I AM NOT DEAD SURPRISINGLY. I just haven't had motivation to write, but I'm back! I have been writing for the past few weeks, but it's been a new story, which is started. It's called "melancholia" and you can find it on my page! Anyways, thank you to those of you who haven't completely given up on me just yet. I know I'm a mess but I working on it. And, of course, I hope you enjoy the chapter!  

Chapter Fourteen

When we arrived back at the castle, there stood Shaterria, her arms crossed as she watched us. Her dark eyes were filled to the brim with suspicion, but Sage and I remained quiet as we rode up to her.

"What are you up to?" This question is not pointed towards both of us but stabbed directly at me.

"I wanted to see my father, so I did," I replied crisply, pulling the horse up to a stop and climbing off. I gently stroked his head before handing over the reins to a nearby guard.

Sage did the same, walking up next to me. Shaterria examined us both, the fiery look in her eyes portraying she was not yet satisfied by my answer.

"That required a mass of guards to chase after you? Sage, are you going to continue her lie for her or tell the truth?" She asked, and I clicked my tongue in response to show my distaste for her words.

Sage shot me a look before turning his attention to her. "She informed me when I found her that she was visiting her father. Rowan came back willingly so I do not see the need for alarm," he answered calmly, causing Shaterria to sigh, her dark eyes glancing towards the sky.

"I see you intend to be dragged down into the trenches with her," she started before adding, "The King requested your presence, Rowan."

I felt Sage's hand brush against the small of my back, as if not trusting me to leave. "Then we shall go," he said, nodding at Shaterria before gently guiding me towards the entrance.

However, Shaterria shook her head, placing a hand on Sage's chest. "You are to assist me with an errand. Rowan is to go alone."

I could feel the air freeze around us, waiting for chaos to strike. But Chaos remained hidden, deciding now was not the best time.

Still, Sage frowned, his light eyes holding an overcast. "I am not to leave her alone with him, no matter the circumstances. You know-" Sage started arguing with Shaterria, his voice firm.

"I will be fine. I can handle my own against him," I said, cutting their words off.

"I would have faith in you if I did not know about your attitude," Sage shot back without hesitation.

I crossed my arms, raising an eyebrow. "Then you are willing to place your distrust in me over your loyalty for King Sandalius? If you join me, you would only be disobeying and disrespecting him."

I could finally see him yield to me, hearing his sigh and the frustration within his body language. "Rowan," he started as if to lecture. But I would not hear it.

"I will be fine," I pressed, and I could see him waver.

"You need to be careful, Rowan. You may be the Tamer of Animals, but he is not just an animal. Keep that in mind," he said, the anger having drained from him as it was replaced with a mix of worry and caution.

I feigned annoyance, however, I was anything but. The few times I had been with the King had not gone well and I did not think it was wise to go alone. I knew animals, but humans were still a mystery to me.

The King had requested to see me alone and that was how I would meet him. I would not allow him to think I did not have enough strength to visit him alone or that he had control over me. That was something that caused deaths and vicious attacks in the wild.

So I would go alone and convey that I was not scared or intimidated by him in any way.

"I am not as dense as you seem to believe. Run your errand and find me when you return. We have to prepare for the King's departure into the woods," I said, before turning and walking into the castle.

I thought it was best to leave my things inside the room I was residing in. If I had to run, I did not want to stumble while holding my things. I then head there, Todd restlessly chattering in my ear.

"I know, little one," I start as I open the door, walking into the dark room. "You're free to roam about in a moment."

Todd's chattering unexpectedly turned into low warning growls and I froze, my hand hovering over the light. Someone else was in here.

I switched the light on, turning to find someone sitting on the bed, hazel eyes watching Todd and I. Todd's growls grew into snarls and I could feel him struggling to get out of the bag. His senses told him that it was a predator that sat in front of us.

"Enough," I snapped, gently taking him out the bag and bringing him into my arms. He calmed his snarling into silence, however, his fur bristled in every direction, his ears were flat against his skull, and his eyes never left the King's.

The King's eyes were now solely on Todd, seeming to have forgotten about me. The moment the King's mouth opened, Todd's own did the same as he bared his teeth.

"He looks as if he has been through his fair share," the King murmured, studying Todd who was a ball of fear and energy by now.

"What do you want?" I asked, ignoring his words. I was not interested in side chatter with a man who I wanted nothing to do with.

His eyes were still on Todd as he asked, "Where did you go?" The question was simple, yet I could feel the warning it contained.

"I went to visit my father, as I'm sure you know. You are wasting both our time by asking pointless questions," I replied, and his hazel eyes turned away from Todd and landed on my own. I stiffened, remembering Sage's advice of avoiding eye contact. Yet, once again, I found myself unable to do so.

It was incredible, how much his eyes resembles those of a wolf. If I did not see the pale skin that shaped itself over his skull, I would not notice a difference. The whites of his eyes were not visible, only the yellow coloration looking at me. It was what gave him the same wise, endless stare of a wolf.

He watched me for a moment and I thought perhaps we would stay like that, but he then abruptly moved off the bed, advancing towards me. He walked slow with intent, like a predator stalking its oblivious prey.

Todd's growling returned at the movement, his muscles bunching together within my arms. I pressed my lips against his ear, soothing the both of us as I said, "Hush." The growls subsided into grumbling which was enough for me at the moment.

I also thought he would stop sooner rather than later, but he did not. He continued walking until he was close enough to Todd and I that Todd began snapping in my arms, uncomfortable with the idea of a predator so close to him.

"If you lie to me again, Rowan, you will soon learn why the castle is void of humans," he said quietly, the threat clear despite Todd's audible aggression.

I bristled at the threat, beginning to feel as Todd was. King Sandalius was doing exactly as before, however, I would not allow it to affect me in the same manner. I would not leave, not yet. I would show him that he was not the only dominant one here.

"I will not scare off easily," I said, determination an anchor for my words.

King Sandalius simply laughed at my words, unaffected. The sound was off somehow as if he didn't laugh very often. It was soft yet echoed throughout the whole room. "I've already scared you off and have yet to do anything," he replied, his expression hardening.

For that, I had no response. I had left, with every intention of never returning. "Am I not standing here right now? I've returned, that is more than most can say," I said after a moment, my eyes never leaving his.

His hazel eyes flickered at my words as if considering them. They softened with confusion before I was shut out by the expressionless face I had seen before. "Will you stay is the question at hand. How many can say that out of hundreds, hmm?" He asked, his voice causing a chill to run itself across my spine.

With that, he moved and slipped behind me, my back now turned towards him. I gritted my teeth, knowing I shouldn't have given him my back. Yet, he had moved too quickly for me.

As if reading my thoughts, he paused after opening the door, saying, "You should never give your back to someone. That is when they attack."

And then, he was gone.