Book 2 Chapter 39
John
I hated that my mate was in danger, and there was shit I could really do about it, because technically… he only spoke with her. Even worse was that I was asleep… and he knew that I would be. There was also nothing she could do to prove that he meant harm… I had more duties to attend late tonight since I was here too. Knowing him, he would try something then.
I got up and stretched, it was still morning, and while I had time to myself, I took a shower. All the aggression I had been expressing made me stink of Alpha, and I knew that it made Heidi nervous. Even now, after years of being away from witches, authority figures still made her nervous. I made her nervous. My anger made her feel that way….
I couldn’t get the scent off me either, and this bothered me. It meant that now I would permanently become more like a leader. I would probably get challenges like one now too, though I hope not here. I wasn’t ready yet, though I could feel that I was on the verge of something. But I didn’t know what.
“John, are you ok in there?” Asked my mate, knocking on the door lightly. She probably didn’t want to be alone, and I wouldn’t leave her side, even tonight if I could help it. It would upset my father, but he would just have to be mad.
“I’m fine, just worried about you. Are You ok?” I asked, turning off the water. I wiped the steam off the mirror… I looked more toned. I dried off and quickly dressed, because I know she probably wouldn’t appreciate me naked, even though before we shared a room, that was my general habit.
“Yeah, and I hear you in there. If you need to see your father, then go.” She demanded, and I didn’t know if I should protest or not. For now, I would drop it. I opened the door, surprised that she looked very sternly at me, as if she were resolute for me not to skip my responsibilities.
“As long as you aren’t safe, I will be here with you.” I kissed her softly on the lips, just a peck. She tasted as sweet as she smelled, looking so innocently determined. She made me smile, because she was pretty much miniature. There was no way she could stop me, but knowing her she would get creative and kick me out. I pulled a little of her hair back from her face, but she tried her damnedest to remain firm. It didn’t work. She blushed, and hugged onto me, smelling my chest.
“I don’t want you missing your work, John. The council isn’t just old men ruling like the old ways… they protect us too. You will be part of that.” She said quietly, and I really couldn’t argue with that, but I would still stay.
“It may change me Heidi.” I warned her, but she held onto me tighter.
“You already are. John, you smell like Aunt Shelly.” She was right, but I hated that she was. I hadn’t noticed that I had until now, but she did.
“Then for your sake, I will learn, but you’re coming with me.” I said looking down at her. She was so weak, I worried for her. All it would take is Brutus arranging an ‘accident’ or something…
“I never said that I wouldn’t. For now, though, I have some books to read if you wouldn’t mind waiting for me.” She looked up at me, and I patted her hair. Of course, I would.
I read over her shoulder about some kind of summoning circle for her familiar since she was of age, but it required at least three other witches. She looked disappointed, but I chose not to say anything about it. This was one of the rights of passage for a witch, I assume like our first kill. I wished I could do something for her, but for now I could only be supportive by being quiet so she could study.
We sat like this until sundown, when it was time to see my father. The plan was to rent out the training room, then poison resistance training afterwards, followed by the meeting that wasn’t mandatory. I would be sick later for probably a few days, which would have her in danger. I would have to plan this out.
I would be in just some work jeans and a black t-shirt tonight. It was weird walking next to my mate like this, because mostly everyone else looked pretty formal. Even the Warriors here either had on suits or uniforms. To my understanding, that kind of thing was the Queen’s doing. The King would be fine walking around with nothing, because they didn’t really value clothes or the cost of them.
I held Heidi’s hand as we walked, because we didn’t know the way, and I didn’t want her to get separated from me. I did have a general direction I followed, but the smell of her worry was distracting me and my wolf. It was warranted though. All of the court had their own Shadows, it would only make since that someone would report to their Alpha, and we were targets the moment we left our room.
“Maybe we should ask someone?” She asked suddenly, but I would console her concern.
“I can scent the sweat; I think it’s down this hall.” I pointed, and sure enough, I was right. It looked almost like a large rectangular arena, however the floor was a large dirt indoor circle, complete with stone walls, and about three cages that were empty I assume in case they wanted to fight prisoners or rare supernatural creatures. Neither of us had been here before, and both of us were impressed.
“Wow look, the ceiling is glass; look at the sky!” She said excitedly, and I thought that was cool too. It made me wonder exactly who they commissioned to do that, or who they got to clean it. The walls were as high up as I believe the castle was, and there was also stone seating. This arena was large, and I saw that there were shifters who fought with weapons, bare handed, or in their forms. My father was already there, shirtless and bored with a female warrior.
“Come son, let’s hone those skills hmm?” He said with a small smile, and we walked to him, shaking the Warrior’s wrists. She was as large as my father, with her hair in a warrior’s braid and shaved sides.
“I am Warrior Commander Shikara of the Iron Fang Clan.” She said looking down at me, and I bowed.
“You will train with her, and if you slack off, she really will kill you.” He said with a chuckle, taking Heidi with him to sit.
“I’m John, nice to-” I was cut off by the swish of a clawed hand barely missing my face. I could taste the power she held, and it made my instincts go off. My wolf wanted to shift and run from this incredibly skilled warrior, but I knew better than that. To run is to die.
I countered her, choosing to go for a clawed punch, but she dodged it tripping me, and twisting my arm on my back. “Trusted High Seat… this is what you give me to mold?” She hissed, shoving my face in the dirt. “Cub you will improve this day, or you will Die.” She growled so strangely… I knew she was a hyena shifter… but Lady Damn… she was so aggressive.
“Don’t worry, if he isn’t any better by midnight, Aemi will help.” He said casually, and I wondered did I miss something?
She let me up, and something told me that if she was this intense, that my mother would be worse. I dodged a kick that would have broken my ribs, and countered with my claws out, taking a swipe. I had never trained ‘to the death’ before. I really didn’t like this, but it was made Very Clearly that if I didn’t play by their intense rules, that I would be dead.
This went on for three hours and sweat dripped off me. I was winded and tired, but she showed no tiredness in her stride, if anything she was bored. “Boy you have spirit, but you lack concentration. Do you think Herrakken will allow you to have a break?” She shifted, snapping massive jaws at me that I barely missed. I got a second wind, shifting into a wolf that was less than half the size of Shikara. Her coat was such a strange golden brown with spots, and her eyes were a deep blood red.
We should run. My wolf whined in my head and I mentally facepalmed. We can’t let our fear win! I chastised him, but he only whined. I knew I was being a dick to him because he was right, but I can’t just run away. I don’t get that luxury. If I did, it would leave my mate in harm’s way if this were real.
Fight Me and Stop Standing There Boy. She snarled in an accent that I didn’t quite understand.
She charged me, and I had to fight my wolf from turning tail and running. We clashed, but I felt I could push her with equal power. I didn’t understand what was happening. She had to have been allowing me this, but my muscles strained to keep her massive strength from exposing my underbelly. I had no doubt in my mind that she would deem me unworthy and make my parents produce another heir… but what would happen to Heidi?
With All I own within this body I will hold this line! I snarled, and I could hear her laugh.
Good. This cub has the warrior’s fire after all. She laughed as her shifted self, and it unsettled me. It was deep and echoed off the walls of the stone seating. My mate looked terrified, and that was the motivation Terracotta needed to get some fur on his damn balls.
I snarled, shoving her with all my might, but she would not move. She did get off her back legs, and we fought with tooth and claw. I went for her legs, snapping at them with a vigorous growl, but she dodged, getting me by the back of the neck. She tossed me at least ten feet away, and I slid across the arena.
Dead. Again. She commanded, stomping a foot.
“My Lady! You’ll kill him!” Screamed my mate, worried for me, crying for me.
If I do, you will be next. She chuckled again, and I growled deeper than I ever had.
“No one will stop her; it would be her right.” Said my father, but I noticed other council members were coming to watch since it was nearing time for a council briefing.
You will not harm her. I lunged at her throat, and she dodged, smacking me with her paw, sending me flying again. We would do this until I really did die if it meant that she would be safe.
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