The Red Wolf's Daughter (Book 3 Part 2: The Making of the Siran)

Chapter 63

I bit back a startled gasp and opened my eyes, breaking the spell that had been placed onto us before I took a step back and stumbled into the water.

Splash!

I bit back a small grunt of pain when I landed on my butt hard, but that didn't stop me from backing up and getting out of the water as fast as I could without getting up and running out of the water.

Oh Goddess, what the fuck was that about..?

My heart skipped a beat before it pounded hard and fast in my chest, leaping into my throat with each push of the blood that resided there, and it took all of my self-control not to burst into tears.

Caroline jumped back but didn't fall into the water and stared at me with wide eyes, and a shocked expression on her face. "Ky?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, and cocked her head to the side while concern flashed through her eyes. "What happened? Are you ok? Why are you on the ground?"

My throat closed, and I instantly shook my head while I bit the inside of my lip. I didn't say a word, trying but failing to calm my beating heart and keep myself from having a panic attack or to burst into tears.

I made it out of the water and curled myself into a small ball, not caring that I was, or in, Caroline's presence while I tried to calm myself.

Oh, Goddess what was that what happened to me..?

"Ky?" Caroline asked again, and I could tell that she was pleading with me to answer her question while she took a step toward me while she studied me. "What happened? Are you ok? Why are you out of the water and all wet?"

I shook my head, and my bottom lip quivered. Tears pricked the corner of my eyes, and I tried my hardest to make sure that I didn't cry in front of her like I wanted to because I had no idea what was going on.

"Ky?" Caroline asked, shocked when I didn't respond. "What is it? What's wrong?" She got out of the water and started to walk over to me hesitantly, raising her hands in surrender and to let me know that she wasn't a threat. "What is it?" she asked again. "What happened?"

I took a deep breath and released it with a small shaky, whoosh. "Give me a second, Caroline," I said and my voice cracked. I licked my lips and curled myself into a tighter ball while I closed my eyes. "Let me process this before I tell you anything."

Caroline hesitated and slowly nodded. She walked the rest of the way over to me with a frown on her face and knelt down at my side without saying a word.

I took a deep breath and released it with another shaky whoosh before I licked my lips and slowly started to relax when nothing else happened to me.

Oh, thank Goddess...

"Are you ok?" she asked and furrowed her brows when she saw me slowly start to unravel myself from the tight ball that I had put myself in. "What happened? Are you ok?"

"Visions," I said and shook my head, my voice barely above a whisper. I hesitated and licked my lips. "I had visions of the future of what was going to happen to us."

"And?" She raised an eyebrow in question while she studied me. "What happened?"

I shook my head and sighed while a wave of exhaustion washed over me. "It's not safe to talk about out here," I said weakly. "I am also going to have to cancel the rest of the training session because I don't think I am of use to you any longer."

"Are you sure?" Caroline asked, and I nodded in confirmation. "Why? Because of what you had seen?"

"Yes," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. I moved a shaky hand through my hair and took a deep, shuddering breath before I released it with another small whoosh. "I am sure. I-I-" I cut myself off and shook my head, pursing my lips in annoyance. "I can't do this. I need to take a nap and unpack everything that has happened."

"And you will tell me later, right?" Her voice was barely above a whisper when she asked that, and I couldn't help but chuckle and nod.

"When we are in your tent and fully alone," I said and nodded. "Unfortunately, that means Fernos will not be with us when we talk about it, even as a shadow form."

Caroline stiffened behind me and looked at Fernos before she looked at me. She didn't say a word, and I could tell that she didn't like the idea at all.

"I also can not go into too much detail of this, so I hope that you can forgive me, Caroline. It's for your own safety and mine."

She hesitated before she slowly nodded, pressing her lips into a thin line. Annoyance flashed through her eyes, and I could tell that she did not like that idea at all.

But I could tell that she wasn't going to push...

I bit back a tired sigh and moved a hand through my hair and across my face while I shook my head. "Come on," I said, my voice barely above a whisper before I started to stand. "Let's go back to your tent so that I can fall asleep."

I stumbled when I took a step forward and bit back a small grunt while I fell to the ground, and I couldn't help but bite back a small groan of annoyance while I gritted my teeth together. Tears pricked the corner of my eyes, and I bit back a small sniffle while I tried not to cry.

"Do you need help?" Caroline asked, and I hesitated before I slowly nodded.

I rubbed my eyes and blinked back more tears. "Please," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "I do not think that I will be able to go to the tent by myself."

"Then I will help," Fernos said and appeared out of the shadows, and I opened my eyes and looked at him with wide eyes that were filled with tears and sadness. He set his jaw and narrowed his eyes while he stared at me. "I will pick you up, if that is ok with you."

I bit back a small whine and slowly nodded, biting back a small gulp, and I turned to look at him. "Ok," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "You can help me, Gr- Fernos, please. I would appreciate it."

Fernos nodded and walked over to me. He knelt down and gently picked me up, and I wrapped my arms around his neck and buried my head in the crook between his shoulder and his head.

Fernos grew tense and set his jaw but squeezed me gently in reassurance. He didn't say a word and started to walk to Caroline's tent, and Caroline trailed behind us.

And with that, and without a word, I slowly let myself fall asleep while Fernos carried me to the tent, knowing full well that I was safe in his arms even if he wasn't my grandfather at all...