BOUND: Mates at War | 18+

17 Renewed

It seems that luck is on our side. The darkness is working in our favor. We're able to move quickly through the nearly empty streets.

"If we get separated, look to the sky, follow Venus, it will lead you west, to the forest," he squeezes my hand softly.

The first building we come to looks like it might be some kind of market place.

We carefully climb onto the rooftop, surveying our surroundings. The best option is to jump from one building to another, it's the fastest way through the city and we're not likely to be spotted.

I'm not sure exactly how long I've been chained up but my body immediately feels the effects of being completely immobilized for an extended period of time.

I'm winded and sweating by the time we jump the fourth building. I can see the exhaustion in my father's face but he doesn't complain.

We leap onto the next building and the roof begins to crumble under our weight. Much of the city appears abandoned and neglected, buildings left to rot with disuse.

We steady ourselves to move forward hoping the loud rattling of the roof falling hasn't created any unwanted attention. I crouch down to catch my breath, my sides aching.

"Cabed, baw anand an post hi," Ada whispers, waiting for me. (Jump, no time to rest now)

I nod and force my body to continue until we reach the edge of the city. The crumbling wall surrounding the city is our last obstacle before we reach the large, open valley that leads to our forest.

The last jump looks daunting. The building is high above the ground and too far away from the wall.

"Jump to the ground, then climb the wall, it's the only way..." he rubs his tired, furrowed brow, wicking the sweat away.

I nod before letting my body slip over the edge of the building.

"We're almost out," he whispers as we climb the wall slowly. He's trying to encourage himself as much as me now. My hands ache as I struggle to hold onto the small dips and crevices while pulling myself up.

Under normal circumstances this would be easy but everything about the recent period has been normal, our bodies are almost too spent to continue.

After reaching the top of the wall I don't have the strength or effort left in my body to climb down. I jump, landing in the dirt with a thud, my worn body sinking into the ground. The sun starts to rise behind us, the dusky light taking over the dark.

Ada sits beside me with his leaning against the wall and his eyes closed. I stare at him for a moment, he looks peaceful. He has a calmness about him, even in the worst moments.

I lean my head back, too, letting all my weight press against the wall. For the first time since we escaped I'm not focused on moving and running and jumping.

I close my eyes and picture his green eyes, that remind me of the trees near our old home. Something about them draws me in. He sees everything, watching the world around him but he holds himself back, hiding.

In the few moments of softness we shared, I can tell that tenderness is foreign to him. He always binds me, preventing my touch.

He saved us. He saved me.

I know he'll come after us, he'll have to. It's a small miracle he hasn't found us already. The polarities in his personality baffle me. I know the bond is dictating some of his actions, making him act unusual but it can't account for everything.

"We should go, put more distance between us and this place," Ada sighs, pulling himself, then me, up from the ground.

We move through the valley much faster than the city. The terrain is easier to navigate but the wide open plain leaves nowhere to hide. With the trees in sight we're renewed with a boost of energy, both of us breaking into a sprint, running toward home.

As we break into the treeline we both inhale deeply, the rich, arborous air like a healing tonic to our battered bodies. I move to climb onto a low hanging limb, running my fingers over the rough bark, squishing my toes into the soft dirt for a moment. The darkness hanging over the kingdom feels lighter here, each step bringing us out from under the heavy weight.

"Eil," he draws my attention, as he moves from the first tree branch up higher. (Daughter)

I pull myself up and follow him over the branches, walking deftly through the trees, until we meet the shores of the river.

"I was captured near the old lookout post, my bow might still be there," I whisper almost inaudibly.

He nods and directs our course parallel with the river. The rushing sound of the water drowns me in memories. My ears burn red as I think of Romans hands on me, his hands on himself, the soft sound of his panting breaths.
I shake the thoughts from my head. I should be preparing myself for the next time I see him. He helped us once but that doesn't mean he will protect me again. I need to be prepared for a fight when he finds me, and I know he will.

I can feel him, stronger than before, like he is an extension of myself.

A low whistle draws my attention to the ground, my father is already leaping down from the tree before I can see who signaled.

As my feet touch the ground the dense shrubbery surrounding the trees moves slightly, revealing a few elves hiding in the leaves. I can't help the wide smile that covers my face. I don't know these elves, they aren't from our dominion but they are survivors, part of the continuation of our kind.

They bow their heads respectfully to my father before motioning for us to follow them into the bushes.
We have to crawl, low, below the canopy of thick branches until we reach a small clearing deep within the cover of the plants, the forest wrapping around us, protecting us.

Nine wide-eyed elves sit waiting as we emerge from the branches. Hilde, an elf from our dominion, gasps and jumps up, pulling my father and I into a tight embrace. I feel her body shaking, crying into my father's shoulder.

I look around at the group, fourteen, including us. We're small in numbers but it's something.

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