Page 11 of The Silent Mountain (Under the Werewolf Crown #2)

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The Mare

*ALANA*

T o my surprise, it’s Cassie regaining her voice first, almost looking excited when she eyes the creature. “It’s a mare ,” she exclaims. “It’s the first time I’ve ever seen one. I read about it in one of my books.”

“Details, Cassie,” Stefan says, impatience laced in his voice. “Quickly!”

He is smart to hurry her, because Favian looks furious. I step closer to put my hand on his arm, hoping that our proximity will smooth his anger slightly.

“A mare is a lesser monster, more like an evil spirit,” Cassie hurries to explain. “It… it… jumps on people’s chests when they sleep and brings nightmares.”

I clasp my chest, feeling grossed out all of a sudden that something was creeping on me in my sleep. “And why is it doing that?” I want to know.

“It sucks its victim’s life energy,” Cassie chirps. When Stefan shoots her a warning glare, she lowers her eyes. “I mean, obviously, that’s not a good thing. It isn’t common in this realm,” she continues. “That’s why we usually don’t see any mares.”

“Can it talk?” Favian asks.

“No, it’s a lesser entity,” Cassie says.

“Why Alana?” he demands to know.

“I don’t know,” Cassie says. “It might be because she is a wolf, as Sir Stefan guessed.”

“I don’t believe it,” Favian says shortly. “It was specifically seeking Alana out, even following her to my chambers. If it’s a creature haunting werewolves in particular, it would have moved on to the next pack, just below the mountains, with plenty of victims. Did any of your books mention it?”

“No,” Cassie admits.

“Favian is right,” I agree. “Me being a werewolf might have been a factor, but we can’t tell for sure.”

“What type of creature is it?” Barbara wants to know. “Good, chaotic… evil? Does it know what it’s doing?”

“They are malicious and dangerous,” Cassie says. “If successful, they usually suck out someone’s life force completely. They feed on their victims. Alana’s nightmares and her body’s reaction to them were due to it feeding off her.”

I feel sick all of a sudden. “I think,” I mutter. “I need some fresh air.”

Favian looks like he wants to accompany me, but to my relief, Barbara steps in. “Allow me, King Favian.”

He looks at me, and when I nod, he turns to Barbara. “Thank you, Barbara.” He turns back to the creature. “We can’t keep it running around. But I don’t want to kill it either, it might still prove useful to us.”

“I agree,” Stefan says.

“Me too,” Cassie mutters. “Can I keep it?!”

“I can’t believe I’m saying this,” Favian groans. “But it’s actually best if you do keep it.”

“YES!” Cassie exclaims, pumping her fist into the air, as if Favian just gave her the present of her life. Stefan’s stare of disbelief at her would have been funny if I didn’t feel so sick.

I don’t hear the rest of the conversation, finally making it to the balcony. Barbara closes the door behind us. “I’m feeling sick.”

“Just let it out,” Barbara says, her voice warm and encouraging.

I take a few short breaths to stop my stomach from revolting. “I… can’t.”

“Alana, we are incredibly high up here, and there is no one living down there at the bottom of the mountain. It's a completely empty wasteland.”

I have no control anyway. Before she has even finished, I bend over the balustrade, emptying my stomach. Barbara pulls my hair back, gently rubbing my back. “I’m so sorry,” I mutter.

“Are you kidding? If a creepy, hairy monster rode my chest and sucked my life energy at night, I would be feeling sick too.”

My stomach is still revolting at the mere thought of that malicious creature invading my body during sleep, but her words make me chuckle. “You are one of a kind,” I say.

“Ludwig says the same,” she grins.

“So, you and Ludwig, huh?” I tease. “Is there something we should know?”

She smiles. “Truth be told, I like him, but we aren’t mates. I… I don’t know. Maybe Ludwig will find his second chance. He is still very young, and I have no idea what Aengus has in mind for me. I just don’t know what to do. But yes, I do like him.”

For a moment, I am reminded of my own story with Ita, although Barbara is much more vocal about her feelings. There is no right and wrong in this decision, it’s hers to make. “Whatever you choose,” I say. “It’s fine. I am feeling better now,” I add.

“Come,” Barbara leads me across the balcony to the second door. Instead of leading us back to the bedroom, it leads us to Favian’s private living room. That way, I manage to get to the bathroom and clean my mouth without the others seeing me.

When Barbara and I finally return, the creature and Cassie are gone. The windows and the door to the balcony are wide open, allowing the smoke and stench to leave fully. “She really took the creature with her?” I ask.

“Yes, not without precautions, though. We made sure it’s sedated and kept locked in. Though I am not comfortable with it being around the clan at all,” Favian says. He takes my hand. “Especially not around you.”

“You were right, nevertheless, we might still need it,” I say. “Who knows what Cassie will discover through it?”

“Do we believe it’s a coincidence?” Stefan asks. “That a mare appears here, and we have a bunch of cursed birds dropping dead.”

It’s silent for a while before Favian shakes his head. “I don’t believe in coincidences.”

“Me neither,” I agree.

“What worries me is that we have the ceremony coming up soon.”

The ceremony . The one event all the dragon shifters have been looking forward to. It’s the moment Favian, with Favia’s powers, blesses the dragon shifters and connects them to their dragon spirits. It’s the moment they receive their beasts and will be able to shift. Werewolves receive their wolf spirit naturally, not all at the same age, but they all eventually receive their wolf.

The dragons are different. Because each of them has a special tendency towards one element, they receive their dragon spirits when they turn sixteen or seventeen. Elio was the huge exception because he was Favian’s brother. To make sure their kingdom would survive, Favian blessed him much earlier than others.

With the war, Favian being locked up, and the dragon shifters almost being wiped out, many of them haven’t received their dragon spirits yet, especially those who hid in the human realm. I know Favian has blessed those who initially returned to the Silent Mountain and the clan, but now that more and more dragons return home, he wants to bless them in the ceremony they deserve.

It’s going to be a huge event, one that so many of them look forward to.

“Our warriors are prepared,” Stefan says.

“I need everyone to be available that day,” Favian says. “Everyone is on duty.”

“Of course,” Stefan nods.

“Moreover, Alana has asked for help from the werewolf kingdom,” Favian adds, successfully surprising Stefan and Barbara.

“I did,” I say. “My brother, the king, is going to send a number of elite warriors, and the neighboring packs are helping too,” I smile. “I bet they are secretly overjoyed to be able to see this mysterious ceremony.”

“I am aware that I’m truly indebted to the werewolf kingdom,” Favian says. “But I will pay them back one day.”

It saddens me that he sees it that way. His fate and my sister-in-law’s, my brother’s mate and reigning queen, are connected. Favian was essential in ending this war, which was also affecting the werewolves. Furthermore, he and I are mates, and my siblings see him as part of the family.

He can’t shake this feeling off, Ros says. And I thought werewolves were proud. No, we got our own proud Dragon King.

She tries to sound displeased but fails miserably.

Maybe we can take him out on a date, I hear myself offer, shocked at my own thoughts.

Ros is instantly head over heels. And you’ll let me spend time with him too, right?

Of course, you can take over and spend time with him.

Ros is so excited; she is almost making backflips in my mind. Now that I’ve promised her, I need to make sure to follow up on my promise. When Stefan and Barbara have left, Favian is about to head out to training, something he does daily for hours to make sure he stays fit. He trains all his warriors, with Stefan and Barbara leading the training of new recruits. Their advantage is that the dragons who survived the war are used to fighting and are fit, but they aren’t great in numbers.

I take Favian’s hand before he can leave. “I was thinking,” I say, gulping thickly. “We said we would go out, didn’t we? A while ago, before the first albatross was found. Didn’t you say something about showing me this romantic spot, on top of the mountains?”

Favian halts, his eyes snapping up to meet mine. “Are you suggesting what I think you are?”

“I think I am,” I say.

Favian reaches out his large, strong hand to lightly cup my cheek. A shiver goes down my spine, and butterflies flutter in my stomach. It’s been so long since I felt like this that I almost thought I would never feel it again. “I would love to,” he says. “Right after the ceremony, I’m going to steal you away.”

For a moment, we look at each other, both unable to move closer but reluctant to move away. Goddess, what am I even doing here? He is my mate! If the goddess mates us to random people, why the fuck doesn’t she hand us a manual with them!

Favian’s thumb brushes over my cheek. I take a step closer, not sure what for, but I do it anyway.

“Favian!”

We both draw apart from each other when we hear Elio’s voice. Favian hides his face behind his hand. “I love my brother,” he says, “but seriously…”

I clear my throat, trying not to show how flustered I am. “Don’t pretend you don’t have a brother complex. But it’s cute!”

Favian groans.

“Favian?” There is a knock at the door.

“I’m coming,” Favian says, before approaching the door in long strides and opening it.

Elio beams at him. “I did so well in my test today!”

“Well, that’s great. I knew you could do it.”

“You promised I could join training if I did well,” Elio says.

Favian nods. “I did. Get dressed, and we’ll head out in five minutes.”

Elio’s smile lights up his whole face. He shifts his head slightly, his gaze falling on me. “Oh, Alana is here too.”

I clear my throat. “How’s my favorite dragon prince doing?”

“Fantastic!” he exclaims. “After training, I want to tend to the horses.”

“I will see you there then,” I reassure him.

Favian and I exchange a short look. “See you later for dinner,” Favian says.

“See you later,” I say, trying to sound relaxed and like it’s not a big deal that we couldn’t continue what we were about to do, though I have no idea myself what that was. Once Favian has left, I decide to get some training done as well, with Ludwig.

Barbara is too busy with her new task, which is why I decided to start my training with Ludwig instead of bothering her. She is currently checking on the warriors, who are guarding the camp where Cassie took the deceased birds. “I apologize in advance,” Ludwig says. “Barbara is the better warrior and probably more on par with your skills.”

“That doesn’t matter,” I reassure him. “I would actually like to understand how the dragon shifters train, just for some perspective.”

“Oh, I can show you,” he says. “In return, you can show me how the werewolves train.”

“Deal.”

We, indeed, spend the next three hours training. The dragons train their agility much more than we wolves do, while we rely on our strength more. For me, as a female warrior, there are quite some tricks from the dragons that I find useful, whereas Ludwig is interested in learning some typical workout routines my fellow wolf warriors use.

Once we spar, I realize he was right; he is not really a fit for me, but it doesn’t matter, I’m glad to spar and even gladder not to have lost my edge. We are circling each other when I feel his presence again, and the hairs on my skin stand in anticipation, while Ros gets agitated.

I focus my concentration on my mock battle with Ludwig, successfully sending him flying to the ground.

“I can’t believe it,” Ludwig groans, grabbing my hand to let me pull him up. “I wasn’t aware that you were truly that skilled.”

“I told you, didn’t I?” Favian asks, amused. “They don’t call her the Warrior Princess for nothing.”

His words really boost my ego, more than anyone else could. I’m scared to sound pathetic, which is why I keep these thoughts to myself, but him praising my skills and emphasizing that I am a warrior means so much to me.

“King Favian,” Ludwig mutters, only now realizing we weren’t alone. “We trained.”

“I see that,” Favian says. “And what do you think, Alana?”

“I learned a lot from Ludwig,” I admit. “The way you dragon shifters train is different.”

“I apologize for not being a good sparring partner,” he says. “I will try to become better and be a worthy training partner and bodyguard.”

“Your skills need some polishing,” Favian agrees. “But I made you Alana’s bodyguard because you have more to offer than just strength.”

Ludwig looks surprised and happy at his words.

Meanwhile, Favian turns to me. “Maybe I can offer myself as your sparring partner,” he says.

“Are you for real?” I ask. “That would be amazing!”

Ludwig looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. I’m well aware that I’m definitely nowhere close enough to take it up with an alpha king or dragon king, but Favian is easily the strongest dragon shifter. Training with him will take me really far!

“Do you really mean that?” Favian asks.

“Of course! Not even my father trained with me. Training with the king is such a great honor!”

“And it’s not weird for you because we are mates?” he asks.

“I’m not scared of you tossing me around,” I reassure him. “I think I will learn the most with you.”

Seeing my excitement, Favian humors me and takes over from Ludwig, despite probably not having planned on starting training me immediately. The difference to Ludwig is astounding. Favian is much more agile and stronger. I have no chance against him using my strength or my reflexes, just my agility is slightly better than his.

When he knocks me over the third time, I can see drips of red on the snow.

“By Aengus,” Favian curses, kneeling next to me. “I hurt you. I’m so sorry.”

I wipe the blood off my face. “That’s nothing,” I reassure him. “It’s not like I’ll get better by being coddled.”

“You are truly skilled,” Favian says. “Your agility is your strong point. You should work on your reflexes, as you could make that another strong point easily.”

“Can you show me some tricks next time?” I ask.

“You want to continue this?” Favian asks. When I nod, he groans. “I hate hurting you. I’m going to regret this offer, aren’t I?”

“You can’t turn back on it now,” I say, grabbing his arm. “Please train me again.”

Favian glances at my hand and then into my eyes. He has long eyelashes that are almost white, like snow crystals. His beauty has no comparison. Maybe it’s weird to say that about a man, but I can’t help it. “How can I say no when you look at me like that?” he says after a while.

“With a blood-smeared face?” Ludwig asks thoughtfully, paling when Favian turns to look at him, his brows furrowed and his eyes gleaming in annoyance.

“You are not helping,” I say.

“She is right,” Favian growls. “You are not helping.”

Ludwig looks like he is about to die at any moment. “I am sorry. I just tried to learn something.”

“Learn what?” Favian demands to know.

“Well, I’m not exactly successful with the ladies,” Ludwig admits.

Favian and I exchange a look that says it all. “Let’s head back to the castle,” Favian says.

“I promised Elio to train his horse riding,” I say.

“Elio is completely spent,” Favian says. “He worked extremely hard today and trained hard. I sent him home and promised he could polish his horse-riding skills tomorrow. That is if you are up for it.”

“I prefer it that way,” I admit. “I’m pretty tired too.” I turn to Ludwig, who hasn’t dared utter another word. “Will you join us tomorrow?”

The poor guy looks so relieved that I am not angry, and nods. “It would be an honor”.