Chapter 8: Elden Wood

*Lilly*

“It's not rare for me to see some Werewolf or Lycan couples where I was from, but never once I see someone with more than one mate.”

Adam looked at me and Luca alternately. Now I could clearly see the curiosity and from the gleam in his eyes.

I heard Luca chuckling from above me, “Yeah. I know you Vampires don't have that mate bond thing…” I looked up only to see that he said it with his cold trademark expression.

My mouth slightly gapped when I finally knew about it. "Ooh... So you didn't have a fated mate."

Adam nodded, “Yeah, that’s right. We don't have a fated mate, mate bond, or anything like that. Vampires simply choose their own partner to their own liking.” He sounded not so proud about it.

“What land are you from in Valeria?” Luca asked him.

“Somewhere in Vanle.” He answered shortly. I could feel the doubt in his tone when he said that.

“Vanle…” Luca seemed to try to remember something.

“You’ve been to Valeria?” Adam asked him this time and I looked up at Luca, excitedly waiting for his answer.

“Yes.” His deep voice answered indifferently.   

“Woah. You visit other Realms too!” I looked at him proudly. Luca turned to me and a small genuine smile appeared on his handsome face.

“Our teenage years filled with some stupid adventurous, Lilly Love. Some of it even bad decision..” He looked at me passionately.

“It’s not stupid. It’s cool!” I once again proudly looked at him. My mate had so many wonderful experiences, and I like that they would share everything with me.

“Have you ever visited Vanle?” Adam’s question broke Luca’s eyes from me and he seemed irritated with it.

“No. Never heard of it.”

And That’s it. We were back to silence.

I chewed the meat that Luca gave me. I now understand why he looked so surprised when he found out that Luca wasn't my only mate.

But then, I was thinking. If they choose their partner without a mate bond, do they really love each other? Or are they actually more loyal and love each other even without a mate bond?

If indeed they could love each other, be loyal, and be willing to accept each other just like me and my mates, then, there is no problem in choosing a partner without a mate bond. That way, they wouldn't have to bother looking and waiting just like us, though...

We sat in front of the fire to warm ourselves while eating the meat that Luca had grilled. I made a mat to sit on from large, wide leaves that I politely asked, for from one of the plants nearby. While we were eating, Adam just sat there looking at the fire burning in front of him.

He didn't eat. I've offered him grilled meat, but he said he wasn't hungry. I looked at him in confusion because I didn’t remember seeing him eat or drink anything this whole day. But I didn't force him. Especially considering that Adam is a vampire.

From one of the books I read in the Blue Moon library, one of the ways vampires survive is by drinking blood.

He won't attack us, right?

“If he attacked us, I will break all his arms and legs.” I heard Luca speak in our mind-link.

Well, that's right. My Luca is here. He will take care of me.

I smiled a little and leaned against Luca's warm body. I sat right between his legs and he circled me to make me feel warmer.

Lycan had this characteristic among others and is one of my favorites. Their bodies felt very warm and comfortable. Even in their human form.

"Eat more." Luca said, but I shook my head. I ate while being bribed by Luca with the usual small portion.

"I am full."

I'm still not used to eating normal portions. I feel like my stomach, which was used to not being filled for days, can no longer be filled with more than five to six bites every time I eat. If not I will vomit.

We stared at the fire in silence while Adam looked around. Luca had finished eating and he hugged me tightly.

"This forest has never been this quiet..." Adam muttered with a heavy sigh. He looked worried as he continued to look around.

"They can indeed feel that the same danger has returned here after such a long time since the terrible terror occurred. And she is here, the one who killed all the Dryad, the spirits, and the sacred guardians of this forest. She even hunted us down to the entire realms."

I could see Adam tightening his jaw. It's his right to get angry. I also feel the same way when I remember that all of our people were slaughtered just to satisfy the greed of a few parties.

“Elden Wood is no longer as dangerous as it was when I first set foot here many years ago.” Adam looked at me and Luca alternately.

“This forest was so dark, so quiet and cold. You see this forest in the daytime earlier? Then you should see it when I arrived here years ago. Sunlight cannot enter at all even during the broad daylight. At first, I thought it was because the trees were very dense and giant. But after I went further, it turned out I was wrong.” Adam took a moment to breathe in.

“This place didn't get any sunlight, as if it completely rejected the warmth of the sun. Moreover, there was almost no place to pass and walk at all. All the remaining space was filled with tree tendrils spreading uncontrollably and very densely, almost like an irregular spider's web. What made it difficult for me to continue my journey was that the vines had very sharp thorns..." He said while looking at the fire in front of him. Adam seemed to have returned to that moment, where he found the Elden Wood forest after thousands of years of abandonment.

"It's as if they don't let anyone in..." I muttered, imagining what Elden Wood would look like at that time. I hugged myself and took a deep breath.

“This place was like a forest that grew wildly but had no soul. Very dangerous and deadly. It's not uncommon for me to find dry skulls among the roots of large trees on the border of Elden Wood. This indicates that many people wanted to enter this place, but they died when they were devoured by wild animals or plants that became feral."

I listened to him and got goosebumps when I remembered the flower that ate the orange bird.

"Just like that flower..." I said slowly.

"What flower?" Luca asked. Then, I told him what I saw when looking for Sawang leaf for him at that time.

Luca was silent for a moment. I felt him caress my hand gently. “Stay close to me from now on…” He said and I bopped my head.

“If it's so dangerous, then how did you get in?” Luca asked a question that also made me curious.