The laughter of children drifted in a soft melody while they played without care or fear of what had transpired in these wrecked grounds. They playfully shoved each other with some children taking the action with delight while the others wailed from being ill-tempered.
Sevor took leadership with the restoration of the tents. Slade hunted for the ingredients that he'd use for cooking dinner. Elik and the other freed slaves helped around with the chores. Caleb and I rested underneath a tree while Peaches was nowhere to be found. Kox assured us that he was still here; he was just not used to this many people relaxed around him.
The Vosredal Prince was recuperating inside the first tent that Sevor managed to fix. Although he didn't deserve to have his wounds treated, Sevor patched him up but tied him down with the same chains that he used on his slaves. He had passed out from fear and exhaustion but his arm was managed to be reattached. Vampires had a fast recovery rate.
Crowley and Ziru were taking a nap with the young boy lying his head on his stomach. They always appeared to show their dislike for each other, but anyone could see that these two had a special bond much like father and son, or so what Caleb had told me.
Somehow I could understand what Caleb meant by that kind of bond. I had some of my memories of my otou when I was a child. Those pieces of memories had good parts in them that would depict my father's adoration for me, but what stood out the most in those memories was when he turned his back on me. He never once protected me when I needed him the most. He was my father but he acted more like a stranger. Both he and his wife abandoned me. They left me scarred. They betrayed me yet okaa would claim her love for her child as if she had shown it in the past years of the suffering they willingly put me through.
"Lucian?" Caleb called out, placing his hand on my fist.
I didn't notice that I was holding my breath until his voice pulled me out from my deep thoughts.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
I barely nodded my head, relaxing my hand under his grasp.
"What is your father like?" I asked him.
His gaze relaxed when the reason for my question dawned on him.
"My father was a great man. He was a brave, fair, and strong alpha. He saw something in me that no one could. He never gave up on me even when I had already lost hope in myself. Even in his last breath, he protected me. He never blamed me for my weaknesses and instead, he helped me overcome them."
His eyes and lips smiled from pride before he became embarrassed. He sheepishly laughed.
"I could go on and on about him but it'll take me more than a day to boast about that man. I miss him. I miss my family."
His eyes glimmered with tears. Realizing that he was about to cry, he groaned and shut his eyes tightly to refrain himself from crying. I reached out to gently pat his head. He responded by hugging me from the side.
'Every child is a parent's pride and joy," the voice in my head whispered. 'I'm sure King Lohann and Queen Meria saw you just the same, but fear caused them to make fallacious decisions.'
They were afraid?
What were they so scared of?
I was just their child but I was never their pride and joy. They should not act as if they were the victims.
"Caleb..." I whispered.
He pulled away but had his hands remain on my wrists.
"What is it?"
"I will never go back to that kingdom. Even if they cut off my limbs, blind me, or sever my tongue, I would rather choose death than to go back."
His eyes refilled with resolve.
"They can try, but I won't let them take you from us."
I was the heir to the throne and everyone was expecting me to take after my father. They wanted me to lead, rule, and manage, but with the Higher-Order present, they would only have me sit on that opulent and powerful chair while they manipulated our race through me.
Children swarmed around us, shutting down the solemn atmosphere that we had.
"Lucian-onii, Caleb-onii, come play with us!"
No matter what riches the Kingdom of Cludea may offer...
"You Lil buggers! Can't I have some private time with my mate?!" The werewolf groaned.
I will never go back and become their puppet prince.
"Please!" the children sweetly pleaded as they already succeeded in pulling us to a stand.
They may offer me the throne.
"Oi! Get your lazy asses over here and help me gather more food!" Slade nagged.
But I already had a family that no throne could ever compete with.
Night settled down. We gathered around the bonfire to feast on the food that Slade had worked hard to cook. We still haven't decided on who would stay here with the children once we depart for the mountain. The twins proved to be persistent, yet they fervently rejected my proposal of having Peaches watch over the little ones.
Everyone enjoyed their perfectly roasted corpses of antlers with sautéed mushrooms, roasted sweet potatoes, artichokes, and tomatoes. I searched for Peaches to offer him food. I carried his bowl of food and my own. Slade didn't want to give him food but I had convinced him politely with a mild jab to the gut.
"BAH! He doesn't need to eat, why do we have to— WHY YOU LITTLE—"
There was a trail going up the cliff; I figured that Peaches went up alone.
"Peaches, it is time to have dinner."
I climbed up the long trail in search of him, but it didn't take a while for him to show up.
"That is not my name," he chided, but didn't appear to be that bothered by the name anymore.
"It is time to eat, the food will get cold," I replied.
He turned his hooded head to the side.
"I do not consume food made for the weak flesh and blood. I do not experience any hunger."
"But it is nice to have something tasty even if you are not famished."
"That is a waste of my time."
I cocked my head. My, was he stubborn. "Do you have somewhere to go?"
Silence erupted between us and I took it upon myself to decide for him.
"If you are not going anywhere any time soon, let us appreciate the food that is cooked for us. Slade is very passionate about cooking. You will very much like it."
I walked past him, continuing my climb to the top of the cliff. By the time I reached a certain height, Peaches was there waiting with his back against the wall. It was a long climb; I could take myself up using my powers, but I would rather take my time with this given freedom.
With another level successfully climbed, Peaches had his back turned at me.
"Why don't you fly?" he asked.
"There is no need to use my power for that reason. It is nice to have this walk."
He took my words in before disappearing. I was swept off my feet and found myself carried by him. My eyes looked at him widely. I abruptly remembered Saint and what he promised.
"I didn't expect this from you," I commented.
He remained silent with an unreadable expression on his face. He took me on top of the cliff without breaking a sweat, gently placing me down on the ground.
The moon looked so easy to grasp from where we were. A forest was on the other side and a cold breeze continued to dance around us. I sat on the grass, patting the spot beside me. The man knelt on one knee. I offered him his bowl. He stared at the food, unsure of what to do or how to even handle the situation at hand.
His lack of experience with eating led me to feed him. I forked the vegetable and poked his shut lips. His bright red and piercing eyes crossed. He brought out the tip of his tongue to touch the food.
"Say ahh."
"Ahh—"
I shoved the fork into his mouth; the Reaper bit down on it before chewing.
I brought the fork to my face, discovering that he ate the utensil without choking and the hard crunching noises seemed as if he was chewing on nuts. My hand automatically went to grasp my throat when I saw him swallow.
"From now on, you are banned from using forks," I deadpanned. "Let me see your teeth."
His lips twitched as he imitated my lips widening to show my teeth. Clean, strong, and shatterproof pearls were exhibited and not a single tooth went missing. He stared at the food I was holding as if desiring for more. I decided not to use any utensils to feed this man. I'd just have to resort to my hands.
I gingerly fed the Reaper as he sat obediently with folded legs. He patiently waited for the food to come to his mouth. I would find him licking his lips as if he was already tasting the food that I was yet to scoop with my fingers.
Once his bowl was empty, Peaches picked up mine and grabbed a handful of vegetables to feed me back.
"Your turn."
I blinked at his messy handling of the food but acknowledged his efforts. I turned his palm up; he uncurled his fingers so that I could gain access to the vegetables. I held his wrist and supported the rest of his hand with my other hand. It was rather challenging to eat like this, but seeing the Reaper's eyes lose its glint of distrust, I took this as an opportunity.
With both our bowls empty, the Reaper looked at his sauce-covered hand and licked it clean.
"Do you still want more?" I asked him.
His eyes reluctantly met with mine and he nodded shyly.
"Let us go to the others then. I am sure Slade will be overjoyed to find that you enjoy his cooking."
He held my wrist and picked me up again like a sack of feathers.
"Do you not find me heavy?" I questioned.
I should have asked the same question to Caleb since he always carried me around.
"If you didn't speak I would have thought that I was carrying air," he replied.
He walked to the edge of the cliff and leaped. My sides tingled from our drop and even more so when Peaches' gaze pinned to mine. We perched on the ground. I slid off of his arms while still connecting my eyes with him.
"Lucian?" Sevor called out.
He was looking at us with a troubled expression. "We were looking for you, you were with him?"
"I brought him food and we ate together," I explained.
Sevor did not lose that unsettling expression on his face. His soft gaze was turning into a sharp glare. His eyes shifted into a dangerous red and he emitted a menacing aura, aiming to intimidate Peaches.
The way he looked at him...I wish to slap that look away.
"You should always take into account who you trust your life with," he advised.
"I do," I replied before finally addressing the main issue at hand. "But why do you look at him like that?" I questioned.
"I will be frank with you Lucian: I do not trust him. No matter what you say, he has a reputation for killing people in cold blood."
I took a step forward, tilting my head at him in question. I could feel my eyes drying from having them grow wide all of a sudden.
"Do not act as if you haven't taken lives of your own accord. Do not act as if you have not tainted your hands with other people's blood."
I took more steps towards Sevor, our faces nearly touching. His eyes narrowed, still aggravated.
"If you ever try to ruin him again, I will leave with or without you," I murmured.
His hand gripped my arm tightly. He looked at me deeply in the eyes.
"Why would you defend someone who is not defenseless?"
"Why do you need soldiers in a walled kingdom?" I softly retorted.
I turned around to gaze at Peaches who was watching and listening to us.
"And even if you do not consider him like family, I consider him as mine," I said. "So do not hurt my family."
Sevor was smacked with guilt. He released me from his grasp before withdrawing his offending stare and stepping back. The colors of his eyes shifted in their original state prior to addressing the problem that he had started.
"I will respect your decision," he breathed out. "But please understand..." he trailed.
He was giving me a smirk and a stare that was a bit unbecoming of the usual kind and understanding Sevor.
"I may be a pushover, but I'm an alpha nonetheless. I can become selfish and inconsiderate...every once in a while."
He sauntered towards me, placing his hand over my shoulder. My head throbbed; my vision blurred. A wave of smoldering heat went up and down my body.
My nostrils were filled with Sevor's spicy scent and just when he lifted his palm, I was released from his binding spell that left my lower half in a throbbing mess. My knees trembled. Sevor caught my body before I could collapse to the ground.
"I am your mate after all."