Chapter 416: Sisters

Cassia;

"No one is "just" evil. Every being is a result of something that affected them. Like ink on fabric. No matter how horrible they may seem, there is a reason behind it. Like a ripple. Now, their ability to fight against the bad is what separates hurt people from truly bad ones."

Those were my Father’s words. Words he taught me when I was a young girl growing into a woman. Those words formed one of the strongest pillars of my life to date, and now, walking beside Liandria, all I can remember are those words. Clearly.

In the silent night, I look at her, and a small smile splits my face.

She tucks her silver hair behind her ear, and I watch as her eyes take in everything like this is the first time she has walked down this path.

My smile grows as I realise how much she’s—changed.

She seems different now. Not vicious or intimidating like she usually is.

Now, she looks...delicate. Smaller in a way I can not quite explain, and—lighter. Like an old pouch that has finally rid itself of old, fermented wine.

She shivers a bit from the cold, and I watch her. Gravemaw is relatively hotter than Howleroot. But the weather can be deceptive, as some nights grow dangerously cold, leaving the scantily dressed regretting their choices. Tonight is one of those nights.

I quietly take off my coat and drape it around her. She looks up at me, stunned, and I smile.

"I–it’s okay. I’m not cold." She tries to argue, and I scoff.

"You’re shivering, Liandria. Accepting sincere help doesn’t make you any less." I reply, and she falls silent.

I can tell that despite her desire to change, she still feels a bit on edge around me.

As though she fears that no matter how hard she scrubs, her sins will never be washed clean in my eyes.

If only she knew.

I forgave her the very moment I saw how badly she longed for her son. And that wasn’t even tonight. I don’t know about the rest of the world. I will not justify her past or defend her actions. Neither will I say her desire to change now fixes everything like magic—But that ache in her heart...that desire to change and fix things? It means something.

It means a lot.

It shows me that at the end of the day, beneath that "monster", there’s a person’s aching heart. And that heart should be given a chance,

She’s been a terror long enough. It’s high time she lives as a normal, happy woman. And I’m going to help her do that.

"I think I understand him now." She whispers out of the blue, and my brows crease as my eyes return to the road.

"Rhydian?" I question, and she nods.

"He spent his whole life trying to earn my approval, and I never realised...I never realised he already had it." She whispers in a solemn confession, and I look back at her.

My heart aches at the sorrow in her voice and words, because... The truth is, sometimes, mothers rarely understand how much power they hold.

A single word, touch, even just a single moment...Could mean much more than we ever know.

Sometimes a child spends years waiting for things we never realise they need. And by the time we realise that they may not understand all the things we hoped they would...it could have been too late.

"I think he knows," I reply quietly, and Liandria finally looks at me.

For a moment I see hope in her eyes. Fragile and terrified hope.

"You do?" She asks, and a gentle smile splits my face.

"I think, despite the chasm, Rhydian has loved you his entire life," I explain, and her gaze falls to the ground.

"But does he still?" She mutters. Almost like she’s too scared to ask the question out loud. Almost like she’s more afraid of the answer.

"Yes," I reply confidently, and she looks at me. I smile as I stop walking and step closer to her.

"He still waits for you," I whisper, and he grey eyes hold me in place as she searches my face. Maybe searching for deception? Empty consolation??

I stay absolutely still, letting her search and find all the truths I have for her, because I didn’t tell a single lie to her. Neither do I plan to.

"I wrote him a letter." She then informs me like I wasn’t in the same hut with her when she wrote it.

"If I lose my courage when he returns."

"Liandria—"

"I don’t know how to say those things aloud." She cuts me off firmly, and I blink at her.

"I don’t know how to tell him I was wrong." She whispers almost shamefully as she starts walking ahead, and I follow behind quietly.

I’m certain she doesn’t need a lecture now. There are times for lectures and advice, and there are times when people just need someone to listen.

So tonight, instead of being teeth that chew off her ears, I’ll be the ear that listens, and the arms that hold her from breaking.

The castle rises ahead, with its warm lights glowing behind its windows.

I could sleep in my hut tonight, but I don’t feel like leaving Liandria alone tonight. I think It’ll be better to spend the night close to each other.

"I was cruel to that boy. And yet he still looked at me as though I could become better." She sighs, and I instantly know who she’s talking about.

My mind instantly wanders off to my little squirrel. Elián.

His smiles, kindness, and absurd ability to collect broken people resurface, and I smile lightly.

"He does that," I reply. Ignoring the ache in my heart from how much I miss the child.

"I want to become better," Liandria whispers, and I blink at her. The heavy sincerity in those words sinks into me as we finally make our way onto the castle grounds.

"You can be," I reply, placing a hand on her shoulder, and she blinks up at me with the harmlessness of a waterlily.

A gentle, soothing smile splits her face, and I see how much of a beauty she is.

Rhydian didn’t get his good looks only from his Father.

"When Rhydian comes home, I think I’d like to start over." She informs me proudly, and I nod in approval.

"I think he’d like that too," I assure her, and for the first time tonight, I see peace on her face.

Without any prior warning, she closes the gap between us and wraps me in a hug.

I gasp in shock. But slowly let my guard down.

It’s a bit odd to see Liandria like this. Sometimes, I do not know how to react. But it’s so beautiful; I will take it as it comes.

I wrap my arms around her. Embracing her warmly, as tranquillity trickles into my heart.

The moment is,s however, ruined by an alarmed yell.

We both pull apart, and when I look up, I see the guards above the walls shouting.

Something crashes somewhere behind the gates that just shut behind us, and then a scream follows.

Liandria grabs my arm immediately as she yanks me away from the gate.

The gate bursts open, and standing in the middle of that wreckage, with a terrifying madness in his eyes, is–Bram.

For a second, I almost cannot recognise him. He looks starved. Thin, and wild.

His hair sticks to his face, and his clothes are filthy. Very filthy. My eye darts to the figure behind him.

Young.

A boy much younger than Bram...Or any of my sons.

I take in the stranger’s dark robes, pale skin and long fingers.

He is standing with his hands behind his back, and smiling.

A curious smile...Like a child watching insects.

The moment I take him in properly, fear erupts in my chest as I recognise what he is.

A warlock.

I know Liandria recognises this too, as her grip on my wrist tightens, and as if on instinct, she steps in front of me immediately.

I gulp, too stunned to even move as I try to make sense of what is going on.

How did he get out? Why is he with a warlock? Why is there a warlock here??

Bram’s breathing is ragged, and his eyes remain locked on me. There’s burning desperation in those eyes. Desperation that causes my skin to crawl.

"You." He growls as he looks at me, and I blink at him.

"You’re my ticket to fix things." He adds, and my brows crease.

What does he mean? What is—a ticket?

I’ve never had personal encounters with the boy that meant anything. So why is he—

"You’re usually so selfless to everyone, I sure you wouldn’t mind laying your life for me...your highness." He adds, and my heart skips a beat.

He’s here to kill me?!

Liandria’s voice breaks through the silence immediately, and I watch as guards rush to surround us.

"Leave." She growls, and then Bram looks at her.

His expression remains unreadable as he stares at her, and I feel fear send goosebumps along my skin because one thought rings in my head.

Whatever is about to happen...I’m useless. My guards are about to discover just how weak their Queen has become. I have no beast.

How do I protect them, or myself now??

"Go on." The warlock then speaks behind Bram, as his smile widens.

"You wanted your chance." He adds, and I see something click into place in Bram’s eyes as his hands begin glowing.

My breath stutters when I identify the dark magic.

Liandria crouches lower in front of me. Ready to pounce, and the tenderness that was in her demeanour just minutes ago...is gone. All gone.

The known Alpha Liandria returns, as she shifts into her beast. The silver wolf who terrified kingdoms.

The beautiful silver beast turns to look at me, and in those grey eyes, I can understand one message.

Run.

Run? I—I can’t! I can’t just leave her here and run. I won’t do that!

The guards around us shout orders at each other, and I stay rooted to the spot in horror as they all charge towards Bram and his accomplice.

The night explodes into chaos, while Liandria remind rooted by my side like it is her duty to protect me.

"Liandria, come with me. We should leave here." I whisper as I gently touch her delicate fur, and her beast looks at me.

I can see the confusion in her eyes. She’s probably wondering since when I became a coward who runs from threats. But I’m not the same warrior I used to be. I...I can’t face this.

Bram raises his hand, and through the blur of charging guards, a burst of magic comes darting right at me.

Liandria’s wolf slams herself into me, shoving me aside just in time for the magic burst against the stone path where I was just standing. The ground explodes, and alongside it, my heart in horror.

Heat rushes against my face as I shield my eyes from the dust.

I try to gett up, but just then, my eyes look on Bram,m who still has those murderous eyes locked on me.

For some reason, the guards can’t seem to reach him. Like there’s an invincible shield around him.

My heart sinks in biting fear, and just then. Liandria’s wolf walks over and stands before me. Blocking me from Bram.

I peek slightly from beside her, and I watch as the magic surrounding his hands flickers wildly, as though it does not belong to him.

...Because it doesn’t. The young warlock behind him laughs, and the sound crawls beneath my skin.

"You almost had her!" He cheers, and my throat runs dry.

"This does not concern you, Bitch. Move out of the way!" Bram yells, but Liandria doesn’t move.

Instead, her beast starts growling in warning.

Bram laughs, and the sound is almost painful.

Realising they can’t get to Bram, my men decide to change tactics. To protect me. They start rushing toward Liandria and me to shield us, but several rush toward us, and the warlock lifts a hand.

The men’s shadows begin turning on them. Pulling any man who dared to move into a void, leaving behind only his blood-curdling scream.

Too terrified to move, the men remain rooted to their spots, and I feel sweat trickle down my back.

This is bad. This is really bad. What–what do I do?

Should I run? But I can’t leave Liandria here. What if they hurt her?!

Liandria growls again. Almost like she’s unfazed by the nightmare that just played out, and the young warlock smiles at her.

"You’re interesting." He comments as his eyes brighten, but Liandria doesn’t take her eyes off Bram.

Instead, she lifts her snout to the night sky and lets out a deep, soul-reaching howl. I do not know what call it was, but I feel it reverberate deep in my bones, and for a second, even the warlock stops smiling.

Because Liandria is magnificent. Age has not taken that from her. Power has not left her. She’s still the Queen of werewolves. The Alpha of the largest kingdom in Beastheaven.

She lunges without warning. Covering an unbelievable amount of space.