Chapter 57

Derrick

I watched her cry in disbelief as she came closer and ran her fingers on my chest, my neck, all over me: to ascertain if I was really the one. “Derrick.” She called again. She hugged me tight like I was about to disappear. I pulled her close and hugged her as I watched her cry eyes out. “I'm not dreaming.” She cried. I pressed her head close to my chest in relief. I was happy to see her again, she was back in my arms. I missed her, she was always on my mind. But things had changed, and were about to take a different dimension for the both of us.

I had a debt to repay the late fox king. He had spared my life and nursed me back to health. I could still remember his last words on the day he died.

I stood by the bedside of the dying king, I couldn't help but feel a wave of sorrow wash over me. His once vibrant eyes, filled with the wisdom of ages, now glistened with the sheen of approaching death. Each shallow breath he took seemed to echo through t