So Grace would be probably ‘Shine’, or maybe ‘Glow’?
Good thing she isn’t… those names won’t fit a human shape…. Nobody is out here named ‘Glow Charred-Midas.’
[Don’t blink.] I said having to look down on him to do what I’d planned.
I glared him in the eyes, looking for his wolf…
His wolf was caged….
I didn’t know it was possible to do this…. But their inner wolves are just an aspect. They’re the instincts of the werewolf given mind, but not physical form unless they shift.
Xùnsù was missing almost all its fur, covered in fleas, and somehow ragged as if he’d lost a fight…
Xaxas truly did go too far… These are things that are not possible *at all* for a creature that only shares a part of the mind… Xùnsù is only a part of him, there are no fucking spirit brain fleas!
Or Soul Mange!
Only sick, extremely *dirty* Rogues get that…but *physically*… I was shocked, though I had to keep my face neutral…
I’ve only encountered … just the one werewolf like that, and he was sick with silver poisoning… It doesn’t really happen…..
Xaxas invented a new torment *just for him.*