06-22-2021, 08:41 PM
Even though he knows that she speaks in jest, the brindle creature still smiles, both pleased by the adjectives and easily playing a good-humored Gale. He says nothing, only gives her the same handsome smile that had won their father several hearts, and looks toward the sky when she does, pondering his own query.
He can feel her. Just there, at the edges of his awareness. She’s fidgeting like Ciri had when she’d pulled down her stars, a jittery sort of movement that does not move a muscle in her body. Magic, a kind he does not have.
The Curse has been at work through the summer, turning the mountainous Hyaline into a sanctuary and eliminating risks to his survival. Mazikeen has pledged her obedience, and he has rid the lake of the kelpie infestation. Looking now at Aela, he wonders how soon she might become a risk to his survival.
Mazikeen had only made him promise not to hurt his brothers, as unaware of his sister as Gale had been at the time. How brightly would the Alpha’s fury glow, Gale wonders, if he came to her bed tonight covered in his Aela’s blood?
The image is almost worth the hassle of killing her, but Gale only smiles instead of lunging forward, and yawns before meeting her gaze.
“I’ve learned a new trick,” he tells her, having come up with the idea several hours earlier but not yet having had a chance to practice on anything but a pastel fawn.
“Would you like me to show you?” She does not think he is fearsome and terrible, and he wonders how long that might be so. Not long at all if he fails in his attempt, he thinks, but at least she will not live long enough to hold it against him.
He can feel her. Just there, at the edges of his awareness. She’s fidgeting like Ciri had when she’d pulled down her stars, a jittery sort of movement that does not move a muscle in her body. Magic, a kind he does not have.
The Curse has been at work through the summer, turning the mountainous Hyaline into a sanctuary and eliminating risks to his survival. Mazikeen has pledged her obedience, and he has rid the lake of the kelpie infestation. Looking now at Aela, he wonders how soon she might become a risk to his survival.
Mazikeen had only made him promise not to hurt his brothers, as unaware of his sister as Gale had been at the time. How brightly would the Alpha’s fury glow, Gale wonders, if he came to her bed tonight covered in his Aela’s blood?
The image is almost worth the hassle of killing her, but Gale only smiles instead of lunging forward, and yawns before meeting her gaze.
“I’ve learned a new trick,” he tells her, having come up with the idea several hours earlier but not yet having had a chance to practice on anything but a pastel fawn.
“Would you like me to show you?” She does not think he is fearsome and terrible, and he wonders how long that might be so. Not long at all if he fails in his attempt, he thinks, but at least she will not live long enough to hold it against him.