Born of Shadows

Idonia Torbet

A Mate for A Beast

Growing up, my mother told my brothers and I the same story. She would tell us about the first sunrise on the Bethley Isles. The way it warmed the icy land and allowed the trees to grow and our crop to sustain us. It had made a bare wasteland, fertile and green. Before the sunrise, our beasts lived in the darkness of the shadowlands. When the sun rose, the shadowbeasts split into two, those that merged with humans to form the lycans, and those who still live in darkness of Iiesha.

“But one day,” she would tell us, “One day the shadows will crave our land again to claim our beasts once more.” For the darkness has always sought the souls they created, and our beasts are born of shadows.

When the lycans formed, we took the Isles as our land. Nurturing the fresh pasture and growing great forests. Ten powerful families rose to control the Isles, but one grew stronger and greater than the rest, the Dolph family rules all the Isles. Our Khannun protects us from the shadows and rules over the Isles. He is the barrier between light and dark. Khannun Kol has shielded our world from the darkness the same way his father and grandfather did before him. The same way Khanel Raedwulf will shield us when it is his time to take the throne.

First, though, he needs his mate. No lycan can hold power in their hands without their other half. Mates are a lycan’s closest advisor, most trusted protector, and heated lover.

Almost two years ago, Khanel Raedwulf went searching for his mate. The news of this journey spread though the Isles. He was looking for his mate, and many of the female changed their prayers to the Gods that night that it would be them. Today his ship will be docking on Theris, my home Isle. The Isle that my father has been sworn to protect for our Khannun. My family is the Torbets, an old bloodline of lycans that have ruled over Theris as Aerals since the first sunrise. My father now holds that title, and when it is time, my eldest brother will be Aeral. A tradition that has held out for tens of generations and will hold for tens more.

Ours is the last one for the Khanel to visit, more than likely, his mate is here. As my father is the Aeral, he will visit us first, and my hand will be the first he touches on the Isle in his search.

“Idonia, are you ready?” The door to my room opens, and in comes my mother. She is dressed in her dark blue gown, with details of golden threading and lighter blue decals. Draped over her shoulders is a black bearskin shawl that is pinned to her by bronze broaches bearing two crossing arrows. She is a picture of perfection, everything an Aeralea should be for her mate.

When she sees me, she sighs, before stepping up behind me. I am decidedly not ready. Yes, I have bathed off the dust I picked up from the training yard and the stink of the stables from my morning ride, but nothing more. I’ve spent most of the day avoiding the inevitable process of primping and preening for the Khanel.

Grabbing my brush from the vanity, she forces me to sit so she can run it through my thick black hair, the same way she has done since I was a girl. Her delicate fingers start three braids on the left side of my head before mirroring it on the other side. She ties up the top layer of hair in a leather strip.

When he left for his journey, the chances that a mate bond exists between myself and Khanel Raedwulf is slim. There are many females across the Isles and it is unlikely that we are a pair. That is what I told myself. Now that my Isle is the only one left, the likelihood that he is mine and I am his has is increasing. The thought made me shiver in fear. The life of a Khanelea, an Khanel’s mate, it one of primping and preening for all of the Isles. The image of perfect, like my mother. I am not like my mother. It also means leaving home, and while I am not understood here, it is my life, and I know no other.

Once my mother is finished, she has me stand in front of my wardrobe and mirror. I don a dark grey chemise with a long blue dress. The top of the chemise could be seen under the dress, but other than that, the blue covered my pale skin. A belt of silver medallions was clipped around my hips and trailed down my front.

“Today is important,” she reminds me, brushing her hand over my dress to smooth the fabric. “The Khanel must be impressed with our management of Theris or he may decide to not let Eske rule the land when he is Khannun.” All Aerals serve at the pleasure of the Khannun. Eske will serve Raedwulf when they both take up their inheritance, and this relationship is important for our family. However, mother says if I am his mate, it would be improper for him to remove our family as the administrators of Theris.

“Father said he’s nothing but a pup.” I look over myself in the mirror. The dress itself was dark, but the sleeves and neckline were trimmed in a lighter, sky blue. “And our family will never lose reign over Theris. No one can hold this land but us.”

Mother sighs at my comment, inspecting me once more. “Your father calls everyone who hasn’t been to war a pup, including Eske,” she states pointedly. “He’s called me a pup before.”

“How can he protect us from the shadowbeasts if he’s never killed?”

Mother scoffs at me, “You are sounding like your father now. Maybe the Khanel is your mate.”

My head drips down, turning away from her. I go to my window, looking out over the land I called home. The place that raised me and made me who I am. “I don’t want a mate. I don’t want to leave Theris.”

“Don’t be that way, Idonia. A mate is a blessing, one that none of your brothers have found. Being a Khanea would suit you.” I almost scoff at this, because it definitely would not suit me. I have no head for ruling or politics. I have no manners to run a court or tend to the ladies of the Isles like a true Khanea should.

Instead of saying all of this, I reply, “It would suit Father’s wish for a higher political standing.”

“Connections make life easier, Idonia.” From behind me, she places her hands on my shoulder. “Mates make life easier. We should head down, the Khanel is here.”

Outside the window is a procession of horses. Mother goes to my door, and I follow her down to our courtyard. All of my brothers and Father wait for us. Surrounding them are my father’s sworn Viker, Masters, servants, and other lycan who have gathered to witness the Khanel’s arrival. Mother takes her place by Father’s side as his Aeralea. My siblings and I line up in order of birth. First is Eske, the oldest of us and my father’s heir. In proceeding order: Egil, Inghram, Ingolf, myself, and my youngest brother, Olen. Olen smiles as he sees me, I touch his shoulder, giving him a small grin before standing at his side.

Soon the gates to the yard open and in comes Khanel Raedwulf on his black gelding. I don’t know the faces behind him, but tradition dictates that two are his personal Viker. There would be a few of his father’s Viker for protection also. As the Khanel traveled, he would have picked up an entourage of those looking for favor or an adventure.

The Khanel dismounts and approaches us. He is tall and broad, his size even rivaling my father who is the largest man I’ve ever met. His hair is a bright red, as suggested by his name, but his eyes are dark. The entire presence of the Khanel terrifies me but also draws me in. As he greets my father, I listen closely to his voice.

“Aeral and Aeralea Torbet,” his voice is deep and husky. Masculine, I think to myself. I gulp as I hear it, knowing his words are not threatening but also knowing the sound terrifies me. His whole being emanated power. Behind him stood two males who follow him closely. One was taller than the Khanel, but smaller in build. The second was shorter but held himself straight and with pride.

“Khanel Raedwulf Dolph,” Father bows, we all follow his lead. We stay on our knees for a moment as the rest of the courtyard bows to the Khanel. My eyes sneak another glance at him, and I find him staring at me. A shiver takes over my spine and I turn my gaze down once more. When Father rises, he gestures to us. “My children, Aeren Eske, Egil, Inghram, Ingolf, Idonia, and Olen.”

The Khanel examines my brothers, specifically Eske. He gives my eldest brother a nod before walking down our line. When he reaches me, he stops. My heart drops in my chest while my beast rages in my head. He offers his hand to me. Callouses cover his palm and I take a deep breath.

This is it.

Khanel Raedwulf wants to know if we’re mates. The touch will tell us. It will either be warm or cold. I take one deep breath, lifting my hand and placing it in his.

Fire.

Our eyes meet once more and the beast inside me purrs and preens in his presnce. For a second, his hard expression softens. Then, he lowers his hand and breaks our contact. My hand feels cold without his touch. “Your name again?”

I swallow the lump in my throat as the beast howls inside me, she already misses his touch. “Idonia Torbet, daughter of Aeral Trym Torbet and Aeralea Anrid Torbet.”

“Khanelea,” he says softly. “My Khanelea. A mate given to me by the Gods. A blessing to me from your family.”

I know my family is watching me, I can feel their stares burning into me, waiting for me to make a wrong move. They want me to accept it, they expect me to accept the bond, but I don’t know what I want. This male is a stranger, and one that my father only respects because of his title. I can’t mate with this male. He isn’t ready to rule the Isle, he isn’t ready to provide for a mate, this isn’t right. He cannot be mine and I cannot be his.

When I make no move, say no words, the Khanel sighs. He reaches up and unhooks his heavy fur cloak. Skillfully he unwraps it from himself and lays it on my shoulders. The warmth of his cloak and the smell of his scent engulf me. This is him saying, silently, that he has accepted me as his mate and has taken me under his protection.

“Be warmed by my presence and know I will always provide.”

“Khanel,” my voice trembles. I try to calm the shake of my hands as I take his large ones into my grasp. I look to my family, who all stare at me expectantly. My mother gives me an eager nod, encouraging me to accept him. Eske shakes his head, reading my hesitation and warning me not to embarrass them. So, I sigh, and do what I am expected to do, “A mate given to me by the Gods. A blessing to me from your family.” I take his leather gloves from his knuckles and place my lips over them. “Be comforted by my presence and know I will always support you.