My Wild Beast
Chapter 39: Luna Lacus (2)

Chapter 39: Luna Lacus (2)

[AN: Music Recommendation: Warrior Rhythm by Primal Shaman]

Golden light splintered through the darkness as the rock rolled away. Nova squinted and shielded her eyes with her hand against the blinding sun. Yoa stepped outside, eyes scanning their surroundings, the silence was suffocating, deadly as he carried Nova forward. His steps were cautious, quiet, especially for a man of his stature, and also incredibly lethal to those he hunts.

The wind picked up, howling through the Sacred Lands, the grounds alive and aware of their presence. A dense mist clung to the totems and foliage, the humid air thick with the scent of damp earth, wild orchids, and salt from the nearby ocean. They passed the statues, and gradually, the noise of the forest hummed back to life. Birds chirped sporadically, their songs weaving through the stillness as sunlight filtered through the towering palm fronds and dense canopy.

Yoa’s eyes flicked constantly over their surroundings, alert and tense. His hold on Nova was tight, and any little movement, from that of a tiny insect to the wind rustling through leaves, stilled him to the spot, his grip almost bruising. Any time he tensed, Nova mirrored the movement even though she felt safest in his arms.

The birds’ songs fell away, the parrots chirping silenced as Yoa and Nova drew closer to them, passing under their trees, alerted to the predator amongst them. He may be the predator, but his instincts told him the birds watchful eyes weren’t focused on him. Their eyes were on his little mouse.

Yoa’s growl rumbled along the forest floor and reverberated through the canopy, setting the trees trembling, swaying and disrupting the birds perched on them. Their wings fluttered and ruffled, their squawks and shrill protests echoing through the trees at the disturbance. Yoa’s warning was clear, yet their allegiance was to the Sky Matron and, so too, her son.

"They do not like you," Nova whispered after hearing their dramatic complaints about the ’troublesome cat.’ The racket continued, and Nova tilted her head slightly to listen in more to their words.

Much like with the dolphins, Yoa’s gaze bore into her like he was trying to figure something out. "You can understand them..." Yoa murmured, his voice a low rumble, then he moved them into a shaded area, hidden by all, staring at Nova. "They are spies, Nova." His golden-red eyes glowered in the direction of the multitude of tropical birds.

Nova watched as many of the green parrots cocked their heads to the side, eyes and beaks seeming to grin cheekily at them. Yoa used the coverage of the trees for the remainder of their short journey before the trees spread far and wide, becoming sparse, clearing for Moon Lake. The water shimmered ahead, calm, dark and impossibly still. It was Mother Nature’s mirror, perfectly reflecting the sky’s pale blue.

Uncertainty pressed into Nova’s chest as she leaned into Yoa without thinking, staring at the mystical lake that transported her here—wherever here was. This magical pool that no longer hummed with the beat of drums or sparked with thousands of stars and a galaxy swirled beneath the smooth surface, was meant to be the gateway to return her to where she belonged.

Belonged. Her nose wrinkled slightly to the term. The uncertain emotions prickling in her chest made her hesitate and second-guess herself. Nova’s pulse quickened the closer they drew to Moon Lake, something she knew Yoa could hear.

"This is it," Nova whispered, half to herself while her mind reeled with the memories of the evening she and Chad fled for their lives and ended with her falling into the lake’s depths.

Nerves slowly tightened the muscles in her body.

Would this work?

What then? She returns home like none of this happened? Like Yoa didn’t happen? Like Yoa would one day be nothing more than a memory, dust in the wind, fleeting? Her heart clenched tightly, and she instinctively rubbed over her heart like it might soothe away the unwelcoming sharp ache.

Yoa’s hand brushed hers for a brief, grounding moment. Like before, it flattened over Nova’s chest, but this time, her small hand acted as a barrier between them. That didn’t stop her heart from pounding like a war drum under the intimate touch.

"Trust it, trust yourself," Yoa whispered, his voice so deep and low, laced with longing as their eyes held each other. Their hearts ached as the seconds ticked by, and their time was up.

Taking a deep breath, Nova descended out of Yoa’s arms, stepping aside. She turned slightly and outstretched her hand against his chest, silently saying goodbye like he taught her previously. Yoa’s eyes widened briefly at the truth of that act. He lowered his forehead to hers, and they both closed their eyes, breathing each other in, neither saying a word.

There was no need to.

In these final moments, the warm morning sun kissed their skin, the golden light filtering through the small space where their lips did not meet.

Yoa’s beast surged forward, eyes snapping open brightly, a whine deep in his throat, smothered down swiftly as Yoa cleared his throat. Nova broke away from him, the moment over as emotion made her eyes sting and throat thicken. She swallowed down the silly emotions surfacing.

They shared one more look, longing stretching between them like an invisible rope tugging tightly on their rapidly beating hearts, the emotion trying to burst free and halt Nova’s departure.

Yoa’s hands curled into fists by his sides as Nova stepped free from him. His foot moved forward before he could contain himself once more as though to reach out his hand and stop her. That hand froze and returned to his side.

This is for the best. Those words were like sea water forcing down his throat and into his lungs. Salty and suffocating. Drowning out his pain.

The water’s edge was cool against Nova’s toes. She gazed upon the lake and then glanced behind her, taking one more look at Yoa, drawing every single perfect detail to memory. She raised her hand, and he mirrored her gesture before she took her first step into the water.

Nova’s feet sank into the floor, the water slowly rising to her ankles as she continued to walk in. Nothing felt magical or strange about the water. She looked over her shoulder again to see Yoa was still there. It was only a few steps in before her foot lost contact with the ground, her body slipping under water.

The world muffled into silence, the cool water enveloping her, the forest and Yoa’s watchful eyes fading away as she sank deeper into the shimmering blue-green depths. Seconds stretched into eternity.

Yoa’s feet moved before he could stop himself, heart racing as Nova disappeared beneath the surface of Luna Lacus. The rippling effect of where her tiny body slipped into the water gradually faded away. The beast within him was growling, pacing, lashing out, wanting to reach out and drag his little mouse out of the water.

Is this it? Has she gone? Gone for good?

Yoa’s gaze was trained on the stilling water. His breath was held, his muscles taut with tension. Surely, he would know if the island hummed with the Gods powers to return Nova to her home? He was the protector of these lands, his blood and the island were in sync.

Yet, Nova had not risen. What if she truly would be gone?

Yoa snapped. He couldn’t bear the thought of Nova leaving. He didn’t care if he was being selfish. He couldn’t allow her to leave, not like this. Yoa took three large strides before diving into the depths of Luna Lacus.

Bubbles erupted under water from his large body splashing into the water. His golden-red eyes were like a beacon of light as they shimmered in the water’s depths. The water parted for him like a knife slicing through melted butter, his muscles easing through it until he saw her.

Nova was here. His little mouse was still here. She had not left him.

Yoa could see the restriction of air causing her pulse to slow, the veins at her neck strained against her delicate skin. One more stroke of his hands sliced through the water, and then they wrapped around her body protectively. Nova’s eyes snapped open to the sudden touch on her skin, and she immediately relaxed in Yoa’s arms.

Yoa’s eyes searched hers, his black mane floating around them as he pulled her into his body. Nova’s hands instinctively slid around his neck and angled her face before his lips crashed into hers. He blew air into her lungs, easing that constricting feeling somewhat before she melted into his kiss.

His hands moved her legs, hiking them over his waist as their tongues explored each other, teeth colliding, fingers pressing into each other’s skin like they couldn’t bear the thought of being parted from one another again. Yoa kicked his legs once, and they surfaced above the water.

Nova pulled back with a gasp, breathing in a lungful of air, water droplets splattering around them before her lips were on his again. Their hair clung to their foreheads, bodies dripping and soaked as they kissed under the sun in the middle of Luna Lacus.

"You’re still here," Yoa whispered in awe, parting from her briefly, staring at her like he’d never seen such a beautiful creature before and unable to look away from, afraid she might disappear from his sight again.

Panting, nodding and a little teary-eyed, Nova barely hummed her response, emotion thick in her voice, "yes. I’m still here."