✓ | The Borrowed Identity (Fate's Transgression Series, #4)

TBI 10: Protect

[ Chapter 10: Protect ]

- Omniscient -

"You're going to take her?" Admiral questioned Valan, his voice laced with disbelief. Valan continued walking, relying on the dim light provided by the flickering lanterns amidst the torrential rain.

"For goodness sake, Valan. That's a mermaid," Admiral persisted, his concern evident in his tone.

When they figured out who was lying beneath a pile of leaves, which transformed into a mermaid before their eyes, Valan's mind raced with the realization that the Queen's words about the fragment had come to fruition. The pieces of the puzzle were slowly coming together, and a sense of purpose coursed through his veins.

"Lutch," Valan called out to another member of their party. "Find a decent inn near Jasmine Lake. We will seek refuge there until she wakes up."

And so, they made their way to Jasmine Lake, anticipation hanging in the air like a mist. The journey ahead promised revelations and challenges that would test their resolve, but Valan knew that they had a duty to fulfill. The fate of their Kingdom, intertwined with the mermaid's presence and the fragment they sought, depended on their unwavering commitment.

As they arrived at the inn, Valan could feel the weight of destiny pressing upon him. The stormy sea and the mysterious mermaid held secrets that would shape their journey and determine the course of events.

"Is she breathing?" Admiral asked with a sense of worry. "Her tail disappeared when Lutch and I dried her with clothes. Tingin niyo, babalik sa pagiging anyong serena ito?" tanong niya sa mga kasama.

"Try mo kaya basain?" tanong naman ni Lutch.

As the rain continued to pour outside, casting a veil of uncertainty over the world, Valan's shapeshifters were talking about different possibilities as he tried to remain stoic listening to them.

Valan's gaze fell upon the sleeping woman, captivated by her ethereal presence amidst the storm. Her hair, drenched and dark as midnight, cascaded in gentle waves, framing her delicate features. The rain had left her skin pale, almost porcelain-like, accentuating the graceful contours of her face.

As Valan observed her, he couldn't help but be drawn to the beauty that graced her visage. Her features were exquisitely sculpted, with high cheekbones that spoke of elegance and a slender nose that added an air of refinement. Even in slumber, her expression held a serene tranquility, as if she were a lost enchantress awaiting her awakening.

The flickering lanterns cast soft, flickering light upon her face, creating an interplay of shadows and illuminating the subtle details. Her brows, delicately arched, framed a pair of closed eyes that held the secrets of the deep. And though her lips were gently parted, no sound emerged, as if she were suspended in a timeless dream.

Every line and contour seemed meticulously crafted by an artist's hand, forming a portrait of ethereal beauty that left Valan momentarily breathless. As he beheld the woman before him, Valan couldn't help but wonder about her origins and thought about the information he was told. She held the promise of answers, her presence a testament to the hidden depths of the sea and the enigmas that lay within.

With a mix of curiosity and reverence, Valan studied every facet of her appearance, his mind swirling with questions and anticipation. The sight of her, so vulnerable yet radiating an undeniable allure, served as a stark reminder of the mysteries that awaited them, and the trials they would need to overcome.

In that moment, amidst the shelter of the inn and the lull of the storm, Valan found himself entranced by the slumbering beauty before him. And with a renewed sense of purpose, he vowed to protect her, unravel the secrets she held, and embark on a path that would test his courage and forge his destiny.