Disclaimer: All characters that are involved in sexual acts are at least 21 years old.
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I woke up slowly, the morning sun shining through the open window, the sounds of birds chirping in the background. I turned around and looked at Asher, who was still fast asleep, his breathing soft and steady.
He looked so peaceful.
The stress on his face when he was awake seemed to wash away during the night. The look on his face when he slept wasn't unlike how he appeared normally.
"Asher," I murmured softly, as I stroked his cheek and he shot up so fast, it was a wonder he wasn't dizzy.
"Your Highness!" he said, a hint of panic in his voice, his eyes scanning the room.
"Relax, Captain," I said, leaning back against the headboard. "We are alone."
"But I am..., Fuck!" he exclaimed and gathered his clothes. "I'll be late," he mumbled, while he dressed.
"I am sorry," I whispered quietly.
He finished dressing and ran his hand through his hair, looking at the ground.
"I shouldn't have let you convince me to stay."
"I am sorry, I was..., you were so good, and...I love having you here."
"It's not your fault, I am Captain for a reason, I should have been able to walk out the door. I am just not strong enough, when it comes to you." He sighed and leaned forward, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. "You should go back to sleep."
"What about you?" I asked and he smiled sadly.
"I will have to search for clues in the forests."
"It will be dangerous, won't it?" I asked, already knowing the answer.
"Yes, it will. But if we want to find out what is going on, we have to do it, Enya."
"I know, but still, it worries me," I whispered, trying not to sound nervous, but judging by the look on his face, it hadn't worked.
"I know, Enya, and I am sorry, but we will have to deal with it."
"Just...be careful, please, Asher," I pleaded.
He gave me a small smile. "I will."
He glanced at the closed door, then bent down and placed a firm kiss on my lips.
My heart soared as I returned it, wrapping my arms around his neck and leaning forward.
"I won't get enough of that," he murmured against my lips.
"You never do, Asher." I sighed, smiling.
"True, and I hate it," he sighed and pressed another kiss against my forehead. "Rest up, Enya."
He straightened up, leaving my room as quickly and as silently as he had arrived last night.
I sighed and turned around, closing my eyes. He was right. I should rest up, get back to sleep and be well rested for training.
***
After breakfast, I made my way over to the training grounds, where my teacher Aktaion was waiting for me.
He was tall and muscled, his black hair tied in a braid behind his head.
"Enya, are you ready for another lesson?" he asked, a smirk on his lips.
"Yes, of course, let's begin."
***
Aktaion wanted me to stop after 3 hours but I urged him to keep training me for another hour.
"If you push yourself too far, you will only hurt yourself," he told me, but I wasn't listening, the urge to keep training burning inside me.
"You are too stubborn, Enya," he sighed. "I am sorry, but it is time to stop."
"If you won't train me, I will just train by myself," I told him and jerked my chin up. I didn't mind being called stubborn because I knew he was right, but the drive, that urge inside me wouldn't let me stop, not now. And I could train by myself too, though I knew I learned more from him.
"Enya...," he started but I cut him off.
"I won't listen, anyway."
"Fine, but I will tell your father, what happened, if you break a bone," he replied sternly.
I didn't know whether to feel proud for having worn him down or scared of what would follow.
"Whatever, as long as you train me," I replied, feeling how much it annoyed him that I always did this, which was funny.
"Stop smirking, let's continue, you need to learn this one thing about fighting properly, one of our best soldiers came up with it."
So I listened to his instructions and waited for him to show me.
***
I knew I should have listened to him.
"It's not broken, thankfully," the nurse said, as she put on the splint. "But you have to rest that wrist for at least six weeks."
I groaned and leaned my head back, pinching the bridge of my nose.
"Six weeks? That's way too long!"
"If you would have listened to me, you would have saved yourself the pause," Aktaion said laughing, making me look over at him grumpily.
"Maybe, but what's done is done."
"Yeah, what's done is done," he smirked and left the room.
I sighed and looked out the window, watching the clouds moving slowly across the sky.
I hoped Asher was okay. The fear of him getting hurt, wounded, killed by whoever was trying to make a mess was there at the back of my mind, but I couldn't focus on it too long.
"Thank you, Dina," I said and moved to the big hall.
My wrist was throbbing in pain, but I was still happy that it wasn't worse.
I had to find something to do with my time, anyway, so I might as well go out.
Walking through the city, I was surrounded by the bustle of people, who were going about their lives, carrying out their daily tasks, just like me.
I loved to walk through the streets of Moira, the people were always friendly, especially when they recognized me. I never treated people like they were unimportant and there was not a single day, I haven't received kind or loving words back from the residents.
I loved it here; it was home to me.
And it broke my heart to imagine losing what I treasured so dearly and I would do everything I could to protect it. It was worth fighting for and I wouldn't back down easily.
The library I usually visited, when I needed a quiet place, was at the other side of town. It was a large building, carved in stone, just like the castle.
The walls were white, as it was the common building material of Moira, giving it a bright look.
Stepping into it was always like stepping into another world; the warm atmosphere welcomed me like the embrace of an old friend. And the smell, oh that scent of old leather bindings and paper, was enough to make one want to curl up on a chair and never leave.
I knew the librarian, and he let me stay whenever I wanted, so I often used the room in the back to read on my own. I liked that space, no other rooms were that silent.
"Princess Enya, welcome back," the librarian, an elderly man, smiled and took his hat off.
"Hello, Martin, thank you!" I smiled and looked around the room.
"Any new recommendations?" I asked him and he smiled eagerly.
"I think I have one for you." He walked over to the bookshelves and pulled a book out, handing it to me. It was a rather thick book with an old leather binding.
"A book about shapeshifters, how fascinating," I murmured, before thanking him and sitting down at a table in the corner of the room, opening the book.
"How interesting," I mumbled and took a closer look. "I never knew that there was a book of folklore regarding the wolfborn."
I skimmed the first few pages and took a closer look.
The book described how the wolfborn were born, how they were seen by other people, and why they were shunned by the common people, as well as some tales the author had written down.
They even described the process of shape shifting, detailed with pictures, how they imprinted on other wolfborn and how they can be wounded or killed.
I had always thought that they could be wounded like any other human, but no. They had incredible healing abilities and could only be killed if their head was severed. This book contained valuable information, every soldier should know and learn, if a wolfborn army was attacking us.
"Does Asher know this?" I asked myself, grabbed the book and hurried out of the library.
Before the door I nearly crashed into Mary.
"Oh, Lady Saffron. It's good to see you!" I said hastily, trying to push past her.
"Your Highness, what a surprise to see you here!" she said and blushed, when she looked at the man next to her.
"Let me introduce you to Aedan," she quickly added and Aedan bowed deeply at the waist.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Aedan...," I looked at him questioningly, as Mary hadn't told me his last name.
"Just Aedan please, your Highness," he said and smiled.
"Aedan." I smiled. "The pleasure is all mine, Aedan."
I smiled at Mary and pressed the book to my chest.
"If you would excuse me, Lady Saffron, I have to go," I said, feeling awkward.
"Of course, your Highness, don't let me stop you, we should have lunch together sometime soon, yes?" she asked me happily and I nodded.
"Definitely."
I curtsied and hurried away, before she could notice the book in my arms. She never understood my need to know more about wolfborn, but I needed to know what I was dealing with.
I hurried over to the soldier quarters and went to Asher's office.
With my left hand I knocked twice and waited.
"Come in!" Oh thank the goddess, he was back!
"Hello, Asher."
"Your Highness, what are you doing here?" he asked, a hint of suspicion in his voice. "And what happened to your hand?" His voice was soft and concerned.
"First of all, I just sprained my wrist. Second, I brought this book for you." I smiled, feeling ecstatic, just seeing him.
I let the book fall onto his desk with a loud thud. His desk was small, as was his office.
"What kind of book?" he asked, his expression changing, when he opened the book.
