Chapter 13: The Farewell
There was a silence so heavy Cory felt it pressing down on her resolve. She almost wanted to beg Hayden to stay the night now but she fought the urge as that would ruin her plan. Her heart swelled. She was so moved by his gesture. He meant to care for her no matter what, even after death if need be. She waited hoping he would say yes and hold her tonight and also needing him to say no and leave her be.
“I want that,” murmured Hayden into her hair.
He inhaled her scent deeply and held her close.
“I want that more than anything,” he said, chuckling sadly.
He pressed his forehead to hers, their noses brushing. He locked eyes with her.
“But I don’t want you feeling like you owe me affection in exchange for any of this,” he said, gesturing towards the deed.
“I don’t,” she said
Chapter 14: Maiden’s ScentWhen Cory’s barrel was unceremoniously thrown into a horse-drawn cart, she awoke with a throbbing headache. The barrel had been placed on its side so that Cory’s only option was to lie on her side as well, adopting a foetal position. She could hear Hayden’s voice instructing the men to move out. The quest party was small. There were just eight men, including Hayden and Titan. King Magnus had chosen the most skilled warriors he could find. Cory knew each of them had undoubtedly killed dozens if not hundreds of men in battle, but Stormbringers were not men. They were great beasts born of magical means and it would take magic not muscle to eradicate them.Hayden led the men out of the kingdom’s walls amid cheering from the castles residents who had gathered outside to send them off. His father was amongst them. He looked solemn and regarded Hayden with merely a curt nod of approval. On
Chapter 15: The Fire Weapons“You are an Enchantress. A Natural one. Born of magic not simply trained to harness it. A mere night spectre cannot stand up to you,” said Sprout, his tiny chest swelling with pride.Cory closed her eyes. The swirl of energy was in her mind this time not her hands. She concentrated her thoughts. She broke the barrel, shattering it to splinters. She stood up unharmed, Sprout on her shoulder. She was vaguely aware of Hayden’s flabbergasted expression. Blaython, being in the know, gave a happy snarl. She smiled at the tiger, trying to avoid locking eyes with Hayden who was probably furious after the initial confusion.Cory turned her eyes to Largo. She was seeing him for the first time. The gargantuan night spectre lifted the other side of his hat to glare at her with both his madly twitching eyes. He jeered at her, his skin stretching backwards to reveal his jagged-toothed smile. One of
Chapter 16: The Alpha Prince’s MarkHayden had them up bright and early despite the limited sleep they had all gotten.“Prince Hayden, the warriors and Lady Corinna are all a bit tired,” said Titan cautiously, trying not to directly disagree with the Alpha Prince. “But perhaps, we might retire earlier today than we did yesterday,” suggested Titan.“We will need to,” agreed Hayden. “We will reach the Dale of the Doppelgängers by tomorrow. So tonight we need sufficient rest to secure the first Fire Weapon tomorrow,” announced the Prince.Smoke and Mirrors, the twins, looked excited about the prospect of attaining the first weapon already. The other wolves looked apprehensive, especially Titan. Sprout was pensive and Cory was just shocked that Titan had called her a “Lady” as if she were a noble and seemed to know her full first name. Prince Hayden
Chapter 17: The Veil“Immortal?” Said Cory.She stared into the Prince’s bright blue eyes. The silence was heavy.“Yes,” he said softly.“I…how is that possible?” She asked.She had heard of a select few humans being made immortal by werewolves or vampires or even talented witches and wizards. This only happened if the immortal in question intended to keep said human forever as a consort. Hayden spoke to her slowly and evenly as if he were lulling her to sleep with his words.“All you have to do is just relax. I’ll extend my canines and bite your neck, leaving a mark, a permanent one and through this mark I will give you some of my essence, granting you immortality and possibly other gifts, although that is rare,” said Hayden.She listened as if spellbound. She had so many questions.“Hayden, what of your mate? Your fated Luna?
Chapter 18: The Dale of the DoppelgängersCory felt her heart plummet.“Hayden, you can’t do that! You’re a great fighter but you’re essentially almost human before your first shift,” said Cory. Her voice shook. She was terrified on his behalf.“You are not going in there alone!” Said Cory fiercely, her eyes brimming with tears.“No, I’m not,” said the Prince.“So you’ll let me-,” began Cory.“Sprout is coming with me,” announced Hayden, raising his voice so that the others could hear.Sprout looked surprised. He peaked out from under Titan’s collar.“Just you and me?” Asked Sprout.“Yes, the guide and the one meant to wield the sword,” said the Prince.“Prince Hayden, your Highness, we will need C
Chapter 19: Third Eye &n
Chapter 20: The Ghostly GrottoTitan jumped, ready to fight or flee as needed. He stared at Prince Hayden. Prince Hayden stared at him.“What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be watching Corinna! Where is she?” Bellowed the Prince angrily.Titan relaxed. This was the real Hayden, not a doppelgänger.“It’s really you? You’re not a doppelgänger? How do you know it's really me?” Questioned Titan, the Prince’s lack of suspicion making Titan suspicious again.“It’s me! I know it’s you because I killed your doppelgänger after it attacked me. In its place, I found one of these,” said the Prince gruffly, holding out a stone eye.Titan gasped.“Looks like you found one too!” Said Hayden, pointing at the stone eye on the floor near Titan.
Chapter 21: The Vermillion SwordHayden drew his sword as the douens swarmed him. Sprout hid under the Prince’s collar. The douens were fleshy little creatures scurrying on their backwards’ facing feet. It was difficult to tell which direction they were going in but they drew closer and closer to the Prince in a circle. He sliced one clean in half from the tip of its straw hat to its feet. The two halves fell to the ground and moulded together like soft clay until it reformed the creature. The Prince gasped.“They’re already dead,” called Sprout from under the Prince’s collar. “You can’t kill them.”“Then what do I do?” Yelled Hayden, slicing them in halves on all sides as quickly as possible to buy time as he cleared a path towards the grotto’s centre.Cory managed to levitate towards the hole in the ceiling of the cave. Her hands just reached its outer r