Shadow
Chapter Twenty-Three

Idonia Torbet

"Their... legitimacy?"

"My father," he starts slowly. "Is not Khannun Kol. My father by birth is the Khannun's brother, Ragnvald."

"That's why he's on your council and not your fa- I mean Khannun Kol."

"Correct," he states coldly. I shiver as a wind blows by us. Gooseflesh covers my arms and neck and I draw my cloak closer to my body.

Illegitimacy was never an issue for many lycan. They stayed loyal to their mates and no other. To know Khanea Rika would have an affair with her mate's brother... it shook my world.

"So the other sons... are the proper heir?"

"Avon and Mikkael are both illegitimate as well. Hella, Hertha, and Sive to make a total of six."

"But..." my eyebrows furrow in deep confusion. Though he cannot see my face, he continues.

"I don't know why, I don't even know if Khannun knows or not. I would assume so by our treatment. Sure, he gave us everything but there was no... no love."

"But..." I try to wrap my head around it more. "The Khannun and Khanea are true mates. One must replace their true mate to... to rule."

"As far as I know, they are, but I was never quite so sure after I found out. They are mated, yes."

"But, by blood, you are a Dolph?"

"Ragnvald Dolph is my father."

"Then it doesn't matter," I tell him firmly. "No on will question your rightful place on the throne. Your fath- Khannun Kol has no real sons so the throne would go to Ragnvald and his sons anyways."

"The issue is that my parents aren't mated and many Aerals and Masters will have an issue with that," his voice is firm. He's distressed telling me these things. I climb into his lap, replaceing him sitting with his legs straight out. My hips meet his as my knees land on the ground, caging him under me. His hands move to my hips while mine rest on his check.

"The Aerals can do nothing about this. The Dolph family has ruled for centuries. You have just killed a shadowbeast. If, and that if is very strong, if the Aerals found out and come to dethrone you, they will have to fight me first. Plus, you will have one on your side, my father."

"Your father would hate me."

"True, but he would support you," I tell him, resting my head on his shoulder.

"I thought you hated my title?"

"It means a lot to you. To your family and to mine. I do not care if you have a crown or if we make our own homstead in the north, but I do care what happens to your heart. And your heart would break if your family was removed as the Khannun."

"It would probably kill Kol."

I chuckle, before wrapping my arms around him and holding tight. I am aware of his injuries, but many of the superficially onces had to of healed by now. Either way, the comfort of a mate is never passed down by a male.

"Is there anything else you wish to tell me?" I ask before letting out a tired yawn.

"Yes, you are so lovely."

"I'm sure I'd look a fright if you could see me."

"But you are lovely. Most females would care if their crown was ripped from their heads."

"I've never needed a crown."

"Oh, but you shall have one," His chest rumble playfully.

"We should try to sleep for a while."

"What about the shadowbeasts."

"They will alert us to their presence."

He lays back gently, having me rest on top of him. Both of his hands run from my hips to my back as he holds me close. His cloak, which I hadn't heard him take off, is draped over me. It is as warm as I remember it being the first time. When we met and he placed his cloak over me as a promise to always provide for me. It seems silly now, after all of this, his small action still have an effect on me.

When I wake up, it is to a large growl. My back hits the ground as Rae flips us both. The shadowbeast swipes his claws through the air. Rae lets out a large growl of pain, gripping my arms as he tries to get through the attack. His weight leaves me and I quickly de-tangle myself from his cloak and mine. Another terrible growl meets my ears as my hands stubble around on the ground, trying to replace a blade.

Rae lets out a grunt as he struggled with the beast continues. Panic starts to settle in as I listen to my mate being beaten as I try to replace anything to kill his attacker with. It all becomes too darker, the nothingness became too much and my breathing becomes ragged.

Pain, a pain I've only felt once before. Snapping, breaking of bones and the ripping of skin fills my ears. My head twists with discomfort as my teeth stretch and break through my gums. The nigh is suddenly not so dark. Instead a vision of colors blurs my vision. The color of reds, oranges, and blues.

The colors of heat.

I stand tall on my back legs, growling, before charging at the black beast that was beating my mate. Rae is dropped to the ground as I fight with the shadow. He has no eyes, just deep red gashes over his snout. It stands like me, on strong hind legs with a tail whipping back and forth to keep its balance straight.

My beast rages forward, not that she must push me to kill this monster. She simply makes me stronger so I can tear the beast to shreds. Once the black monster has fallen to the ground, I turn to my mate.

His face, specifically his eyes, have dark marks across them. His body is battered and he looks absolutely dead. I drop to all fours before using my claws to pick him up.

Rae flinches, grabbing onto my wrists and fighting me. I let out a slight whimper before licking his face.

"Idonia?" he coughs some more, spitting up blood as he does so. His hand reaches up, running through my fur a up to my ear. As I purr for him, I look off and see light in the distance, the color hurts my eyes, so I look back to focus on Rae. "You're--"

I give him a low grumble, licking his face once more. My beast calms as she sees her mate, she backs away and lets my body return to a human form. I shiver, as my transformation had ripped my clothes. Rae's head remains my my hands and rests on my lap as I finish shifting back.

"Are you okay?" I ask him, no longer seeing him now that my eyes have gone back to normal. My hands caress his cheeks and hair as I remember the way he looked.

"I'm fine, but you..."

"I shifted again," I say what was on both our minds. "I know which way we need to go."

"Are you... naked?"

"And cold, so we need to leave," I remind him, trying to help him back up.

"Could you see?"

"In a way." I groan as he leans against me to try and walk. "You're heavy."

"My legs are numb," he tells me.

"Can you wiggle your toes?"

"Why--"

"I hurt my back once. The healer made me wiggle my toes and when I could he said I hadn't broken anything serious. Can you wiggle your toes?"

He is silent for a second, "Yes."

"Good." We walk for a moment in silence. The rocky ground digs into the skin of my feet. The cold wind blows, making my shoulders shiver and as it passes over my chest my nipples perk up.

"You saved me once again."

"I guess I did," I trip over a rock, causing us both to fall on the ground. My chest hits the dirt as my mate all but lands on top of me. He quickly rolls off me, reaching out to grab me to help.

His hands grabs mine frantically, "Are you okay?"

"Fine," I groan as I turn over. His other hand grabs my hip and he brings me close to him. I shiver some more as the cold of this dark land is getting to me.

"You're freezing."

"And you're hurt," I remind him. My naked chest presses against his clothed one. His arms warm me as they keep me close.

"What was it like?"

"The shift?"

"Yes," he mumbles.

"I'll tell you all about it when we return."

Sorry for the confusion about the chapters. If you didn't see, I made a post about my difficulties this morning. Please follow me to stay up to date with what's happening!

All my love,

Rosie