Winter Vixen

Cliffhanger

Prince Nouren didn’t know what he’d hoped to accomplish by showing up to Nix’s door unannounced, but after listening to his father and Prince Liam at breakfast, he knew he had to lay eyes on her to be sure she was okay. Nouren knew he was being rash, but he also didn’t care. He was okay for once, not having a plan in place for his actions.

Nix caught his scent outside their door when he finally knocked, and it caught her off guard. She longed to see him again, to feel his touch over her arms, but she had no idea why he’d come to their part of the castle. The slaves were kept to the west wing of the vast place, and this area was far larger than anyone could see from the outside. There were levels underground, and most slaves shared quarters with one or more families. Depending on the size, some families housed four adults and the children, no matter the number of little ones.

It was her mother who opened the door when Nix didn’t move from her seat. Her russet ears were perked forward, but not because she was excited. The fur on her tail was bristled, fluffing it to twice it’s normal size.

“What are you doing here?” she practically hissed, grabbing the front of his lavish suit and yanking him inside, careful not to slam the door behind him. Nouren was surprised by her mother’s behavior, pulling his tail close to him to avoid the door closing on it. Nix had her furry white ears pinned down in aggravation, her blue eyes icy cold.

“I apologize, I had to make sure Nix was alright,” he breathed, his steel eyes softening when he gazed at her. “My father told me about what happened this morning.” Nix wanted to scream in frustration, already embarrassed that his parents had been in the throne room as she was being scolded.

“And you thought it would be a good idea to show up here, of all places?” she hissed quietly, trying to keep quiet. Just like the wolves, foxes were on the same level when it came to scent and hearing. The only difference was that the foxes preferred their privacy, the wolves didn’t care who heard what. They were privileged to a point it made the slaves sick with envy.

“I…I don’t know what came over me,” Nouren sighed, his soft ears falling out sideways. He took in their tiny room, the bed where he felt should be a lounge, their tiny kitchen area, and the small room behind the worn wooden door. Their entire lives were cramped into one small area, and it irritated Nouren.

“So, what are you doing here?” her mother asked in a softer tone, her ears constantly swiveling and twitching to keep guard, listening for any peep in the halls.

“How did you even find us?” Nix interrupted. She was standing now, her ears still flat in aggravation, the tip of her tail twitching.

“Well, I just had to follow my nose,” Nouren said sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. “I keep hearing talk of punishment, and I was worried for you.”

“Your Majesty,” Nix started, walking closer to him. “If you keep messing around with me and constantly seeking me out, my wellbeing will be the least of your concerns,” she growled. Nouren thought it was immensely cute, and coughed to stifle a laugh. She was so small compared to him, but her blue eyes were squinted in the attempt to look angry. Nix’s nose was scrunched up when she spoke, and all he wanted to do was boop it with his finger. He suddenly felt childish for the thought. Nix continued, trying to drive it into his head that King Regus wasn’t someone to mess with.

“Do you know what he did just a few weeks ago before you arrived with your family? Some of the other foxes were put on task to decorate accordingly in preparation for your arrival. It was not to his liking the first time.” Nix took a breath, the thought of it still angered her, it was so trivial. Her mother put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. Nix closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “He had them lashed. Publicly, in the court square just outside the castle doors. For not meeting his standards, which are so high we are doomed to fail from the start.” Nix looked at him with pleading eyes, trying to make him understand. “They were humiliated and hurt for something so simple. They chose the wrong green. The décor wasn’t perfectly in place.” She shook her head when Nouren tried to speak. “We are punished for the smallest things. The vulpes race was mistreated long before the death of Princess Adeline, but after that incident things just got worse, and worse.” Nix was eleven when the Princess died, but she still remembered the awful wailing that came from the royal family that night.

“I had no idea,” Nouren choked out, unbelieving that her kind went through so much torment.

“You wouldn’t, your Highness,” Nix’s mother told him softly. “We are here for one purpose for the King, and that is to serve, and only serve. We are not talked about with pride, if spoken about at all.”

“The only reason,” Nix spoke again, her voice wavering with thick emotion, “foxes are allowed to have families and kits is because there are no other fox kingdoms that we know of for him to raid. We are the last that we are aware of.” Nouren’s eyes were wide.

“There are kingdoms of foxes?” His voice was full of surprise, that fact alone temporarily overcoming the unjust reality of the vulpes race.

“There used to be,” her mother spoke. “We lived in the kingdom south-east from Patet, in the forest regions. Some lived further south, in the cooler areas of the world.” Nix knew what her mother had spoken of, the glorious days where her race reigned happily, in harmony and traded with the others of their kind. Even with the jackals across the sea. But her next statement left both Nix and Nouren in for a surprise.

“There was once a proud kingdom that nestled in the snow, farther south still. It was a beautiful sight to behold.” Nix perked her ears up, never hearing about the kingdom in the snow.

“You’ve never told me that before,” Nix said, a little hurt. Her mother sighed.

“There are still things you don’t know or understand, my love. Though, I suppose the times have changed. You’re old enough now I think.” She turned to look at Nouren, her brown eyes sad. “Do you believe in mates?”

“Of course I do,” Nouren spoke softly, looking at Nix. “I’ve never felt this way before.” Nix rolled her eyes, and Nouren was saddened by the look of disbelief on her face.

“This again,” she said in a snarky tone. “It’s not mates, there’s no fate or lover’s destiny. What does this have to do with anything?” Her words felt like a knife within his chest. Did she truly not feel the same?

“Last night, you didn’t feel anything?” he asked Nix in a whisper, stepping closer to her. His grey eyes were pained, and it nearly took her breath away.

“I didn’t say that.” Nix looked down, trying to shake the power he somehow held over her. “It’s just not reasonable. I don’t think there’s such a thing as love at first sight.” Nix didn’t speak it, but her hard life walking on eggshells taught her to be practical, that she had to do what it took to survive. Not only was she an outcast to her own kind, but even among royals she was treated like trash. The only love she knew was the unconditional love from her mother.

“I only ask, Prince Nouren, because what I have to say will begin an event that we cannot come back from.” Her mother looked very serious, and Nix had so many questions. “She can not do this alone.”

“Do what alone? Mom, what have you been keeping from me?”

“What ever it takes,” Nouren said with feeling, putting his hand to his chest. “Whatever it is, I’ll be there for her.” Nix rolled her eyes at his theatrics, but something within her told her he was serious. But she wanted more than anything now to know what it was her mother was about to drop on them. Her mother shook her head.

“You’ve been here long enough, your Highness. You must go, before you are missed.” Nix groaned inwardly; her curiosity now peaked.

“When can I return?” Nouren asked in a rush, feeling as if the woman had left him hanging on the proverbial cliff. Like Nix, he wanted to know more right in this moment. It felt like an unfinished sneeze.

“In the evening, visiting in the daytime raises too many suspicions.” Her mother started moving him to the door, opened it and gently pushed him through it and out of their tiny home. “If things have calmed by tonight, return. But mask your scent, the rest of the foxes will be turned in for the evening, and it will not be so empty as it is now.” Nouren nodded his head. He opened his mouth to speak, but she’d already closed the door in his face with a soft click of the latch.