The Taming

Too Many Cups

"The library?" Sebastian queried. Guessing that's where the Alpha would be.

Rhyers nodded.

The Fallen. Sebastian thought as he wandered downstairs.

It was nigh time Bast went to work helping Deragan pour through the pages of the ancient records, Acharius, the Viking had been maintaining.

She's bound to be in one of her old haunts.

Bast found several of the rolled lengths of parchment on the Fallen's recent movements. He headed down the mountain toward Grier. Planning to run a line straight to the Dread Hideout. To Acharius.

He can look for Radix's newest lair while he's at it.

He'll be delighted. Sebastian thought with wicked glee. Knowing how much Acharius hated pouring through the old documents.

Despite that most would assume with his upbringing, Acharius would've had little culture, he'd experienced much in his countless years at sea. Visited numerous countries during his raids. It'd been he that mapped Ardae for them. Chronicling every location, they'd ever found the Fallen.

No one has more time...Bast thought dryly.

Acharius always complained of boredom. He'd already read every book Bast had taken him just six nights ago.

He'll have something to read now. Bast thought. Knowing Acharius' joy would turn to gloom at the sight of the scrolls.

Enough time has passed. Sebastian knew. It's time we start looking for her...

Though the thought of leaving the valkyrie was becoming harder and harder to swallow.

I just want to be here.

With her.

***

It'd been about a month since Deragan arrived at WaterRose. He'd been lurking around the castle ever since his arrival.

It's been a long time since his last visit.

The last time Deragan had come, it was to meet Mardichi's poor mate.

That didn't go particularly well.

Deragan was getting progressively less tolerant. His agony at missing his mate more apparent with each passing day. His restlessness making it nearly impossible for him to even partake of their rare Knight's Sleep when they would fall into total unconsciousness for endless hours. Their bodies recuperating from so much time without sleep.

Assuming his usual chamber, Deragan had already begun the long process of haunting the library searching the texts for any hint of where she could be this time...

Sebastian had seen it enough to know the signs.

He's feeling her.

She's gotten old enough she is calling to him. One soul to another.

Bast sought him out. Finding him sitting in the blue chair before the fire. Thoughtfully bouncing a handful of smoked nuts in his palm.

"Alpha." Bast lowered his head in deferential greeting.

"Good afternoon, Sebastian." He said it so formally an outsider wouldn't have known how close they were.

That's just his way.

Deragan had been distant and unreadable for all the centuries Bast had known him.

"You're valkyrie is quiet today." Deragan remarked, swaying the chair.