Chapter 59

Aneth's blood burns with every beat of his heart as he watches Kamari walk out of the Forest. He knew he had felt something from Mael; it itched at his skin, and now it ate at his being. Aneth growls as he turns away from the window, his hands clenching the wood beneath.

"Is it another?" Nye asks, his voice tainted with bitterness, and rightfully so. Another Dragon could fight Aneth for a place in the pride. Aneth would tear him apart, skin him alive, and watch him bleed. "I assume so; Ryuu has better instincts than I thought."

Nye snarls as he looks out the window, watching Ryuu lead Kamari back into the Kingdom. "Have Koa stay; we'll eliminate the pest," Nye says between his teeth. Aneth digs his nails into the wood, eliciting a crack. Kamari wouldn't be drawn into just any Dragon Nye." Aneth can feel his chest aching; he hates it. He had never felt any kind of jealousy, but now it pulsed through him. "I despise this human form." 

Nye groans as he turns from the window, pacing back and forth. " I swear to Kadea if I smell his scent on her—" Nye can't even finish the sentence, but he knew what his brethren were feeling. "Who is this?!" Nye shouts. "He crawled into this Kingdom; how were we unaware of it?!"

"I don't know." Aneth growls locks eyes with Nye and purses his lips. "The Shade part of Kamari is infuriating." Nye paces again. "Why does she not listen?! She happily walks into the arms of a challenger!" 

Aneth could feel Nye's hurt because he felt it as well. But he prayed to Kadea Mael's scent wouldn't be on her. It would mean they mated, and he didn't know if he could handle such a thing. In the pride it was acceptable, but an invader? Unacceptable. Kamari is theirs, and if Mael wishes to have her, he needs to prove his strength. Aneth will make it nearly impossible for him to join their pride. "Do not approach her with anger, Nye. You will only make it worse."

Nye's nose twitches, "How else do you propose we handle it? Act civil like humans?" Aneth would rather torch Mael in public, but humans were fragile with such things. Aneth sighed heavily, and he ran his fingers through his hair. Aneth had a sick feeling he knew what Mael was, but he didn't want to say it aloud because how ironic was it that one would find Kamari? "Let us speak with her; something more must have made her follow him. Kamari has a hollowness for being what she is and not knowing. Mael has dug his claws into that gaping hole within her."

He could feel Nye's glare, "A Shade?" He hissed. Aneth's muscles tense, and he nods. "Why else would Kamari get sucked in so easily, Nye?"

"Because she's damn Harlot–"

*Smack*

Aneth backhands Nye and growls, "Don't spit such vial words from your retched mouth!" He knows Nye speaks in rage, but he isn't letting Nye say such words when he knows Nye's temper could get the best of him. And holding his tongue has never been a strong suit. "I may be your brethren, but I will cut your tongue out if you speak like that about your own mate." He grabs Nye's face between his fingers. "Do you hear me?"

Nye looks to the ground; he slightly dips his head and then snatches his face out of his hand. Sometime later, Kamari comes into the room; she smiles at them. "Oof, I can swim in the tension in here…"

Aneth calms himself before speaking, "You were in the forest. Why?" Kamari's smile fades to a meek one. She walks towards the window and looks at the wood he had cracked with his hands. Kamari glances at Aneth, and her eyes soften. "I didn't do anything," she says. Aneth can't help himself. He grabs her and smells the crook of her neck. 

Nothing. Aneth feels his mind rest easy, but Kamari shoves him away; Aneth gazes at her in confusion. "Did you think I'd lay with another?!"

"Well, you fell into his hands so quickly." Nye leans against the wall, his eyes burning into Kamari. She points an angry finger at him, "I may be rash at times, but I wouldn't do that." Aneth glances at Nye, giving him a warning look not to push her further. "He stays because of you, does he not?" Aneth crosses his arms.

Kamari nods, "Yes. I told him he could stay if he didn't try anything," Kamari looks up at Aneth with a pleading gaze, "he wants to teach me about Shades, I want to learn about it Aneth, this might be an only chance to." Kamari grabs his hands. "Please, you can be there." Aneth could already feel the burn of his scar from the venom, but Aneth knew even if he said no, Kamari's stubborn self would do it. Aneth groans, "You irritate me, woman." Kamari places her hands on his chest, "So, yes?"

Aneth glances over to Nye, whose back is turned. Koa and Nye would reject this idea, but Aneth loathed living in turmoil over his experience with such creatures. And he wasn't saying no out of fear; he wanted Mael to know he was watching him, "Only if I accompany you." Kamari's eyes light up; she jumps on him and starts kissing his face. "Oh, Thank you! Thank you!" Aneth can't help but relish in the embrace of his mate; he sits her down and places his forehead on hers. Aneth had a reason for doing it as well; he wanted to know about Shades as well, more so because he planned on ending Mael's life when Mael was done teaching Kamari, and a Shade was the only Dragon Aneth never had enough knowledge about and he despises it. So yes, he had an ulterior motive. 

Kamari glances at Nye with a weary look, then sighs heavily and turns back to Aneth. "Where's Ignis?"

"Koa. He is in the underdwelling." Aneth knew Koa tried to harm Ignis in the womb, but now Koa has made peace with it, and now his brother seemed to like the whelp. Although Kamari's panicked reaction doesn't surprise him, he grabs her by the shoulders before she bolts. "I would not have let him if he intended to harm Ignis, Kamari." Her chest pumps in and out like a mouse, and she swallows hard, "I'm going down there just to check on them. It will make me feel better if I see him and her." Kamari kisses Aneth on the cheek and leaves. 

For a moment, Nye and Aneth sit in Silence. Aneth goes to stand by Nye. "How much do you know about Shade Nye?" Nye gives him a mean side-eye, "As much as you, I suppose. Why do you ask." Aneth remained calm and stoic most of the time, but this dug under his skin. He wanted payback. "How can we defeat an enemy without knowing their weakness?" He smirks at Nye, and a realization lights up Nye's face. "Good. For a second, I thought you were a disappointment." Aneth raises a brow, then smacks Nye upside the head. 

"Shut your mouth."