The Three Beasts
1342 Words
Veyra's fingers were still wrapped around Rhaevan's hand when another wave of soldiers rushed toward them.
She instinctively pulled away. “I don't know you.”
Rhaevan looked at her calmly. “You don't have to.”
“Then why should I follow you?”
“Because if you stay here, they'll kill you.”
Veyra glanced toward the execution platform. The broken blade lay in the rain. Her father stood surrounded by guards. Celestia was staring at her with an expression Veyra had never seen before. And Cassian was still watching her.
For the first time since her arrest, Veyra saw something other than coldness in his eyes.
Fear.
Not fear of her.
Fear for her.
Then a soldier charged.
Auren moved before Veyra could react. His sword flashed, and the soldier's weapon flew from his hand and landed several feet away.
Auren stood between Veyra and the army without saying a word.
Veyra stared at him. “You're protecting me.”
Auren didn't look back. “Yes.”
“Why?”
He remained silent.
Azael appeared beside them with a playful smile. “He doesn't talk much.”
Veyra frowned. “Apparently.”
Azael laughed. “I like you already.”
Another group of soldiers surrounded them.
One of the commanders shouted, “Those creatures are assisting the cursed princess! Kill all four!”
Veyra's eyes widened.
Azael's smile disappeared.
His golden eyes sharpened.
His body moved.
In the next instant, he was behind the commander.
The man froze.
Azael leaned toward his ear. “Would you like to say that again?”
The commander turned pale.
Azael shoved him aside.
Veyra stared. He had moved impossibly fast. Not like a trained knight. Not like a human.
Rhaevan grabbed Veyra's wrist. “We're leaving.”
“Wait.”
“No.”
“I need answers.”
“You'll get them.”
“Now.”
Rhaevan stopped.
His crimson eyes met hers.
Veyra refused to look away. “I've lost my family, my home, my title, and everyone I trusted. I'm not going anywhere with three strangers without knowing why they risked their lives to save me.”
Rhaevan studied her.
Then he stepped closer. “You want the truth?”
“Yes.”
“You may not like it.”
“I stopped caring about that.”
Something flickered in his eyes.
Before he could answer, a powerful blast struck the ground.
The four of them were thrown backward.
Veyra fell.
Auren caught her before she hit the stone. His arm tightened around her waist.
For a moment, their eyes met.
Auren immediately released her.
“Are you hurt?”
Veyra shook her head. “No.”
Auren nodded and turned back toward the battlefield.
Veyra stared at him for a second longer. He was quiet, almost impossible to read. But every time danger approached, he was already there.
Azael noticed her staring.
He smirked. “Careful, Princess.”
Veyra looked at him. “What?”
“You're going to make him blush.”
Auren slowly turned his head.
Azael laughed. “See? He almost smiled.”
Veyra couldn't help herself.
A small laugh escaped her.
It was the first time she had laughed since the coronation.
Rhaevan looked at her.
The corner of his mouth lifted slightly.
“Come.”
This time, Veyra followed.
They moved through the chaos toward the eastern edge of the square.
But the king saw them.
“Stop them!”
The royal guards surrounded the four of them.
King Aldric stepped forward.
“Veyra!”
She stopped.
Rhaevan's hand immediately went to his sword.
The king looked at him. “Release my daughter.”
Rhaevan's eyes narrowed. “Your daughter?”
His voice was cold.
“You ordered her execution.”
Aldric's face hardened. “She carries the Black Moon.”
“And?”
The king hesitated.
Rhaevan took one step forward. “You're afraid of something you don't understand.”
The king's expression changed.
Veyra noticed.
He knew something.
“Father…”
Aldric looked at her.
“Come back.”
Veyra almost laughed. “Come back where?”
“To the palace.”
“The palace where you chained me?”
“You don't understand what that mark means.”
“Then tell me!”
The king remained silent.
Veyra's voice broke. “Tell me!”
Still nothing.
Her anger finally overwhelmed her fear.
“You were willing to kill me without telling me the truth!”
Aldric looked away.
Veyra stared at him.
That was all the answer she needed.
She turned around.
“I'm leaving.”
Cassian suddenly stepped forward.
“Veyra.”
She stopped.
He looked at her with an expression she couldn't understand.
“Don't go with them.”
Veyra slowly turned. “Why?”
“Because they're beasts.”
Azael raised an eyebrow. “Technically accurate.”
Cassian glared at him.
Veyra looked back at Cassian. “You called me a monster yesterday.”
His face tightened. “I was wrong.”
“You weren't.”
Veyra's eyes filled with tears, but she refused to let them fall.
“You were exactly what I needed you to be.”
Cassian looked confused.
“You showed me who you really are.”
Veyra turned away.
Rhaevan placed his hand on her shoulder. “It's time.”
The three men moved toward the forest.
Veyra followed.
Behind them, the king shouted her name.
She didn't look back.
They crossed the ruined gates of the capital.
Only when the palace disappeared behind the trees did Veyra finally stop.
She turned toward the three men.
“Enough.”
Rhaevan stopped.
Veyra faced him. “Tell me who you are.”
Rhaevan remained silent.
Veyra stepped closer. “Your names. What you are. Why you saved me. Why you know about my mark.”
Azael leaned against a tree. “I think she deserves answers.”
Auren nodded once.
Rhaevan looked at Veyra.
“My name is Rhaevan.”
He gestured toward Azael. “That is Azael.”
Then toward the silent man. “And Auren.”
Veyra waited.
“And?”
Rhaevan's crimson eyes darkened.
“We are not human.”
Veyra swallowed. “I already figured that out.”
Azael chuckled.
Rhaevan continued. “We are descendants of three ancient beast bloodlines.”
“The wolf.”
Azael lifted a finger. “The fox.”
Auren said nothing.
“The panther.”
Veyra looked between them. “And what do you want from me?”
Rhaevan's expression became serious.
“We didn't come to the execution to save you by chance.”
Veyra's heartbeat quickened.
“We came because we knew they would try to kill you.”
“How?”
“Because we've been waiting for the Black Moon to appear.”
Veyra touched the mark. “Why?”
Rhaevan stepped closer.
“Because that mark isn't yours.”
Veyra stared at him. “What?”
His eyes remained fixed on the crescent beneath her skin.
“That curse belongs to us.”
Veyra's breath caught. “Then why is it on me?”
None of the three answered.
For the first time, Azael's playful expression disappeared.
Auren looked toward the dark forest.
Rhaevan slowly said, “That's the question we've been trying to answer for generations.”
Veyra's heart pounded. “Then tell me.”
Rhaevan looked into her eyes.
“We can't.”
“Why?”
“Because the person who knows the truth…”
He paused.
“…is dead.”
Veyra's face went pale.
“Who?”
Rhaevan's expression hardened.
“Your mother.”
The world seemed to stop.
Veyra stared at him.
“My mother?”
Rhaevan nodded.
“And she left something behind.”
“What?”
His gaze shifted toward the Blackthorn Forest.
“A warning.”
Veyra waited.
Rhaevan's voice dropped.
“If the Black Moon ever appears on Princess Veyra Lunareth…”
He looked directly at her.
“…the three beasts must bring her home before the Moon finds her first.”
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