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"Do you think the Night Wolf has a heart little one? His part of the Prime wolf is dark, tis why the Moon hides his soul.
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[Shade Shadows]

My breath paused low and shallow, my fingers as frozen as icicles clutched around my rag dress, as I stared straight ahead to the feet of the strange master that stood before me.

Confusion flooded my body, one that had been previously relaxed, having succumbed to my fate already.

I had simply made too many mistakes the past few days to deserve to take another breath. I had disobeyed Madam Catherine, let myself be seen by the dark shadow with amber eyes- whether that had been a trick of the light or not.

I had made noise in the master's library, a sanctuary they sought solace. Lit it up like it was midday on the hottest day of summer.

Then I had dared to look into the eyes of a master, not once but repeatedly and now- I had raised my voice, yelling at a ranked lord.

The only penalty that awaited me was death. It was what had always awaited me as a Keffer. No matter how hard I fought- no matter how many dreams I had of freedom, of the land beyond the sea.

I was supposed to be dead or severely punished to the point death would have been kinder, slaves were killed for far less and yet, here I knelt... still breathing.

A master offering his protection.

I blinked blankly at this, unable to comprehend if I had heard right, my fingers tightening around my dress.

"Did you hear me, Keffer?"

My body froze at the voice, drawing me back to reality, eyes clearing into the sight of his blurry robe that covered his sandaled feet slightly.

This couldn't be right.

Why would a master offer his protection? Was he trying to make a mockery of me?

If he was truly interested in me, he should know I have no choice but to be at his disposal, I had no rights over my own body, all he commanded I would do. He didn't have to offer anything in return.

It could be a trap. A trap to what? I couldn't say- but I could not believe a master would simply offer his protection to a Keffer.

My head bowed low, licking my dry lips.

But if he were honest, if his offer was true, what would he protect me from? He certainly had power over a lot of things as a master but from the Night Wolf?

He could only bow and tremble as everyone else did.

"Protection?" I whispered, my voice stale and hoarse, I smiled a little, though my mind was far gone. "A-ask master, I will answer. I am a slave- I will do your bidding. It is my punishment after all."

Silence loomed between us. My knees hurt from kneeling too long but that was the least of my troubles. I simply yearned for peace. I did not desire to leave Vale, but even she would understand that as a Keffer I never stood a chance.

I hated living in fear.

Perhaps the master would grant me a peaceful death.

Even if I was not killed today, if I did not manage to escape, or even worse, was caught escaping I would die a horrible death. Either by the guards or the night wolf himself.

"I know you are a slave-" he gritted out.

My heart pounded at this, he sounded angry-

He moved toward me until he was directly in front of me, my gaze immediately dropped further to the floor, and my breathing was low and harsh.

"And I know what authority I have over you," he continued, his voice slightly softer this time, my eyebrows arching as I took note of this.

A passing moment hovered between us, the sounds of our low breaths in the air. Mine followed slightly with panic.

"Look at me."

The command came strong but calm. I remained frozen. I couldn't understand why he asked this of me, it was against Madam Catherine's rules.

"You've done it more than once; you can certainly do it again."

My heart began that hard pound inside me. I couldn't understand if he desired for me to look up or if this was a reason to relieve my head off my body.

I shut my eyes, burying the panic that stormed within me, reminding myself my fate had always been certain. If I was to die, however, I would die as Shade Shadows, and not as a Keffer slave.

"Keffer?" he sang questionably but softly, his voice hanging in the air.

"Shade," I whispered, lowly to myself mostly, before looking up, capturing those peculiar eyes once more, his eyebrows slightly arched, lips a loose breath apart.

"Shade." He repeated, a dark glint in his eyes as they traveled my face for a moment.

Goosebumps traveled through my skin as he replayed my name. Something about the way he said it, how he played with it, I had only whispered it, but he had plucked it from its hidden pocket in thin air.

Wolves. Of course.

It can only be his sharp hearing.

His fingers moved toward my face, I hated when people tried to touch my skin and my hair, leaving their hateful comments about it, pulling at it.

I waited for that moment, closing my eyes softly, but it never came. I opened them, noticing his fingers had frozen spaces away, his eyes still studying my face, before pulling away, hands clasping behind his back.

I should have felt relieved but I knew, if he didn't touch it, it could be because he was the kind that thought of himself as to worthy to touch a Keffer.

I simply could not win.

"Do you accept?" He asked.

My eyebrows drew together. He was serious then? I could tell from the look in his eyes and the tightness in his jaw.

"Why would you wish to protect a Keffer if you could simply take what you want?" I asked softly, uncertain of the boldness I was displaying.

He rolled his eyes for a second, sighing, as he looked away, his eyes trailing to the bookshelf for a moment, before looking back at me, catching me suddenly as I studied the sharp outline of his side profile, causing me to catch a breath.

"Perhaps I have many slaves to control, perhaps it would be refreshing... for my study to have one to whom I can truly understand," he paused, his head slanting slightly as he studied me.

"If you can offer me that, I will give you my protection in exchange."

"Y-You need willingness."

He paused in my eyes at this, then nodded slowly.

"I need you to be free and open if I am to study you. I have my interests and my reasons. Looking into my eyes, I will be able to read your honesty."

I took out a shallow breath, my eyes dropping to the floor for a moment as I thought this through.

"A-and if I agree-" I began, uncertainty in my voice as I cleared my throat, "You say you will protect me. You have power over the guards, b-but Madam Catherine watches over us, she k-keeps us safe from them-" I paused, gulping, "At least so far," my eyes snapped up to him pausing for a moment.

"I only need protection from one being..."

"The Night Wolf."

We held each other's gaze as I nodded slowly.

"Y-yes but no one can protect me from him. My days are numbered in his court. And if the masters already know of my existence-" I swallowed bitterly.

"I am afraid it will only be a matter of time till he does."

Silence again.

"The Night Wolf will not hurt you."

My eyes snapped to him, nervously chuckling dryly for a bit.

"He will, I am a Keffer in his court. We are not supposed to live so long in his region," I whispered the last part softly.

He held my gaze for a moment, his jaw tightening before suddenly walking past me.

My eyebrows arched, eyes following him, my body slightly turning.

"I will keep the other masters in order, they will listen to me. I am the Night Wolf's most trusted master after all."

My eyes widened at this, my heart beating lowly. His most trusted master? Could I be this lucky? Was it possible?

Could I even trust him?

Then again, he had no reason to lie. I could be safe, at least until I had an escape plan.

"Still, you are right, it has its risks. Trusted or not, The Night wolf does what he pleases," He trailed off, whilst my heart fell slowly.

He turned round again facing me. "Think about it, Shade. I'll return for your answer."

With that, he moved through the aisles, getting lost in the flicker of light.

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