Chapter 9

Before arriving inside the cave, her mind shut down and regained conscience when she was already in the safety of the darkness inside the refuge. But that usual pain that invaded her every night, came back with such intensity that she felt as if someone was stepping over her skull and stretching her bones.

Vatra noticed her whimpering and covered her with her warm body to try and give her some comfort, whilst the other two intruders were watching carefully and with curiosity at how Arline was folding over her knees and grabbed her head in pain.

Dragging her feet, she headed to the entrance of the cave where she could touch the water that bonded with the sea to try to calm her pain. “

” Arline had been enduring this sensation for weeks now, she wasn’t going to give into it right now she had accomplished this mission. Not before she got to kill Larsin.

Her vision was clouded when she saw Merrick approaching. He grabbed Arline’s arm and helped her stand. “What happened?” He asked her in a worried tone but looked at her with relieved eyes.

“Please tell me he is fine.” Arline asked about Calix with badly hidden pain in her voice, something he completely noticed but tried to ignore, and just nodded in response to her question. “I brought you a gift.” She said and whistled for Vatra to present herself in front of Merrick.

The King caressed his brother’s dragon with a smile and was about to hug the Huntress and thank her for her hard work, when he saw two other creatures crawling out of the shadows and going to Arline’s side. They were trying to reach for her and copy Vatra’s caring manners. “Arline, how-” Merrick stopped himself at the sight of Arline, rocking her head slightly and mumbling nonsense.

When he tried grabbing her, she brushed him off violently and begged desperately. “Make her go quiet, please.” Without warning him, Arline picked the dagger from the side of her thigh and aimed to slash her forearm, ready to open it and let the blood flow out of it.

The King was quicker than her and held her hand in the air with great strength to prevent a catastrophe. “There is no way I am letting you die, Arline.” He whispered for Arline to come back. “Look at me and drop the dagger.” Merrick wasn’t scared nor worried. He understood the spirit of the Queen of Blood was awakening once again and needed death, one way or the other.

The Dark Prince took the dagger from her when he saw her eyes go back to the shiny brown eyes he had fallen for. The pain was still there but it was more bearable.

“Arline, I only asked for Vatra, how did-”

“I had to bargain and they followed.” She interrupted the King and dropped her back on the ground, closing her eyes. “Congratulations, you have three dragons.”

Merrick was in outer disbelief at her capacity to over do every task assigned to her. But focused more on the bruises and cuts earned from this adventure, how her breathing was quicker because of the pain. He fixated on her so much that only snapped out of his trance when he noticed the strange dragons moving her around, trying to keep her awake.

He went next to her and made her get up. Arline’s body was weak and let herself get guided by Merrick, who grabbed her hand and extended it, ready to place it on Vatra’s head. “What are you doing? You are who is supposed to do this.” Arline moved her hand and pushed him away.

“This will help the pain, don’t be stubborn.” Merrick assured her, trying to catch her but she was quick despite her state. A dragon bowing to any person, let alone a Descendant of Pelagius, was the same as putting fire over dry leaves. Her power was only going to grow from there.

“I kept my promise, now make them bow to you and leave me alone.” Arline angrily spat this words on his face.

“I will.” He said. “When you do it with me, Heir of Depths.”

“Fuck you.”

“Whenever you want, now give me your hand.” His insolence, insistence and arrogance were out of this world. So much that his stupidity got her distracted, and he quickly grabbed her hand and pulled her closer to him.

He intertwined his fingers with hers and extended their hands for the dragons to bow their heads and show loyalty, as if they were going to decline the Dark Prince and the Heir of Depths. Vatra didn’t hesitate, she had known Merrick her entire life and Arline was her favorite rider in the world.

But the Red Menace and the Gentle Wyvern took their time and only bowed their heads when they saw Arline felt more calm in presence of Merrick.

Arline felt her knees weakening once he let her go, and had to sit down on a rock. And Merrick followed her, respecting a certain distance, but he was not leaving the cave without her.

“Let’s go, Arline, you completed the quest.”

“I am fine.” Arline said with a lost expression on her face.

“You are exhausted and injured.”

“I haven’t slept properly in two days.” She unaffectedly said and got up to begin her way back to the House of the Huntresses. With stumbling steps and laying on rocks.

“Where are you going?” He sounded irritated and followed her with his eyes.

“Where do you think?” Arline’s words were bitter and had no rational justification. But the pain and sorrow her body held was overwhelming and being angry took less energy than being sad.

The Huntress was stomping the sand on the beach, but her legs gave in to tiredness and sat down on the edge of the water. Her mind was calm for a moment, until Pelagius’ message invaded her. “

” Arline knew her mind was weak but she shook her head to make it go away.

But he was right. Her only wish was for Merrick to trust her the way he used to. But at the same time, she didn’t want him close, because only imagining what could Pelagius do to him or to his kingdom, just to make her switch sides, terrified her and made her angrier.

She heard hooves against the sand and didn’t even care to look knowing it was him. “Get on the horse, Arline.” He said right by her side.

“Are you asking me or commanding me?”

“Don’t make me do it.” He warned her with a soft tone.

Arline sighed and headed to the horse. It was a mystery for her how she managed to trust him, get hurt and still trust him entirely.

The King was in control of the reins and sitting behind her.“Thank you.” He purred in her ear, making her skin to get goosebumps.

“I think I over did it.” Arline confessed, dropping her head and trying to play a part of disinterest towards the King. Having his arms almost closing around her and making his chest to push against her back, made her stomach feel funny.

“Probably.” He agreed with a funny tone. “I am in debt to you.”

“You don’t owe me anything.” Arline clarified for him. “I owe you for not killing me when I left.”

“

” He confessed in his mind. They stayed silent for a few minutes. “I do trust you.” Merrick said with unshakable voice as he headed the horse to the entrance of the city.

“What?” The statement took her by surprise and then cursed herself for letting her guard down. “Don’t read my mind, Merrick.”

The King didn’t say a word but she knew he was smiling at her. What Arline didn’t know was he smiled because she said his name, even if it was as a reprimand to him.

They continued until they were in front of the Healer’s Cabin. “You are getting checked up.” Merrick said after both got off the horse and got inside.

At night, the cabin seemed entirely different. With candlelights that burned letting sparkles out in form of fireflies and the beds entirely occupied with the nurses attending everything from a mother giving birth to an old man on his death bed.

“A lot of care coming from the King, considering I am just a Huntress.” Arline said it as if being “just a Huntress” was a small title to hold.

“You are not just a Huntress.” Merrick reminded her of who she really was without mentioning it. “And knowing you, you would run before getting inside.” Arline noticed how Merrick had softened since the last time they saw each other, maybe suffered her absence and thought she died in the mountains.

They went to the end of the hall where one of the healers was seating. It was a young girl wearing a white tunic, who quickly got up when she saw the King approaching and bowed her head.

“Good night, Casia.” He saluted the young girl and Arline couldn’t wrap her head around how Merrick knew every single person in his kingdom. “I need you to make sure Ms. Cole is healthy.”

Casia agreed without a word and showed Arline where to sit. The Heir was covered in cuts and burnt by either fire or cold and Casia inspected every single mark on her. “Does it hurt, m’lady?” She gently asked Arline with a warm smile.

“Barely.” Arline answered back sweetly and Casia went back to cleaning and covering up some of the serious-looking wounds.“You should rest.” Arline said to him.

“I will when she is done.” Merrick simply responded. He didn’t even look slightly tired. She was back and brought back more dragons than what he had ask her. Merrick was delighted.

The young healer was quick and handed Arline a boswellia infusion to help with any kind of inflammation. “Thank you very much, Casia.” Arline said handing her the cup.

“My pleasure.” She bowed her head once again and left to attend her night duties.

Merrick walked Arline back to the House of the Huntresses, and none of them spoke in the way there. It was late and cold but she felt the comfort of being back when she was standing in front of the door.

“Thank you again.” The King repeated and kissed the back of her hand. “And regarding the necklace-”

“I told you I don’t mind the necklace, don’t worry.” Arline gently told him and then remembered her promise to Eric. “This is for you.” Arline removed the chain with the black onyx charm. “It is Eric’s, he was agonizing when we found him. He said it was an honor to be on your side.” Arline explained with a knot on her throat, she wanted to cry as she said this words.

Merrick took it gently. “He was too brave sometimes.” He confessed with a sad tone. “Sleep well, Arline.” Merrick said whispering and was about to leave when he remembered. “By the way, you are not allowed to train for the next week.”

“Are you serious?” She said in disbelief from the door. “

” Arline thought giving her back to the King.

“I know.” Merrick responded to her thoughts from the distance with a grin.