Amory snarled, "Why would Rune be worried about something that doesn't belong to him?"
He sensed Yavanna shift in his periphery and his eyes darted to her for a moment. She looked confused, but a sort of understanding seemed to be dawning on her face.
Amory returned his attention to the creature in his hands. "Rune wants his mate to be happy. He wants her sister to be with her." Amory tilted his head at his answer.
Something flickered in the creature's eyes and Amory raised his chin. "What are you?" No wolf from the Outborn Pack ever called their Alpha by anything but his title.
"I'm a wolf, leech." He spat and Amory clenched his jaw.
"You're… something else."
They both looked at where Yavanna's soft voice had come from and Amory suddenly wished she was wearing something more protective. His nails dug into the creature's neck and the sharp scent of blood hit his nostrils. He rolled his shoulders to get ahold of himself.
"And what am I, your majesty?" He crooned and Amory's mouth filled with a bitter taste.
"You're like me. Aren't you? Y-you can understand these, can't you?" She waved at the numerous runes surrounding them before she levelled her gaze once more on the creature, who was now smiling.
He chuckled darkly, "Interesting. But yes, I can. Tell me, what does that one say?" He nodded to the one near his head.
She glanced at it. The one that they had both touched. The one that had shown Amory the strange.. vision. Her cheeks tinged pink before her brow creased. He raised a brow and wondered if she'd seen the same thing as him.
He was tempted to chuckle at that. Her knowledge of sex appeared to be limited. It was one of the reasons she needed her veil.
The creature didn't repress his chuckle at her response, "I take it it's something confidential? Prophecy is never clear."
Amory looked back down at the lanky male in his grip and narrowed his eyes. "You're a witch—?"
"Warlock." He corrected him. "Niran's the name. Pleasure to meet you." He said as though Amory wasn't sinking his nails further into his flesh.
"Well, what do you want, 'warlock'?" He asked, not bothering to try and sound as genial.
Niran's thin lips spread into a grin, "Nothing harmful."
Amory was about to reply when Niran turned to dust in his hand. He spun to look at Yavanna when he saw Niran reassemble behind her. He only met her confused eyes for a moment before Niran wrapped his arm around her neck and they disappeared.
Amory stared in shock at the spot where she'd only been standing a second ago. She was…gone. He blinked before he looked past the spot and at the forest then spun and looked at the dark doorway behind him. He stormed through it. An urgency suddenly pulsing through his veins.
Why? Why did he feel this way? He thought back to what the witch had said. She had said that since Yavanna was created for him, created to end the curse, he would feel protective of her. He hated it. Why did he have to be tied to her?
Amory's fuming steps echoed through the dark pathways, but luckily his heightened sight had returned and he found his way easily. And who was this Niran? This warlock. An enemy to Nothad? To himself?
Yavanna. He pictured her eyes again; those huge, terrified brown eyes. Why did she always look so frightened? Was there ever a time that he had seen her when her eyes weren't wide and wary?
He growled and slammed his fist into the wall beside him. The stone shook but stood steady. He panted. He was getting too involved. Allowing his heart to get too involved. His heart had nothing to do with Yavanna, only with—Mirella.
Amory pictured her and his stomach churned when nothing sparked in him. Nothing, ignited. Just.. nothing.
He felt helpless, useless. Where was he supposed to go? Back to Harkburg where Clark and his judgment awaited him. It was the only place he could go. But—he closed his eyes and clenched his fist against where it still rested on the wall—Yavanna.
He couldn't leave her. The thought of leaving her in the hands of someone untrustworthy felt impossible. Utterly impossible. She was innocent. And now the protection of her veil was gone.
'Fuck.'
Too innocent. And Mirella would never forgive him. Nor would Clark, who had formed a strange attachment to her.
How would he—how could he return home? It was impossible. He breathed a heavy sigh and removed his fist from the cold wall. Closing his eyes he walked to the end of the tunnel and emerged into a thick forest.
Amory gazed up at the heavily laden branches with a frown. What was this place? He saw no evidence that he was anywhere near the ancient caves.
A growl of frustration broke from his throat. He'd always hated witchcraft. His own powers, he understood. But theirs—and hers—were too mysterious and too powerful for him to ever trust it.
A warlock that had pretended to be a wolf. His jaw set when he thought of the strange imposter. Niran. What did he want with Yavanna?
That same urgency returned and he disappeared from where he stood. He appeared in the Outborn Pack, in front of Rune and Mirella's shared cabin. He raised an unimpressed brow when he saw the two engaged in a kiss.
Something bitter stuck in his throat and he swirled the flavour around his mouth. Envy. He wanted that woman in his arms. Mirella. He looked away from her just in time to hear Rune growl at being interrupted.
"Amory!" Mirella exclaimed breathlessly which only made the bitter feeling worse. He wanted her and Rune's paws were wrapped around her. He clenched his jaw. "What's wrong?" She asked after a few moments of silence.
He waited to speak, "Your sister has been kidnapped."
"What?!" He paused and allowed Mirella her time to yell. "How could you do that?! Amory. How? Who? Is-is she? Do you know?"
"She was taken by a warlock who disguised himself as a wolf." He answered her.
Rune stepped forward, placing a placating hand on Mirella's shoulder—one that Amory's gaze remained fixed on. "Do you know this warlock?"
Amory rolled his eyes, though now his mind was filled with doubt. "I was expecting you to, Alpha. I shall find him on my own."
"Amory!"
He ignored Mirella's pleading voice, even though it still had an effect on his heart. But he had to do something. Anything.