Broken Boundaries and Tainted Fangs

Chapter VI

The two walked back to the castle, both not saying a word to each other. Once they arrived at Diaval's abode, the two made their way to the room where they first met. They sat on velvet chairs that were across from each other, nothing but silence falling between them. Neither of them said anything to one another for a whole five minutes.

"So, how did you become a mercenary?" Diaval asked, his voice breaking the silence.

"That is none of your business." Severa growled.

Diaval nodded and hunched over his legs, his elbows resting on his thighs and his head resting on his interlocked fingers. Silence soon loomed over the pair once more.

"I didn't choose to become a mercenary," Severa said suddenly, "It just... happened."

Diaval glanced up at Severa and eagerly listened to her story.

"My parents abused me and said I was too weak to become anything special. They often wished that I was a vampire so that they could get the pleasure of killing me," Severa said softly, "I ran away when I was seven and I've been a loner ever since."

Diaval's face scrunched up at what the wolf said.

"That's horrible..." he mumbled.

"Ever since I was seven, I would train nonstop every single day. When I reached maturity, I was as strong as any full-grown werewolf, almost as strong as an alpha. I would hunt for myself and would often sell precious stones to make money," Severa explained, "That's when I ran into the Alpha of the Silentbite Nightwalkers. He offered me a job to kill another pack alpha's mate."

"Did you take it?" Diaval asked.

Severa sighed before continuing.

"At first, I didn't want to, until I heard how much he was going to pay me. In an hour, I brought back the head of the mate of the Alpha of the Evermane Shadows," Severa answered, "Word spread about my capabilities, and I was offered jobs left and right. For seven years, I've been killing werewolves for every pack in Caldore Forest. In the forest, I became known as Huntress."

Diaval soon raised a brow at the mercenary.

"Your name isn't Huntress?" he asked.

Severa only shook her head.

"So, you lied to me?" Diaval asked.

"Let's just call it a half-truth." Severa answered cleverly.

Diaval chuckled and leaned back into his seat, staring longingly at the dark-skinned werewolf.

"So, what is your name, your real name?" Diaval asked.

Severa averted the prince's gaze and breathed out a heavy sigh.

"Severa," she said, turning back to the vampire, "Severa Hatari."

"Severa, huh? I like that better than Huntress," Diaval said earnestly, "It suits you."

The wolf's eyes shimmered and Severa smiled.

"There's that smile." Diaval spoke, mimicking the mercenary's expression.

Severa scoffed and rolled her eyes.

"Did you do any mercenary work in the past few days?" Diaval asked.

"I killed the alpha of the Silentbite Nightwalkers and the right-hand of the Shadowclaw Hounds," Severa said, "Just a typical day in my line of work."

Diaval looked at the wolf with a surprised look.

"You killed the man that got you started your whole mercenary business?" Diaval asked.

"No, but he had quite the bounty on his head from the Evermane Shadows," Severa answered casually, "I couldn't pass up a kill like that."

The vampire prince chuckled and shook his head fondly.

"You're a tough act to follow," he said, "But, what if a civil war starts between the packs? If you think about it, you'll be the cause of it."

Severa only grinned. Such action startled the dark prince.

"So, tell me about yourself, M'Lord." Severa said with a cocky grin.

Diaval barked out a loud chuckle and grinned at the wolf.

"You already know that I'm a novelist. What more is there to tell?" Diaval asked.

"You tell me." Severa said, leaning on the chair's armrest.

The prince smiled and started speaking.

"When I was young, I was third in line for the throne. I had two older brothers who ruled this kingdom for years and years," Diaval explained, "The oldest was killed by a rogue vampire, making my eldest brother take over."

Diaval breathed out a heavy sigh before continuing.

"He... was killed by werewolves. He had accidentally stepped into their territory and was brought back to us... in ashes..." Diaval explained, "My father was the one who agreed with the werewolves that if either of us steps into each other's territory, we have the right to kill them... We couldn't do anything to save him..."

A wave of sympathy crashed over Severa.

"I'm so sorry..." she said.

"It's fine, really. Figured it was a matter of time before someone came for my head." Diaval said with a grin.

Severa swallowed a lump in her throat as she turned away from the vampire prince. The two talked until the sky turned black, both not realizing that they had completed the third chapter when the sun began to set. Diaval noticed how late it had gotten and offered that he and Severa turn in for the night, something the mercenary did not object to. The two chatted as they walked to Severa's room.

"Good evening, Severa." Diaval said, opening the door.

"Good night." Severa said.

The wolf entered the room and closed the door behind her. That's when Severa leaned her head against the door and slid down to the floor.

"Damn heart," Severa mumbled, "Why is it beating so fast when I'm around him?"

Severa growled and stared out the open window.

"Keep your head on straight, Severa. Once you escape this darn loop, Diaval's heart is as good as yours." Severa told herself.

The mercenary sighed, stood up, and walked over to the large canopy bed. She sat down and stared up at the ceiling.

"Could it be that I...?" Severa questioned out loud.

Severa growled and shook her head in defiance as she felt her cheeks grow hot.

"No! Don't even think like that!" Severa cried, "I'm a werewolf and he's a vampire. It's forbidden for... that to even happen."

Severa then sighed and looked down at the dark oak floor.

"Then, why do I feel like this...?" Severa questioned herself.