Daughter of Alvar (Redemption Saga, Book 2)

Chapter 2

I land on the balcony next to my father, King Alvar.

My father is dressed casually, he hasn't left his room in days, but he's looking better today than the last time we visited one another.

"You waved me down?" I ask with a grin as I fold my wings against my back.

"Let's go for a hunt," Father says. It's a good sign that he wants to hunt.

"Are you sure you're up for it? Mother says your mind is clearer when you rest," I say to him, quirking a scolding eyebrow, but I already know since my father is a stubborn man, he's unlikely to heed my concerns. "You know... the doctor says it would be better if you talked about what's on your mind."

"Getting out with my daughter will do my mind better than talking about anything," Father dismisses my concern with a wave. "I'll find you in our old spot."

I know where he's referring, a certain cliff five miles south of Underland City.

"I'll meet you there," I say, raising my wings for take-off.

Half an hour later, Father and I meet on the cliff in our beast forms and survey the jungles below for prey.

"Kalvar messed up his meetings earlier today," I say before I can stop myself. Mother told me she didn't want to stress Father with these things.

Father nods his beast head sullenly. "Your brother does not have a bad heart, but he is only after what feels good in the moment and his ego, right now. It makes him foolish. However, royal duty is his work. I have faith he will learn it on his own time."

"Kalvar doesn't know how good he's got it," I say, "He's got the heart of the kingdom, charming, and attractive... more specifically, he's not Cursed. He has no understanding of how blessed he is."

"We often don't until our blessings are stripped from us, but Kyla, being cut off from the rest of humanity, is a great burden. A burden only I understand. I suggested this hunt because I understand you are not taking your beast form enough, which is dangerous. The Curse will begin to control you and turn you towards its darker instincts," Father says. "You need to learn to master your beast. I won't always—" he stops.

"You won't always what?" I ask him, cocking my head.

His red beast eyes narrow on something, and he nods toward a clearing in the jungle. "Look, a herd of gazelle."

We hunt and do not talk more on the subject. After we are finished hunting, we bring our quarry back to the palace for the palace kitchen. "I must speak with Kalvar," Father says to me. "See that Lara gets this." He refers to the head chef. "I love you, Kyla. Don't ever forget that."

One month later - The Day of Savat

"Kyla!" Elle calls from across our courtyard, interrupting my reminiscing of the last memory I had with my father.

He'd been gone in the morning.

My mother's cries had awakened me.

His hunt with me had been one last rally of his human mind before flying off into the night towards the mountains as an animal-like beast. Search parties had gone out looking for him, but all returned without a sighting.

Will that be me someday? Nothing more than a dumb beast?

"Elle, come and sit with me," I say. I perch at the fountain gazing down at the colorful fish as I move to spare Elle a seat.

Elle is dressed in a silver and white gown made of silk. Her wavy brown hair is styled up with tiny jewels, so she sparkles in the last rays of sunlight coming over the courtyard walls.