Shadows of Voryn

Chapter Thirty-Four

Saerena

   "What is this pouting you bestow on me?" Melana walked into Saerena's room ordering her housemaidens to stay out. She sat on the bed beside Saerena, reaching out for her hand. Melana wasn't good at comforting anyone who was burden with emotions, unable to afford to cry when she'd lost those she loved; but Saerena appreciated that Melana tried.

Saerena was underneath her covers, wanting to hide self from the world. The skin around her eyes were damp and sensitive from overuse of tears and wiping them away.

   "The hy—" Melana stopped what she going to say, changing the acknowledgment of the Hybrid. "T'ara," she whispered. "There have been much talk of your indecent affection for her. Perhaps it is good to distance yourself from her."

   "Why?" Saerena snapped, not intending to place her bitterness onto one of the only friends she really had. She felt childish and broken. Turning head toward window, Saerena let go of her bitter thoughts.

   It took few breaths for Melana to respond. She cared for Saerena's peace of mind. Though she feared Saerena's future, Melana knew she needed courage and a safe person to share her thoughts with. "You loved her?"

   "Yes." Saerena sought no reason to lie. She would gain hardship despite what she said. There would be long grim looks her way anytime she passed a hall. No man would want to marry her unless to save her soul and she was fine with that. "I let her go."

   "Why? You went through so much to have her. Why let her go now?"

   "She is more than a woman. Being a hybrid was never a problem before because we never saw it as apart of her as we should have. I should have encouraged her to accept that part of her. But the truth is...if she would have faced that part of herself sooner and connected with her hyena half; she would have been drawn to Livei sooner." Saerena saw confusion and explained further. "She is Fae and Hyena. It is natural to seek out a mate. To have own desires separate from her humane mind."

   "Her...Hybrid, does not choose you?" Melana asked carefully.

   "No." Saerena sniffed, wiping tears from eyes before falling to her cheek. It was light outside. Nearly breakfast. Food would be served. Saerena wasn't ready to be seen. She was not in the mood to eat. "Her hybrid chooses another."

   Melana straightened, her suspicions running through mind. "That Hyena." She could not remember the hyena's name. She was easy on the eyes for a hyena when in human skin. "You said her name. Livei, right?"

   "Yes," Saerena said, confirming Melana's suspicion.

   "She does not love you anymore?" Despite wishing for Saerena to forget Hybrid, Melana wanted to go and scream at her for hurting Saerena's heart.

   "She does?"

   Frowning, "she told you she could no longer fight for you?" Melana wanted to learn what The hybrid said or done.

   "No. She fought me on ending things." Saerena sighed. "I am the one who ended things. I thought it best to let her go. She knew it would not last. She just could not accept it."

   Melana leaped from the bed, fixated on making things right, she narrowed a gaze at Saerena. "How do you pity yourself when it was your choice to let her go?" Melana tossed both arms out, letting them drop to side of her body. "You once bit my head off for going against your love for her. Such passion to now whither away due to...what?" Melana could not understand.

   How could Saerena tell her companion such dire truth. Her vision was clear. "It was best. Safe."

   "For whom? She would follow you till her death or yours."