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If you are to speak of a matter so delicate in his presence, do so with care. Lest you spark the darkness in him and return the world into it's most wicked of year's.
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[SHADE SHADOWS]

I FOLLOW after him, and I realize he is waiting for me in an aisle and soon we're treading rows side by side.

Glancing at the stack in his hands, I note his load is many times heavier than mine and yet there is no strain in his grip, and if anything, he looks lost in thought rather than minding too much about how heavy the books were.

"Shade," He begins.

A shiver crosses my spine at this and I raise an eyebrow at the sudden mention of my name.

I am already looking at him, but his gaze is forward.

"Yes?"

I always prefer my name to my title. I know that I like hearing people say my name, but something about the master saying it makes me feel seen.

I acknowledge it is progress. Ever since that talk, he has been careful to say my name.

I like it. I like it a lot.

He seems to be lost in thought, again his eyes have not met mine, still focused ahead.

"I know that you do not have a wolf, but I need to know something."

My eyebrows arch at the sudden statement:

"What is it?"

"There is a glow, one every wolf has," he begins.

My eyebrows arch at this, but keep listening.

"It feels like a pull.." he trails off, eyebrows arching slightly. He grows silent, but his eyes clear as if he can see what he wishes to describe—

"It is warm, and it feels like hope. An assurance that your mate lives. Either far or near, it does not matter. The point is, because of that feeling, you are aware they exist."

I nod along to this thought process.

I know what he speaks of. I heard AMA talking to Vale about it once, year's ago.

"Yes. I know this feeling."

His gaze snaps to mine at my statement, "You know it?"

I smile, nodding, "When I was younger, my sister and I, as outcasts were often bullied by the other pups.  They would say mean things. Things I was already accustomed to. Things like..." I trailed off, my gaze skipping, "the curses bestowed upon us for beings Rogues and Keffers. How we would die alone and unwanted. These words did not hurt me. I know that because of what I am, I will never have a mate, but Vale.."

I sighed, "they would tease her. Tell her that because she was with me, my curse will rub off on her and she probably would never have a mate."

Icould feel his eyes on me, " Vale went weeping to AMA. I supposed a fate like mine was too much to bear. I did not hate her for it. She was a child and she was scared. She had a wolf too, one that could not bear the thought of being alone. I did not have one. I did not understand too much about bonds. But it was then I learned about the pull. AMA assured her that one day she would feel it. And then she would know."

He pauses, and I walk a bit before realizing he is not behind me. I turn to look at him.

"And you?" He asks, his breath is heavy and his eyes are serious, "you've never felt it?"

My eyebrows draw together, then my fingers tighten around my books.

What sort of question is that?

I am a keffer. Of course, I cannot feel such a thing.

I feel he is teasing me again and I feel stupid.

"No. No, I have not, master."

My jaw clenches and I leave him in the middle of the aisle.

I cannot believe that he would ask me such a thing.

It is cruel in its own right. I move up the ladder, and I am more angry than I realize, now placing books into their slots, until I ask myself why I am angry.

Is it because he asks questions of me? He is in a study.

Perhaps it is required. I cannot keep getting angry about these things. The only reason this friendship was designed was for the study.

How is he to ask if I always become defensive?

I pause at this, feeling more stupid. I know these things. It is not wrong for him to ask. I am just defensive. But that will take us nowhere.

He appears in the row and I look away, straightening the books.

He is quiet as he stands beside me, "Have I crossed another line?" He suddenly asks.

I freeze as I shelve a book, staring into the row, my shoulders falling.

"No. You have not. I overreacted. You asked a question, probably valuable for your study. You did nothing wrong."

I turned to look down at him, "I am sorry, I should not be defensive. Friends should be able to talk freely."

He does not reply, but moves closer so I can reach the books in his arms.

"But I am curious," I continue, "does that confirm what I am?" I huff. U can not help but ask.

"I have no wolf, I feel no pull. So, yes, therefore I am a keffer," I scoff.

Perhaps that is why I am defensive. Another cold hard fact to remind me that I am a curse.

That I am destined to be alone.

Selene, I needed to leave the Night Court.

I could not be trapped within these walls, destined to rot and watch other's happiness from the shadows.

That will not be the way this ends for Vale or me.

I refuse to let it end like that.

My gaze is intense, and I am quicker to file the books. Side by side.

"It confirms nothing," he mumbles.

I glance at him and I can see now that he is deeper in thought.

I watch him curiously, my eyebrows drawn together, "Is there something that troubles you?"

His gaze flashes to mine.

"You seem..." I trail off, "bothered."

This seems to shake him awake and he shakes his head, "perhaps just the trouble with the Kingdom."

I am not convinced by this answer but I take it. 

I am worried it might be something worse. I turn back to packing, taking books off his stack.

"And your dreams?" he asks, "Have you dreamt of me lately?"

The words shock me and I taken aback when I quickly flip to him, missing my footing. I fall back backward but his arm is quicker, guiding my waist so I can regain a footing, my fingers clutching to the sides of the ladder, to which I hold on for dear life, my heart pounding within me.

"Alright?" He asks, his tone slightly breathless, his hand on my waist slides up to my back, moving so he can see me better.

He does all this, still with a pile of books cradled in his other hand.

I side-glance his way, breathless and still hugging the ladder but I nod, eyes wide, "I-I'm fine... I think."

He pauses as if searching for truth, but his hand slips off me and holds the ladder down so I can release myself from it and gather my thoughts as well as straighten my clothes.

"Thank you.." I huff. I am embarrassed at best.

His eyebrows are still arched and I offer him a short smile, grabbing more books off his stack, my heart racing, and fingers a slight shake as I pack.

Strange that I can still feel the graze of his fingers on my back.

"D-Dreaming of you?" I echo., my mind flashes to images of him in the field of flowers and my cheeks heat, but I cannot blush like Vale so my secret is safe and hidden.

This is a lie I believe is okay not to reveal.

For what will he think of me? Dreaming of him in that manner.

"No," I swallow, before turning back to him, "I told you, my dreams are often dark. I have only had my usual dreams. The Night Wolf."

His gaze falls and he seems lost, and even confused, "Strange."

"It is the peculiar question to ask," I manage a grin, "Where you dreaming of me?" I joke.

His gaze flashes to mine, quick to answer. "I believed I was."

I freeze at his words, but he sighs, handing me the last book, "Perhaps it was just your voice."

My fingers stiffen around the book and my heart beats faster the longer hold his gaze. I can not believe he says that. That he dreams of me.

I manage to look away, trying to beg my heart to stop beating so fast.

This was ridiculous. I realized.

I knew what was happening. My cheeks were heating, and my fingers shaking. My heart beating fast.

These were all signs of the worst feeling a keffer such as I could possess in the land of Valcane. And these feelings for a master?

How stupid of my body to betray me like this. Again.

But I have been down this way before, and it took cruel words to get me back to my senses.

I knew that this feeling was only developed because a man was kind to me.

Few men have ever been kind to me. I have fallen for most of them and in return, I have had my heart stretched.

Yes. I knew what had to be done to get me back on the right path.

"I do not know much about you, Master," I begin, my gaze trailing down to him. I am still perched on the ladder and he is beside it.

"You know that I have AMA and my sister, you know of my beginnings, how I was found in a pile of ash. You know about my dreams, and I, only know that you are the Night Wolf's favorite Master."

"There isn't much else," he replies.

"Do you not have parents or a sibling? I know you have cousins," I chuckle.

"My Father is gone, my Mother remains and I have no siblings." he responds stiffly not giving it a further thought.

My eyebrows gather at this. He is always like this. Unfeeling and cold. His answers are always factual, nothing in between.

"Ah," I nod. He is straight to the point. But I can teach him to speak more, "Anything else?"

"That is all."

"There is always more to a being than that," I push, "I will begin. Follow my lead.." I offer, "I will teach you how to give a proper introduction."

He watches me and I turn slightly on the ladder, starting a monologue, "I am shad shadows," I smile, "and I like sunny days, and stormy nights strangely. Because on nights like those, Vale, AMA, and I would be indoors, reading books or telling stories. I love stories. I have not read much, but I like to listen to them.

My favorite place was the flower fields, they would always be in bloom. There was a small creek that ran through the forests. I would waste many hours trying to catch as many frogs as I could. My favorite color is green because it reminds me of the flower field and the tall grass that would hide me during the day. Some of the scents of the flowers were so strong the pups could not pick my scent through them and I would be left alone for as long as I wished..." my gaze trailed to him, "That is me."

He seems to be listening. That was good.

I sit down on the ladder, "Your turn."

His gaze remains on mine as if debating.

When he realizes I'm still waiting, he sighs, "I do not like sunny days, they are too bright and they hurt my eyes."

I purse my lips at this. Okay...

"I prefer the dark. Because It is quiet and sometimes pleasant." He watches me and I shift slightly.

But I nod again, prodding him to go on.

He seems encouraged, eyebrows arching slightly and his gaze lingers forward as if thinking more.

"I have sanctuary..." he trails off, "It is private, dark and I like it. I like to read books... not all kinds but - there are some I have memorized to the letter. My childhood was nothing to remember after my father's death. My mother did not quite understand a child like me, and neither did the other pups. They were often afraid of my dar- silence.." he trailed off, looking down at his attire, "I have never thought of colors. Perhaps I would say I like black because of its beauty and comfort but I wear it because it is plain and calm. Something I crave."

I nod along. "I can understand that-"

His gaze meets mine once more, "Is that enough?"

I raise both eyebrows at this, "Uhm.. It is enough. For now." I urge.

He nods.

I think it through, and I know now is when I need to end it all—

"And your mate?" My heart skips a beat. But it is necessary to remind my heart of its place, "Does she agree that black your color?" I joke, a smile forming through.

His gaze abruptly darkness and suddenly the library feels colder. His jaw ticks, "I would not know."

My eyebrows arch, "what do you mean? Your mate has not said anything about it?"

A dark shiver travels up my soine when what feels like a gust of wind travels through the library, the fire flickering.

"What is-"

"I must leave now. Goodbye." He huffs, turning around and storming off into the darkness.

My gaze follows him and I am taken aback. Even as another gust blows passed and this time it gets colder.

Diane flutters to my side.

I glance at the bird, shivering slightly, and I reach out to pet her feathers.

The bird is trembling.

I have no idea what this feeling is, but I have also registered how solemn the master became.

Had I said something wrong?
Asking about his mate?

I Sighed, stepping off the ladder. There was much more to do.