Unusual Behaviour

Harlyn

I’m unsure of how long we sit and talk, and Stefan explains everything to me in more detail. Volkaros, who is apparently a warlock, not that I knew they even existed. Explains the magic used against me and the pups.

I’m unsure where I will stay when we get back. Stefan has informed me that if I want to stay at the manor, I can, and he will restrict my father to his own quarters, so I won’t even need to see him.

Likewise, if I stay at the palace, he will make everyone aware my father needs to give notice before coming so that I know the rooms to avoid so I don’t see him.

He seems to be thinking of everything, but one thing keeps coming back, and it’s court. He’s mentioned the types of punishments my father could face, and it’s my choice whether to give my view on which is appropriate.

I won’t forgive him, sure the magic made things worse, but he hated that I didn’t have a wolf. Even though it was beyond my control, he blamed me for it.

Still, after all the punishments he could get were listed to me, only one seemed right. That is, my father is no longer the Earl. He loses his title and his hold on the kingdom. He loses his power, a power he should never have had due to his view of wolfless werewolves.

Stefan has explained that the role was given purely to keep him out of the seat of the king. Had my father not been Earl, he wouldn’t have had the right to exile me from the kingdom. However, I’m not entirely sure I would have wanted to stay anyway after how things developed.

Volkaros has left us now, claiming he needs to rest and will continue his work when we get to the kingdom. Stefan, however, seems to be unusually quiet, and it’s unlike him, but then I remember.

He barely slept. Samuel had mentioned that he didn’t sleep much on the trip to see us. Then he had to carry me back and apparently didn’t get back until late, so he barely slept last night, either. He also apparently didn’t sleep the night before they left, as he was waiting for Volkaros.

“Go get some sleep,” I say, smiling at him.

“When we get back,” he replies.

My head shakes. “We’re on a ship. What do you think can go wrong? Nothing,” I say while smiling, but I sense he’s worried. “I’m tired, so what if I join you?” I ask.

Reluctantly, he nods, and we go through into a room that looks far too nice to be on a ship, but then again, it’s the royal one, so of course, the rooms won’t be simple boxes.

Climbing into bed with him, I wrap my arm around him and peer at his face.

“You’re quiet,” I say, feeling anxious. He doesn’t reply. He just stares at me. “Stefan?” I wait for him to speak.

“Just, shh,” he whispers, and I nod, watching as he falls asleep. I want to get up and sort things out and plan things with Samuel, but I won’t yet.

Tiredness takes over me, and I fall asleep soon after Stefan. Yet a worrying feeling stayed the entire time, and no matter how much I told myself he was acting weird because he was tired, I couldn’t shake the feeling even in my sleep.

When I wake, I don’t move. Stefan’s arms are still wrapped around me, and I listen to his steady breathing. It’s weird. My heart seems to match his, and it calms me.

I know that he wants me to stay at the palace with him, but I’m still unsure of everything. I’m even more unsure of staying at the manor near my father.

I don’t want to speak to or see him until I know what I want so I can be sure he will not push or manipulate me.

Lying here, a weird feeling spreads through me. It’s not bad, and as I focus on it, I realise it’s my wolf—or at least I can feel it now. Closing my eyes, I try to focus on it, not wanting to lose the feeling.

My body runs unusually cold all of a sudden, and for some reason, I see myself—an immense amount of pain shudders through my body, along with guilt and self-hate. I try and force my eyes up, and panic more when I hear Stefan rejecting me.

It’s that day, the day he pushed me out and rejected me, only I seem to be seeing and feeling his side. I don’t like it, and I fight to pull free, unsure of what is happening.

As my eyes snap open, I fall backwards and land hard on the floor.

“Stefan?” I speak and move to see him still asleep. “Stefan,” I shout louder and nudge him, but he doesn’t work. Shaking him more I notice he doesn’t respond.

What’s happened? I continued to shout his name while shaking him. I knew something was off, but I couldn’t work out what. I feel someone pulling me back.

“Stop shouting, Harlyn,” Samuel shouts, and I focus on him.

“He won’t wake. He was acting weird and went quiet. I thought he was tired, but he won’t wake Samuel,” I say while panicking.

“Okay, move, let me check,” Samuel says as he moves out of the way. Volkaros walks in, glancing around, confused. Samuel looks towards him.

“It’s not magic. There’s no magic coming from him at all.” Volkaros speaks.

“Can it be me?” I ask. If I’ve been close to him for too long, maybe it’s me.

“No, there’s no change in the magic. Maybe he’s simply tired,” Volkaros says, and I want to laugh at his words. Too tired to wake up?

“Volkaros is right; it isn’t magic,” Samuel says. I watch him turn over Stefan’s arm. An almost burn-like mark seems to be there, and if I focus, I can see it’s growing slowly.

“Dragufic hasn’t been seen or used in centuries,” Volkaros says, visibly shocked.

“Dra-what?” I ask. “What is it?” I stand confused.

“It is a drug that basically paralyses a person and holds them hostage within their own minds. It was a form of mental torture for many years,” Samuel explains.

Mental torture? I stand shocked, unsure of how to even reply.