Beneath Shadows and Secrets

♔ 𝕰𝔦𝔤𝔥𝔱𝔢𝔢𝔫 ♔

Im pretty sure you've had uploads for 4 days straight but it's Valentine's Day so here's my gift to you guys! Love you!!❤️

♔ 𝔑𝔦𝔯𝔞 ♔

My plea does not go unheard.

This morning, I have found myself once more in a lesson with Ryke, although the room seems far more crowded. Two additional seats have been added, for Calix and Tynan, who have deemed it necessary to join us today.

I had expected that they mention something about last night, but neither have broached the subject. Tynan seems to have forgotten about it completely, for when he walked in, he nudged me across the head with his knuckles, grinning as though I did not have him pinned to a wall a short few hours ago. He is not deterred by the frown I return it with, sitting opposite and reclining the chair to two legs so he can place his boots on the tabletop.

If it weren't for the physical similarities, I would have trouble remembering that Tynan and Cenred are brothers. They are so different in character; it is almost impossible to imagine them interacting. Growing together as children, training together to become the warriors of their kind. Tynan is so careless. His juvenile sense of humour and blasé attitude the ultimate contradiction to Cenred's hard faced, stern composure. Of course, Cenred softened with me – he smiled once or twice – but rather than my guard, he became my protector. I do not think I would ever trust Tynan with such responsibility, for either role.

He notices me watching, his brows jumping suggestively before letting his head fall to the side. It brings strands of hair from behind his ears, and then he smiles wide. He looks almost playful. I roll my eyes and look away.

Calix is not so humoured by the situation. He is brooding. Dressed in a black shirt and pants, buttoned completely to the collar, his dark hair reaching towards his eyebrows. They are furrowed, as they always seem to be, unless he is engaged in a game that he is winning. This one, he is not. He hasn't looked my way since we sat, and other than the short glare I spare him, my attention has been focused solely on Ryke.

A constant. He seems far happier – likely because he believes my request for help means I have come to accept I need it. A broken barrier, as he so describes. Thick dreads of hair fall over his shoulders today, which is odd, for he usually ties them at the base of his scalp. He's left his staff leaning against the wall too, out of the way of the full table.

"I think it makes the most sense for us to combat this in a periodical way." He tells the group. It does not sound like a suggestion, but more a demand, and I am surprised when I see Calix move his head in a fraction of agreement. So, he does know what it is to have something not go his own way? "To have five streams of power from six individuals was one matter, but now we need to figure out just how much power lies within you and master them uniquely."

"How do you propose that?" I ask him.

He shrugs as though the answer is simple. "From the first, you need to tell us all the Fae that dagger has not only killed, but injured."

I try to hold my temper. My hands clasp in front of me on the table and I lean forward in seriousness. "I used that dagger for hunting. I could have killed any number of Fae with it and been none the wiser."

"None of us have the second form of a bunny, gorgeous, so I would think you're safe." Tynan retorts with a snort. I wish I had my dagger now, for I would toss it at his head. He just smiles again, chuckling to himself.

"Even then – the dagger has not always been mine. It was my fathers before that, and I do not know who owned it before him. It has existed for centuries. Any number of Fae could have been injured with it." I insist.