Lone Wolf Assassin MaleOmega!Reader x Feral Alpha Cleric: Part 13
Omegaverse Masterlist
Non-Sexual CWs: Descriptions of gore, off-screen violence. Magic related self-harm (carving runes into skin).
You had learned the art of a masterful escape long ago.
What failed most assassins was their emotions; the feelings of doubt as they traveled to the job, the second of hesitation as they drew their knife, the panic as they ran away. You knew the correct answer was to feel absolutely nothing at all. No panic, no remorse, and certainly no fear.
As the beast tore through the town, you took a deep breath and scaled up the wall, planting yourself on the rooftops. You knew during a chase, most wouldn’t be wise enough to look up. You sprinted across rooftops, leaping through the air as you followed the Beast’s path. It was smart, changing direction frequently as it tore through market stalls, the debris making it far more difficult for the emerging flock of guards to follow it.
…if it really is Marcus, then maybe there’s still some of him in there, you thought as you ran. Maybe he took the extract? Maybe his captors gave it to him? Its movements are far too calculated to just be a crazed monster.
Your chest ached, your lungs on fire as you tried to keep up with its pace from above. As you approached the Parsonage, you began your descent, still unsure what’d you do once you saw it up close.
The beast was faster, bursting through the door of Theo’s home as if it were paper. The wood splintered, yet the beast was undeterred.
You nocked an arrow, but kept it ready as you approached, still not fully convinced you’d need it. The sun crested over the horizon, its morning rays piercing your vision. You blinked your eyes rapidly, only to lose sight of the beast in the blinding light. You ran towards Theo’s home, unsure of what awaited you past the gaping hole in the house.
There, on the floor, was Theo. The beast held the boy in his arms, every movement hesitant. Delicate, even, as if not to hurt him. Sunlight poured through a nearby window, and once again, you were met with a blinding light. It was as if the sun and the moon had collided, shrouding Theo and the beast in light.
When the light disappeared, all that remained was two men, the beast now clad in tattered priest robes.
That has to be Marcus.
The guards would be heading this way soon, that you were sure of. You played through a plethora of scenarios in your head, and none of them ended in both staying together once the guards arrived.
“You can’t stay here,” you blurted out, interrupting their reunification in hopes of keeping them alive.
Both paused, looking at each other and nodding; a silent understanding, both sensing each other’s emotions without need for speech. Theo stood up, walking forward before pulling you into a hug. You weren’t used to such affection from someone you barely knew, awkwardly returning the gesture.
“Thank you. I won’t forget everything you’ve done,” he said softly.
I didn’t do all that much, you thought. You only nodded your head, unable to think of a better response. You turned around, the sounds of the guards drawing closer.
“Go. They’re coming,” you stumbled out before rushing back to your own home; you had done all you could for them, you couldn’t afford to wait around and hope they followed your instruction.
You made your way inside, shutting the door and closing every set of curtains you saw. You headed to your room as you started to undo your armor; you’d need to wait at least a week—no, a month even, before you could safely wear it outside again without drawing the guards suspicion. Even if no one had seen you, you couldn’t afford to take risks.
Varin laid in bed, eyes wide open; he clearly hadn’t slept a wink. As soon as he saw you, he sat up. “What happened? How did-”
“If they’re smart, they’re gone,” you sighed, shoving each piece of armor in the back of your wardrobe.
You looked out your window, barely peaking through the curtains. Sure enough, a gaggle of guards surrounded the outside of Theo’s home, many walking in and out as they surveyed the damage. You let out a heavy sigh; when the adrenaline left your body, exhaustion quickly took its place.
“We’re safe. I…I will tell you everything soon, but I…” you nearly collapsed into bed. “I need to rest.”
You immediately shut your eyes, unable to see Varin’s reaction. Only a few seconds later, you felt a blanket pulled over you, followed by a kiss on the top of your head.
“You did well.”
----------------------
“Wake-up!”
Varin’s hands gripped your shoulders, shaking you awake from your peaceful slumber, shouting your name.
His nails felt unusually sharp, digging into your skin. You sat up, the sound of wood crackling echoed through the walls, interspersed with terrified cries from your children.
“I’ve fortified the door as best I could, but they’re going to break through,” he stammered between heavy breaths. “Get everything you need, I don’t know if this’ll work, but there’s too many of them. Just…” he panicked, a fear in his eyes unlike anything you had ever seen. “Just stay with the children, and I’ll take care of it.”
You didn’t need to question who ‘they’ was. Someone must have seen you.
There was no time to ponder where you had misstepped last night. Others might’ve hesitated, yet you were used to chaos. You sprung into action, hastily strapping on your armor and grabbing your bow. Yet one sentence stood out to you.
‘I don’t know if this’ll work.’
Aya stared up at you with red, wet eyes as she cried. “Papa…I’m scared,” she stammered, the thumping outside getting even louder. Surely Varin had warded the door, but magic was far from impenetrable. A myriad of voices shouted various orders, many of them overlapping each other. “Surrender, and no harm will come to your children!”
You paid the voice no mind, kneeling to Aya’s level. “Aya, Aya, look at me,” you wiped her tears with your thumb. “Everything will be alright. I won’t let anything bad happen to you. But you have to listen very carefully, alright?”
She nodded her head.
“Good, now stay right here.” You quickly grabbed Alistair from his room; even if you had little idea as to what was going on, having both children in your sight was the number one priority.
“Remember, the bounty says he’s worth more alive than dead,” said another voice.
A bounty.
Was it someone who saw you, or someone who found you?
There was no time to question it. The fortified front door shattered like glass, shards of wood flying across the foyer. At the noise, the children’s cries grew only louder; a sound of terror that would haunt you for years to come.
You didn’t want to leave the children alone, but…you weren’t confident in Varin’s ability to defend you either, especially given how many guards must’ve been outside.
A terrifying roar reverberated against the walls. As the screams of men and children rang out, all you could think to do was cover your children’s ears and hold them close. The shrieks in terror were so loud your efforts felt fruitless, but it was far better than doing nothing.
You couldn’t see the scene unfolding behind the bedroom door, but the soundscape painted a visceral picture. Gnashing teeth. Razor sharp claws tearing through flesh with little resilience. You had heard sounds like these before.
Varin was no longer Varin.
How? It isn’t a Blood Moon, it’s morning, you thought. Is he conscious? Will he turn on us if he sees us?
“Papa,” Aya continued to cry, burying her face in your chest.
All you could do was continue to hold them. You sat on the bed, holding both of them the same way you had in the flower field just days ago. You held them as tight as you could, unsure of how you could provide any comfort in a time like this.
All you could think to do was sing one of the lullabies you had heard Varin sing countless times. You hadn’t ever heard it before Aya, yet now the words came naturally to you, your voice soft despite the rage outside.
It was only when you finished the song you noticed the silence in its wake. Heavy, deep breaths from outside filled the air.
Aya sniffled, looking up at you. “All done?”
You spoke softly, still holding your children close. “I’m not sure…Varin?”
Surely, people had heard the commotion. More guards would be coming. It was only a matter of time.
“Stay…stay here,” you directed softly. “Everything will be alright, but don’t move a muscle.” You moved the children off of you onto the bed.
Slowly, you walked towards the foyer.
Blood covered the walls in a myriad of patterns. Limbs had been torn apart and throw askew like they were nothing more than toys. Entrails lined the floor, viscera squishing underneath your boots.
In the center of the hall was Varin, still in his beastial form. He stood on his hands and knees like a wolf, beady red eyes staring back at you.
You stood still, terrified to make your presence known.
…Marcus ran to Theo. Even as a beast, he ran to his mate. He recognized him. Varin’s scented me now. Maybe he’ll recognize me.
You swallowed, took one more deep breath, and stepped forward. You held your hand out, as if offering your scent to a dog. Surely such an action was humiliating for Varin, but you weren’t sure what else to do.
Only with him right in front of you did you realize how massive his wolf form was, standing at your height even on all fours. Slowly, he smelled you.
“Varin?” You whispered. “Varin, it’s…it’s me.”
He pulled back slowly, looking you up and down. Then, he nuzzled his head against you, his fur soft despite being caked in blood.
You couldn’t let your guard down, but your shoulders managed to relax. “Can…can you understand me?”
Varin nodded.
“How?”
His mouth (now more of a snout) moved, yet words were unable to come out.
“Right. Sorry. I…” you looked around. “We need to go, I’ll get the children, and can…can you turn back?”
He shook his head, his tail gesturing to his back.
You raised an eyebrow. “…What?”
He laid down, gesturing to his back once more, his tail beckoning you forward.
“I don’t understand, we need to get out of here fast, and with no horses-”
Varin let out another howl, gesturing to his back yet again.
Only then did you realize; he was your escape plan. You didn’t need a horse. You had him.
“…oh.”
————————————
With Aya strapped to your back and Alistair on your chest, your hands gripped tightly onto Varin’s fur.
This is weird.
You had ridden plenty of horses. You hadn’t ever rode…whatever Varin was. You weren’t quite sure where to place your feet, and while you didn’t want to hurt him, you didn’t have much of a choice.
You leaned down, doing your best not to squish Alistair as Varin ran towards the city gate. Arrows flew through the sky, but you were prepared for that possibility, awkwardly strapping your chest plate over Aya, shielding her vision from the gore left behind, while also keeping her safe. Certainly not ideal, but nothing about the situation was.
I’m sure he’ll explain later, you thought as chaos descended around you. Everything I thought I knew about this Disease keeps changing. Everything keeps changing. For the first time in many years, you yearned for stability.
You were terrified; rightfully so. Yet as you felt the spring wind through your hair, watching as so many cowered in fear at the sight of your mate, you couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of pride.
You didn’t mind if the whole world feared your family; so long as you were together. It filled you with enough more than enough energy to keep holding on.
Despite the shouts, despite the arrows, Aya and Alistair were oblivious. When you had left the bedroom with them, you made it a game.
“How long do you think you can keep your eyes closed?” You had asked Aya.
“Umm….a while.”
“I bet I can do it longer.”
“Nuh-uh!”
Aya had kept her eyes shut, and Alistair faced towards you, both of them none-the-wiser to the carnage left behind as you made your escape. The sound of their cries still shook you, but by the Gods, you were determined to shield them from terror; even if it meant hiding your own fear.
All you had to do was make it a game. All of this was just another game. Another fun adventure. That’s all this is, you told yourself. A game. A game I intend to win.
You made in past the city gate, not a single arrow hitting you. If one did hit Varin, which you couldn’t be entirely sure, you didn’t feel it. Perhaps in this form, arrows were as negligible as paper cuts.
His stamina seemed boundless, running towards the forest by the mountains. You had no idea where he was taking you, but you had to trust him.
When Serwyn was finally out of view, you stopped, feeling every one of Varin’s heavy breaths as he recovered. He laid back down on the ground, black tendrils beginning to slither over his body.
You leaped off of him, watching as the tendrils took over. When the inky blackness nearly covered all of him, smoke emanated from his body, the tendrils sizzling.
When they receded, there was Varin, with all sorts of strange runes carved onto his chest; his robes were gone, his blood stained pants all that remained of his usual ensemble, his chest bare.
“Papa?” Asked Aya from your back. “I feel bad.”
Oh, shit. Right.
You sat down, loosening the grip of the fabric holding both children. As Alistair crawled onto the ground, you turned to remove the chest plate obscuring Aya’s vision. When you pulled it away, her eyes squinted in the light. “Papa…I feel...bad…”
“What do you mean? How do you-”
She answered your question by vomiting onto the ground.
Oh.
You quickly looked into your pack for a rag, finding one and starting to clean around her face. “Still feel bad?”
She shook her head. “I’m good.”
“Glad to hear it,” you sat as you patted her head. You looked back at Varin, watching as Alistair crawled towards him.
As a tiny hand touched Varin’s chest, he let out a wince. He didn’t stop Alistair though, gritting his teeth through the pain as the little boy curled up on his chest. He took a shallow, exasperated breath, gently resting a hand on Alistair’s head. “Hello, little one.”
You kneeled beside him, brushing strands of hair away from his face. Right beside where Alistair lay was a large slash through Varin’s chest, the wound rapidly healing itself. You scanned him up and down, only to see all of him wounds began to close, flesh stitching itself back together. Yet Alistair didn’t seem to mind, peacefully falling asleep on Varin’s chest.
Aya had other ideas, looking over Varin closer and scrunching her face. “Eww.”
Varin let out a weak laugh. “I know. Not the nicest thing to look at, I’m sure.”
“I can hold him,” you offered, watching Alistair slowly breathe in and out.
“No. No, it’s…” he sighed. “It’s alright. Thank you.”
Silence lingered. You had so many questions, yet were clueless where to start.
“Go home?” Aya asked. “I…I wanna ride the dog again, then…go home.”
“…You saw it?” You raised an eyebrow.
“A little. Fluffy,” mumbled Aya, patting the grass. “Where’d it go?”
“Asleep,” said Varin quickly. “It had to go home to rest.”
Aya seemed to accept that answer. “Oh. I want home,” she mumbled, moving beside Varin (and away from her own vomit) and lying on the grass.
Home. That place was home to her.
You looked towards Varin for guidance on what to say, but he looked just as distressed as you were.
“Aya…” he started, reaching up to gently caress her face. “Aya, we can’t go back home. We need to find a new home.”
Her expression went blank; she was so little, you weren’t sure if she understood.
She scanned the ground, quiet. “Oh…but my toys. All gone?”
You grabbed your pack, hoping that maybe in the panic you had brought something that could comfort her. At the bottom of the bag was a tiny plush wolf; the one you and Varin had scented so many months ago. It was amazing how fast she grew.
You thought back to one of Varin’s scripture readings, one you had barely paid attention to at the time.
“When humanity fell, the Gods made many improvements. To the Hunter, children were children for far too long.”
“Why’s that?”
“He thought their slow growth might’ve been part of the species’ downfall. It took a human child nearly three years to form full sentences, much less defend itself. So, Beastkin children grow far faster. Some think it might be even at double the rate of human children.”
“That’s good, isn’t it?”
“In some ways, but…a child is only a child once. Humans might’ve had flaws, but they had plenty of time to see their children as children. There was an old saying with the humans; ‘one day will be the last day you hold your child, and at the time, you won’t even know it.’”
At the time, you found it a little dramatic. Now, you understood. Aya would never be that small ever again. As much as you loved watching her grow, hearing her thoughts; you couldn’t help but be nostalgic for the first time you held her in the orphanage.
Right, the toy.
You pulled the wolf out from your bag, handing it to her. “Not all. There’s still one. Better than none, I reckon.”
She quickly grew distracted, a smile on her face as she snuggled the toy.
You turned back to Varin, a gentle wind rustling his hair as he laid on the ground. With Aya distracted, there was no better time for answers. “Varin…what happened?”
“Well…” he shrugged, staring up at the sky. “You were still asleep. I was making breakfast for the children, and someone started banging at the door. I didn’t answer, I just…I had a feeling if I did, it wouldn’t end well. A gut feeling, I suppose. The banging got louder, and louder, and eventually they tried to tear down the door. They were shouting your name, telling you to surrender. That they had a warrant for your arrest, ordered by the King.”
Your eyes narrowed; Serwyn was a small theocracy, just outside the bounds of the Empire. “The King has no jurisdiction over Serwyn, that’s why we went there in the first place.”
“No. Which means…” he turned back to face you. “My father granted extradition. He planned to deliver the bounty with his own men.” He looked away once more, staring up at the sky. “I knew my father had spies, but…I’m sorry. I was foolish enough to think that his cruelty might’ve faded with time. That because I have a mate, I have children, that I did what I was supposed to do…he wouldn’t have held your past against you.”
You stayed quiet. Varin always saw the good in people; one of his worst and best traits. Perhaps it made him more pious, but ultimately, it nearly got you, all of you, killed.
“I thought he wouldn’t be a threat to the person I’m bound to protect. Those were his own words, to never threaten another alpha’s omega. Especially one within your own family. But…given recent events…I don’t know. I never thought he was capable of such evil. He killed that child.”
You stayed quiet, gently running your hand along his cheek.
“I don’t know,” tears rolled down his face as Alistair patted his beard. “I wanted some place we could be safe. A home. But…I’m sorry. I should’ve known better. I just didn’t know what else to do.”
You weren’t sure what to think. You shifted your attention to the runes, the wounds now thin lines, far less visible than before. “What are these?”
Varin let out a quiet laugh. “My research. When my father said I couldn’t preach, I decided to take advantage of the Temple’s library. They’re Fey runes. I thought if the Fey wing extract helped, then perhaps their magic might too. And it seems it did.”
“But you aren’t a Fey. Unless there’s something you need to tell me.”
The smirk remained on Varin’s face. “I’m not. But…I’m capable of magic. It’s different, but…the runes gave me the same amount of control the extract did. It even allowed me to transform on my own accord. Although, that wasn’t something I planned on using, I was mostly just curious, but… it came in handy.”
You ran your hand over his arm, his pain seemed to have dissipated. “Do you think it could lead to a cure?”
“No. A temporary solution, maybe, but…” he sat up, holding Alistair in his arms. “I want to investigate this further. I have a friend I’d like to speak to, about this.”
“…you befriended a Fey?”
He nodded. “Oh yes. Several, actually. I know it’s unconventional, but…I doubt anyone would look for us inside the mountains.”
Inside the mountains. That’s where you were headed. After centuries of bloodshed against the Fey and Beastkin, the surviving Fey took up shelter in caves, eventually hollowing out mountains with magic.
At least, that’s what you had read. Whether or not that’d be reality was unknown to you.
————————-
Once again, you were traveling on the open road with two young children. Both of them slept soundly, Alistair against your chest and Aya in Varin’s arms.
“How does one meet a Fey?” You asked, watching the mountain get closer and closer.
“I found one wounded during my travels, outside the mountains. He was a shapeshifter, as are all the Fey who leave the Interior of the mountains. I helped him, and in exchange, he let me take refuge in the Interior for a few months while I figured out what I wanted to do next.”
You immediately were skeptical. “I thought the Fey were highly secretive, that they don’t want Beastkin known how to enter their mountains.”
“They are. He just wanted me to fuck him.”
You nearly choked as you let out a laugh, the situation so bizarre it kept jealousy at bay. “Really? And how did that go?”
Varin shrugged, “it was fine. A bit strange, to be honest. At the time, I had only ever been with omega men. But the Fey don’t have as many sexes as Beastkin do, and well…” he trailed off. “Caught me a bit off guard.”
“What do you mean?”
“Its odd. Only Fey women can bear children, and only men can rear them. Took me for a bit of a loop when my head was between his legs. But other than that, it was fine.”
No wonder they’re so rare, you thought. “That’s ridiculous. Why would a God create a race so limiting?”
“Their God, the Gardner, believed humanity’s downfall had nothing to do with how they reproduced, so she saw no reason to change it. But anyway, I had studied some of their magic in the past, so I decided it could be worth looking into, and I’m glad I did.”
“Had you tried that before today? The runes, the transforming?”
“No. I had memorized them, in case of an emergency like today, but…today was the first time I tried it. I’m just glad my hypotheses were correct.”
The conversation was interrupted by the sound of Alistair sneezing, shaking himself awake. He reached a hand up, moving to touch your face. “Papa…” he mumbled softly, as if unsure.
That’s right,” you said softly, patting his head.
“Papa!” He blurted out, this time with much more conviction.
After a day filled with chaos and destruction, there was Alistair’s first word. You traveled just a little further, your family eventually at the base of a rather intimidating mountain.
Aya stood beside Varin, holding his hand and leaning against his side. Alistair had grown restless, squirming in your arms; yet you couldn’t bring yourself to let him go, awkwardly repositioning your arms to keep him from sliding out of your grip. “How do we get in?” You asked.
“Like entering anyone’s house. You knock,” said Varin. He looked down at Aya, gesturing at the mountain wall. “Care to do the honors?”
He’s so casual about this. We are seeking refuge inside a mountain. Does he not realize how insane this is?
Aya happily toddled towards the door, knocking in a whimsical little pattern.
“YOU ARE NOT OF OUR BLOOD,” the mountain responded, its voice booming with a weight to it that shook you to your core. “STATE YOUR BUSINESS.”
“Are you out of your mind?” You hissed under your breath, staring back at Varin. “It’s going to scare her-”
“Hi!” Aya happily responded, jumping up and down in place. “I’m Aya! I’m almost one!”
Despite all the chaos and bloodshed, she’d turn one tomorrow. You had ensured your family’s safety, yet as silly as it was, you couldn’t help but feel guilty; if things were different, perhaps you could’ve done something to celebrate.
“Look at her go,” Varin beamed, a proud smile on his face despite the clearly stifled laugh.
“AYA…” The mountain responded, her name echoing through the hills. “WHO ARE YOUR COMPANIONS, AYA WHO IS ALMOST ONE?”
You furrowed your brow. “Is…” you leaned over to Varin. “Is this a joke?”
“They’re Fey, of course it is,” he smiled. “But all in good fun. They laugh with you, never at you.”
For some reason, the distinction put you even more on edge.
“Uh….” Aya continued, rushing over to you and holding your hand to the side, as if the mountain could see her. “This Papa. Then Ali,” she pointed at Alistair before rushing over to Varin, holding up his hand. “Then daddy.”
“I SEE…” the mountain responded once more. “FATHER VARIN OF GRAYWIND, STEP FORWARD.”
Varin held his hands up, as if surrendering. “Alright. Yes?”
Is…is the mountain in on the joke? This is so bizarre. Maybe if the day had been less…hectic, to put it mildly, you would’ve been more willing to entertain…whatever this was.
“YOU HAVE A VERY LOVELY FAMILY, FATHER VARIN OF GRAYWIND.”
“Why, thank you. That’s quite nice of you to say.”
“WHO IS IT YOU SEEK?”
“Right. Well, uh…” he snapped his fingers, pausing. “Who I seek, who I seek…”
He’s talking to an enchanted mountain as if it were an old drinking buddy. I’m going to lose it.
“Ah! That’s right. I am seeking an audience with The Magister. If that’s permitted, of course.”
The mountain went silent.
“I feel like you may want to be a little more formal when speaking with an enchanted mountain,” you mumbled under your breath.
“Abababa,” Alistair babbled in agreement.
Varin paid the two of you no mind. Eventually, the mountain spoke once more.
“…I REQUIRE FIVE MINUTES, VARIN OF GRAYWIND.”
“Sure. Take all the time you need.”
Right. Of course. What do I know about conversing with magic mountains? This is so very normal. Nothing is at all amiss. Your sense of sarcasm was inescapable, even in your own thoughts.
You stepped forward, watching as Aya ran in circles. “Moun. Tain. Mountain. Mountainmountainmountainmountainmountainmountain.” She said the word so many times, it didn’t feel like a real word anymore.
“How do the Fey courts work? Why are you asking for the Magister?”
Varin let out a chuckle. “They don’t, from what I’ve seen. But the Magister is the wisest mage there is, out of all the Fey.”
“How do you know him?”
“Oh, you know,” he shrugged. “Friend of a friend type situation. I can get along with most anyone, provided they’re not an asshole.”
“Well, not sure what you’re doing around me, then,” you teased, a smirk on your face.
“What?” The joke flew right over his head. “I think you’re delightful.”
“I’m an assassin. When we first met, I had just been hired to murder someone you associated with.”
“Well…” he awkwardly shrugged. “Nobody’s perfect."
Soon enough, the mountain’s voice returned.
“YOU MAY PASS.”
A section of the mountain faded away, revealing a winding hallway. Aya curiously walked forward, the hallway made of glowing aquamarine stone. Your footsteps clinked against the stone as the rest of your family followed, the sound almost reminiscent of glass.
As soon as you all made it inside, the entrance to the mountain was sealed; nothing but rock remained.
…are we trapped here?
You looked back to Varin, who seemed completely relaxed.
I’ll trust him.
You picked Alistair back up. As you traversed further into the mountain, following the path, never before had Alistair been so…talkative.
He laughed and giggled, babbling up a storm. You watched the walls carefully; each time Alistair spoke, no matter how incoherent he was, the walls seemed to glow in response.
Weird.
You couldn’t help but be on edge, constantly looking over your shoulder. You held Alistair close, protectively kissing the top of his forehead. It was a sweet gesture, yet you glared at the walls around you with scorn; it didn’t matter if Varin seemed to trust this place. You didn’t.
As much as you hated to admit it, you couldn’t help but doubt him, watching as he led you all through the tunnel. You didn’t doubt he had good intentions, but you wouldn’t forget everything that had happened today.
Everything is moving far too fast.
You continued forward, the hallway opening up into a towering cavern of colorful stones. At the very top was a ray of light bouncing off a quartz chandelier. The stone was cut in a mismatch of directions, allowing the small beam of light to illuminate the vast area, acting as an artificial sun.
Glittering teal wings danced in the light as various Fey flew through the area, the cavern like a bustling town square. Various buildings were carved out of stone walls, Fey flying from one to the other as they did their daily shopping. Some even traversed tunnels that led further through the mountain, a map drawn on the wall revealing how the tunnels would eventually spit out into various cave systems.
The sound of so many wings flapping together created a gentle hum that echoed throughout the mountain; one you hoped wouldn’t become an annoyance.
Two guards flew down towards you, their wings coated in what looked almost like oil, gold and aquamarine armor covering their bodies, each wielding tall spears. It was only then you realized you hadn’t even seen a Fey up close. Illustrations made them look small. Up close, however, they towered over you, the two in front of you close to seven feet tall.
They spoke to each other in a language that sounded almost like song, each syllable melodic. They then nodded, both looking down at your family.
“We cannot let you see the Magister in this state,” said a man's voice.
“What?!” For the first time since you arrived, Varin looked surprised. "Why? Outside, we were told-"
“You’re filthy,” the other guard spat, looking you all up down, long blonde hair spilling from her helmet. “Your clothes are covered in blood, you both smell awful, and your children look unruly.”
“That’s not their fault,” you snapped. “You have no idea what we’ve-”
“I threw up,” Aya interrupted, looking down a the ground sheepishly. “I’m sorry.”
You were furious. All she had endured, and this woman had the gall to make her feel inadequate. “No, don’t apologize,” your brow furrowed as you stared down the guard in front of you. “Look, we've been-”
“I THREW UP!” Aya shouted, her little fists balled. “AND IM NOT SORRY!”
…Not exactly what I meant, but I appreciate the energy. You couldn't help but feel a strange sense of pride. "Exactly. We've been to hell and back, so to bring us down here only to deny us for-
“What we meant is the court won’t allow you inside." The guards looked exasperated by your display, looking back towards Varin. "The Magister has offered his wife’s handmaidens to assist you with…” the guard made a vague gesture towards Varin. “All of this, before you are presented at the Court.”
You were speechless. After all you had endured today, you wanted nothing more than to rest, your patience razor thin. It didn’t matter if they were nearly seven feet tall with spears, you were ready with a retort.
“Why do we all need to be presented? This is ridiculous.”
The day had been long enough. If you could just be given a decent place to stay and a warm bed for your children, you’d be content. All of this seemed highly unnecessary.
One of the guards turned to face you directly, an emotionless look on her face.
“Because the Court wishes to hire your services.”
Well. No good deed goes unpunished.
But I love Aya so fucking much. Welcome to the Fey realm!
Also! We are about halfway through the ‘killing Varin’s dad’ arc, yay! Don’t worry, we will get our revenge . But uh…yeah, let’s just say he knew who reader was only days after they walked through those gates. One slip up from reader was all he needed to deliver the order to get him out of there.
So now we are in the Fey realm, which…I wanted to kind of play around with the Fey as a concept here. I thought it’d be fun to subvert the norms by having them live in mountains :3
Next chapter will be explaining our situation to the Magister and the rest of court, while Varin offers his knowledge to the Magister in hopes of a cure that DOESN’T involve senseless cruelty to the Fey. Yay!
I’ve got a lot of big things planned, and sorry this took so long. I had a super big work event that kicked my ass, so I tried to make this chapter a bit longer to make up for it.
ALSO it was offhandedly mentioned last chapter that because Varin didn’t breed reader, he would enter rut. Which begs the question…?
Pregante?
Two is enough!
PREGANTE!!
PREGANTE (with werewolf fucking)
I’m ok with literally any option. On one hand, things will be increasingly chaotic as the Disease continues to ravage the land outside the Fey realm. On the other…Varin breeding reader in rut and him having to deal with having a baby during incredibly stressful situations. Him. Decisions decisions.
But yeah! Thank you for reading!! Big things coming yay!
I hope you enjoyed!
GENERAL TAGLIST: @ilocuras24 @welpthisisboring
