Chapter 8: Understanding

  Time: 9:21, Day: Hingaldr, Week: 2, Month: K?rgoyde, Year: 36651

  Ayanna stood rooted in the garden, the statues of the old gods towering around her. Their carved faces seemed to watch her every move, their expressions a mix of wisdom and quiet judgment. The obsidian gleamed under the sun's fading light, the intricate details of their forms catching hues of orange and purple from the sunset. She sighed, brushing the dirt from her hands, her mind still swirling from her earlier encounter with Grim.

  She traced her fingers along the edge of one of the statues, its cold surface grounding her in the present. Yet, her thoughts kept drifting to him—the towering wolf-man who had dropped her into this sanctuary kissed her and left her to fend for herself. What was his game? Was he just another person trying to control her life, or was there something more?

  The soft rustling of leaves brought her out of her thoughts. Her senses immediately heightened, and she turned, half-expecting an attack. Instead, she saw Grim emerge from the tree line, his tall, muscular form illuminated by the fading sunlight. His silver-blue hair shimmered in the light, and his piercing blue eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that made her breath hitch.

  "You’ve made progress," Grim remarked, his deep voice carrying easily across the garden. His eyes swept over the cleared brush, the repaired sections of the temple, and the faint glow of magic lingering in the air. "Didn’t think you’d manage all this so quickly."

  Ayanna crossed her arms, her pink eyes narrowing slightly. “You dropped me here like I was your problem to solve. What did you expect me to do, sit around and wait for you to return?”

  Grim raised an eyebrow, his lips curving into a small, amused smile. “Wouldn’t have blamed you. Most people wouldn’t know where to start.”

  “Well, I’m not most people,” Ayanna shot back, her tone sharp. “And if you’re here to lecture me, you can save it.”

  Grim chuckled lowly, the sound rumbling deep in his chest. “Didn’t come to lecture you, Little Succubus. Just wanted to see how you’re holding up.”

  The nickname made her bristle, though she couldn’t deny the warmth it stirred in her. She turned away, running a hand through her tangled hair. “I’m fine. I don’t need you checking up on me.”

  Grim stepped closer, his movements slow and deliberate. “You don’t need anyone, huh? That's what you keep telling yourself?”

  Ayanna spun around to face him, her wings flaring slightly in frustration. “What do you want from me, Grim? You gonna keep showing up like you care, to act like you don’t. Which is it?”

  For a moment, Grim didn’t answer. He stood there, his blue eyes boring into hers with a depth that made her heart ache. “Maybe I don’t know,” he admitted, his voice quieter now. “But you’re not exactly easy to walk away from.”

  Ayanna’s breath caught, her pink eyes searching his for any hint of deceit. “Why? Why do you care? I’m just some... some mess you found in the woods. You don’t even know me.”

  Grim sighed, running a hand through his hair. “No, I don’t. But I’ve seen enough to know you’re worth more than you give yourself credit for. And maybe... maybe I see a little of myself in you.”

  His words hung in the air between them, heavy with unspoken truths. Ayanna looked away, her emotions a tangled web she couldn’t begin to unravel. “I don’t need saving,” she said softly, though her voice lacked its usual conviction.

  “Good,” Grim replied, stepping closer until he was standing just a few feet from her. “Because I’m not here to save you. I’m here to remind you that you’re free to be you and do as you please.”

  Ayanna blinked, caught off guard by his sincerity. She opened her mouth to respond, but no words came. Instead, she felt a lump rise in her throat, the weight of years of fear and doubt threatening to spill over.

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  Grim reached out, his hand brushing against her shoulder. It was a small gesture, but it grounded her, pulling her back from the edge of her spiraling thoughts. “You don’t have to figure it all out today,” he said softly. “Just take it one step at a time.”

  Her gaze lifted to meet his, allowing herself to believe those words. “One step at a time,” she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper.

  Grim gave a slight nod, his expression softening. “That’s all anyone can do.”

  The two of them sat in the garden as the stars emerged, their light reflected in the obsidian statues. Ayanna felt a strange sense of peace, as if the weight on her shoulders had lessened just slightly. Grim remained by her side, silent but present, his faint aura a steady reminder that she wasn’t as alone as she’d thought.

  For now, it was enough.

  As the night went on, the two sat silently, each lost in their thoughts about the other. Ayanna instinctively grabbed Grim's arm as a tree approached them from the forest across the river. It was a tall, mighty tree that she hadn't noticed. It stopped as it reached the garden's center, blocking the moonlight.

  "Ah, this is the woman you ran from, Child. She is more than just a Succubus; I'm sure your senses have told you that much." The sound of creaking wood scattered about the forest as Elluraine bent down to examine Ayanna.

  "For almost 600 years, I've looked after the God of Beasts; maybe now it's your turn, Little Nephalem." Elluraine smiled, her green pupil-less eyes focused on Ayanna. Elluraine stood tall once more, reaching into her massive canopy and pulling out a dress that looked as if it were woven from the stars themselves. It was silver, black, and red with a shortcut top and a flowing bottom. "This will do better than the rags you have now," Elluraine offers the dress to Ayanna.

  Ayanna had frozen in terror and awe as she had never met a talking tree. Then again, she had only met the Water and Air Sprites earlier today.

  "Th, thank you, O God of the Forest." Ayanna stammered, taking the dress and prostrating herself before Elluraine.

  "Oh, this one is almost as cheeky as you, Child." Elluraine laughed, looking at Grim, "But I am not god; I am but a Dryad and this Child's substitute mother."

  Ayanna sat back on her butt, unknowingly closer to Grim. Grim chose not to look at either woman, his ears tucked back and his tail still.

  Ayanna was suddenly struck with intrigue and curiosity. "Nephal?" she asked, looking at her palms, "And Little Nephalem?"

  "I see," Elluraine’s entire trunk shuddered. “It's a sad existence for one who knows not their place in the world. Soon, you will discover yourself, Little Nephalem." Elluraine turned and crossed the river, returning to where she had come from.

  "Substitute mother?" Ayanna asked, giving Grim a nudge, yet he didn't move or speak for a long while.

  "My mother died shortly after birthing me, and if Elluraine hadn't found me, then I'd probably have died too." Grim's gaze turned toward the moons.

  Ayanna touched his arm, and a wave of unbearable sadness washed over her.

  It wasn't her sadness, but Grim’s.

  "I'm sorry, Grim," Ayanna whispered, pulling her hand back and returning to silence.

  "You’re not going to ask about what she said about you?" Grim brought his gaze down to her.

  She was eyeing the dress laid out in the grass before her.

  "This dress is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen; I'm a little afraid to wear it. I do have a knack for fire." Ayanna said with a flimsy smile, changing the subject purposefully.

  "Just put it on," Grim grumbled, accepting defeat in trying to learn more about her.

  Ayanna's eyes widened, both from Grim’s comment and the shock at herself for feeling shame, "I WILL NOT GET NAKED IN FRONT OF YOU, NO MATTER HOW BAD I WANT TO!" Ayanna flapped her wings to stand up quickly, her hands on her hips, the dress falling to the ground.

  Grim was taken aback, "You want to get naked in front of me?"

  His cocky smile added to Ayanna's feeling of shame.

  "What?! Gods... No?" Ayanna’s tone and stance changed to a shyer and more uncomfortable one as she tried to lie. "I... I didn't mean to say that. Don't you have somewhere to be?" Ayanna pushed him, though he didn't budge. She could feel his emotions briefly when she touched him, which only helped add to her inner turmoil.

  Grim stood, smiling. "Yeah, I should probably get back to Devil's Marsh. An Alpha can't leave the pack alone for too long." He snapped his fingers, and a portal appeared. On the other side, countless glowing gold eyes were in the darkness.

  Grim flashed an arrogant smile at Ayanna before stepping through, the portal closing behind him.

  "Gods Ayanna, what are you doing with him?" Ayanna muttered to herself, her mind wandering in what-ifs as she picked up the dress, clutching it tightly, and headed inside the cottage.

  — The Curator’s Note —

  you feel that shift?

  The next chapter waits in the shadows, patient… much like someone else.