Page 73 of Wolf Caged
I looked over my shoulder at Kaeleron, watching him as he strode towards a wooden fence that surrounded a paddock, unsure I could ever be brave enough to reach out and take what I wanted, not when the consequences seemed so great. If I had a taste of him, I would want more. That part of me that craved a connection with someone was seeking a way of filling that void within me as it mourned the loss of my mate and suffered the stinging pain of my rejection.
Kaeleron could so easily be just that.
A beautiful, dark distraction.
But what happened when he grew bored of me?
When he rejected me too?
I wasn’t sure I could bear another male rejecting me, and I certainly wasn’t looking for someone to love, not again, so I tore my gaze from him and looked for a better distraction, something safer.
One trotted towards me from the other end of the paddock.
In the twilight-sun, the great silver stag’s fur shimmered a lustrous pale blue, and the thicker hair that covered the front of its neck and chest shone with purest silver. His large antlers dripped with fine pale vines and delicate lilac flowers, and threads of white moss, as if he were some powerful ancient spirit of nature given form. Intelligent aquamarine eyes that glowed around their pupils landed on me and he snorted and scratched at the grass with his right hoof.
And then regally lowered his head.
I felt a bit like a fool as I did the same and Kaeleron chuckled.
I glowered at him.
He held his hand up. “I was not mocking. I am merely surprised he is so accepting of your presence. It often takes him time to grow accustomed to others.”
“What’s his name?” Would it be rude to reach out and pet the nose of such a fine, noble beast, treating him as a pet?
“I do not know.”
I frowned at Kaeleron. “How do you not know? You’re his owner, aren’t you?”
“Because I do not speak his tongue, and I am not his owner.” He held his hand out and the stag—elkyn—came to him, and the size of him struck me. He was far larger than the ones I had seen before. His shoulders came close to the height of Kaeleron’shead, a beast more than large enough for such a towering male to ride.
“So he doesn’t have a name?” I cocked my head, looking at the elkyn as it looked right back at me, as if it was assessing me too. “Have you tried naming him?”
“I feel it would be disrespectful.” Kaeleron patted the elkyn’s neck, the action filled with the affection that was reflected on his face as he smiled at the beast. Actually smiled. The sight of it was startling, warming me right down to my marrow and rousing a shocking heat in my traitorous body. His long fingers danced through the thicker fur at the elkyn’s throat. “I do not wish to disrespect him and become to first unseelie to tame and ride an elkyn and also the first unseelie to lose such a privilege.”
I leaned my arms on the top bar of the worn wooden fence. “But I see them pulling carts all the time. Many have been tamed.”
Although this one was far larger than the others I had seen in town, standing more than a head taller, and would easily dwarf them if they were stood side by side.
He chuckled again as he lovingly stroked the elkyn’s neck, long brushes of his hand that the beast seemed to enjoy as he leaned into them. “No. You see the elkyn he watches over. This beast is different to them. A guardian of their kind.”
“Like a god?”
The elkyn was beautiful enough to be one, his fur shining with not just blue as he turned his head towards me but a whole rainbow of colours, as iridescent as a beetle shell. He bobbed his head and snorted, as if agreeing with me.
“He is ancient and steeped with magic.” Kaeleron’s hand stilled on the elkyn’s nape as he gazed at it, fond warmth in his eyes. “I tamed him when I was young, the Great Mother smiling upon me and gracing me with this spirit as my mount. His kind are rare, spread throughout the lands of Lucia, and never hadone submitted to being captured, let alone ridden. Many who have tried have paid with their lives.”
“You didn’t tame him.” That feeling stirred deep within me, powerful and profound as something dawned on me. “He chose you.”
The fae king looked at me now, shock dancing across his handsome face before he secured his mask back in place, concealing his true feelings from me. “Perhaps he did. The discovery I had charmed a beast so ancient and powerful was viewed as auspicious. An omen of great power on my part and a deep connection to Lucia and her lands and her creatures.”
He looked grateful for that as he resumed petting the beast, as if this creature had submitted to him at a time he had needed others to see his strength and power the most.
“No one else has ridden one?”
“No one. Not even the high king has been able to charm such a mount.” Kaeleron couldn’t have looked prouder about that, and I wanted to tease him about it, but let it slide this time, because I would hate it if I had something that made me feel so proud and happy and someone teased me about it, making me feel foolish for it.
“You said he was magic.” I sneakily tried to pet the elkyn as he passed me, but he turned away before I could touch him, making it clear I hadn’t earned his trust yet.
