Page 9 of What Lies Beyond the Realms

The narrow dirt path we’re on is leading us to a barn and stables. Past the barn on top of a hill surrounded by trees is an aged log cabin with a large cobblestone fireplace. Another building sits further back behind the house, maybe a shed or guest house of sorts. Beyond that there are rolling hills as far as I can see in varying shades of blue, cobalt, and navy. They run in zigzags across the hillside. Once we make it to the barn, Aidan helps me dismount Geri, and a boy comes out to greet us.

“Hello, sir, glad to see you’ve returned safely,” he says while bowing his head to Aidan and taking the reins.

“Lyra, this is Luke. Luke, this is Lyra.”

“Hello Luke, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” I nod, unsure of how to act. I know he’s a Lycan because he has those piercing light-blue eyes like Aidan and like all the Lycan, but he doesn’t look much older than maybe fifteen. He has tan skin and fluffy, short brown hair growing wildly atop his head.

“The pleasure is mine, Lyra. Please let me unpack your bags for you. I have a fire going in the house, and I’ll bring you both up some dinner after I settle the horses. I believe Marth is roasting clippers tonight.” Luke nods at Aidan then disappears into the barn.

“Come, Cheeks. Let’s get you cleaned up.”

“What is all of that growing on the hills?” I ask, pointing beyond the house to the blue crops.

“It’s wheat.”

“I’ve never seen wheat grow like that before. It’s blue.”

“You’ll find blue runs through the Lycan Realm in various ways. It has to do with our blood and the moon magic that allows us to shift into wolves. It’s why our eyes glow light blue as well.”

“It’s like how the Sorcerers have black and white magic,” I say.

“It is similar to that in a way. I cannot cast a spell as you can, but I do carry magic in my blood, and magic flows through these lands.” Aidan places his hand on the small of my back and leads me up toward the cabin.

I step inside and take in my surroundings. The cabin is old and basic, lacking any sort of luxury or refinement. The large cobblestone fireplace dominates the space, taking up almost the entire wall to my left, and its crackling flames breathe life into the whole cabin. In front of the fireplace, a well-worn settee beckons, its red cushions inviting me to sink into them. To the left of the fireplace is a table and chairs and a tiny kitchen nook for food preparation. The cabin is made entirely of huge logs, and the ceiling is vaulted with large wooden beams cutting across its peak.

I follow Aidan down the hall to a single bedroom and bathroom. The bedroom is sparsely furnished, with one large bed made from the same logs as the rest of the cabin, covered in furs of varying shades of brown and black. The bathroom is equally basic, with a large tub in the center of the room and a bucket and mirror off in the corner. While lacking in any kind of luxury, at least I can take a warm bath and sleep in a real bed tonight. Aidan is already busy going back and forth, filling the tub with warm water from pails beside the fireplace. I can only imagine Luke must have left them there anticipating our arrival somehow.

“I’ll let you take a bath and get cleaned up. Come out when you’re ready, and we can eat together and discuss tomorrow. I'll leave your bag Lili packed on the bed so you can get some clean clothes.” Aidan heads back down the hall.

I close the bathroom door, strip my clothes off, and sink into the tub. The warm water feels delicious on my frost-bitten skin. There’s a tray of soap next to the bath that smells of rosemary and mint. I grab it and get to work cleaning my skin and my hair from head to toe. Once I’m pleased with my complexion, I get out of the bath feeling all warm and minty fresh. I towel off and head into the bedroom. Laid out for me is one of my light-blue silky nightgowns and a pair of light-blue wool socks. Lili must’ve packed this for me, and Aidan didn’t want to give it to me to dirty up at camp. It feels good to be warm and clean again. I get dressed and head to the dining table ready for whatever roasted clipper is.

Aidan is sitting at a table he must’ve pulled closer to the fireplace, waiting for me. He motions for me to take a seat across from him.

“We have roasted clipper with moon bread. What would you like to drink?”

“What are my options?” I reach for a glass.

“Water or something stronger.” He starts filling his glass with a bottle of reddish amber liquid.

“I’ll have whatever you’re having.” I raise an eyebrow, watching him down his glass.

“It’s a type of whiskey fermented under the blood moon. We call it potato piss. Try it.”

I hold up my glass, and Aidan fills it more than halfway full. I’ve never actually tried alcohol before, since it was forbidden to me at the castle, but Aidan doesn’t know that. It smells acrid, but maybe it’ll help me relax. I take a big gulp. It burns all the way down to my stomach, spreading heat across my body.

“What an awful name.” I take another drink anyway.

“Yeah, well it does taste like piss. It’ll put some hair on your chest and keep you warm in the winter.” Aidan dishes food out on both of our plates. “I didn’t take you for a whiskey drinker, Cheeks,” Aidan says before shoveling chunks of meat in his mouth.

“What is clipper?” I push the pieces of meat around my plate.

“Fat black and white game birds. You’ll see them all over the Cinder territory.”

I decide to start eating the moon bread instead. It has a nutty flavor to it and is the same light-blue color of the Lycans’ eyes. It’s different than the overly decadent food I’m used to being served back in Tempest Moon.

I don’t know how I feel about Aidan. He’s nice to me and seems to care about training me well, and he got me away from the castle so I could live life a little. I just can’t help the uneasy feeling I have in my gut. Is he really working for my parents? Can I blame him for making me get undressed to keep me warm? I didn’t exactly hit him away when he touched me. I just let it happen, so maybe I can’t hold it against him. He’s a Lycan male after all, and Lycan are known to be very dominant and sexual. Maybe I can trust him and shouldn’t hold his nature against him. He didn’t force himself on me. I don’t know what I’m trying to convince myself of right now. I pick up my cup and take a long gulp. It burns down to my core and instantly warms me up. It feels like a fire is burning deep in my stomach. Hopefully this potato piss will clear my head or at least let me get a good night’s sleep without overthinking everything.

“Damn, Cheeks, slow down. Get some more food in your stomach before you top off that glass or I’ll be carrying you to bed tonight,” he says while handing me another piece of moon bread.