Page 18 of To Love A Monster
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The following day, we set out before the sun fully rose, Daegon riding close beside me as my cheeks blushed each time I glanced at him. While his words hurt my heart, I knew he loved me and was only expressing his anger thoughtlessly. I could see in his eyes that he was still ashamed of what he did, but I knew it would no longer matter once my belly was rounded with our child.
"Do you think Halla will be happy to see us?"
"She will. She has a kind yet intense nature that is refreshing, but I fear what she is like when angry." He teased, my stomach knotting once again as I looked ahead to the mountain in the distance, a horrible place I had hoped I would never see again. Darkness had seemed to fall over it, a sadness unwilling to loosen its grip on the Kingdom.
"I wish I could retake you, my love."
"You have taken me all night and most of the morning, my mate." I teased as I lightly tapped my horse, making it trot, my breasts rising and falling as I knew it drove his lust mad. Daegon quickly caught up with me, his hand pulling on the leather reins to slow my horse.
"I would sleep with my cock buried inside you if you let me." His words caused me to gasp as I playfully slapped his arm, a loud cry in the distance taking our attention as we saw Halla standing at the top of a hill. Spear in her hand as she cheered into the sky upon seeing us. Daegon roared so loud it caused my entire body to vibrate, my cunt aching as I wished I had taken his offer.
My legs were sore and aching as we finally reached Halla, the smile fading from my face as I noticed her face held a large scar that was not there before. "Halla! What happened?" I asked as I saw the scar from the bottom of her left cheek just above her right brow, barely missing her eye.
"The king did not take kindly to what I did for you and Sir Daegon, but the scar suits me." She laughed, my heart breaking for her as Daegon helped me from my horse. Halla scoffed as I hugged her, her scoff turning to laughter as Daegon hugged us both causing us to lift onto our toes.
"Why is ya belly not full of a child?" Her words stung, but she did not know about our pain. Her smile faded as she hugged me again, as if she knew all too well the pain I was facing. "I am truly sorry, my friend—I spoke out of turn."
"It is not your worry, Halla—but it is why we journeyed here."
"I cannot give you a child." Her words made me laugh as we walked down the hill towards her cozy home, Daegon taking the reins of the horses as he followed us closely. "Do not tell me you intend to enter that mountain?" Her words caught my attention as my stomach knotted in fear, for I knew that my father was my only hope if I wanted to carry a child.
"My father cursed my womb, Halla. I know in my heart he did, and I will make him fix it." I argued, Daegon staying silent as he knew he could not change my mind.
"Your father is growing mad, Aylin. Your mother tried escaping, and now he refuses for her to leave his side. If you enter that mountain, he may never let you leave."
"He will have no choice. If he refuses, Daegon will bring the war to his steps." I said confidently as Daegon kissed the top of my head before tying up our horses. "My heart aches, Halla. I know my father cursed my womb, and his magic alone can fix it."
"What if he refuses? What if he kills you?"
"He would not dare. He has struck me, but to kill his daughter, his flesh." I said, as a part of me was unsure if he would try to kill me. My father was cruel, but I knew my mother would never allow him to truly take my life.
"I hope you are right, Aylin, for my heart cannot take watching someone I care about—be killed by his hand." Her words warmed my heart. Halla was not one to share how she felt, and she hated anytime I tried to show her affection. Halla led us into my warm cottage. A part of me wanted to once again offer our village to her. It was not suitable for someone to live alone, in the cold, in the shadow of the mad King who wished for the death of all who were different.
I sat next to Daegon as Halla served us delicious rabbit stew and told us about her adventures since we left. She told us of the giant white wolf stalking her, a wolf she was sure she saw turn into a man before the sun rose.
"You tell lies, Halla." Daegon teased as she threw a hunk of bread at him, my mind racing as I remembered a story my mother told me when I was a child. She told me of a monster white wolf that stalked her cabin for many months. It never tried to harm her, but she often heard its howls during the early morning hours as she tried to sleep. She spoke of how it was not like any other wolf or beast she had seen, for this beast had human eyes that glowed a bright yellow.
"I tell no lies, Sir Daegon. I saw it with my own eyes. I saw his fur turn to skin and his claws become hands. I followed his trail but grew weary when I came upon the ruins that once called my home. I dare not venture there again. The walls hold too many memories."
"There are many creatures of the world that we know nothing of—but a man becoming a wolf?" Daegon said as I noticed Halla growing frustrated with his denial of what she saw. Unfortunately, Daegon often did not believe the wild stories others told unless he saw them with his own eyes.
"I believe you, Halla. I do not know why my mate is so quick to deny you what you saw---but. I have seen things in the forest that made me question my sight." I said as I stood, Daegon smirking as I playfully stuck my tongue out at him. "If you say you saw a wolf turn into a man, I believe it to be true."
"Be that as it may, my love—Halla—I once again offer you to come and join my family and me in the village. You will be safe and cared for—and if it is your wish, you can assist my father with his blacksmith duties."
"You are far too kind, Sir Daegon. The winters in this lonely place are cruel and nearly take my life---if it is truly your wish that I go, then I will join you."
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“If you are not back in five days—I will bring a war to this Kingdom,” Daegon whispered as he kissed me tenderly, my heart racing as I could feel his fear. He did not want me going without him, but I knew if my father laid eyes on Daegon, his life would be forfeit.
“It will not come to that, my mate.” My words brought him no comfort as he hugged me tight, tears welling in my eyes as I forced myself from him and joined Halla with her cart. My heart sank as I looked back at him as we began up the small rocky path towards the mountain, his face stained with tears.
“What made you change your mind, Halla? Before you told me you never wanted to leave your farm.” My question was to break the tension built around us, my hand gripping the small dagger Halla had gifted me. The beasts of the caves did not attack, but Halla said food had been scarce around the Kingdom as of late.
“I have been alone for too long, my friend. Seeing the man-wolf made me realize that my life is vulnerable and that living among orcs as a blacksmith is better than living alone. I have served this King too long and no longer wish to live in fear.” Her words struck my heart as I knew the loneliness she spoke of. Before meeting Daegon that day among the flowers, I felt nothing but solitude.
