A blood-curling scream split the air. Borris’s eyes grew wide in shock, and he glanced quickly at the door. A loud crash boomed through the windows. Amelia clutched at her ears and found ropes bounding her wrists and feet. Ahead, she caught Borris muttering some spells. That bastard.
He dragged her bounded body to the far end of the room and stopped before a secret passageway. But before they could slip past it, the front door burst open and a familiar voice coursed through, “Hiding’s over, Borris. Leave her alone, and I might consider sparing perhaps a few lives.”
Amelia’s breath hitched in her chest.
Marco had finally arrived to protect her.
***
Marco was in his werewolf form now. A glimmering milky-white fur coat kissed his robust, sinewy body, a thick tail brushing the ground, and eyes stirring strange energy as always. He sheathed his teeth, point-sharp fangs catching the light, and his ruddy lips drew into a sly smile.
Borris was standing right in front as the color drained from his face, fingers flexing in preparation for the ensuing encounter. Marco stole a glance behind him. Amelia crouched on the floor, limbs tied, and features were withdrawn and pale. They locked gazes for a single moment, and then Marco pulled away, his attention refocusing on his enemy.
“So, any answer for my generous offer?” Marco shot Borris a lop-sided grin, already imagining him pissing his pants in fear. “Hurry up, Borris, the clock is ticking!”
However, Borris sustained his silence. Spells leaped to his lips, and his mouth continued twitching. He gritted his teeth every once in a while.
Marco’s eyes narrowed to slits, brows raised in incredulity, “No? Well, I’ll take your silence as utter stupidity. You never learn, Borris.”
Marco lunged forward, his feet lightning-swift. And Borris dove at the same time. Their bodies collided, knocking each of them a step back. They engaged in a hand-to-hand fight, Marco’s talons hit the air ferociously, searching for any revealing skin, while Borris countered every blow with a spell. It was intense, both adversaries dueling to kill. Borris sprang at him with a jinx, and Marco craned his head just in time to feel its heat whizz past his neck. He blinked past Borris’s body and caught Amelia being shuffled through the door magically.
“Amelia!” Marco kicked Borris in the ribs, causing the other man to hit the floor and bolted to her side. But suddenly, her body slipped through the folds of air and completely vanished. Right in front of him stood Borris once again, an evil smile playing around his mouth.
“Meet you at the palace, Marco.”
Marco grabbed for his neck, but all his paws caught was heavy, empty air as Borris, too, disappeared completely from sight.
***
Wakerlin Kingdom
“Ladies and gentlemen, tonight we disclose to you the most horrific news of the century. Our very own, Marco William Farkas, first-born of the esteemed Louis George Farkas, and the Wolf Mage of our kingdom has committed a most blasphemous sin. Despite being a royal, a pure-blood, he’s fraternized with a local woman. And hence…”
Marco's father, the former Wolf Mage, stood rock-still behind Borris’s eyes hooded and head bent low, “He’s henceforth banished from the kingdom, and may never return home.”
Marco glanced around him, aghast. Eyes wide, and heart beating rapidly.
Borris. That fucking bastard. But before Marco could utter any loud protest, an authoritative and calm voice broke the ensuing silence,
“Greetings, my humble people. I am Amelia, granddaughter of the late Wolf Mage, Aisling Gowan, and I would like to remind Lord Borris of the blasphemous sin he has committed right now by calling upon such an abominable fallacy.” The whole crowd stilled around him. People gasped, bringing their hands to their mouths, too shocked to believe their ears. “I’m by blood a legal member of the Wakerlin pack and a royal. And therefore, qualified to become the soul mate of our Mage, Marco Farkas.”
Marco glanced up at her, amazed by her brave words. He took a step, heading over to the stage to join her. An arrow split the air and dug deep into Amelia’s chest. People fell into chaos around them. Marco’s feet lost the ground beneath them, his eyes shocked. He sprang forward to her side and cradled her body in his arms, her blood staining his hands.
“Amelia,” he pleaded, “please, hang in there.”
“Marco,” the light was fading from her eyes, and Marco gripped her waist even tightly, “Marco, you have to bite me…”
“W-What? No! No- no –no, Amelia, I can’t bestow this monstrosity upon you as well.” Marco shook his head, tears streaming down his eyes.
“It’s the only way, Marco. I’ll die otherwise. The wolves have incredible healing powers – I can recover-”
Her breath caught in her chest, and lids closed shut.
Marco raised her head to his mouth, tears pooling his eyes, and dug his fang in. Amelia’s body rapidly squirmed as energy poured out from Marco’s mouth and rushed into her body. Before Amelia could say anything, Marco brought his lips to hers, clashing mouth to mouth, teeth to teeth, heart to heart. Amelia kissed back, fingers digging into his back, and Marco slid his arm around her, pulling her in until their bodies sealed together, legs bound around each other. For a breath of time – Marco’s mind was silenced. In that single moment, there was nothing to consider. Nothing to contend with. Because now, there was no care in the world that could bother them. Nothing to interfere with the rhythmic song beating in their hearts.
Epilogue
It was the fifteenth of December, a Saturday morning when Amelia at looked herself in the mirror, and a mixture of surprise and an unbounded elation passed over her face. She looked beautiful. She was clad in a white, pearly dress with intricate stonework across the narrow bodice and white roses slept at the huge train of the dress. An elegant snow-white fur coat was draped around her bare arms, making the dress even more beautiful.
