Page 26 of To Love A Monster
“Forgive my mate. His manners have escaped him. I am Aylin, daughter of Paeris. This is my mate Daegon, Chief of the Ironshield clan, and Halla, the last of the dwarfs of Oryndaas.” I knelt next to him, Daegon staying close as I knew he did not trust this man.
“I am Soryn, the once son of the former King Owyen, of the 2nd age of men.” I gasped at his admission since King Owyen was long since dead, his bloodline lost since his son was presumed lost in the great battle between Orcs and Men, a battle that lasted two years and took the lives of many Orcs.
“Soryn? The lost Prince of the Kingdom of Fyelya?” Daegon asked in disbelief, my thoughts racing as the name escaped me. My mother taught me many things but often omitted any mention of past wars or conflicts. This battle, however, she told me, was no mere battle but the slaughter of Orcs and their families. She told me that pure hate-fueled the battle, and the loss of Soryn ended it.
“Fyelya no longer exists. The King took his own life when he thought his son—you—had been lost in battle.” Daegon said as he sheathed his dagger and knelt by my side. “How are you alive?”
“My story is a long and sad tale—and I am void of clothing.” He shivered as Halla rushed to her pack and pulled a pair of breeches she had been mending for Daegon. I looked away as Soryn slipped the breeches over his legs, the fabric fitting him almost perfectly. He was almost as tall and muscular as Daegon, but he was not nearly as strong out of his wolf form.
“Thank you, Halla, and thank you, Daegon, for not striking me with your large dagger.” He said as he stood on shaky legs, Halla motioning for them to sit under a large oak tree and away from the snow.
Soryn sat against the tree trunk, his arms resting on his knees as Daegon made a fire for them. I felt annoyed that we were delaying our return to the village, but I had to put my lust for Daegon aside, at least for the moment. It was incredible that the lost son of King Owyen was sitting within arm’s reach. He was not old or showed a single sign of aging.
“How is it you became what you are, Soryn? From the tales I have heard, you were once the most feared soldier in your father’s army.” Halla said as she began to cut up potatoes for the small stew, the fire warming us as Daegon pulled me into his lap. He nuzzled his nose against my neck, a simple gesture that he knew I adored.
“I was a bastard of a man. I was arrogant and merciless and treated people like dirt beneath my feet. I was not worthy of the title that I was born with. I see that now. Back then, all I wanted was to defeat those orcs in battle and drive them from our lands. My blood lust knew no bounds, and my sword killed many Orcs and their families. I was a ruthless and heartless prince, but in my arrogance, I sought out the Necromancer of the forest.” His words caused Halla’s face to go pale since she, too, had once sought out this Necromancer.
“You know of them?”
“I do. They took pity on me.” Her words caused his face to go stern and full of sadness since the Necromancer had not taken pity on him. Fear filled my body as I hoped I would never have to cross paths with this dark sorcerer, but something in my soul knew that our paths would cross one day.
“I called them out for over two days, knowing that my time away from the battlefield would be missed, but in my arrogance, I figured that if they did not help me win this battle, I would force them with my sword to kill all my enemies. Then, when they finally appeared, I demanded their allegiance to my Kingdom, and I threatened their life to be forfeited if they refused to help. So I drew my sword and held to them. That was my mistake.”
“I assume that they cursed you instead of helping?”
“You assume correctly, Aylin, daughter of Paeris. Before I could raise my sword, their claw-like hand wrapped around my throat and lifted me effortlessly from the ground. Their glowing glass-like eyes still haunt me as they spoke my curse to fruition. I had a beastly heart with no soul—so they cursed me to walk as a beast and never know the warmth of love again. I can control when I take wolf form, but my rage and anger overtake me at times, and I lose all control.”
“Can the curse be broken?” Daegon asked as I could feel his heart pounding in his chest. He felt uncomfortable around Soryn, but his reasons were justified. I knew that long ago, Orcs and men were mortal enemies, but I never imagined meeting a long-since fallen warrior of that time. The hate that Soryn once held for Orcs knew no bounds.
“Anything is possible, but I would have to seek out the one who cursed me—and out of fear, I stay away. I will live as a beast until I am the last person left in these lands before I seek out the one who cursed me.” His words sent fear into my heart as I could not imagine being forced to walk this world as a beast with the burden of eternal life.
“Do you have a home?” I asked as I felt Daegons gaze on me as he knew my intentions for my question. I knew he would protest having Soryn in the village, but I would not leave him alone in the wild wood with the burden of such loneliness.
“I have not had a home in many ages, the last I saw of my castle—it had fallen into ruin. I wander these lands, taking refuge in caves and old ruins.”
“If my mate agrees—we would like to offer you to stay in our village, as long as you can keep the beast inside you contained,” I said as Daegon gently squeezed my waist as if to protest, but he also knew that I would not be persuaded. His expression was stern as I glanced up at him, his eyes softening as I squeezed his thigh with my hand.
“You would ask me to join your village? What have I done to deserve to live among those I once slaughtered? Will others not protest having Soryn, Son of Owyen, in their village?”
“Others will see you only as a man who lived among the woods, former Prince. Consider this your first step of atonement. My mate Aylin will not budge on this, so you might as well accept—but know this, if you step out of line, I will not hesitate to kill you.”
“I will respect your wishes, Chief Daegon, and earn my place among your people. I only ask that they never know my true form or horrid past. I wish to be seen as a good man rather than just a beast of the woods.”
“Your secret will be kept between us.”
New Beginnings
DAEGON
“I could hear the cheers from the village as we came over the hill, everyone gathering as the whispers started. I was not returning with just my mate but with two strangers that I knew would be accepted, but I feared that Soryn would be unable to keep his other form contained. My thoughts went hazy as I could smell Aylin’s arousal in the air, the urge to throw her over my shoulder and rush to our bed nearly overtaking me.
Our mating lust was almost too overwhelming, but I knew I had to attend to my people before I filled my beautiful mate with my seed. I knew that the horrendous curse of her womb was lifted, but I could sense her fear when I touched her. My stupid words had cut her deep, and I felt immense guilt for hurting her, even though she had forgiven me. We had made love twice, but I felt sadness in her each time. I would spend the rest of my life showing Aylin how much I loved her and how much she meant to me.
“Daegon—are you listening?” Aylin pulled me from my thoughts as I smiled down at her, my hand taking hers as our horses walked side by side.
“Forgive me, my love. What did you say?” I asked as I saw her smirk, my lips gently kissing her knuckles, my heart soaring once again as I still could not believe that a woman as wonderful as her was my mate. The moment I laid eyes on her in the flower fields, my heartbeat for her and only her. Several in the small town of Fairhorn were jealous of us, but it was not the lovers I had taken to my bed. The town held several unmated men, men that no maiden nor orc connected with. Some of the maidens would whisper about them, the men’s love for other men, not something that was frowned upon. The heart chose to love, and the soul chose the mate, so to feel shame was foolish in my eyes.
“The Elders are approaching; do you think they will know of Soryn? Will they know of his past?”
