Fated Enemies

Chapter 13 - Werewolves

She felt some cold hands touching her, on her forehead she opened her eyes to see Edwin over her, an overwhelming concern filled his face, a thin closed line of pink lips, semi-close eyes and a rebellious hair, a question remain on his face when he helped her sit down:

- Are you all right? What happened? What are you feeling?

- I'm fine... I think... - Alexa started by saying. - I feel strange, cold and as if my bones were hurting, a slight pain, I can bear it.

- What happened? - He asked, sitting in front of her.

- I was trying to get in touch with my pack, to see if everything was all right, by Zulcan, I didn't even realize that a Night Soldier was approaching, Jax didn't feel it either or he would have warned me. It came up against the wind! I tried to fight her with the sword, but it did nothing to it, not a scratch and another thing that wasn't mentioned in any of the stories was the spike it had on its tail, like a scorpion. I knew I couldn't get away, so I did what I had to do! I turned, I managed to attack, to kill the creature, but it... It also caught me... - She said, remembering what had happened, she touched the side, bandaged with bandages made of her shirt, then looked at Edwin. - I... I was in my wolf form... How?

- The collar... I knew I couldn't communicate with you in animal form, so I put the collar on you, you passed out when you came back human, I fixed that shirt and took care of the wounds.... - Edwin commented with a shrug of shoulders.

The silence made itself felt until after thinking a little she broke it with a statement, a little suffered:

- I have to go back to Zulcan!

The statement took Edwin by surprise:

- And abandon the search? - He asked.

- I have no choice, Edwin! I'm going to die, I need to leave things in order, in my kingdom, with me dies the lineage of Naturals.... - She commented, with suffering in her voice and an acceptance. - So, I think you don't have to worry anymore about the Werewolves and the evil that they can do, they will die out, I only ask you not to treat the people of Zulcan badly!

Edwin seemed shocked, with the sacrifice and devotion of the queen, but quickly, a fury was imposed on his face:

- And will you give up like this? And you'll give up just like that? Without even trying anything to stop it?

- And what can I try? I don't know any cure for this poison, nor do I know what it is! I'm being realistic! I don't have much time left, by becoming human you delayed the poison, I won't die in hours, but in days. But the fact remains the same, I will die!

- You wouldn't make it to Zulcan in time! It took you a week to get to me and we've been on the road for almost a week now, it would be impossible for you to get to Zulcan in less than a week and a half! We might as well continue on the way, maybe we'll find someone who can help you! - He argued, almost with a plea in his voice.

- Edwin, I'll only slow you down if you still want to go on this search!

- I want you to come with me and I don't accept anything else! I know of some caves, three days from here, where, according to the people, water nymphs live, in one of the underground lakes, they may be able to help! - He offered, reasoning with the Queen, trying to offer her some shred of hope.

- A shot in the dark, Edwin... - She started, but when she saw the expression of suffering mirrored in his face, she decided to trust. - I am going with you, but you have to promise me, that you will deliver a message and if possible my body to Zulcan so that I can rest forever beside my parents!

- I promise! - He smiled with relief.

There was a chance she thought she could survive, smiling she felt her body in painful cramps. He turned his back on her and went for some cold meat, which he had done after she passed out. Alexa ate what she got. She stood up with his help and he helped her ride on Jax.

The cold she felt came from inside, from a fever that consumed her without knowing it, she took a blanket from the saddlebag and wrapped herself. Contrary to normal, Edwin kept walking next to Jax talking, perhaps in an attempt to distract from the pains that were devastating her from time to time, Alexa let herself sleep in the saddle, waking up to see Edwin's eyes on her with concern stamped. That's what she didn't understand, after so much hatred, where all this worry came from, was that he hated traveling alone, but that idea was something she had devalued, after all, he had gone to Zulcan alone when he could have taken a court, or would have he been worried about the treaty, but that's why she'd wanted to return to Zulcan to explain everything and exonerate him of any guilt. She still couldn't understand his motivations, not totally.

They only stopped when night rose in the sky he helped her to dismount and ordered her to remain seated against a branch, while he was going to fetch firewood, as soon as he was out of sight, Alexa pulled the shirt of knitted fabric and leather up, and under the bandages, visible soon after the white, black veins, which indicated the presence of the poison, forming small webs, of black magic.

By the time Edwin arrived, she had already closed her eyes more than once, striving to stay awake.