~AspenThe effects of whatever Keo injected me with still linger as my eyes flicker open.Groaning lowly, I turn my head. Keo knocked me unconscious, and now, I'm lying on a couch, looking out over a city.I'm not sure if it's the drugs, or my lack of knowledge about these lands, but it takes me a moment to realise where I am. Territory Twelve, which is mostly just a large, practically never ending city."What are you going to do with her?" I hear from the other side of the couch.It's an unfamilar female voice speaking. I stay rigidly still, wanting to hear more, to find out why Keo brought me here of all places."I could take her to the Haven, but I'm concerned her mate will find it," I hear Keo mutter irritably.Haven? Is that where he is keeping all the Demon's? It makes sense that he wouldn't bring me to them right away, considering how vigorous about trying to protect them.I'm not including in that just yet."Kill him," the female voice says casually."Trust me, there is nothin
~AspenKeo knows how to keep his word.I thought he may have kept me for an extra day, but I've been in this small apartment in Territory Twelve for a couple days now.And I haven't heard anything from Kastriv. No doubt he's panicking, but I doubt he will find me until Keo wants him too.Which at this point, I'm convinced will be never."Focus," Keo murmurs.I sigh. "I am focusing.""No you're not.""Maybe if you shut up, I could," I snap.I know I probably should be scared of Keo. Yet over these past days of being near him so much, he's been strangely hospitable, even if he's annoying most of the time.But he's been helping me tune into my magic. I haven't complained once about that.I'm meant to be trying to connect to different places across the land. It's been draining, but at points, I actually feel as though I'm close to making a genuine connection to another place.Why that's valuable, I'm not sure. Keo hasn't told me yet.I can feel Keo's grin, even though my eyes are closed.
~AspenKastriv stands at the threshold of the apartment, drinking in the bizarre sight.The most confusing aspect of all this must be Oliver, who stares at Kastriv with widened eyes. Kastriv would have guessed that I went with Keo, considering that was our last topic of conversation.But why Oliver is here is probably impossible to decipher.“I’m not willing to play one of your foolish games, Keo," Kastriv says carefully, not moving an inch, as if to not to both provoke him, and scare him off.It dawns on me that Kastriv has tried to hunt Keo down for a long time. Now, they are standing in the same room, and my mate has no way of attacking him. Not when he is walking into Keo's territory, completely surprised by this entire situation.“You’re all in too much of a bleak attitude for me. Shall we do something to perk you all up?” Keo asks, clapping his hands together.The sound rings in my ears as I flinch, knowing this is going nowhere positive. “I’d rather just leave.”Keo raises his
~AspenI sip my warm milk, staring into the fireplace."Can't sleep either?" I hear from behind me.I don't turn around. Sleep has successfully evaded me, mostly because I feel out of my body. Oliver is somewhere, travelling between Territory Thirteen and One.Even if everything in my head is muddled and out of place, that gives me a sense of amusement.Kastriv sits next to me, stretching his legs out before the fire."I can't get it out of my head," I mutter, delving my fingers into my hear, pressing the tip against my scalp as if I can physically relieve the pressure coming from my mind."What?""Keo let us go. After everything he has been through with you, with Angel-bloods, he brought you to that apartment and he let us go."I just wish I knew what his ultimate agenda is.That's what makes him so dangerous, I realise. No one can see inside his head, and because he doesn't trust anyone, knowing can ever truly know his next move."He seems to see some value in me," I continue. "Even
~Aspen"This is a terrible idea," I mutter.I don't even know where we are. This morning, Kastriv came to me with an offer that I couldn't exactly refuse. And now, I'm standing in an unknown Territory, walking through a park toward a Noble who tried to kill me."He needs to be spoken to," Kastriv reminds me. Even if he is right, I'm not sure how I feel about having to see Ellard's face again."Why?"Kastriv looks down at me, a cold rage behind his eyes. "Because he may continue to pursue you otherwise."I shudder. There are too many people in my life who I am afraid of, who I am running from. At some point I'm going to have to stand up to them, and I suppose now is the time to start, even if it's not going to be easy."If he kills me now, it's your fault," I tell him bluntly, staring out over the green pond before me.Kastriv threads his fingers through mine. "He won't kill you. Not with me around.""Comforting," I mumble.We stop, facing the pond. To my left, I see a figure tentative
~AspenI am not ready for this.I've met Noble's before, and yet there is something different about stepping into the Territory One manor they all oversee.It's likely because Ellard may be here, but in reality, it's the cause of this special person Kastriv has told me I'm meeting today.He didn't need to tell me I need to make a good impression tonight, but I get the feeling that nothing else will suffice. Whoever this is, they are important to Kastriv in some bizarre way.I know she practically runs all the Noble's lives, but Kastriv was cagey on telling me why."It was a mistake bringing her here, you know," someone says as we walk through the door, making me jump.It's Larsen, one of the only Noble's I haven't had the chance to meet.Not that it's a bad thing I haven't met him. In fact, it was by design. Oliver cannot stand him, wary of Larsen's poisonous touch and sardonic attitude."Larsen," Kastriv sighs, not seeming pleased to be reunited with his brother either. "I had no ide
~Aspen Pacing back and forth, I chew on my nails. This isn’t right. There is no chance I’m getting any sleep tonight, not when I’m thinking up a million different situations that could be going on in Kastriv’s room with Daisy there. He wouldn’t do anything…right? I shake my head. Of course not. As usual, I’m overthinking. A soft knock suddenly sounds from the door. I open it immediately, seeing Kastriv standing there meekly. "What is going on?" "Daisy is asleep. I managed to sneak out,” he says, striding in past me. He looks unnerved, his shoulders taut, his expression tense. I wonder if I look that way too, concerned my mate has decided he wants someone else only weeks since finding out about the bond. "Who is the woman? And why does she feel like she can demand you around?" I ask, folding my arms over my chest. I can’t tell if I’m upset at him or not. I shouldn’t be, if he hasn’t done anything wrong, but I can’t help myself. Kastriv sweeps his hands through his ha
~Aspen Kastriv keeps his promise, and the next morning, we went to Territory Five. It’s a nice place, with mild temperatures and wide open spaces, which at this point, I really appreciate. Kastriv has brought me to quaint home he claims no one will visit, especially no Noble’s. It’s pretty, and will do for the meantime while we figure out or next move, and hope Atari doesn’t learn that we are still together. A few days pass with no disruptions. In fact, it’s quite eerie that nothing has happened. This morning I’ve opted for sitting in the window nook, staring out across the far meadow and to a small woodland area. I’ll explore soon enough, when Kastriv is certain we are safe. The sound of his footsteps approaching from behind have me glancing over my shoulder. “Come on,” Kastriv prompts, shrugging a jacket over his broad shoulders. “Hmm?” “We are going out to a nearby village.” I sit up straighter. “Isn’t that dangerous?” All I’ve heard from him these past few days