The Beast Within Us

Chapter 34: ↭Yara

↭ It was not long after Yara had stopped fiddling with her newly freed curls when Chala had begun stirring. Yara heard the huntress let out a gaping yawn and then the soft rustle of her righting herself on her feet. Shortly after, her surprised lover called out to her, and her own dark eyes met the shining silver of Chala's. She appeared as shocked as Yara felt. Such a rash choice to cut her hair and to wake up from her grief so suddenly, was an unexpected turn of events.

While it was true that her grief was still there, the warden had time to cope with it's raw intensity over the past weeks. Chala had diligently stepped in when she needed her, and Yara had been left to focus on healing her broken heart rather than worry about mundane things such as war and the travel to Briniel. The entire expedition had reached a long halt, and Yara was sure that would displease the king when he realized. In light of another truth, Yara's thoughts had flitted to her betrothed king when they were not preoccupied by her previous lover's death or her current lover's unending support.

With the concept of death lingering heavily over Yara and her lover, her thoughts of the king revolved around her lover's slavery and the magical collar that bound the huntress to being involved in the predicament in the first place. It had been Darryn's idea to barter Chala's loyalty with the concept of freedom upon returning to Pitis after their mission was finished, but neither Yara or Darryn had presumed the formation of a blood pact between Yara and her ward. Upon accepting the blood-sealed oath, Yara had not realized that her life was on the line, and she had not revealed to anyone that her participation in the pact was fraudulent. While Yara had every intention on attempting to persuade the king to free the hewan, the chances of succession were slim. She had realized since the night she had followed Chala into the woods that there was a great possibility of her death upon failing to free her and complete the pact, but Yara had not prepared for the consequences of her false truth to also wound Chala upon her demise.

The warden allowed her thin frame to be nudged aside so Chala could rest beside her. The lacing of their fingers together made Yara's skin tingle in response and her soft smile mirrored Chala's as she murmured her affections. Her pale cheeks tinged pink as her lover gazed lovingly at her. The intensity of her emotions for Chala were unlike anything she had ever experienced before. Her free hand caressed the soft silk of Chala's tail as her smile faded and her gaze dropped to her lap. How could she have imagined stealing the freedom of her ward so easily before? How would Chala react when she lost not one, but two people she cared about? There was a very good possibility that Yara's carelessness could break her. Her frown deepened as her eyes pooled sad tears. The sorrow of her thoughts threatened to drown her alive with the weight of their density.

Yara wondered if telling Chala sooner would ease the grief to come, if she knew that Yara would not live much longer, would it make the pain easier? Weeks leading up to Darryn's death had been spent without him; Yara had assumed he was just ill, not dying. Had she known, would she feel different? She couldn't possibly know how it would have affected her, she only believed that if she had realized his impending death sooner, that Yara would have never neglected him.

While her tears streamed consistently, she hadn't realized the length of the silence that sat heavily between them. Yara released her lover's hands, cupping her face fiercely and allowing the passion of her love for Chala to transfer through her kiss. The wardeness willed the sincerity of her affection for the other woman to be seen by her.

"I need to tell you something, Chala." Yara had pulled back, her forehead rested easily on the own of her lover. The tears that flooded her cheeks left trails on the smooth bronze of Chala's skin.

"I am going to die too- I didn't realize that the blood pact would kill me. I was going to attempt to persuade Serell to free you, but you know just as I do, that isn't something he would do. I know that-I know what I said about the marriage, but I lied to you, Chala."

A small sob escaped her, and Yara buried her face into her hands, the heel of her palm pressed tightly against her eyelids.

"The marriage date is actually set for a few weeks after our return from Briniel. I allowed you, and everyone to think it was farther." Silence blanketed them again as Yara took several deep, calming breaths to attempt and control the hysteria of her tone. She needed to reign in the storm of her emotions again, and regain her composure. Yara would not allow herself to break again.

"I allowed fear of disappointing my father and our family name to destroy my relationship with Darryn, and I allowed the shame of my arranged marriage to the king to poison my honor. But perhaps the biggest mistake I have made, is giving you a false vow of freedom, Chala." ↭