Ailill
Finally, at long last, after too many years to count, he came to the room. As he'd remembered, it was lit not by torches, but by the elves' own magic.
Behind him, the priestess gave a gasp of wonder, her hand slipping from his grasp. Åska surged past them both, ignoring him for the first time as the beastkin made for the centre of the room, where the light was brightest and warmest. There, surrounded by soft silvery light, the huge beastkin closed his eyes, standing tall and proud. Each muscle was defined, every strand of fur was touched by the moon.
He glowed.
The dark stripe along the beastkin's back was edged in silver, and Ailill went to join him, forgetting about the priestess for the moment. Stepping into the light, he felt the will and strength of the earth pulse through him, echoing the song that Åska had once sung to being him home, and for the first time since they'd been separated, he felt whole. Himself. Taking a deep breath, he rested his hands deep in the beastkin's thick fur, and the moonlight pulsed around them briefly before fading, no longer as strong.
But they didn't need it now.
Not letting go of the beastkin, he faced the priestess, whose eyes were as wide as he'd ever seen them.
"Who are you?" she whispered.
Finally, he answered her question.
"Some call me hövding."
She fought to keep her breath, staring at him. "What ... what does that mean?"
He nearly sneered at her, but sharp teeth closed over his hand, and he sighed, glancing down at the beastkin beside him.
"I do believe you know our tongue, priestess."
She shook her head slowly, tentatively coming towards him. "I don't," she murmured. "Not as well as you think. I know very little."
He let her come close enough that he could trace her cheekbones. "Somehow, little priestess, I do not believe that."
She stiffened at the name, going to pull away from him, but he held her still, refusing to let her go.
"Don't call me that."
He kept his gaze square on hers, waiting.
"Please," she whispered.
"You have asked a question that centuries of searching hasn't been able to answer, my priestess. Why did you ask it?"
She sighed, and this time he let her go. "I have searched," she admitted quietly. "I've always been looking for ... " She trailed off, unable to say it.
He waited.
She swallowed, meeting his dark gaze with her own. "I've been searching," she repeated. "I've always been searching. I want to know who my daughter's father is. Who is he to me."
If she was hoping for a response, she was to be disappointed.
After a moment, she sighed, turning away from him. "I don't understand," she said quietly, no trace of emotion in her voice. "All my searching is for nothing. It doesn't matter any more. Just leave me alone. You tell me nothing."
As she began to walk away, her back to him, he let the beastkin go. Åska followed her, outpacing her until he stood in front of her, staring at her.
"Please let me go."
At last, he answered her. "No. Come back, my priestess."
She looked back at him, and Åska, for the first time, touched her. He put his great head against her hip, nudging her back towards the elf. She stumbled backwards in shock, and stared at the huge creature.

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Search for the Extinct [Last of Elves book 2]
AdventureSEQUEL TO BLOOD MEMORIES. Highly recommended to read that one first. It's been ten years since the burning of the last elf, and nothing has been seen of him since. Ten years since the ancient prophecy was fulfilled. Ten years since the land of Elsee...