*Axel's POV*
"... And then Sasha was trying to creep up on the fowl thinking she could catch it. As she lunged forward she fell right into the hidden pond, She also found out really quickly that the fowl she thought she could catch was only a baby, hahahah."
Taylor laughed cutting herself off from finishing her story. I smiled at the woman, I had asked what she did for fun around here and she started telling me about some of the experiences her friends and herself have had trying to keep themselves entertained.
"C'mon don't stop there what happened?" I urged her to keep telling her story.
"Hahaha, ok, ok, keep your tattered trousers. She was chased all the way back her after the mother Snow Goose saw someone trying to grab at her baby. It was so funny, Sasha had welts on her rear end in her Centaur form and when she would transform into her human figure she wouldn't even be able to sit or lay down because of how sore she was. It took a whole two weeks of me begging my mothers for the medicine every morning so I could give it to her before she was better."
Wiping a tear from her eye because she had been laughing so hard at the memory. I smiled softly at her, I could feel the genuine care she had for the person she called her best friend, Sasha.
"You really care for her huh?" I asked curious at how far their relationship had actually gone. I am not one to really pry but after hearing that her mother and Anne were married, was curious if their daughter was following in their footsteps.
She smiled that damn charming smile again. It didn't affect me so powerfully as before but it still made my breath hitch slightly before returning to normal.
If I had to compare the beauty of Taylor with any of the women in my life I would have to say that Taylor is the closest to surpassing Silvara's celestial beauty. They have two completely different types of beauty just like all women do, but these two take it to a new level with their attractiveness.
"Yeah, she is my best friend. We have known each other basically since birth. We had another friend that grew up with us too but I don't see him anymore. He changed as we got older and he started making me feel really uncomfortable all the time... Oh my, I am sorry I am not trying to give you a run down on my whole life."
Shaking my head slowly I reached for her hand and spoke slowly while looking into her beautiful green eyes.
"I am happy to listen, so please don't apologize. It actually make me happy to see that you are comfortable enough with me, a stranger you just met, to tell me about your life."
She gave me a warm but shy smile that nearly broke my sanity once again. I really need to get myself under control, I still haven't been able to figure out why I am so sexually driven right now. Every time I ask Sylph about it she just chuckles at me and tells me to figure it out myself.
"Thank you Axel. To be honest I don't quite understand it myself but I feel like I can trust you."
Smiling I squeezed her hand again. "You know Taylor I was thinking the same thing as you. I seem to feel myself trusting you very quickly."
"Hehe, well that is a good thing."
"Yeah it is. Anyway why don't you tell me about this other friend you don't see anymore." I said trying to ease back into a conversation that did not vocalize our feelings right now. I am still feeling a way by what Silvara said.
I understand that something changed when that guy shot that arrow at us but it still hurt.
"Oh yeah... His name is Garth, we grew up together as well. He was the only stallion in Castor Village that was in my age range so we became friends with him. Everything was great when we where children, we played and cultivated as a trio of inseparable friends. Garth hit puberty first out of our group because he is three years older then Sasha and myself. He got really weird always staring at me and Sasha with a gross look in his eyes. Then one day he proposed marriage to my mothers and that was the last day I allowed him to be my friend. It was sad really, I saw him as my big brother, I heard he came to beg my mothers more then once for my hand in marriage but I haven't seen him since."
She spoke with a slightly heavy tone. It seemed this Garth person really was like a brother to her but he wanted more and she just didn't see him in that way. I shook my head internally at the story, I had seen that a couple times in my last world. Eventually it would get so bad that the pursuer would become so obsessed they would do scary and crazy things to get the one they are chasing.
"We-"
*CLOP*CLOP*CLOP*CLOP*
*CRASH*SLAM*WHAM*
As I was going to respond to Taylor we felt the house shudder as the sounds of hooves and something smashing through the door cut me off.
Instinctively I jumped in front of Taylor flaring my mana to protect her behind me. I braced for impact just as the being came through the wall in front of us. In a flash of movement we slammed into each other hard enough to create a booming shockwave, totally destroying this part of the house.
***
*Matriarch Tessa's POV*
Humming a quiet tune to myself while preparing tonight's dinner I could hear the two in the living room chatting with each other getting closer with ease. The thought that my daughter might have found her partner brought a smile to my face.
Taylor has always been sought after by the stallions and other males in the village and I couldn't blame them for that. She is absolutely gorgeous, in both forms her Centaur form and her Human form. I could tell the boy Axel, is a good kid even with as much lust as I could see in his eyes. I could always see that he was fighting it tooth and nail to keep it in control.
It makes me think that his bloodline and hybrid mix must be incredibly potent.
Finishing chopping the carrots, celery, and onion, I took to the large walk-in freezer we had installed a couple of years ago to hold the meat from Taylor's hunts. Walking in I took my cleaver and easily sliced through the frozen meat with my Core Formation strength.
As I was walking out of the freezer I felt my home shudder multiple time.
*CRASH*SLAM*WHAM*
Hearing the sounds of something coming through the walls in the direction of Axel and Taylor I started to rush out there.
Just as I was entering the Livingroom I felt Axel's aura flare out crazily even making me feel a bit of pressure. The other aura I could feel though I knew it quite well.
It was then that Garth came through the last wall and with a flash of movement I watched as Axel's smaller but still extremely imposing form slam into the bigger Garth in his Centaur form halting him in his tracks. The resulting shockwave of these two young and powerful cultivators clashing destroyed this part of the house making it seem like someone had just set off a bomb in our home.
What really got me though was that even after a moment Axel was still holding Garth in place with ease. The reason I am so surprised is because Garth is a Level 7 Foundation Realm cultivator. On top of that, as a Centaur stallion born through impeccable breeding, Garth is naturally much stronger then almost anyone in a pure physical contest of strength.
*GRROOWWLL*
*GRROOWWLL*
It was then that I heard two deep and ominous growls come from beside Taylor. When I shot a glance on that direction I a terrifying sight. Lozen and Amani had changed from docile and loyal beast into some of the most blood thirsty beings I have ever seen. They weren't moving though they were just standing in front of Taylor watching the two locked in the beginnings of combat.
Looking back to the two clashing, I saw Axel starting to get the upper hand, lifting garth slightly and pushing him backwards. I could see white fur and blue fire starting to cover Axel in striking patterns while he kept his Human figure. It was then that everyone in the room froze hearing a voice tinged with anger and disbelief.
"GARTH! What the hell are you doing here!" Taylor screamed stopping the two men in their tracks.
***
*Axel's POV*
Hearing Taylors voice I froze for a moment before I tossed the dumb Centaur away from me making him stumble and trip. As soon as he was away from me Taylor and my two faithful companions rushed forward and she started checking my body while the other two circled around me to stand in between myself and this Garth person.
"Garth! How dare you come smashing into my home like this! Just what the hell do you think you are doing young man?!?" I heard the voice of Matriarch Tessa, infuriated at what had just transpired in her home I am sure.
I turned towards her and lowered my head slightly," I am sorry for clashing in your home Matriarch Tessa. If there was a way to avo-"
"Axel, you have done nothing wrong so save you apologies." She raised her hand and cut me off while shaking her head. I could tell she wasn't angry at me but I am a man that knows when to take responsibility so I offered her my apology anyways.
Before we could continue farther the guy who had come smashing into the house started yelling.
"Matriarch Tessa, why is this man in your home! How dare you let Taylor get close to him!"
I could tell he was going to continue but he never got the chance because The Matriarch flew off the handle at his first two sentences.
"HOW DARE YOU QUESTION ME!" She roared at Garth with fury written across her face. Her aura flared and I could tell she was actually a lot stronger then me. I couldn't feel it before but now that she was flaring it I couldn't help but admire her strength.
"Who do you think you are Garth? You are not anything in this home! Just because your father still works in the capital doesn't mean that he or you have any sway in this village and especially not in my home."
I could hear the dangerous tone in her voice. She was rightfully pissed off at this moment.
"Who cares about any of that! Why the hell is this man in your home so close to my fiancée?"
The words were like a bomb went off in the house giving all of us listening different but similar reactions. The most prevalent one was the look on all of our faces that read 'HUH?' It took a moment but finally Taylor broke the tense silence with a shill cry
"WHEN THE HELL DID I BECOME HIS FIANCE MOTHER!"
Taylor's words snapped the rest of us out of our daze and even worked to help snap Garth back to reality for a moment.
Raising her hands in front of her Matriarch Tessa shook her head say," Don't ask me or your mother Anne, we both refused him." Hearing this Taylor snapped her head back towards Garth with unmistakable fury. Light shrouded her for a moment before she went back to her Centaur form.
"Garth, who the hell do you think you are to try and claim me as your fiancée?" Taylor spoke low as her bow materialized in her hands thrumming with power as an arrow formed out of what seemed to be mana appeared on the string.
It seemed like Garth had finally lost it all the way hearing what she asked him.
"I am your only choice! No one is good enough for you especially not this tiny man! Just be a good woman and come quietly with me like you should!"
That last bit set me off a bit, no woman is a commodity or slave to be made demands of. I may have...
*SWOOSH*BOOOM*
Without a second thought I just let my instinct take control for a moment so I could get rid of this anger fast. It took less then the time it takes to blink your eye for me to cross the room and smash my fist into his jaw.
I hit him hard enough it lifted him off of the ground tossed him out through the holes he had already made in the house. I didn't look back at Taylor or the Matriarch who's eyes seemed to be locked onto my back. I stepped through the hole after Garth looking to finish the fight quickly.
As I stepped out of the last hole in the house I saw Garth picking himself up off of the ground while shaking his head and rubbing his now slightly swollen jaw.
Hearing my approach he snapped his head up at me and glare intensely at me.
"You are going to fucking pay for that."
***
{Powerstones, comments, reviews, and maybe a golden ticket or two would be appreciated. It lets me know you all are liking the book and keeps me going. Cheers everyone have a good day.}