Shadow

Idonia Torbet

“How would I go about killing a shadowbeast?”

Everyone stopped eating and my eyes shot to Rae. I didn't doubt last night that he would take my challenge, but something in me stirred at the thought of him fighting one. Shadowbeasts were stronger, faster, and all-around better hunters than lycan. If my mate isn't careful, he will get killed.

"Why do you want to kill a shadowbeast."

He smirks, glancing at me before turning to my father once more. "I am the Khanel, but one that has not killed another lycan or shadowbeast. It is time that I prove to the Bethley Isles that I will be a good Khannun." Under the table, his hand reaches for mine. The fire burns between us as I let him take my hand. "I need to prove myself a good mate, not only to Idonia but to you."

Father nods once, "Shadownbeasts come down from Iiesha to hunt. They mainly stay in the northernmost part of our isle, the darkest and coldest part. No one is allowed up there without my permission. I will give you my blessing but you must follow the same rules as the other Viker who make the journey."

"Of course."

"A party of you and three other Viker, one of which has already killed a shadowbeast."

"I will take my two Viker, Danal and Rikki. As for the one who has already--"

"I'll go," I state to my own surprise. My hand never leaves his under the table. "He wants to prove himself a good mate to me. I'll go hunting with him."

"Can I go too?" Olen asks.

"No!" the command comes from not only both of my parents but also me.

"I'll take you hunting when you're old enough," I tell him. My hand squeezes his once before speaking again. "I'll go with him to make sure he doesn't get himself killed."

"Alright, I'll have the journey prepared for."

With that, we all left the hall. I grabbed Olen's hand and lead him to the courtyard. Rae follows me without me telling him to. I surprised him when I agreed to go to the north with him. Hell, I surprised myself when I said the words.

Outside, I notice two more lycan coming up to us. They bow to Rae before doing the same to me.

"Khanelea," they both say as their heads dip. I look at Rae, who is smiling at their actions.

"Idonia," he purrs as he says my name. "These are my Viker: Danal and Rikki. Men, this is my mate, Khanelea Idonia, and her brother, Olen."

"Good day," the one called Danal greets us.

"Are we going shadow hunting?" Rikki gets a goofy grin on his face as he asks Rae.

"Yes, and Idonia is going with us."

"Really?" Danal asks with shock evident on his face.

"Yes, my father only lets lycan go hunting up north if there is a member of their party that has killed a shadowbeast before."

"How old were you when you killed one?" Rikki asks as I take Olen to the yard for training.

"She had fourteen years when she killed one. The youngest in our family, right sister?" Olen states with great enthusiasm. "She trains me so that I can hunt when I have fourteen years too."

"How old were your brothers?" Rae asks me next.

"Eske had seventeen years and Egil had twenty."

"I'm going to kill one too," Rikki states, cracking his knuckles. "Disa will be so impressed."

"Disa?"

"My sister and his mate," Danal states with little amusement.

"Is she not here?" I look around the yard. "I thought when Viker travel they always take their mates."

"Disa was with us at the beginning of our journey, I sent her home when she became with pup," Rikki tells me with a proud smile. "She is home in Bethlianna with our family."

"And you stayed by your Khanel's side," I state, looking at the group. Somehow, my mate has inspired these lycan to remain with him no matter what. He must have told them of my request and both are eager to help. As a female not set to inherit, I have no Viker, but as the Khanelea and later as the Khanea, I will have my Viker I train as my own. They won't be as loyal as these two, no they have obviously been with my mate for years.

"It is our job, Khanelea," Danal smiles at me as he speaks.

"And until you have your own, Rikki's new job is to be at your side as your Viker."

I look at Rikki and his ridiculous smile, "It is my honor, Khanelea."

"Can I be your Viker too?" Olen asks as he tugs at my hand for attention. "I would be so good at it, Idonia."

I laugh at my brother and brush back his wild hair, "Maybe when you're older. For now, you still have to train to kill a shadowbeast." He runs to get his equipment before I turn to the three fully grown lycan in front of me. "You three as well. You all need to prepare for the north, it won't be easy."

"I wouldn't worry about us, Idonia," my mate smirks at me. Though I like his smile, it makes me giddy, it also annoys me. Northern Theris is no joke, there's a reason no one is allowed up there.

I grit my teeth together, "If you aren't going to take this seriously then leave."

I know my words are harsh and probably hurtful to my mate. However, I need him to do this and not die. I know it was all my idea, but that doesn't mean I want him dead. In fact, this is one of the few times in my life I want to be wrong. In the deepest part of my soul, I want him to be able to kill the shadowbeast, however, there is a part of me that doubts his abilities.

Father always said southern are soft. They don't train as hard, don't work as hard, don't know how to survive in the darkness. He always called it ridiculous that the Khannun lived in the south when it was his job to protect against the shadows. All of the northern Aeral thought they would be better at protecting us than the Khannun. Having Rae kill a shadowbeast isn't all for me, it's for him too.

Killing a shadowbeast makes him strong in the eyes of all Aeral, not just my father. It will make him a more respected and feared Khannun.

First, he has to survive though, which is why I'm going.