The Rise of the Fallen Queen

Chapter 38

CHAPTER 38

Asya ran swiftly through the trees enjoying the wind brushing against her red fur. The feeling of freedom as a fox was unparallel in her mind. A sweet scent caught her attention. Running through the trees she reached a thicket. Carefully winding her way through the briars, she began to feast on large succulent blackberries.

By the time she was done, her whole face was covered in the dark purple juice. Full and now tired, she made her way out of the brush. Debry clung to her coat. She and her fox, Layla, hated when their fur was tangled and dirty but right now, she was too sleepy to care.

While she could have napped right there in the sun, Layla would never be able to rest without reaching the shirt she had stolen from Night and laid out on the ground near the waterfall. It felt as if it took forever to reach the creek but eventually, she was near and the sound of cascading water perked her up enough to run towards it. She was surprised to see someone sitting next to the shirt.

Night grinned when he saw the mess his beautiful mate had made. Small twig was stuck to her back and a green leaf was hanging from her ear. A second leaf slid from her forehead to her nose making her sneeze then yawn. He chuckled and held out his arms. "Come here sleepy baby." He invited.

Layla didn't need to be told twice and immediately curled up on his lap. Night smiled while gently untangling her fur and plucking out the small thorns nestled throughout the fiery mass. Dipping a napkin he carried into the water nearby, Night gently cleaned away the sticky mess on her face. By the time he was done grooming his mate, the sun was beginning to set and it was time to head back.

He picked her up and opened a portal to the front door of the Crawford house. Knocking gently, it was opened by her mother. Night put a finger to his lips indicating silence. Mrs. Crawford nodded and lead them to Asya's bedroom. She opened the door and then shut it behind him. Night laid her on the pink and grey spread and placed a tender kiss on her forehead.

"I love you." He whispered. "I fell in love the moment I saw you and was too stupid to realize it."

Standing straight he left the bedroom. He went back to the front room and Mrs. Crawford stood there waiting for him. "Come have some supper." She said her tone indicating it wasn't an invitation but an expectation as she turned and walked into the kitchen.

Like the rest of the house, the kitchen was neat and tidy. Mrs. Crawford spooned a large helping of a beef stew into a bowl and served it with a thick slice of homemade bread covered in butter.

"Thank you." He said as he picked up the spoon and immediately dug in. The flavor of the hardy stew burst on his tongue and he closed his eyes savoring the richness.

"Asya made it." Mrs. Crawford said.

Night's eyes widen in surprise. It had been a long time since he had something so good. He was tempted to walk back the room, wake his lovely mate up, and propose.

"I taught all my girls to cook and clean. My husband taught them how to repairs things around the house and fix a car. We did everything we could to teach our children to be good mates, parents, and hard workers. We tried to tell them about life and how it is. What we couldn't teach or show them was how to deal heartbreak." She said in the same calm voice never raising it.

Night fiddled with the piece of bread in his hand. Her words cut him deep because he knew they were true. Mrs. Crawford cut another piece from the loaf.

"We had expectations for our children. We didn't expect that our little girl would leave our home to be with her mate and return years later a broken soul with a shattered heart. Whatever happens is Asya's decision." A hard glint was in the older woman's eye when she waved her knife in his direction. "But boy, if you ever mess up again. I will kill you and I won't stop until you are no longer breathing."

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Asya woke up with a start. She stared at the ceiling fan for a moment trying to collect her thoughts. She tried to remember how she got home. Sitting up as the memories righted themselves in her head.

Night was back. She thought.

Looking down, Asya saw that she was wearing Night's shirt she had brought to change into.

But who put it on? She wondered. "I don't think I shifted back before falling asleep."

"You didn't." Her fox, Layla, said. "He brushed away all the stuff in our fur and then put the shirt on before carrying us home. I shifted back after he left because the combination of a shirt and fur is like being wrapped up in a furnace."

"Is he still here?"

"No. He left a while ago. He loved the stew you made."

Asya smiled at that.

"I want to be with him so bad but you two have to work things out between you. He has a son already. I know you feel insecure about it but that's something you have to work out in your mind first. Then you need to lay it all out and talk to him. You have to tell him about your nightmares as well."

Taking a deep breath, Asya forced herself not to go that dark hellish place that was the source of her trauma. All that pain had changed her. Physically, she was much stronger and her pain tolerance was incredible. Mentally, there were things that would trigger her. Instead of screaming and crying, Asya would emotionally shut down. She still couldn't bring herself to talk about it with anyone.

"Baby steps." Asya whispered to her fox.

"Whatever you need."

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Sorry. I did not edit this at all. I almost forgot to post. It's been really really busy. My oldest daughter is headed for running camp and I have been trying to get her straight all week. Kids are going back to school soon so I'm trying to get stuff together for that. My oldest is starting college. So I haven't had much time to write. I probably won't be able to post for a while due to the hectic schedule I'm now on. 

I'll post when I can but honestly it might be a couple of weeks before I get back on schedule. I will be checking my messages and comments so if you have a question let me know. Thanks.

For those of you who don't know, I also have two other completed stories (that badly need to be edited). "A Town Called Tundra" and  "Wolves and Rabbits" are on my profile. I'm also planning on releasing a couple of shorts for one of my favorite holidays, Halloween.