Valoria Kingdom- Ten Years Later
Shay hated fancy gatherings - it forced him to actively socialize with the other partygoers and the sons of nobles.
But worse than his obligation to mingle was the obligatory presence of his father, a man Shay despised with every fiber of his being. The Lord of their house, his father exuded a coldness that chilled Shay to his core. The lines on his face were deep-set, etched by years of authority and disdain, and his piercing gaze seemed to judge Shay with a critical eye. Shay could feel the tension in the air, the unspoken disappointment that hung between them like a dark cloud, suffocating and oppressive.
His mother sat beside him, tired, her hands drifting to her round middle as though cradling the life within her.
For years his mother had been trying to help him and his father mend their relationship, but every attempt had been in vain.
Averting his gaze from his parents, Shay looked at his younger sister, Mallory, smiling.
She wore a stunning pink-orange gown that reminded Shay of a sunset, compared to the grey and black their father prefers - Mallory looked stunning. Her hair framed her face in curly waves and her laughter could be heard - like little bells.
Mallory locked eyes with Shay and she smiled wider, then lanced pointedly at the son of Preston Noval - Cress Noval - Preston could manipulate metal, thus all weapons soldiers use come from him. He'd been close friends with Shay's father for as long as he could remember.
Rumor has it that Cress may be her intended.
Silvyr, his six-tailed fox gently nudged his leg. His voice was loud in Shay's head: I sense worry. Or is it jealousy?
Neither. Shay snapped back.
Silvyr's tone was teasing when he said: You know, there are plenty of women who'd try for your hand-if you actually went to socialize.
Silvyr-
Then again, there's Noah who you've been selling glances at all evening. He looks stunning, hm?
Shay felt his face redden and he looked down into his lap, allowing his long hair to flop into his eyes.
Oh, come now. No need to be shy. He's looking over here right now-I bet he's just as nervous as you and-"
Shay's mind drifted back to that unforgettable moment when he and Noah had stolen a kiss in a dimly lit alley. The air was thick with anticipation, and the world around them faded into a blur. Shay could still vividly recall the warmth of Noah's soft lips brushing against his own, sending a thrilling jolt through his entire body. The warmth of their skin was intoxicating, the way it felt so smooth and inviting, igniting a rush of emotions that had been building between them. In that fleeting instant, surrounded by the brick walls and muffled sounds of the city, everything else melted away, leaving just the two of them lost in a perfect world of their own making.
Mallory's voice interrupted his thoughts. "Is Silvyr in your head again?" she stooped to kiss Shay's cheek.
"How'd you know?" Shay grumbled.
Mallory giggled, reaching down to scratch Silvyr behind his ear. "It's quite obvious. It was probably something embarrassing. Besides, would you rather have Mother come check on you?"
Shay's gaze slid down the table where his parents were conversing, and his mom cast worried looks his way.
He groaned turning his attention back to Mallory. "So she can fuss over me like I'm a toddler? No thanks."
"Well, then, come."
Shay sputtered as she pulled him from the chair. He barely managed stepping over Silvyr's many tails.
"Mallory-!"
"Shay. Today is my birthday and we're here to celebrate not sit around moping or avoiding people. This is a celebration after all." Mallory pulled him toward the dance floor. "Unless, of course, you want to talk mother to talk your ears off with her list of potential suitors."
Shay pursed his lips trying to come up with an excuse.
He had a throbbing headache.
He couldn't dance.
He hated people.
Silvyr chuckled in his head. If you're wondering-which I doubt you are-all those excuses sounded quite lame. You'll need to do better than that.
Have you a better one?
I do, but I wouldn't tell you. I'd like to stretch my legs and socialize in case you forgot-the women love me.
When they reached the dance floor, Mallory pulled him toward the middle of the floor to dance. Shay could feel the many pairs of eyes burning holes through the back of his head.
The air was filled with the pulsating rhythm of the music, and the vibrant lights played across the room in a kaleidoscope of colors. The crowd around them moved in synchrony, creating a palpable energy that made the floor feel alive. Shay felt a mix of excitement and nervousness as they began to move to the beat, surrounded by the electric buzz of people enjoying the night.
The music was easy for Shay to keep up with, but Mallory being the sister she was, found little things to pick at. Mallory pointed out that Shay's timing was slightly off in the second verse and suggested that her pitch could be more consistent during the chorus. She also mentioned that the dynamics needed more variation to truly capture the emotion of the piece. It was quite draining.
From the corner of his ey he saw Silvyr standing beside Noah gently trying to nudge him toward the dance floor. His mother was giggling behind her hand and glancing at Shay.
With a startled yelp, Shay spun Mallory toward the refreshment table with his back toward Silvyr and Noah.
What do you think you're doing? Shay hissed.
Mallory giggled, "Hey, Shay? It's Silvyr - he has a friend."
Oh no.
Shay turned to see Silvyr prancing proudly beside Noah which makes Silvyr look silly being six feet tall. Noah was fighting a smirk.
Some of the other girls who'd been dancing stopped to whisper and watch Noah pass with dreamy eyes and red cheeks.
Noah is tall and lanky, his limbs almost look too long for his body. He has brown hair with a stripe of orange in the front. He has a goofy smile, and he holds a lot of childish optimism in his sunny green eyes.
According to Noah's closest friends he was an expert with a bow-rumor has it he took down a Canine with one arrow.
Canines are a type of wolf and are hard to catch, even harder to kill. Canines are terrifying creatures-their eyesight is sharp making it easy to find and capture prey, though only enhanced because they have four of them. In addition to their keen eyesight, canines possess an extraordinary sense of smell, allowing them to track prey over long distances. Their acute hearing enables them to detect even the faintest sounds in their environment, making it difficult for potential threats to approach unnoticed. These enhanced senses work together to ensure their survival in the wild by improving their ability to hunt and avoid danger.
He's the son of the recently deceased noble, Gregory McMain who'd been on duty when he and a couple of other guards were mysteriously attacked and killed. People believed it was the Canines.
Their neighboring kingdom - Arcadia - has also been experiencing similar attacks. The two kingdoms have been at odds since an incident neither of his parents wished to discuss.
You're welcome. Silvyr said smugly. He sidled up to Mallory who was grinning at the approaching nobel.
Noah bowed and bent to kiss Mallory's hand, "It's a pleasure to finally meet the Valoria Royals - remind me how old you are Princess Mallory."Mallory will do. I'm fourteen."
"Well, gee, I thought for sure you were the older of the two!" Noah tapped his chin as though deep in thought. His gaze slid toward Shay. "Who's this?"
Shay opened his mouth to reply but Mallory beat him to it. "This is Shayy. My older brother, he's not big on parties or gatherings."
"Ah. I'm positive I've seen him around before." Noah winks at him then gestures at the table towering with gifts. "Can you guess which present I brought for you?"
Mallory nods. "Of course! Silvyr, come."
Wait! Why must i-
Payback for dragging Noah over here.
Silvyr hissed. Get over yourself. You'll thank me later.
When Mllory was out of earshot, Noah turned toward Shay - eyes aglow. He grabbed Shay's wrist beaming, "I'm not sure about you but parties such as this are draining. Wanna escape?"
Without thinking twice Shay found himself saying: "Yes."