Tharon

THARON

I stood there, the blood rushing in my ears with a mix of elation and disbelief. Niam was right in front of me, her delicate form pressed against the wall. Her wide eyes locked onto mine, a flicker of fear and curiosity dancing across her face. Every fiber of my being screamed to reach out and touch her, to claim what was mine.

But the clatter of armored footsteps broke through my haze. More guards rounded the corner, their swords glinting. A deep growl rumbled from me as I positioned myself between Niam and the oncoming threat.

The first guard lunged forward, his blade whistling through the air. I dodged to the side, my fist connecting with his jaw. He crumpled to the ground. Two more rushed at me, their attacks coordinated but predictable.

I felt the familiar surge of power coursing through my veins, the Valti part of me begging to be unleashed. But I pushed it down, relying on my training and strength alone. I wouldn’t give in to that primal side, not here, not now.

My elbow slammed into one guard’s solar plexus while I swept the legs out from under the other. They fell in a tangle of limbs and curses. I spun, narrowly avoiding a blade that sliced through the air where my head had been moments before.

The fight was brutal but quick. Bodies littered the floor around me, some groaning in pain, others ominously still. I stood there, chest heaving, my knuckles bruised and bloodied.

I turned to Niam, worry gnawing at my gut. How would she react to this violence? To the monster I truly was? But to my surprise, her face remained calm, almost impassive as she surveyed the scene.

“Are you alright?” I asked, taking a step towards her.

She nodded, then moved away from me, her eyes darting down the corridor. “We need to go. There will be more.”

“Where exactly do you think you’re going?” I couldn’t help the grin that spread across my face. Her spirit was intoxicating.

“I don’t know where you’re going,” she said, her voice firm despite her obvious exhaustion. “But I’m leaving this place.”

I grinned, admiring her fire. “Then it seems we’re headed in the same direction, little one.”

A distant shout echoed through the halls. I grabbed Niam’s arm, tugging her along. “We need to get out of here. Now.”

She stumbled, her legs weak and unsteady. Without hesitation, I scooped her up into my arms. She was so light, so fragile. The coarse material of her robe scratched my arms, igniting a spark of anger. She deserved silks and jewels, not this pitiful excuse for clothing.

“I can walk,” she protested weakly.

“Save your strength,” I murmured, cradling her closer to my chest. “You’ll need it.”

We moved swiftly through the winding corridors of the temple complex. I relied on my training, my senses on high alert for any sign of danger. But it was Niam who truly guided our escape.

“Left here,” she whispered, her breath warm against my neck. “There’s a maintenance access point that leads to the lower levels.”

I followed her instructions, marveling at her knowledge of the temple’s layout. We encountered a few more guards along the way, but I dispatched them quickly, never letting go of my precious cargo.

Finally, we reached a heavy metal door. Niam squirmed in my arms, and I reluctantly set her down. She approached a nearby panel, her fingers flying over the keys with practiced ease.

“How do you know all this?” I couldn’t keep the awe from my voice.

She glanced at me, a hint of sadness in her eyes. “I’ve been connected to this place for a long time. But not anymore.”

The door slid open with a hiss, revealing a dark passageway beyond. We stepped through, the cool air a stark contrast to the warmth of the upper levels.

“We’re almost there,” Niam said, her voice barely above a whisper. “Just a little further.”

I nodded, following her lead. We navigated through a maze of pipes and machinery, the hum of ancient systems surrounding us. Finally, we reached another door. This one required both Niam’s expertise and my strength to force open.

And then, suddenly, we were outside.

A sea of red rock and shadow stretched out before us under the setting sun. The wind whipped around us, carrying dust and the promise of freedom.

I turned to Niam, ready to celebrate our escape, but my words vanished at the sight of her silent tears streaming down her face as she stared out at the horizon.

I turned away, giving Niam a moment of privacy. The wind carried her soft murmur to my ears.

“I’d forgotten how beautiful the sky could be.”

Her words ignited a fury deep within me. How long had she been trapped in that accursed temple? Denied even the simple pleasure of seeing the sun and stars?

I watched as Niam composed herself, wiping away the tears with the back of her hand. She turned to face me, her expression a mix of curiosity and wariness.

“Who are you? And why are you here?” she asked, her voice stronger now.

I hesitated, unsure how to explain something I barely understood myself. “My name is . I was there when the human women put together the pieces of that device. I heard your message, asking them to bring it to the mountains.”

Niam’s eyes widened, a flash of worry crossing her face. “But why are you here instead of them? Lita, Denna, Mila - are they alright?”

“They’re fine,” I assured her quickly, feeling a strange urge to ease her concern. “I volunteered to go in their place, to keep them safe.”

She frowned, studying me intently. “That doesn’t explain why you’re here, with me, instead of at the meeting point.”

I ran a hand through my hair, frustrated by my own lack of understanding. “I’m not entirely sure myself. I was on my way there, but then...” I trailed off, searching for the right words. “There was this pull, something insistent that made me change course.”

She raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical.

The easy lies of the court nearly came to my lips, but fell away. Only the truth here, to her.

“I felt a pull. Something I couldn’t explain. It led me here instead. To you.”

She took a step back, wariness replacing her earlier confusion.

“You’re dangerous,” she said quietly.

I didn’t deny it. I was dangerous. To my enemies, to anyone who threatened what was mine. But never to her.

“I won’t hurt you,” I said instead.

She shook her head. “You don’t understand. This... connection. It’s not natural.”

I laughed, a harsh sound even to my own ears. “Many would argue that very little about me is natural, little one. But I’m here now, and I intend to keep you safe.”

Niam turned away, taking a few unsteady steps. I followed close behind, ready to catch her if she fell.

“I don’t need your help,” she said, her voice strained. “I just need that device.”

As if to prove her wrong, her legs gave out. I lunged forward, catching her before she hit the ground.

“Of course,” I said, unable to keep the amusement from my voice. “But perhaps you’d allow me to assist you, just until we’re out of these canyons? And then I’ll happily give the device over to you, if that’s what you desire?”

She glared up at me, defiance burning in her eyes. But I could see the exhaustion there too, the way her body trembled with fatigue.

“Fine,” she said grudgingly. “But only until we’re through the Canyonlands.”

I nodded, helping her to her feet. “Of course.”

As we set off across the rocky terrain, I couldn’t help but smile. She might not trust me yet, but she would. I’d faced down the vipers of the Zashi court, survived the machinations of my own power-hungry mother. Winning Niam’s trust would be a challenge, certainly, but one I was more than ready to face.

And as I watched her pick her way carefully over the uneven ground, her determination evident in every step, I knew one thing with absolute certainty.

I would never let her go.