The Cruel Prince of Wolves

17

Val tossed and turned in his sleep having his usual nightmare. It woke Ramona up but she did not stir. She kept still, it's easier to pretend she's asleep if Val wakes up. She did not try to wake him up or do anything. She'd only been back a few weeks and she's not sure if she had forgiven him yet for all the things he had done to her. Instead, she let her eyes close and allowed herself to drift back to sleep.

Throughout the night and early morning, Val kept his growling and snarling in bed fighting a nightmare that kept him trapped in his dream. Ramona remained asleep ignoring all the sounds Val made. Until he snapped awake, and he woke up violently, panting and coated with sweat. The first thing on his mind was Ramona, even after waking from a nightmare, his mind always thinks of her first like nothing else mattered until he sees her and knows she's alive and safe. He turned to her and saw her asleep beside him, her face is peaceful and beautiful even when she sleeps. He reached to caress her cheek, it was soft and warm against his skin. He was leaning to steal a kiss from her when he noticed they were not alone, someone else was with them in the bedchamber and he can feel the intense malice of his gaze like a leech on his skin. How persistent can a demon prince with a grudge can be? Midnight had never left the palace after all, he had hidden somewhere and made his way to the bedchamber later to cast a nightmare while Val slept. Val wouldn't have let himself fall asleep as tired and exhausted he may be. Val knew the danger had been getting worse and Midnight had been getting braver to the point of haunting the palace.
"You are not welcome here!" Val growled.
For a moment the shadow appeared to be smiling, then it spoke in slow venomous silence. "Oh, Valerian. You have welcomed me with open arms, you just didn't know it."

Val rummaged through his memories searching for anything that could have invited the demon in. He knew he had been careful and he had not made a mistake. His arms reached for Ramona grabbing her protectively and possessively. "You cannot take her, I won't allow it."

Midnight's laughter was the kind of laugh that spread terror in the hearts of his victims. "We shall see, prince of wolves. We shall see." And with that, he exploded into wisps of shadows and vanished into thin air.

Val quickly leaped out of the bed with Ramona in his arms backing away to the wall, trying to protect her from getting stolen. The sudden chaos woke Ramona. She was lost in confusion at what's happening but soon realized that it was Val who had a tight grip on her. She knew he was having a nightmare but never has his nightmares been so bad that he had snatched her from the bed the way he did right now.

"Val, are you alright?" She murmured groggily, turning her head over to him. She already knew he wasn't with the thundering beating of his heart against her back.

No he wasn't alright. He's upset but he couldn't tell her that. Ramona watched him carefully, the large pupils and the golden flare of his eyes. She could see his wolf on the verge of leaping out. "It's only a nightmare, Val." She said softly.

The gold in his eyes began to retract and darkened back to brown. "You're right. It's only a nightmare." He released her from his arms and breathed deeply, smiling at her. "I'm sorry I woke you."

"It's alright," she said. "It had been a terrible night with the twilight attack. "I wouldn't doubt it stressed you out."

Val lifted his gaze to the window, the sun was starting to break in the horizon giving him a form of relief, he let his shoulders ease. Midnight would be weakened during the day and wouldn't be able to come after him or Ramona. Now is the proper time to get some rest. "How about we go back to bed?"

It was already late in the afternoon by the time Ramona and Val woke up. They sat in the dining room chewing on their very late breakfast. Val had a toast with butter and marmalade, omelet, steak, potatoes and tea while Ramona stared at her food loss of appetite. Val eyed her from across the table. "You should eat, Mona. It wouldn't do you any good to walk around on an empty stomach."