My paws pounded onto the hard ground as the surface began to change. If it hadn't been for the searing pain of a sharp rock, I wouldn't have realized we had ran so far at all.
We began to slow our pace and I sensed we were getting close to the safehouse. My mind kept replaying the way Aunt Maddie's eyes had pleaded with me to look away; how she had resigned to her fate in that moment and only wished that I wouldn't see.
I shook back the tears that threatened to come. I didn't think I could cry anymore tonight.
I pushed back the dull ache in my chest and decided to observe my surroundings for the first time since leaving the palace. We were far from anything familiar now, deep into the woods and nearing a mountain range. I was shocked.
I could remember just barely observing the point of a mountain peaking over the forest trees from my room in the palace. I knew it was apart of pack lands, but I had never ventured out this far.
How could we have possibly run all this way in such a short amount of time? I glanced at the sky and realized that the first rays of dawn sun were beginning to break through the black clouds. We had been running for hours.
It was only then that I became aware of my weary muscles and the ache that was growing more persistent in my bones. My lungs were heaving, trying to gulp in heaps of air and my throat was parched.
How much further could we go along like this?
Just as the thought hit me, Von veered to the left toward a cliff face and disappeared. Confused, I stopped in my tracks and looked around, but there was no sign of him.
Valen stopped beside me and nudged my shoulder with his snout. I looked back at him and he trotted over to a crack in the wall. He shifted and beckoned for me to do the same.
"What is this?" I asked him.
"This is how we get in."
I lifted an eyebrow and he grinned. He dropped down on all fours and slithered his way in between the crack. He was gone in the blink of an eye.
"Valen?" I called out.
"It's alright," I heard his muffled voice reply. "Just get down low and squeeze through."
I looked at the crack skeptically, but did as I was instructed. The rock was rough on my bare skin and the shimmying was uncomfortably tight, but it only lasted a moment before I popped out on the other side and unceremoniously fell onto the ground. I stood up, rubbing my back side while I looked around.
Behind the cliff face, there was an open cave. It was large and oval in shape, with the only light coming from the crack in the front and what looked like a small tunnel in the back.
The stone was light in color and was devoid of any stalagmites or stalactites. It was just bare. Valen stepped up behind me as my eyes adjusted.
"This is where we're staying?"
My tone held a hint of disbelief. Maybe I'd gotten to used to the posh lifestyle of the palace. He chuckled.
"Not quite."
He grabbed my hand and led me forward, before stopping and leaning down. He raised an arm up and pounded three swift times onto the ground.
I was beginning to think he'd lost his mind, when a small door swung toward us and Von poked his head out.
"Took you long enough," he chided.
"How did you even get down there so fast?"
I eyed him critically. He waved his hand at me in return.
"It's not so bad once you've done it a bunch of times. The first time getting in here is always the worst. Now come on, you could use some rest."
Valen grasped my hand and led me down the steep staircase. The walls on either side of me were made of stone, once again, and illuminated by torches.
A shudder passed through me as the memory of what happened just hours ago came to mind. Valen quirked an eyebrow, but I shook my head. At the end of the staircase, we were met with a short hallway that had a singular metal door at the end of it.
"Welcome to the royal safe house," Von said while sweeping his arm in front of him, ushering us in first.
I gripped Valen's hand tighter as he led me to the door and undid a series of complicated locks on the outside. He pulled a lever down and pushed the heavy door open.
I wasn't sure what I was expecting; maybe some type of dismal, apocalyptic military- style bunker with freeze dried rations and rickety cots.
Whatever it was, it definitely wasn't this.
Before me, was a massive sitting room, bathed in a warm glow from a small chandelier dangling from the ceiling.
A chandelier.
In an underground safe house.
Who are these people?
There were large maroon sofas surrounding a dark mahogany coffee table, and a wall filled with books off to the side.
On the other side of the room, there were some more plush chairs of the same color, and a couple of end tables decorated with red roses. Various doors littered about, leading to more rooms, I assumed.
Artemis was laid on one of the couches, with Aislinn dabbing her head with a cool cloth. King Ruben was seated on the other, while Queen Stella was behind him tenderly running her fingers along his broad shoulders. Everyone's heads turned to us when we entered the room.
Everyone except Artemis.
I noticed a bandaged wound on her forearm and rushed over to her.
"Is she okay?" I asked Aislinn.
She nodded. "When Von got her farther away from the chaos, it was easier for her to try and disobey the royal command, until all of the sudden it got worse. She started screaming and flailing about in a half shifted state. She about gutted Von with her claws. He made the smart decision and cut her with the dagger. She stopped immediately and passed out, then he ran her here so I could help treat her wound."
I nodded at Von with gratitude and hugged Aislinn.
"Thank you. Do you know when she'll wake up?"
"It's hard to tell, yet. I would say sometime tomorrow."
I grasped Artemis's hand and brought her knuckles to my lips, where I placed a soft kiss. I was so relieved she would be okay. King Ruben cleared his throat.
"It's been a long and painful night. You kids get some rest, there are things we need to discuss when you awaken."
His eyes were bloodshot, and his shoulders drooped. Long gone was the confident King I had seen just hours ago at the ball. The man before me now looked defeated.
"Yes, your majesty." I stood up to leave, Valen's hand on my lower back to guide me in the right direction.
"Indigo?" King Ruben called.
"Yes?"
"I'm sorry about Maddie."
The room went silent and I swallowed. Tears pricked my eyes again.
"Thank you," I managed to get out, before swiftly turning away and following Valen to our room.
Once we were safely behind the closed door, I collapsed to the ground. Valen was silent as he leaned down to comfort me.
He sat on the floor and pulled me into his lap, wrapping his strong arms around my shaking frame. He tucked my head under his chin and held me until the shaking subsided.
When it did, he scooped me up and placed me on the counter of our en suite bathroom. I watched him with curiousity, as he started the water for the bathtub and tested the temperature. When he was satisfied, he added in some lavender scented oil and bubbles, before plopping me into the water.
"I'll be out here if you need me," he called over his shoulder as he exited the bathroom.
I smiled at him. My mate was so thoughtful. He knew when I needed my space. I sighed and relaxed into the water, letting the warmth loosen my sore muscles. I breathed in the scent of lavender and glanced around.
The bathroom was no where near as large as the one I had in the palace, but I was happy to have running water here at all, so I wasn't complaining. I must have dozed off at some point, because when I came to the bubbles were gone and the water was no longer warm.
I dragged my wrinkly body out of the tub and found a pile of clothes waiting for me on the counter. I quickly dried and threw on a plain white cotton tee, and a pair of shorts before making my way back into the bedroom.
Valen was already laying in the bed, showered and dressed, flipping through a book. A smile formed on his face when he saw me standing in the doorway.
"Enjoy your bath?" he teased.
"You could have gotten me out sooner, you know."
"I could have, but you looked relaxed so I figured I'd give you a few more minutes."
"Have you been waiting long?" I sat on the edge of the bed, nervousness beginning to form in my chest. I'd never slept in a bed with a male before.
"Not too long, I showered in Von's room. Artemis is still passed out."
"Oh."
The air was thick with tension. I fiddled with the hem of my shirt.
"So, um.. what now?" I asked him without meeting his eyes.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, now we know we're mates, don't we have to... you know.. complete the process?"
He threw his head back and laughed and I blushed as humiliation flooded over me. Valen looked back to me.
"Technically, yes we should do that sooner rather than later, but I'm not going to force you into anything. I'll wait until your ready. Tonight is not the night. You've been through too much." He leaned forward and pulled my hand away from my shirt.
"It doesn't mean I don't want to, I just want you to be ready." I finally met his gaze and nodded.
"Thank you," I whispered. He smiled at me and pressed his lips to mine, before pulling me onto the bed with him and tucking me under the covers. He swiftly turned out the lights and plopped himself next to me again.
"Goodnight, Indigo."
"Don't I get a goodnight kiss?"
He chuckled, but his lips met mine in the darkness faster than I expected. The suddenness of the kiss took my breath away and I gasped out loud. He slipped his tongue into my mouth when my lips parted and I groaned.
He sighed and pulled back, before pecking me one last time on the lips.
"We better stop for the night, can't be too careful you know."
"Okay," I weakly replied.
What was wrong with my brain tonight. He placed another kiss to my forehead, then pulled me into his arms, my head laying on his chest.
I fell into a deep sleep, listening to the strong beat of his heart.
Author's Note:
Awww, tender moments. What do you think of the safehouse? A little overboard, or fit for a royal family? Will Artemis be okay? What about Indigo? Her mental state is kind of all over the place right now. Let me know in the comments!
And please don't forget to vote! I really do appreciate it when you vote, it lets me know that my readers, even the silent ones, are actually enjoying my story as much as I am.
Xoxo,
CrimsynIris