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My Secrets to Keep
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2024-10-29 19:42:56He queried without facing her. "Are you well to travel?”
Shaking off her surprise at the abrupt question, she realized she was. She felt rejuvenated. Standing, she wriggled her bare toes and found them blessedly painless.
“Are you two well?” His gaze touched on Almora’s bandaged hand. Wondering if she was too injured to continue.
How had she hurt herself? He felt guilty that he'd not been more helpful.
Wasn't worth much, unconscious. He grunted.
“No help for me, Old Friend.” She smiled softly at him. “I am of more mortal blood. It’ll take time to heal my breaks.”
Most Dreads are only partly magic, and still partly human.
Lon still stared, jaw agape. Obviously unable to speak as yet.
Shocked that he'd seen me heal like that. In all the years he's known me, that's never happened.
Even Almora’s eyes remained wide with surprise. Filled with disbelief.
Disseus stood and str
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When the men returned, Lonnix carried Disseus’s cloak while he shook dirt from a crumpled tunic. After smoothing his hair back, he’d proceeded to his saddlebag and retrieved the clothing. Using the powder he kept in his bag, to rub his teeth clean. Feeling far more refreshed than I did waking covered in sweat. Listening to them proclaiming how I’d cried for her. Self-loathing ran through him at his weakness. He checked on the horses. Noticing immediately that the one Almora had been riding was missing. He noted a splash of blood on the ground and followed the trail. Dread already rolling through him as he was sure he knew what he’d find. Just beyond the initial line of trees, he found the bloodied pool of what remained of the horse. It’d been entirely gutted. Pieces of its throat, its eyes and ears gone. And still steaming in the cool day. It was clear that the Demon King’s beasts had already been hunting here.
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Disseus had spent the night just outside the door watching the shadows of the trees. Sensing every movement Nim made. She wasn’t too far from the cottage. Only a few hundred feet. And in the distance he could see her outline sinking to the ground and her knees drawing up under her chin. No. Hearing her sobbing in the distance and knowing she cried for fear of what would happen when this was all done, made his chest tighten. He felt both guilt and determination as a result. But to say that the sound of her cries didn’t affect him would’ve been a blatant lie. Though he certainly wished it didn’t. He shifted against the wall. Uncomfortable with hearing her rare tears. Feeling like he should go comfort her. But there wasn’t much he could say. I’m not bluffing. I’m not letting her get away again. No matter how much I dislike her. The sad fact, was that he needed her around for his own survival.
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She hadn’t said a word for many miles. Clearly mad at me, thinking I forced her off her horse. He was tempted to tell her so, but knew Almora would have hell to pay for lying to her, if he did. He decided not to. Let her think it’s me. She hates me anyway. But this had gone on too long. “What’s wrong with you?” “What if he’s given up on me?” She breathed. Disseus instantly saw how selfish his own thoughts had been at those startling words. “Your boy?” “Yes.” “He won’t have.” “But, if he has?” “Nim, you’re entirely unforgettable. Certainly, as a lover. And most assuredly, as a mother.” He said with conviction. “He hasn’t forgotten you.” She turned to give him a searching look. He kept his gaze straight ahead and said nothing but felt the emotion in her study. Emotion that seemed to echo through him at her vulnerability. He clenched the rein in a white-knu
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As they began the long trek up a steep mountain, Nim began looking around warily. “What’s wrong?” Almora queried. Nealinim murmured. “We’re in the Black Mountains.” “Yes.” He nodded. “That is a concern as well.” “What is a concern?” Catching the tail end of the conversation, Lon was alarmed. “Dogs of Battling.” Disseus responded. Everyone knew the animals belonged to the demon master, Radix. And would obey Nierwae if he bid them to do so. They could be reporting our location back to the demons now. Disseus was unsettled by that thought. Almora flinched at the prospect of running into the evil creatures. Remembering their scaley, bark like coats, and the slinking way they moved. “What exactly is a Dog of Battling?” Lon looked anxiously around at them. “You don’t want to know.” Almora said softly. “Grand.” Lon swallowed. “And what exactly do those do?” Eat whatever Rad
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Don’t own- Growling low in his throat, Disseus tossed down the stick he’d been stirring the kindling with. To stalk to her and tower over her. “I am not afraid of you.” Nim lifted a haughty brow. Unmoved by his show of temper. “Perhaps you should be.” His fists tightened and his lips thinned as he glowered venomously at her. It would be wise, since I'm tempted to throw you over my knee until you stop speaking foolishness. “I’m unmoved on this.” She whispered. Meeting his hard gaze. “As am I. We shall see who wins.” I'll tie you to a damn tree if necessary. Disseus gave her his back to go stand near the trees bordering their camp. Leaning against one trunk to glare at her steadily. Making his disapproval of her suggestion obvious. *** They’d all bedded down for the night. Disseus could feel Nim’s eyes boreing into his back. She reached up and tentatively touched his sho
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“I can’t go any further.” He huffed. Lowering his end of the spit to balance it on a flat boulder. “I’m unaccustomed to strenuous activity as well as bearing weight. Aside from mine.” Lon reached down to lift his ample girth. “This is just too much to ask of a man. Or Delmar as you’d have it.” He needs some rest. Disseus eyed him sympathetically. Though Disseus seemed as if he could carry the spit laden with cooked meat for an eternity, Lon had long ago exhausted himself. Lon shook arms which now felt soft as jelly from the exertion. Trying to get the feeling back. “You whine like Nim.” Disseus glared at him. “You don’t see me complaining.” She retorted to Disseus’s profile. His head turned so he could give her an impassive study. “You’re always complaining.” “Play nice.” Almora chided, seeing Nim beginning to fume. Nim snapped her mouth shut and tightened her lips turning she stormed away to tie the ho
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What is on her mind? He couldn't resist being curious. Shrugging she mouthed she wasn’t hungry. The hell she's not! Brows rising he eyed her in obvious skepticism. Pointedly looking away, she tried to consume as much food as her unsteady appetite would allow. But the pink just beneath the flaky top layer made bile rise in her throat. Glancing up she saw he now gave vague attention to the conversation Almora and Lonnix had been having, across him. Plucking at a hunk of meat gripped in one hand, he put the small portion in his mouth. As Lon said something to him, dimples appeared and there was a quick flash of even white teeth. The brightest sort of smile on such a typically dark countenance. His strange good looks combined with aggressive masculinity. Making him nearly mesmerizing. How long had it been since he’d given her that smile? In some ways she envied Lon. In many ways, she envied Almora
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Tilting her head back to look up at him, Nim froze. Blatant pain marring her face. “Why wouldn’t you just say it then?” Because it would've been a lie. “Honor is everything. Honor your woman, your child, your ground and above all, we honor truth.” He quoted the Harbinger code. “It wouldn't have been the truth. And I had no intention of ever honoring the words they were demanding me to say. I'd never have left you alone.” “You could’ve died.” She gasped. “They burnt you and cut you.” "Burnt!" Almora interjected in appall. Nim hadn't gotten to that part of the story. They'd beat him. Then they tortured me. Trying to get me to say it. He looked at her as though she’d gone mad. Lifting his tunic he gestured to his muscled chest and abdomen. “I have not a mark on me.” It wasn't enough. He turned to expose his bare back to her before dropping his shirt. "That is far from the worst b
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Nim looked down the valley and finally saw at least part of what they had done, at the same moment the wind came up and the smell of smoke and rot filled her sinuses. The sticky sweet scent lingering there in a way that made her want to vomit. It clung to her throat. Only one thing could smell like that. Nierwae’s fortress had possessed that same horrendous odor. The scent of death and demons. A village in the distance emitted too much smoke to be from hut fires. There were spots of smoke in various directions that looked the same. Once they walked a bit down the hill, they came down the backside of the rise, she found the whole valley bottom was covered in bark like darkness. It looked like rotting tree roots with spots of pus and splitting boils. Twining over the ground. From this vantage point, it was apparent that the nearest village was abandoned. Long since, torn to shreds. “How long were you gone?” Disseus look
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“Come.” Disseus caught the sleeve of Sebastian’s frilled shirt and pulled him along with him. Growing more certain by the moment, that if left alone, Sebastian would continue to taunt Teverius until the other man returned to take the bait. “If you wish to.” Sebastian didn’t seem to mind though. Stumbling along for a moment while laughing over his shoulder at Teverius. Bright turquoise eyes dancing. Then he focused on the group ahead of them. “I find your Bernus, a bit unpleasant.” Sebastian sobered, to comment. A man who clearly says whatever he’s thinking. It was a trait Disseus could appreciate. “We do as well.” Nim agreed. “Was he always like that?” “No.” Nim said. Surprising Disseus. “He was a nice child.” “Unfortunately, children grow up.” There was a sudden sadness in Sebastian’s voice. But before either Nim or Disseus could mention it, Sebastian walked a bit faster. Catching up to Lonnix and Almora.
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“I told you,” She said softly. “I need higher assurance then yours, that we will get to live together in peace.” “Without First Water interference.” Disseus felt the need to clarify. “I’m coming.” Another stranger pushed through the fey guardians, and Trap, working his way to the front to peer across the clearing at the Forever Knight leader. “Alpha.” He lowered his head, covered in long white hair, in deference. “Marcus Teverius.” The alpha eased. Eyeing him. “You know these from the lower lands?” “I speak for their Netherland Region.” Teverius said, nodding. “I know their King well.” “He calls you, his King of the Netherlands, does he not?” The alpha clarified. More for the fey’s sake, than his own, obviously. Disseus had heard of the fey King of the Netherlands, though in all his travels, he’d never glimpsed the man. He wouldn’t have denied he was just as curious to watch everything unfolding, as all the re
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Disseus’s and Nim’s gaze followed all the rest. Taking in the shadow under two huge trees. Generating massive amounts of power. “This must be the strangest morning...” Almora muttered. Wondering who this newest interloper could possibly be. “Who is that?” Lon pondered. “Ah, hell!” Trap, the other Harbinger, swore. Backing further into the crowd of fey guardians, in an effort to blend. Disseus recognized the blonde man sauntering into view, as the man that had helped heal Nim. The Forever Knight called Sebastian. A black-haired man emerged next to Sebastian. His face was an unreadable mask. Cutting blue eyes slid over the scene. He exuded authority and power unlike any Disseus had seen before. What is he? The way Sebastian eased a bit behind him, was telling. The dark hair is the leader. RedBayne was still grumbling profanity as he ambled out of the grove to join them
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Disseus sat on that rock, holding Nealinim well into the night. Relieved and in awe to have all his joy back in his arms. What a strange journey it has been. She’d fallen asleep at some point. Lying on that rock with her head on his leg while he stroked her hair. Listening to the water and her soft breathing. As much as he yearned to make love to her. He wanted her to heal more. She needs her strength now more than ever. He heard a branch snap behind him and knew what he’d suspected for a while now. “How long have you been there.” “I’m a bit ashamed to admit, the whole time.” He rumbled from the shadows. His dark skin blending with the night darkness. Only the orange of his eyes glowed from the trees. “Why?” “You weren’t here when she wandered off.” Styx explained. “I was worried about her out here alone. Away from camp. Especially after all she’s been through.” “You as well.” Disseus reminded.
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Marnie’s quiet words shattered Disseus’s composure. He watched Marnie walking away. As if dropping that tidbit hadn’t just rocked him to his core. He needed to get away for a bit of fresh air. He wandered into the dark. Letting the cool evening air fan his skin as he listened to the happy laughter coming from the camp. He could smell the burning wood and what remained of the boar. Mixing with the freshness of the burbling river nearby. He must’ve wandered out there longer than he thought. As he aimed back toward the camp, he realized the laughter had stopped. In-fact he now caught Lon’s soft snoring. As he drew closer, he heard another sound. Something soft and lilting. Barely separated from the sound of the river. Disseus followed it hypnotically. Drawn to the rhythmic sound. It was soft and alluring and he was moving irrevocably toward it. A beautiful voice he’d have known anywhere. Even though I’ve never heard her hum before.
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Disseus hesitated. They were all inviting him to climb atop Aardix. Though he would be in bird form, it didn’t particularly change how Disseus felt about it. The idea of mounting another man’s back, even in the shape of an animal, was a bit more than he could tolerate. “No need.” No chance in hell, I’m doing that. “You’ll fly?” Nim turned to him. He nodded slowly. “I’m well-behaved as long as your near.” I hope. He felt more connected to his monster form now than he ever did before. More confident that he could control the Dark Harbinger’s thirst for blood. Even in that shape, all I wanted was to protect her. The Dark Harbinger was no longer some terrifyingly unpredictable creature. It was just another part of him that would look after her. At least it seems that way. He was willing to give it another try and find out. Nim would protect them if I get out of line. The Dar
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“I missed you, Son.” Nim confessed to her lumbering offspring. Drawing back from him to give him a loving study. Still holding his arms as she looked at him like any proud mama assessing her child. Styx towered over her. Looking at her with heart wrenching affection that belied the terrifying look of him. “And I, you.” “I was worried when the wound took you.” He confessed. “I feared I might lose you again.” “Never.” She shook her head. Forcing a strong smile as she banished thoughts of old pain. She smiled softly as she asked. “Have you seen your sister?” “No. Not yet.” She likely doesn’t know yet that he’s free. Disseus guessed word hadn’t reached her yet. Disseus dismounted the prancing horse, to join them. Leading the mare as he walked. “Thank you.” Disseus mentioned to Styx. Nodding to Lon and Almora who were now sitting up. Blinking blearily. “For looking after them.” If he hadn’t, and we were anyone e
