Chaos POV
I was stunned, and so was Colson. I was still getting to know Skye, her powers still a mystery. I knew she possessed the power to teleport, evident by her bringing the vampire here, but I wasn't expecting her to vanish on us. She lacked control, and I could sense her terror through our bond. Blade, restless within me, clawed at the surface, desperate to take control and save her. But I had to remain composed, despite the ache of her absence. I trusted in her strength, believing she could keep herself safe until we reached her. If I were to express my fear through our connection, she might doubt my faith in her abilities.
"Gotta say, you're handling this really well," Colson remarked.. We managed to slip out of the inn at night, the darkness of the woods engulfing us. I carried Skye's backpack, filled with all our supplies.
"I'm not handling this as well as it seems," I confessed, the crunch of leaves underfoot echoing in the silent night. "But I'm doing my best to remain calm for her sake."
Colson nodded, his eyes scanning the shadows. "You trust in her, and that's a good start."
"I have to. She's my mate," I replied. As we pressed forward, the faint glow of Skye's mark on my skin seemed to pulsate, hinting at something extraordinary. We just needed to uncover its true significance.
"I can't shake the feeling that it was too easy to escape," I admitted, my senses heightened.
"Agreed. I've encountered my fair share of evil lords, demons, and fae. They're up to something," Colson confessed, his voice edged with caution.
"I know you're itching to shift and run, and I can match your speed. But they might be searching for you in that form," Colson warned, his eyes locked on the path ahead.
"I know, but walking at this pace will take us several days," I said, frustration evident in my voice. "I agree that we should, for the time being, so I can remain cautious. But I really don't want her waiting that long. Rook, he seemed crafty. I've encountered others like him before, and I don't want him getting his hands on her. He's already caused enough harm," I growled, feeling my anger rise. I tried to push the disturbing thoughts away, but the images of her fleeing from his tent in nothing but undergarments kept flashing in my mind. I had to keep my anger under control. I've always been able to fight with a level head, and I could not let that change now.
"So, they kept you prisoner here. That means you have seen some of the worst of this realm, I'm assuming," Colson questioned.
"It's all I saw," I responded.
"Any information that may help now? Look, I know you may not want to share it all with Skye, but now's a good time if you know anything that may help," Colson admitted.
"The fae have been mining for something in the caves. I was usually taken out for that, but all I did was move rocks and dig. They observed us, but they never told us what they were looking for," I admitted to him.
"The cave Skye is in, the one outside of these woods, was that one of them?" he asked.
"No," I replied. "All I know is that they were obsessed with finding something, and the guys in charge were equally as cruel as the guilty prisoners."
"I'm assuming this was not work the kingdom would approve of?" he asked.
"No idea, nor did I care at the time. To be honest, I stopped caring a long time ago. It was Skye who snapped me out of that," I said.
"Yet, you carry many mental scars. I'm right there with you on that one. Just don't hold it all in. Trust me, you'll explode at some point, and I doubt you want that to happen when you're with Skye, especially since she will absorb it all," he admitted.
"I understand. Skye telling me I may be special or am has left me thinking. I mean, my brother killed his mate, or that's what I believed and was framed for. I never actually confirmed her death. Was I just set up to be here or used? Skye, I'm supposed to be the one protecting her, yet she is tasked with protecting me. Am I really that important?" I muttered.
"If you are, you have one hell of a protector," Colson explained. "Skye will stop at nothing to keep you safe, and I'm sure you will do the same for her."
A sudden sense of unease washed over me, causing a low growl to escape my throat. I could feel eyes on us, a presence lurking in the shadows. Two female fae emerged from the darkness, their movements swift and silent. As they landed near us, I shifted in an instant, my growl growing louder, ready to defend.
To my surprise, the vampire, Colson, stepped forward, positioning himself between me and the fae. "So the rumors are correct," one of the fae spoke, her voice tinged with intrigue. "Sightings of the unicorn and a Vampire carrying a man traveled fast. I knew the moment I heard it had to be you, Lord Colson."
Colson's voice remained calm but firm. "They are safe, Chaos. Shift back," he commanded, but I hesitated, still unsure of their intentions. "Chaos, this is Feather and Aria, Jade's loyal guards. I can confirm they mean no harm." Colson's words urged me to consider their presence.
Reluctantly, I shifted back to my human form, keeping a watchful eye on the fae. Feather and Aria examined me closely, their gazes filled with both curiosity and suspicion. "Is that the wanted prisoner? Explain," one of them demanded.
"First, explain how and why you are here," Colson shot back, his voice tinged with authority.
The fae began to explain, their voices filled with urgency. "The kingdom was attacked shortly after Skye left on her journey. Jade sent us out to track and protect Skye. The kingdom is in trouble, and power from an outside source is blocking any access from outside realms. Yet, it would seem Skye managed to get you here still. We ran into trouble on our way; otherwise, we would have been here sooner. We have lost communication with Jade, but we were told when we left, Skye was top priority."
"Now explain why the prisoner is with you," one of the fae demanded, their voice filled with suspicion.
"He is Skye's mate and is innocent," Colson responded, his words carrying a sense of finality. I felt a surge of gratitude towards him for defending my innocence.
"Where is Skye?" the fae asked.
"The cave just outside this forest, bordering the mountains. She is in danger. Rook and his men are trying to capture her. He is aware of what she is," I explained.
"Thank you, Lycan," Feather, one of the fae, acknowledged with gratitude.
"We will assist in saving Skye and remain with you on this journey," Aria added.
"It's about time," Colson said, a hint of relief in his voice. "I was worried for a moment."
"I questioned Jade for a moment," Colson continued, walking beside me. "There was no way he would simply let Skye leave without hidden protection. But tell me this, why weren't you sent to watch Skye from the start of her journey?"
Colson's question was valid, and it made me ponder.
"Jade dispatched three warriors," Feather explained. "All of them have gone silent. We were attacked almost immediately after. We knew there were those who opposed us, but we were unaware of how bad the situation really was. Jade didn't trust Rook, yet Skye insisted on traveling with him. Jade mentioned how she took interest in the Lycan, so he allowed her to go. He conducted more research into the Lycan when she left and had a feeling there was more to his story. His records have lots of blanks. But before we could dig deeper, the attack happened."
"His name is Chaos," Colson said, looking directly at me.
"My apologies, Chaos," Feather said, catching me off guard. "On behalf of King Jade, please accept his deepest apology for the way this realm has treated you."
I remained unsure of whether I could trust them, but for now, I would accept their assistance in saving Skye. However, their sudden appearance during this critical time seemed a little odd to me.
"Chaos, I'm trying. I promise, I'm trying," Skye's voice echoed in my mind through our connection. Her words filled me with both hope and concern.
"I know you are," I replied, trying to convey my belief in her. "I believe in you, and we are coming. Two more have joined us, Feather and Aria. Should I trust them?"
"They are loyal to Jade. They should be on our side from what I know," she assured me through our link.
"I will remain cautious with them," I responded, my voice filled with caution. "Please tell me you are still okay."
"I'm still hiding," Skye admitted. "I caused a cave-in, sealing off the crack I'm in. But I can't tap into any of my earth power anymore."
As Skye's words sank in, I felt Blade growl within me. We needed to reach her quickly. If she couldn't get herself out, she could suffocate. She was facing more than one danger now.
"I need you to take a few slow, deep breaths, Skye," I instructed, my voice calm yet urgent. "Calm yourself as best you can. And please, keep talking to me through our link every few minutes. I want to hear your voice."
"I will, I promise. I'll be okay, Chaos. Please, be safe," Skye pleaded with me.
"We need to reach Skye immediately," I insisted. "She's struggling with her powers and has sealed herself to protect against Rook and his crew."
"Is she staying in contact with you?" Colson asked, his worry evident.
"Yes," I replied, my mind focused. "I told her to keep speaking to me."
In a swift motion, I shifted into my Lycan form, needing the extra speed. "Hurry, Blade," I urged, who emitted a fierce growl. We sprinted ahead, with Colson and the fae following closely behind.
As we raced, Aria, one of the fae females, flew above me, her wings creating a soft breeze. "The plants here are poisonous," she warned. "I'll shield you to the best of my abilities." I felt a strange barrier enveloping me, moving in sync with my every stride.
Even in my Lycan form, I could sense Skye's mark. It offered a peculiar yet comforting sensation, as if she were physically touching me. The connection it provided was stronger than my own mark. Everything around me blurred as I sprinted with unparalleled speed, leaving Colson and the fae struggling to keep up.
"They went silent," Skye's voice echoed in my mind. "I know they're here. I can sense them, but I can't hear a thing. But the key, Chaos, it calls to me even in this small space. It's as if it's trying to lure me out."
"Skye, wait for me," I pleaded, pushing myself even harder.
Silence.
"Say something, let me know you're okay." I begged. It had been a long time since I heard her voice. Her mark seemed to pulsate against my body, intensifying the connection we shared.
"Skye, you need to tell me you're alright," I insisted through our mental link. "I'm not far now.”
My body felt different, a tingling sensation coursing through me as if her mark was aiding me in some way. "Skye, please!" I yelled through our link.Finally, I came to a stop not far from the cave, the cool breeze rustling the leaves around me. Aria landed gracefully next to me, her eyes fixated on the mark that illuminated in my lycan form.
"She marked you," Aria spoke, "a unicorn mark holds great power, and it seems she is lending that to you now." I glanced at the dark mouth of the cave, its shadows beckoning me.
Shifting back to my human form for a moment, I felt a sense of vulnerability wash over me. "I can't connect with her," I confessed, frustration lacing my words.
Aria's expression grew serious, her brows furrowing. "They have a barrier up," she warned. "they may have figured out that she was communicating with you. I can feel it."
"Her mark is linked to her horn. Concentrate on her mark and break the barrier. Once inside, we will fight those who pose a threat." I closed my eyes, focusing all my energy on the mark etched on my skin. A surge of power coursed through me, an electric current ive never felt before.
"Good," Aria praised, her voice filled with encouragement, "now break the barrier, shift, and run through it." Her words hung in the air, and I knew I had to trust her. I had to try anything to reach Skye.
I shifted back into my lycan form. With a renewed sense of strength, I sprinted towards the mouth of the cave. There was a palpable resistance, a barrier trying to keep me at bay, but I growled fiercely and pushed through it. The resistance shattered, giving way to my determination.
Arie's knowledge had proven true, but her understanding of it made me suspicious of her true intentions. As I made my way towards Skye, I vowed to shield her from everyone until I could discern friend from foe.
"Well, well, the Lycan finally came," Rook taunted, his voice dripping with arrogance. I could hear their faint movements, and I focused on locating them. They may have thought they were a match for me, but I was more prepared now.
"That little unicorn really trapped herself this time. Unfortunately for her, we were prepared," Rook gloated, already assuming his victory. Suddenly, I sensed Colson and Feather entering the cave.
"Hold on, Skye. We are here, and I'm getting the key and you out of here," I communicated through our mental link. Skye's reassuring voice finally echoed in my mind, bringing relief. She was determined to break free and fight alongside me.
As Rook came into view, I lunged towards him. The cave trembled, a clear sign that Skye had regained some control. I felt no fear in fighting alongside her; instead, I embraced it. I wished to stand by her side, facing our enemies together, knowing deep within me that we would emerge victorious.