Chapter 30

Everything was quiet as I walked through the dark forest. The trees were gnarled and barren, their branches twisting high above me.

A full moon shone through them in a sky that was inky black. The air was cool, nipping at my bare shoulders and collar.

I didn’t know where I was supposed to be. It felt like this was a dream, yet more than one.

It was as though I’d been drawn in here by forces I couldn’t resist. The dirt path I was on finally opened up to a clearing, a large open area surrounded by gnarled trees.

A small hut was there, looking old and dilapidated. I stopped about five feet from it, unsure of what to do.

It didn’t feel dangerous, but I was far too uneasy to let my guard down. The door to the shack slowly opened, and an old woman hobbled out toward me.

She was an ancient-looking crone, with deep-set dark eyes and blazing white hair that fell down her hunched back. I felt like my feet were rooted to the ground as she steadily approached me.

~A hag witch?~

No. I was quite familiar with dealing with them, and she felt nothing like them.

She felt like something else entirely in a very convincing disguise. “Ah, so I finally see you,” she intoned in a cracked voice as she stopped about a foot in front of me.

Her hair shined in the dim light, and her eyes scanned my form. “A beauty that should not be, yet exists. It is little wonder such interest was taken when you were to come into the world.”

“Who are you?” I asked her, more in awe than in fear.

“Never you mind that, child.” The old woman smiled as she spoke like she’d amused herself. “But also, no longer a child. Now a young woman, and the bride to one of the most powerful alphas.”

Of course she would know Rayne. Well, know of him. They all did because he was Jekia’s son.

“What do you want from me? Have you been watching me? Is this some kind of dream you’ve pulled me into?” I questioned her.

“A dream and reality.” The crone looked me over again, her gaze lingering low on me. “Listen well, young one. The Fates will do as we do, and none say for the Creator and Lord Azrael may dictate what we decree. Remember that as time passes and things are realized.”

“What are you talking about?” I didn’t think I’d ever been so confused.

Yes, I understood the Fates. They were the ones who controlled events in the worlds, though none usually got to see them.

Wait. Was it possible that she was…?

“Come now, Agatha. You’ve already frightened her with this visage, so why push her more?” a male voice suddenly stated.

I looked beyond her to see a male figure joining us from the nearby woods. He looked much like a man, yet was a vision in white.

His skin was pale, and his long hair shined in the moonlight. I stared at his dark golden eyes as he stood there, feeling this odd sense of familiarity.

Had we met before? I didn’t think so, yet something about those eyes and that face nagged at me.

“You are here as well, Lord Sionn? I am surprised that you took such an interest,” the old woman, whose name was apparently Agatha, stated.

“Why would I not? I always considered them my family too,” Sionn responded.

“Family?” I repeated, even more confused. Sionn smiled, patting my shoulder.

“You need not worry about any of it nor about this. Things are going as they should, and you are accepted by most. Do not let the detractors influence you. You are not a devil or anything of the sort, and you are beyond precious not only to Rayne but to all who come to know you.”

It was like I was pushed out of that dream as he said those last words and my eyes opened to reveal that I was lying in bed. I sucked in a long breath, my heart racing and my stomach turning for a few seconds.

~What in the world was that?~ I wondered. ~Was it a dream or something more?~

It took me a moment to sit up without feeling slightly nauseous. Rayne wasn’t in the bed beside me, but that didn’t surprise me.

Though it was early, he often did get up to work on training and keeping himself strong and usually stayed in the glen to do it. After sitting on the side of the bed and making certain that I wouldn’t be ill, I slowly got up and gathered some clothes, heading to the washroom to clean up.

May as well get up and ready for the day. I certainly wasn’t going to sleep again after that.

The cool water from the shower felt good against my clammy skin, and I stood still under the stream with my eyes closed, the dream replaying in my mind. How very strange.

I’d never had a dream like that before. I wondered if it had something to do with the fabled Fates, though that was a bit alarming too.

If the Fates stepped into anything, then it must’ve been big. I didn’t grow up ignorant of anything in our world.

I liked to say that those raising me did teach me well about it, if nothing else for my own safety because of what I was mixed with. The Fates were a subject that was brought up a few times, though it was more lore than anything.

They were the ones who were supposed to work directly under the Arch Angel Azrael, helping to guide the destinies of all living things. No one knew what they truly looked like.

They were said to be able to take any form they chose, much like the angels and demons, though most had a base form that they liked to stick to from what I knew. Could the old hag have been one of those Fates?

If so, then I didn’t understand what she would want with me. I was already here with Rayne and fully his beta, at least as far as most others were concerned.

And what of that one named Sionn who intervened in the talk between us? What was he, and what did he have to do with all of this?

I couldn’t deny that I felt like there was a resemblance to someone I’d known before as I pictured him. I just couldn’t place who.

I took another five minutes to relax in the shower before washing and turning it off. After drying, I put on one of my white dresses with sleeves that exposed my shoulders and brushed my hair into place.

Yet I felt a bit of sadness as I looked at my reflection in the large mirror. The ivory horns I’d developed were still there, and even though they weren’t terribly big, they were still enough to bother me.

The sound of the front door opening brought me back to reality. I looked out of the half-open washroom door to see Rayne coming in.

He was wearing only his loose dark pants, and his strong body shined slightly from where he’d been sweating. This seemed rather quick given the time of the morning.

He must’ve halted his training because he was getting too hot.

“Is it that warm out this morning?” I called, turning back to the mirror to finish brushing my hair in place.

“The humidity’s a bit more than I expected, so I decided to end things earlier.” Rayne came into the bathroom, standing behind me and placing a sweet kiss on my temple. “I was still a bit concerned about you too, so I didn’t want to leave you that long. Are you feeling okay?”

“I’m fine. I just got up and finished my shower because I had been sweating a bit, but I feel like myself,” I assured him.

“I’m glad to hear that. I’ve been a little worried after what happened this last time,” Rayne confessed.

He quickly changed the subject and looked toward the shower. “Speaking of a shower, I could use one too. We can go visit with Rin and Aurora when I’m done.”

“You wanted to go this morning?”

“I couldn’t see putting it off any longer, especially when I know that my brother will fuss about seeing you once he’s heard of what’s happened. Aurora will probably feel the same way,” Rayne answered.

He undressed and stepped into the shower, turning it on as he continued, “I’m honestly surprised that Mother and Selenia didn’t insist on coming here yesterday. I can’t imagine Father not telling them about this.”

“You do not believe they are afraid of me, do you?” I had to know.

“Of course not! There is no reason for anyone to fear you no matter what has happened!” Rayne scoffed. “I believe it’s more that Father is probably trying to keep things quiet for you for now. The last thing anyone would want is to be crowded after such events.”

“That’s true. I don’t think I could handle much more,” I relented, leaning against the counter.

“Everything will be fine, my dear. I’ll personally make certain of that, so don’t worry yourself so much. We’ll plan out this celebration and they will see that there’s nothing to fear from you, and put all of those nasty rumors about you to rest along with proving what a vile thing someone did to spread them,” Rayne went on.

“Lord Jekia believes that it was Madame Camille, Madame Lucille’s mother,” I recalled.

“I hate to say it, but I could certainly see it,” Rayne lamented.

He turned off the water and stepped out, drying off before wrapping his towel around his waist and facing me. “I’ve never personally had the opportunity to meet her, but I’ve heard enough stories. She’s never liked my mother, and we know what happened with Hailia, her husband’s illegitimate daughter, so I certainly wouldn’t put this past her; not to mention she’d aim for you above Aurora because of me.”

“I’m not certain I understand that. You and Rin are twins and the heirs to the Northern Lands. Why would she view Aurora and me so differently?” I asked him.

“Because I’m the Luna Dog.”

“Because you’re a Luna Dog?”

Rayne understood my confusion. “It all comes down to bloodlines for those like her. Even though Rin and I were born at the same time and from the same mother, he’s still a Fox and has a different father; a father who was a contender to be a ruler yet didn’t take it up. My father ~is~ the ruler, and one of the most revered creatures in this world, not to mention the last of the purebred Luna Dogs. I carry his bloodline along with Selenia, therefore, we’re seen as more important than Rin, despite how nasty that is,” he explained.

Something suddenly dawned on me as that dream came back to me. Could it have been…?

“Um, Rayne, may I ask something a bit personal about Rin?” I requested.

“Of course. You may ask me whatever you wish. There’s no reason for me not to answer you,” Rayne allowed.

“I know.” I looked down, unsure of how to word this. While I did know a little about Rin’s father, such as that he’d supposedly passed away when Rin and Rayne were small, I hadn’t broached the subject much until now. “I was wondering if we could speak a bit more of Rin’s father. You knew him, didn’t you?”

“I did,” Rayne acknowledged. “At least, I knew him well enough as a child, and my father and mother have spoken of him throughout the years too. But why don’t we discuss this as I get dressed? Then we can head on before the real heat sets in.”

“Yes, of course.” I followed him out of the washroom, sitting on a chair at the small table as he pulled out some fresh clothes from the wardrobe.

He continued speaking to me as he did. “I can’t say that I have a lot of distinct memories of that Fox. He did come and go up until he died, and I do recall him being there to help save us and Mom from those Lycans. He was always in and out like that, but I always took it that it was because of the strange situation they were in with us. It was like a three-way tie because Rin was his.”

“What was his name again? I keep drawing this odd blank and it makes me feel awful,” I confessed.

“It’s probably because you mostly hear them refer to him as ‘The Fox’, but his name was Sage,” Rayne answered.

“Sage,” I repeated. No, that honestly didn’t sound much like Sionn, and Rayne was confirming that he had died.

Besides, could this Fox have truly been a Fate and been allowed to have a child? Rayne smiled as he slipped on his shirt.

It was like he was recalling things a bit more clearly. “He was a well-known name around the Veil, and still is to an extent, even if he’s more considered legendary now because he died. I only had the opportunity to see him until I was five, but I remember him pretty well. He was a lot like my father in coloring, but he had nine tails. Actually, Rin does look a lot like him say for his red coloring. Sage was born silver from what I know, and that was considered unheard of among foxes. He used to brag to my parents all the time that it was a sign of his greatness,” he went on.

That made me giggle. “It sounds as though he had quite a personality.”

“He did from what I recall,” Rayne agreed, sitting in the chair near me. “But he was always good to both of us whenever he came around. He did have a good heart, even if Rin began to feel a bit abandoned in the year before he died.”

“Why? Did something happen?” I inquired.

“It was more like Sage moved on, at least in a sense,” Rayne began. “From what we know, he met a human woman during that time and ended up having twins with her. He began raising them in the mortal world.

“He did come by at times to see us, but it wasn’t as often. Rin began feeling like Sage might be abandoning him for his new family.” Rayne’s ears went back slightly, and he looked a bit remorseful.

“But Father and Mother never really thought that was the case, and Sage did come back to help protect us. It was sad that he lost his life in that time too. I often wonder if Rin would’ve felt a little more grounded as we grew if he hadn’t.”

“That could be hard to tell,” I responded. “If Sage wasn’t around that much and had a new family, then it might not have made a difference. But it doesn’t seem like Rin looks at Lord Jekia any differently. He even calls him father.”

“True, and he has told me many times that he is his father as far as he’s concerned. He just needed time to sort those things out.” Rayne gave me an inquisitive look. “I am curious, why this sudden interest in Sage? You hadn’t shown much of it before. Are you in a roundabout way interested in learning more about my brother?”

I felt my cheeks grow hot. “Do not say it in such a way! You make it sound wrong!” I complained.

Rayne laughed at me. “You are the one who allowed it to. I’m simply curious about why you’re asking now. It’s not like there’s anything wrong with you wishing to know more about Rin and our family.”

Yes, I had embarrassed myself, but I did my best to push that embarrassment down. He was right.

This was simply innocent questioning. “Y-yes. That is true, and that’s all I wish to know. I feel like I’m still learning much about you and your family, and it’s better for me to know more so that I can be a part of it,” I stated.

“I agree, and we can speak more of all of this with Rin and Aurora. I know they wouldn’t mind talking about different things from their pasts as well.” Rayne stood up, offering me a hand to help me to my feet.

“Let’s head on now.”

“Okay.” I kept hold of his hand as we headed to the door.

But as he opened it, I couldn’t resist bringing up that name, just to see what he’d say. “Rayne, have you met a lot of creatures from around the Veil?”

“I’d say I’ve met a decent amount. Why ask?”

“I was curious; have you ever heard of one named Sionn?”

Rayne froze as he heard me say that name. His voice came out softer.

“Where did you hear that name?” I briefly wondered if I shouldn’t have said anything, but there was no taking it back now. Rayne must’ve known something about him.

I just needed a cover, and I already had an idea for one. “I heard the name mentioned in one of the towns a while back, but they spoke like he was a strange creature that they’d never seen before. Is there a reason for that?”

Rayne finally eased up, turning to face me. “You only heard his name and them speaking oddly about him? That’s all?”

“Y-yes. Is that a bad thing?” I managed, feeling even more nervous.

“No, no, it’s not,” Rayne relented with a soft sigh.

He stroked my hair back and kissed my forehead. “It’s not that there’s anything bad about him per se, but it’s better if you don’t need to ever deal with one like him. We handle things fine here, and we don’t need to involve the Sumarians.”

~Sumarians.~ I had heard of them before. They were the ones tasked with enforcing the rules between the Veil and the mortal world.

But if that was true and Sionn was a Sumarian, then why appear in my dream? Was I treading on trouble here?

I certainly hoped not, but I also didn’t wish to worry Rayne any more than he had been. So I didn’t disclose this.

“I know, and I was just curious. That’s all,” I assured him.

“It’s fine. You have a right to be.” Rayne appeared to remember something. “Wait here for a moment.”

I watched him slip back into the cabin. He went over to one of the drawers and took out a small blue pouch.

There was a pleasant smile on his face as he came back over to me. “I almost forgot with everything going on that I wanted to give this to you,” he told me.

He pulled out a pretty red stone that was hanging from a gold chain and slipped it around my neck.

“How beautiful,” I whispered as I looked at it.

“This is Red Jasper. It’s a special type of stone that can help stabilize one’s energies. I thought of it last night and went to see Sherry this morning about getting one for you. This one felt like it would perfectly suit you, and I see I was right,” Rayne told me with a satisfied smile.

“Thank you so much. I love it,” I said as I hugged him.

Rayne hugged me back just as lovingly. “I will find you a moonstone so that I can give you a proper ring too. Just give me a little more time.”

“It’s fine,” I assured him, pulling back a little to smile at him. “I’ll wait forever if you wish, as long as I can be here with you.”

I meant every word of that as I stood there with him. Being with Rayne was everything to me.

I was so happy that he had become my destiny. Yet in the back of my mind, I wondered about that too.

Rayne and I had already been through some tough times even though we hadn’t been together that long. What more could be coming for us?

Would this plan of acceptance and exposing enemies work? And more than that, what could the Fates possibly have more for us?