"The chicken laid an egg?" Luna slurred.

James chuckled at his wife as she swayed in her seat.

"Yes, the chicken laid an egg," Jamie repeated. "It's a great story."

Blinking several times, Luna's head dipped to the table. "I think I'm drunk…"

Sighing, James stood and picked Luna up. "Let's get you to bed."

"But it's not dark out," Luna whined.

Glancing at Amber, James found her snickering while nursing an ale. With an exaggerated sigh, he carried Luna away. They were still in the same room and he quickly pulled out the key from her waistband. Moving her to the bed, he covered her up and set a glass of water down on the end table.

Luna was already snoring by the time he stepped back. Drool was dripping from the corner of her mouth, soaking the pillow as she rolled onto her side.

Leaving her be, he returned to the bar. Amber was still nursing her drink while Jamie was laying her head on the table. Mender was drinking with a group of elves, happily singing some sort of tavern song.

"Are you going to take Jamie to bed?" he asked as he sat back down.

Amber glanced at her. "I'm concerned she is drinking too much. She seems to be drowning something."

"Luna is too." Nudging Jamie, he found her fast asleep. "We shouldn't leave her here."

Nodding, Amber stood and picked up the small cultivator. "I'll put her in my room. Wait for me?"

"Yeah." Turning back to the crowd, James let his mind wander. The city is vastly different than what I imagined. There's an entire side of society that I never knew existed. How have I missed all of this?

Mender fell backwards in his chair, the elves laughing at him as the man closed his eyes.

It would seem everyone is drowning their thoughts tonight.

Thankfully, one of the elves helped Mender to his room as Amber returned.

"Why aren't you drinking more?" he asked.

"Don't want to," Amber stated. "What's the point of losing control?"

"Like you lost control with teasing Luna?" he quipped.

Smiling, Amber showed her teeth in one of her rare moments of true happiness. "That was the best part of the day."

"She is easy to rile up," he admitted. "It was fun."

Picking up her ale, she took another small drink. "Are you really going to help me cultivate?"

"I am. But it's going to change your very being. Is that something you can live with?"

"Not like I'm really living here," she said with a snort.

"Your hair will turn white with time, and you'll show your power through your skin." Shrugging, he added, "that's what I know at least. I still think the power is worth it. Plus, I get to learn what really happened to the world."

"Would you save the world if you could?"

He stared at Amber for several long moments before answering. "I would, but I fear that is long into the future plans. First, I need to grow a force that will help me reach the research facilities, and pass over the rents."

Whistling, she scooted closer. "You really are starting your own sect. But you don't know what happens in a city, let alone a sect."

"That's what I have all of you for," he said with a smile. "I know I'm a disappointment in the city. I'm clueless to the norms and politics. I was spoiled growing up and it shows. But I can't change my past."

"No, you can't," she stated. "You're going to be a lot of work, but the hardest part is having the courage to make decisions. For example, cutting Luna off before she gets drunk every night."

Raising his brow, he asked, "I thought you were letting her so you could have me alone."

Laughing, Amber quickly covered her mouth. "You're horrible, James." Eyes lowering, she whispered, "I find it comfortable to be around you."

Frowning, he thought of Luna. The wolf had grown happy with him over the last few months, but it had taken a long time to reach that point. Months of not talking and only seeing her from the distance.

"It hurt, you know," he said softly.

"Hmm?"

"When I first met Luna. I saved her from a pack of plague wolves in the wasteland. Sadly, after she recovered, I scared her bad enough that she avoided me for months."

"Months?" Amber questioned. "What did you do?"

"I lost control," he admitted. "That was when we learned the hunger was worse than we thought. I tried to pull her soul from her body and eat her."

Eyes wide, Amber took a hurried drink. "Her soul?"

"It's what we cultivate," he said. "We take the souls from our foes to grow stronger. We eat their flesh to survive any wound. It's our curse."

"And it's worth it?" Amber asked, leaning in more.

"It is. I wasn't given a choice, but Luna was. That's when our souls resonated with one another. I'll be with her forever. But it's still fun to tease her."

Chuckling, Amber slid closer. "It is. Why do you go along with it? You know she is frustrated."

"I never had friends," James admitted.

"Never?"

"Never," he repeated. "If I did, I likely wouldn't be as clueless as I am."

"That's likely." Sighing, she finished her drink. "There's no time like the present."

This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

"I'd toast to that if I could drink."

Frowning, she looked into her mug. "I don't understand that. Why can't you eat or drink, but Luna can?"

"I don't know." Shrugging, he yawned. "One of the great mysteries of our cultivation that I'll have to study." Getting up, he held out his hand. "We should sleep."

Taking his hand, she giggled. "Such a gentleman. Should I kiss you goodnight as well? Maybe rub my scent on you?"

Rolling his eyes, he let her go. "I'd like to live to see the morning. Besides, you have Jamie."

Sighing, she looked towards the stairs. "You mean the one that gets drunk every time she has a chance at me?"

Wincing, he nodded. "Luna is no better."

"At least we have each other for company." With a wave, she walked off. "I'll see you in the morning, James."

He waited until she had ascended the stairs before following. Luna was in the first room on the second floor and when he opened the door, he found her watching him.

"Sober again?" he asked.

"Yeah," she said softly. "Did you have fun with Amber?"

Moving to the bed, he sat down. "I told her more about our cultivation. She's still on board."

"That should make you happy," Luna murmured.

"Don't be like that," he said with a frown. "Just because we pick on you doesn't mean we are attracted to one another."

Sighing, Luna scooted closer and leaned into his side. "I know, but I always find myself wondering what you would be like if you had met her first. What if you met Jamie first. I guess I'm insecure."

"Just a little," he teased. "But you don't need to be. You're my wife and nothing will change that. Unless you suddenly stopped loving me."

Scoffing, she smacked his arm. "Don't be a jerk." Slipping her fingers between his, she rested her head on his shoulder. "Are we really going to fight the giant?"

"We are." Frowning, he squeezed her hand. "We don't have a choice if we want to have a future. We can't run forever and it's going to keep chasing us."

Shivering, she pulled away. "I'm scared, James. Are we strong enough?"

"I don't know," he admitted. "That's why we need to gather allies. If the elders help us, we can bring it down, but in the future, we won't have them. We need to grow stronger."

Pushing him down, she rested her head on his chest. "Are you sure my tail is better than Amber's?"

Laughing, he rubbed her ears. "That was a quick change of topic. But, yes, it is. Don't overthink it, Love. I only want you, although I'm worried you are drinking too much."

Sighing, she nodded. "I'll ease up. But I do like when you carry me to bed."

"I'll keep doing it, even if you are sober." Running his hand down her back, he stopped at the base of her tail. "Why are you still dressed?"

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me," he teased.

Biting her lips, she sat up. "I suppose I am feeling awfully warm. If only I had a loving man that would help me with my clothes."

Hooking his finger under her chest wrap, he gave it a tug. "I don't know if your husband would approve of you being with me. We'll have to be sneaky."

"You're such an idiot." Rolling her eyes, she undid her wrap. "Lay down and let me love you."

James stepped out of the tavern as night fully settled in. Luna had fallen asleep after their activities and he couldn't sleep. The hot winds of the night blew against his skin, the warmth reminding him that others couldn't live outside at night.

Walking the empty streets, he headed towards the front gate. The gate was closed, but he simply hopped over, clearing the tall wall with ease.

Smoothing down his leather and feather outfit, he walked into the forest. The trees were rustling and blowing leaves down on him as the ferns and bushes rattled. He could sense the souls of the Forsaken deep in dens, protected from the night.

I wonder what goes through their heads. Just like us, they can't survive outside at night, but what changed the world for the nights to burn?

He didn't know if he would ever get an answer. He had asked himself the question before, but it still remained in his long list of questions.

Turning to the sky, he marveled at the shining stars. The fractured moon drifted overhead, brightening the forest as he walked among the trees. Many of the leaves were changing color; the telltale sign that fall was upon them.

I'll need to take my group south as soon as we can. Africa is a long away from here. I think. I need to talk to Bo and find out where exactly we are in the world.

Yet another problem added to the list. Not only did he have Amber, Mender, and Jamie to change, but he knew others would come with them. Luna had mentioned she talked with Linda, and the oni brothers seemed interested. He would need to stop by and talk with them.

I don't want to scare them though…Why do I scare everyone?

It was a dismal thought. He used to be celebrated, and now he couldn't walk through a city without parting crowds. Even the Forsaken fled from him as if he was the reaper himself.

Rubbing the bridge of his nose, he found a clearing with a large boulder. Climbing onto the rock, he sat and watched the stars.

I don't like being in the city. I don't like the sect. Everything is different now. Have I really changed that much?

He knew the answer was yes, but he didn't want it to be. He didn't want things to go back to how they were before he was left for dead, but he at least wanted to know why it got to that point to begin with.

Why did his mother experiment on him? Why was she so worried that his core would be destroyed? She was right, but what started that worry? It couldn't be just because he showed early signs of cultivating. Who even was his mother? Why did she have access to a project that was discarded. It wasn't even finished, yet here he was, eating souls and growing stronger.

Nothing makes sense. I wish she was still alive that I might ask her. I don't even know why my father went to the rent in the first place. Why did he have to die?

He didn't remember his father as well as he should have, but he could still remember his mother crying over the loss. He wasn't even that young at the time, but his memories were hazy at best. His whole childhood was hazy. The only things that stood out was growing his core and rising in the sect. He was driven to grow stronger, and he remembered the elders keeping him close.

Why did they help me so much, just to cast me out? Did they want to kill me before my mother's experiment activated? Would it have if I didn't lose my core?

Shaking his head, he tried to rid himself of the thoughts. He hadn't come outside to sulk in questions he couldn't answer. He needed to get away from the populace and back into the wilds. The place he felt at home in. He missed the wastelands. The concrete buildings and powerful foes. The taste of their meat and blood. But most importantly, their souls. He wanted to get stronger. He wanted to know what the peak of his cultivation was. And more importantly, he wanted more skills. He wanted the knowledge they gave him. The fluidity of movement that came to him. The ability to dance with death as if he were a friend. He wanted it all.

Luna trudged into the bar to the smell of breakfast and talking voices of her companions. Her heart ached as she had woken alone.

Amber was the first to greet her. "Scare away your husband last night? I thought he was attached to your hip."

Frowning, Luna felt her shoulders lump and gaze fall.

"Wait…" Amber stood up. "He's really gone?"

"Yeah," Luna muttered.

"Where could he have gone?" Jamie asked. "Why would he sneak out?"

Luna shook her head. "I don't know. I can't sense his soul anywhere nearby and I don't feel him searching for me. I don't think he's in the city."

"Why would he leave?" Sitting down, Amber rested her head in her hands. "This doesn't make sense."

"Do any of us truly understand him?" Mender asked. "Luna you have been with him the longest."

"I don't know," she admitted. "He was an anomaly when I met him. He controlled the wastelands and moved with confidence that shouldn't have been possible. I watched him fight off a hundred Forsaken at once without dying."

"That's not possible," Jamie said softly. "Surely you miscounted."

Sitting down, Luna shook her head. "I didn't. He always pushed me to fight more than one Forsaken at once. I could never keep up with the numbers. Yet, he would fight through groups that made me tremble. It was just another Tuesday for him."

"How strong is he?" Amber asked, her voice barely rising above a whisper.

Meeting everyone's gaze, Luna said, "I don't know. I don't know if we'll ever find out."

"He killed dozens of Forsaken to keep me and Jamie alive," Mender stated. "He's strong enough for that at least."

Rubbing her head, Amber sat up. "I'll go find him. Surely someone in the city would have found him by now."

"If he's even in the city," Luna said. Getting up, she walked to Amber's side. "Let's go, kitten."

Sighing, the cat didn't put up a fight. "I have a few people we can talk to for information. Follow me."

"What should we do?" Mender asked.

Shrugging, Luna said, "get supplies together. We are going to be moving to the wastelands soon. You're going to need anything for comfort you can find. I know I at least want a bed."

Turning to the door, Luna took the lead. She didn't have to wait long for Amber to pass her. The city was large and they didn't even know if he was within the walls.

‎

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.