Page 84 of Within the Veil

Eamon blows out a breath, "I know that without a doubt, his whisperers are brutal, cunning and well trained. But I do not relish the idea of death just from training. There is no honor in death by the blade of your trainer."

"Certainly not,"Ashyr nods his head but pauses. "However, there is honor in knowing that in your quest to be the best soldier for our Queen, you met your end. Maybe that is what motivated them. Truthfully that is what should motivate us all. I simply do not wish to not wish to undergo torture to do so."

I walk away at Ashyr's last comment because he is right about one thing, there is honor in being the best soldier for Hudson. And while I have a boost of power from whatever happened after she fell into her coma, I know I can be more, do more. And it's with that thought I go hunting for Oberon.

After a few moments, I find him easily, above the trees in the backyard of the house. Hovering and on guard, waiting for what ever he waits for up there. Probably his squirrel friends to bring him a few nuts.

"Oberon, may I have a word?" I say, looking up into the tree. He jumps down into a crouch, pulling back the hood that covers his face, revealing his icy blue gaze. As he straightens, his large body seems to fill the space of the backyard. While our heights are similar, his presence always seems to steal the breath out of your lungs, suffocating you for the sheer audacity of standing near him. Hunter is similar, except while Hunter vibrates with an air of violence and destruction, Oberon is like the whisper of forgotten nightmares brought to life. Suddenly the name of his army makes more sense.

"How many I be of assistance, King?" Oberon asks, in a bored tone.

"I want you to train me," I say plainly, not wasting time.

A quirk of his eyebrow, and the growing sense of danger, is the only indication that he heard my request.

After a new moments, the forest goes quiet as if waiting on a bated breathe as he looks toward to sky, closes his eyes briefly, and speaks softly into the wind.

"In the tapestry of time, where shadows and light entwine, lies the essence of our being. To unlock the mysteries that dwell within, one must embrace the dance of speed, efficiency, and brutality. For in the crucible of chaos, where the storm meets the stillness, true power resides."

His words are melodic, almost like a song and a prayer woven within in mystery that only he knows the answer to. It sends a both a shiver of trepidaton and excitement down my spine.

* * *

His eyes flyopen and his gaze pierces my own with an unnerving power, as if he can see into the depths of my soul and extract my deepest fears, "to train in the way of the Whisperers is to dance with death and agony. My men do not survive and I do not just mean with death, although plenty have, indeed, died. This path can consume even the strongest of souls, break the spirit and the mind, and destroy your body."

He walks around me slowly, and I remain still, unwilling to bow, "Tell me, King. Are you prepared to embrace the very shadows of the deepest parts of your nightmare? Are you ready to endure the destruction of your very soul to reach the full depths of your own strengths?" His voice is barely a whisper and yet carries a tone of finality and darkness.

I know with every part of me that my response will either be the start of a dangerous path that will leave me stronger than ever before, or broken. A sense of peace falls over me as my choice becomes clear because I know with a certainty that either result will be acceptable. If I break I wouldn't have deserved to protect nor to love Hudson. If I succeed, what is left of my soul will belong to her.

"I may break, but I will never falter," I say, with unwavering certainty.

* * *

Present

All eyes swivel to Oberon and then back to me.

Jensi's jaw drops, "you're telling us you've been training with Oberon for almost two months now and are stillalive?"His voice holds a touch of reverance as his eyes widen.

"I just want to know how the fuck we was able to train at night and still be functionable for all day geriatric meetings," Luca adds with a slight quirk of his head, his eyes roaming from my head to my feet as if to find a hidden secret.

I shrug, "Because my resolve is stronger than my weaknesses. There is too much on the line to fear death when it is already knocking on our borders."

Remi whistles and her lips curling in a pleased smile, her eyes twinkling, "shit, if there was any doubt. The woudn't be now. That's badass. I'll live vicariously through you, until Oberon decides to now incorporate knife play as foreplay."

Oberon frowns at that, " giving me your soul is foreplay. The knife play is barely a stroke of my phallus. King has surpassed my expectations. I would have presummed him dead the moment he approached me but," he strokes his chin, observing me keenly. At this point I'm used to his penetrating gaze, his scrutiny doesn't faze me.

"His conviction won me over. That is hard to do. His training is far from over, this is just the cusp. Even so, I am confident that he can survive a battle with one of my seasoned men. He absorbs instruction just like Hudson," he finishes.

Shock jolts me, considering he doesn't give praise. The closest to it was when he congratulated me for not bleeding all over the forest during one of our sessions. I incline my head in thanks.

Remi grimaces, her nose wrinkling, "can we not mention your dick? Thanks. Gross."

Zane rolls his eyes with a small quirk to his lips, "so, when would you consider his training complete?"

"When he lies dead and broken with no chance at reclaiming his life. If his soul hangs on long enough, he will be ready. Otherwise, his life is worthless to the Fae." He deadpans, as if the answer is obvious and leans casually on the doorframe.

The room is quiet for a moment and Remi's eyebrows shoot up, "you're serious aren't you."

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