Chapitre 16
I pressed my hands against his chest. Panic gripped my heart. I couldn't allow that. An annoyed howl sounded behind us.
The spell was broken.
Zelos shot up from the intimate touch. His eyes blazed blood red, but the fire died at the sight of whoever interrupted us.
Kerberos.
"We're coming," Zelos growled.
He slipped one arm under my knees and the other behind my back and lifted me into his arms.
"Zelos, let me down," I replied, completely taken aback by his speed.
"We'd better hurry and get you warm. People get sick easily in winter."
I crossed my arms. I wanted to contradict, but I didn't get a lot of anything. Zelos laughed.
He was right.
I was grateful for his body warmth as we crossed the last valley. We passed trees at wide intervals on the way to the top of the mountain. From time to time Zelos looked down at me from the path.
"Isn't it exhausting carrying me all the time?" I asked, eyeing him. He was breathing normally, like it was a walk for him.
"Exhausting? Sometimes I have to make sure the wind hasn't blown you away yet," he said, grinning.
"Zelos!" I yelled, digging my elbow into his ribs.
"Is this gesture a form of affection in humans?" he asked and I laughed.
"Sometimes you express yourself funny," I answered. Zelos opened his mouth, but abruptly he stopped. The smile died on his lips. Kerberos grumbled and looked around the snow. "Let me down."
To my astonishment, Zelos bent down and carefully put me on my own feet.
"The warriors of Silvercrown will accompany us from here," he whispered. I looked around between the tree trunks, but couldn't see anyone. He took my hand and a hot tingle ran up my arm tried to hide.
Kerberos strutted ahead of us.
The heads were facing the sides, which for the first time I was grateful for. The higher we got, the more huts we encountered. Their roofs were covered with snow, with fresh smoke billowing from the chimneys into the sky.
After all, the trails showed us the way up. Every wolf that saw us eyed me skeptically before bowing to Zelos.
You knew him.
He had saved her from Silverblood.
I looked at him sideways.
The sun gave his skin a golden glow. The silver-white hair was pulled back from the face and the ruby-colored eyes smoldered with a warmth I couldn't get enough of. I would have loved to hug his side if there weren't so many wolves here.
Red-cheeked, I looked back at the path ahead. I could feel the burning of healing skin in my thigh, protesting the exertion. My heart was also beating faster than usual, as if trying to keep up with the altitude.
I couldn't be weak now.
Finally the top of the packhouse came into view. It cast a shadow down on us. I breathed in the winter air hoping to calm my breathing. We covered the last meters up and I was thankful for the flat snow.
A huge mess greeted us in front of the pack house. In amazement I let go of Zelo's hand and stopped. Guards stood in front of the doors, children had snowball fights, wolves chatted animatedly.
When they saw Kerberos, everyone turned to us.
All eyes were fixed on Zelos and his companion with wonder and awe.
"Lycan Zelos! How nice that you are finally here. Your warriors are already inside, waiting for you!" a voice called, coming towards us.
A black coat lay around his shoulders, matching the black hair. In terms of stature, he was almost as tall as Zelos. He came up to us and bowed.
"Ah, Lenkin. How nice to see you again. I hope your courage on the battlefield was rewarded", said Zelos. The warrior in front of us nodded and a small smile lit up his face.
“Luna Mayra made me a beta. I hope that I can live up to this honor. But please come in. A warm meal is waiting for you," said Lenkin. Then his gaze fell on me.
"This is Elizabeth. She is my guest of honour", Zelos said before I could even open my mouth.
"A guest of yours is a guest of ours," Lenkin replied, bowing. He led us to the doors of the packhouse. I pulled the cloak closer to me. The wolves' eyes crawled under my skin.
Zelos didn't show anything.
Kerberos still walked ahead of us, as if securing the path. The doors creaked open and a wall of warmth came towards me. The entrance hall was huge, but only daylight came in from outside.
Where were the candles or chandeliers?
Despite the warmth in the air, it was gloomy.
Zelo's presence was the only thing that calmed me.
And Kerberos.
Lenkin led us to the large hall of Silberkrone. A heavenly scent of game wafted towards us and I took a deep breath. It had been a long time since breakfast and the hole in my stomach was waiting to be filled.
Rows of tables were filled with warriors as if they had just been waiting for us. A huge wreath of deer antlers hung over our heads. The whole room was decorated with animal heads.
"Rise for Lycan Zelos!", Lenkin shouted and the hum of voices died away. The wolves looked at us. Many warriors eyed Zelos with admiration and respect. For me, on the other hand, they didn't care much.
I swallowed.
"Zelos, how beautiful!", a she-wolf thundered through the room.
She stood up from her golden throne, probably the only magnificent thing in this room apart from her.
Luna Mayra.
Her black hair curled over her shoulders. The dress that hugged her body tightly was studded with red jewels. They reflected the light of day that fell through the tall windows.
"Luna Mayra", Zelos replied, but his voice had a different tone, almost businesslike.
"Let's leave the formalities. We won a war together. she asked. The brown eyes caught mine and she lifted her chin. I bowed deeply. "I didn't know you liked toys."
Her words were like a slap in my face.
Did she just call me a toy?
"This is Elizabeth of Mountainshade, my close confidant. She freed me from the dungeon. Without her you wouldn't be sitting up there now", said Zelos. His disapproving tone bit the icy smile on his lip.
Lips I kissed just that day...
"I agree with you. People are very easy to manipulate, but enough talking. You must be hungry," said Luna Mayra, spreading her hands. Like savages, the warriors pounded their cutlery against the tables and drummed their feet.
Beta Lenkin was the first to accept his Luna's invitation. He walked through the rows towards the big table. The game lay steaming on the warriors' plates, just waiting to be eaten by them.
"Come on," said Zelos over the noise. At his command, the shock left my legs. The ground under my boots was cozy and warm.
But where was the fire?
We approached Luna Mayra's table, where Davin was already seated. He smiled timidly at me. Lenkin sat down at his Luna's side. Only one chair was empty at the table.
Up close, Luna Mayra was a massive woman with broad shoulders and stern features. Her eyes were on Zelos.
"Please sit next to me," she said.
where should i go
Completely frozen, I stood behind Zelos.
"Lenkin, would you be so good as to get another chair?" Zelos asked without even batting an eyelid. He pushed the free chair next to Davin and looked at me. "Please."
My heart melted at his gesture, and not just from the heat in the room.
"Thank you," I said relieved and slid into the chair. Zelos barely noticeably stroked my shoulder before he turned to the newly arrived chair.
He sat down between Luna Mayra and me. She pursed her lips but said nothing. The meat in front of us was steaming and my mouth was watering.
"Wait until you see the feast tonight," Luna Mayra said to Zelos before turning around. "Lyza!"
She snapped the name and on command a girl shuffled out of one of the dark corners. In trembling hands she held a golden pitcher. Her eyes were lowered.
"Go on, pour our guests wine! do it!"
A pang ran through my stomach.
The girl bent down and poured the wine into the golden cups in front of us. Our eyes met for a moment. There was a scar on her skin.
Fear.
She was human.
Like me.
***
I had lost my appetite. A sinking feeling grew in my stomach. If I ate anything now, I would throw up.
Lyza had disappeared back into the dark corner. Now that I looked around the room, countless people were standing in the shadows, waiting for the werewolves' command. They were as pale as ghosts.
The gravy dripped from Luna Mayra's chin, which she wiped away with her arm. There was no cutlery in silver crown. I watched in disgust her raw moves, the jewels on the dress gleaming. Zelos sipped at the wine and leaned back.
Meat.
There was meat from the hunt.
Sweat formed on the back of my neck and ran between my shoulder blades. It was like being in a sauna. I was still wearing gloves and a scarf, but didn't dare move. The heat built up under the table.
"Don't you want to eat anything?" Davin asked, raising his eyebrows in the middle.
"I'm not hungry," I whispered. Zelos next to me tensed up almost imperceptibly.
"Isn't the food good enough for your toys?" Luna asked Mayra, raising an eyebrow. Before her eyes could fall on me, I bowed my head.
"Sorry Luna Mayra. I don't mean to offend you," I said, trying to keep my voice on track.
"But you insult me!"
My stomach dropped.
Silence ripped through the room.
Adrenaline pumped through my body like I was about to jump up and run for my life. All eyes were on us. I was bathing in sweat under my coat.
"I'm the Luna of this pack and you just a-!"
A hand slammed onto the wooden table, making me jump. The dishes rattled with the force. Zelos had stood up and covered Luna Mayra's view with his back.
Everyone held their breath, waiting for his words.
"She won't take a bite out of this meal!" Zelos thundered and turned to me. A message swam in his ruby eyes just for me. I should hold on. "That's an order from me."
I was thankful.
"Ah, I see a punishment," said Luna Mayra while Zelos sat down again. "That's how people are. They never learn without it, right Lyza?"
The ghost girl stepped out of the shadows. The bones stuck out at every corner: elbows, face, fingers. She was the skeleton of a human.
"Yes, Luna Mayra. I'm thankful to be here," Lyza whispered, barely loud enough for me to hear. The werewolves must have heard her well enough.
"You are fortunate that Silverblood is gone. They would have done far worse to you," said Luna Mayra, waving Lyza away again. The girl disappeared into the shadows. "I let them live in this house, give them a place to sleep, and some yet many are ungrateful. But yours Man seems well brought up. It's just easier with the females, isn't it?"
Behaved?!
Female?!
The blood boiled in my veins.
She talked about me like I was a dog. My heart pounded against my ribs.
"In case you forgot, I've been in a cell made of pure silver for the last decades," said Zelos. His voice was calm, but his hand rested on my thigh under the table. A tingling ran through my body as if he wanted me "My biggest problem was those who held me captive there."
"I already apologized," Davin said, drawing attention to himself. "We all only knew the legends of Lycan, not the truth about him. He saved us, just like he saved Silvercrown."
Zelos stroked soft lines over my thigh with his fingers. Something was brewing inside him, which he suppressed with all his might. After all, Luna Mayra's attention had shifted from me to the guardian next to me. She pushed her plate forward and downed the glass of wine.
"Is that so, yes? In battle, I was too busy shoving my claws through the silverblood warriors. I didn't even get to see the Lycan fight, what a shame... Lenkin told me it was the most majestic creature he'd ever seen, right?"
Beta Lenkin nodded next to his Luna.
"It was an honor to have fought at your side," said the warrior, bowing his head of black curls.
"The honor was entirely mine," Zelos answered and nodded to Lenkin. They showed each other respect.
"But it wasn't mine until now," Luna Mayra replied and sat up straight. "Zelos, I have an offer for you."
My stomach did a somersault. Zelo's hand remained on my thigh.
"You brought the captured warriors back to my pack and freed us from the clutches of the enemy. We are both strong wolves with good genes. Take me as your mate and let us wreak vengeance on Silverblood together."
Silence.
A feeling of sinking stabbed the pit of my stomach. Zelo's fingers were the only thing holding me in the chair. My heart clenched and I clenched my hand into fists.
"I am honored by this offer, Luna Mayra. Nevertheless, I have to decline with thanks," he said. "My companion would certainly not forgive me."
Luna Mayra leaned back and raised an eyebrow. His words eased the bad feeling in my stomach. Did he just call me his mate?
" You have a mate?"
"You sound surprised," Zelos answered and turned the goblet in his hands.
“No, it's just... It was never told about her. I assumed the moon goddess... where is she?"
"I don't want Silverblood to get their hands on them. So she's in a secret place where she's safest," he said, the smirk in his tone.
My heart fluttered as he stroked my skin under the table.
Secret.
That sounded good.
I sat right next to him.
Nobody would suspect me here.
"I understand. You left them in mountain shadows and learned from my mistakes," she said, staring at the plate in front of her, lost in thought. "They won't get away with this. Let Silverblood burn in hell forever!"
Her voice broke in half.
The brown eyes glazed over.
"I regret your losses", said Zelos.
“Losses... My son was only fourteen. He should have been Alpha..." she said. A cold laugh shook her body. "I will sink my claws so deep through Alpha Udyr's chest that he won't realize the loss of his heart until life leaves his eyes. Whole slow..."
Hate colored her voice. Her lip twitched up and down. We all said nothing. Silverblood had killed her mate and her son. She wanted revenge.
What did Zelos say?
Eventually revenge will lose its charm.
"If you don't mind, my warriors and I will retreat. We have a long journey behind us", said Zelos.
I exhaled. He squeezed my knee one last time before releasing his hand.
"Sure. Rest for tonight's feast. I've reserved the entire third floor for you. Lenkin will take you there."
"Thank you for the hospitality," Zelos said and pushed the chair back. We all followed his movement. My gaze snapped to Lyza, who remained in the corner like a statue.
The warriors at the tables paid no heed to the humans. They talked, laughed and drank without a care.
"Please follow me," said Lenkin, leading us to the doors. I stared at the stone beneath my feet, the heat bubbling beneath.
"There's a huge furnace in the basement that heats the whole packhouse," Luna Mayra said from behind me, and I jerked around. A cold smile tugged at her lips loved to hunt until he suddenly became the hunted himself."
A queasy feeling lurked in my stomach.
Did she just threaten me?
She stopped at the exit, but I could feel her burning eyes on my back. Luna Mayra had set her sights on me. Kerberos barked once with each head when he saw us coming. He had been waiting for us in front of the great hall.
I was beginning to appreciate his presence.
Lenkin led us up the stairs to the third floor.
"You can occupy the rooms as you wish. Should more warriors arrive, we'll have more space," said the Beta, bowing.
"Thanks. Former silverblood wolves will soon arrive. We're going to rest now."
Zelos nodded to Davin and the others who were looking for a room. The doors slammed until we were left alone with Kerberos.
"Come," he said softly and took my hand. Sparks shot through my arm at our proximity. Zelos led me to one of the back doors and closed it behind me.
Before I could even look at the room, I felt his lips on mine. He pushed me against the wall and I closed my eyes.
"Zelos," I whispered against his lips.
The moment had passed just as quickly as it had come. He sat back and stared down at me with bright eyes. Everything he had just held back in the great room was visible in the ruby eyes.
A storm.
"I have a feeling Luna Mayra doesn't like me very much," I said, "but she likes you even more."
"She doesn't like me but what I did to her enemies. I won't let that bugger hurt you," he whispered, and I wrapped my arms around him. He rested his chin on my head and I inhaled his pine scent.
"But she's already doing it to the people here," I whispered against his chest.
Lyza was a girl like me.
What had the wolves done to her?
Silence enveloped Zelos so I looked up at him.
"Why do not you say anything?"
"I'm thinking," he replied with a storm in his eyes. "Mayra has a small army here in the mountains. She is the bridge between mountain shadow and silverblood..."
I leaned further back.
“She treats us like animals. Even Kerberos is higher on their list!"
A desperate howl came naturally through the door.
Kerberos.
I broke away from Zelo's embrace and pushed down the latch. We had forgotten the giant dog in the hallway. He looked at me with cocked ears.
"Come in then," I said, taking a few steps to the side. I glanced down the deserted hallway. The door clicked shut. "I won't be attending this celebration tonight."
Zelos folded his arms in front of his chest.
"And what do you intend to do?" he asked.
I walked past him into the room. Kerberos had made himself comfortable on the emerald carpet. Countless animal heads hung on the walls and watched us.
Everything here was made of gray stone. There was no chimney. Instead, just a pipe on the wall from which hot air heated the room.
A furnace in the basement.
A prince elector who probably didn't survive the great upheaval...
"I will stay as far away from Luna Mayra as I can," I finally answered and turned to Zelos. He brushed his hair out of his face and fell into one of the leather armchairs.
"I will set limits for her," Zelos murmured. He seemed to be lost in thought.
"Limits? This woman is choleric. And vengeful."
"You disrespectfully forgot," he said. "But the pack is behind her."
"Humans are part of the pack too," I whispered. "Have you seen the girl? She looked like a ghost, like she'd never seen the sun. That's not fair..."
"Come here," said Zelos.
I tried to hold back the tears in my eyes. The heart in my chest jerked up and down at the injustice. I slowly shuffled towards him.
When I was within reach, he took my hand in his. He pulled me between his thighs.
"You have a good heart, Elizabeth," whispered Zelos. "You would love to go to Luna Mayra and free the people directly. I understand that. But it won't work like that. In her eyes, people aren't even worth half as much like wolves..."
"How are you supposed to change her mind?" I asked, feeling the heat of his thighs through my dress.
"In which you are a better example."
"What do you think?"
"If she respects you, then her image will change. She respects a fighter's nature," he said.
"But I'm not a fighter by nature," I replied. Zelos laughed, causing small wrinkles to form around his eyes.
"Not in the traditional sense. But you fought for your family and for your pack. Humans are part of the pack too. The only way you can help Lyza is to give the wolves here a reason to accept her."
I stared at the floor between us.
Maybe he was right.
The heat simmered under my boots. The sweat of excitement had slowly dried and clung to my skin.
"I should maybe take a bath," I murmured.
Suddenly Zelos pulled on my hands and I fell forward. He turned me in mid-air so that I was suddenly sitting on his lap. Heat flowed into my cheeks like magma.
"Zelos!" I shouted.
His booming laughter was music to my ears.
His eyes shone with delight.
My heart fluttered excitedly.
I kissed him just this morning.
It felt like we had known each other for ages. I put my hands on his cheeks. The skin was rough but warm. Our eyes never lost sight of each other.
"I kind of like you," I whispered.
Zelos grinned.
"Somehow? I know just how much I like you," he replied, leaning in toward me. I sat on his thighs and felt the warmth build inside me.
"And how?" I asked, looking innocently to the side.
Suddenly a hand grabbed my chin.
His eyes shone.
"How you play with fire," he whispered, "even if you're sometimes afraid of being burned..."
I wanted to kiss him.
Everything in me wanted to kiss him, but it was a game and I wasn't going to give up first.
"If I keep my distance, the fire will only warm me," I replied, rubbing his cheek with my thumb.
I smiled.
The happiness made my heart flutter.
“How naive... It doesn't just warm you. The fire teases you, it unleashes something inside you, it haunts you to your dreams... You think you can escape it, but you summoned it once and now you'll never get rid of it..."
I inched closer in his lap and the friction set off a swirl of sparks.
Zelos growled, making his Adam's apple move up and down. He licked his lips.
I swallowed.
"You really know how to seduce a wolf," he growled, leaning even further forward so our eyes were level. His hands held my hips in place.
I wanted him, whole and complete, just for me.
"Wolves are just simple creatures," I said with a mocking smile on my lips.
"Simple but efficient," whispered Zelos and leaned closer.
"Simple but energetic..."
Our hot lips touched.
I closed my eyes.
He pushed me closer to his body. We were a unit that flowed into each other. I slipped my hands through his silvery white strands and a sigh vibrated against my lips.
It was addicting.
His hands squeezed my waist and I opened my mouth wider. Our torsos stuck together. Instincts invaded my body and clouded every thought.
Only Zelos...
Suddenly he withdrew.
His lips were parted and shiny.
"If you don't want me tagging you, we should stop," he said, out of breath.
"Yes..." I said, still caught in the moment we shared. A grumble sounded from behind my back.
I turned on Zelo's lap to the hellhound who was watching us bored. Kerberos three heads lay scattered on the carpet.
Suddenly Zelos got up from the armchair with me in his arms. I reflexively wrapped my legs around him.
"Let me down!"
"I thought you were going to take a bath," he said, grinning. His proximity had my mind swarming like a horde of bumblebees.
Could my cheeks burn any hotter?
"Yeah, alone," I said, hugging his chest.
Zelos put me on my feet and I took a deep breath. My heart was pounding with lightness and the feelings that shot wildly through my body.
"Enough with the fire. Can't you find that out somewhere?" I asked and Zelos laughed.
"Unfortunately, the moon goddess didn't intend this function," he replied. "And once I've tagged you..."
"What's the marker doing?" I asked.
I wasn't keen on the idea of getting my neck bitten. That sounded killer.
"It seals the bond between two beings..."
I swallowed.
"Companions," I whispered.
Zelo's eyes began to glow.
"Yes, companions," he said. "Forever."
