Aramora

Chapter 19: Worth Fighting For

Amazing cover image made by Shreya_VA <3

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Lavern takes another irritated bite of venison while his eyes glance around anxiously. The great doors remain closed, telling him the meeting is still going on in there. He looks around and sees Naomi in a corner talking to M'Rhys and Ethel, carelessly laughing as Ethel says something.

What he'd give to be that calm right now. It's not the fact that he wishes his family situation was better, because that's not entirely true. He doesn't regret who he had become on his own. Leaving home was the first good decision of his life. No way would he be happy as another pompous Dev like his father and sister.

It's more so the festering anger he feels stirring in his heart. Each time one of these nobles tries to talk to him, asking him why he left the luxury of Arkala. Each hour that passes with nothing happening, making him feel trapped here. The time passing with those doors remaining closed. All of it makes him feel the beast fight to emerge.

The last thing you want to do to an anxious werewolf is make him feel trapped. He really doesn't think it would do anyone any favors to start a bloodbath because he couldn't stand the sight of white and gold any longer. Though it would undoubtedly get him killed, he admits at least it would be entertaining to watch these Devs scatter like the rats they are.

Unable to sit still for a second longer, he takes one last bite of venison before walking out of his anti-social corner to look for his friends. He knows Naomi is with M'Rhys and Ethel, but he can't seem to find Nesosa anywhere.

With a shrug, he approaches Naomi in the corner.

She's still laughing about whatever joke Ethel said. Maybe it wasn't even a joke and she just said something dumb which got her to laugh. Who knows. But her laughing lessens once Lavern taps her shoulder.

Naomi turns around and smiles. "Hey, you actually decided to quit sulking and join us?" she asks with snark. He growls and glares at her.

"When can we leave?" he mutters.

M'Rhys sighs. "Remember, we must stay until the meeting has been concluded. M'Rhys is certain it will not be too much longer," the Tus'Felnis says.

Lavern groans and crosses his arms before leaning his back against the pearly white wall. "It's been two hours. How do we know they didn't just go in there and get poisoned at the table or something, and we're just waiting around for dead people to come back," he spats.

Ethel nods in agreement. "That's what I'm telling you! Ghosts!" She looks at Naomi and M'Rhys as though she had just proven some huge point to them.

Naomi rolls her eyes and keeps her attention on Lavern. "You know, I think someone would notice if all the leaders of the continent suddenly 'drank the Kool-Aid'. Like M'Rhys said, it shouldn't be too much longer," she says.

Lavern narrows his eyes at her and she slightly shrinks back when she sees that his pupils suddenly narrow into piercing slivers, and the gold color of his eyes seems to flash brighter.

She stifles a gasp and moves closer to him, quickly turning his face away from the others. "Lavern..." she warns in a low voice.

He tries to decipher what caused her sudden change in demeanor, when he realizes and closes his eyes. He takes a deep breath as he opens them again to see her smile as his pupils return to normal.

"Better. Now, why don't you just stay with us until the meeting is over? Maybe we can help take your mind off all this," Naomi says and pats him on the back.