The Devil's Son and His Fated Bride
Chapter 104: A talking Ogain.

Chapter 104: A talking Ogain.

"If you swear to Zagara, the God of Light," she said firmly, "I’ll free you and welcome you as one of Thegara’s own. There are many of your kind living here now. They are living ordinary lives. Help us. Tell us everything you know. Draw us a map of where the armies are camped, and I’ll grant your wishes."

The goblin stared at her, stunned. For a fleeting second, a flicker of light danced in his yellow eyes. Hope! But just as quickly, it vanished, snuffed out like a candle in the wind.

"No," he whispered. "I don’t deserve it. Let me stay here. I’ll still tell you everything."

Ren narrowed her eyes. "Why?"

"Because I hurt too many of your guards," he admitted, voice thick with guilt. "The female shifter, the one who lost her arm, the one you healed her wound, I was the one who took it from her. I had no choice. If we didn’t kill or maim on the battlefield, the vampire lords would either slaughter us or turn us into one of those demons."

Ren gave a silent nod. She couldn’t forgive him, not truly. And neither could Jisa, the Omega shifter whose arm he’d taken.

"Then tell us everything," she said quietly, "so we can avenge the life they stole from you."

The goblin lowered his head, shoulders trembling. "I will... Please, avenge us all. They killed my wife. I don’t even know where my son is."

The weight of his words stung, but Ren couldn’t ignore the blood on his hands. Whatever sympathy she felt, guilt still clung to him like a shadow. His soul was stained and no redemption could cure him except for the punishment.

"Calisa, record his confession. I want a full report by tonight. Give him a map, have him mark every place their forces have taken or camped."

She didn’t yet trust him, not entirely. A trained goblin was still a risk. So she turned to the guard and added firmly, "Stay here. Don’t leave him alone. I want every word he says verified."

~*~

Three days had passed. From early morning until deep into the night, Ren had thrown herself into work with Agara in the lab. Together, they had crafted three different variations of poisoned silver, each designed to target vampires more effectively. Their next step was testing them, on the creatures captured during that grim battle and the one Siamon had dragged in. They should find out how resistant vampires were.

Each night, she kept her distance from Kai. Though they shared the same bed, their hearts remained worlds apart. Every time he tried to draw near, she erected a quiet wall, asking for time. His sudden shift in behavior and that hasty love confession had shattered the sense of safety she’d once felt in his presence.

"You need rest," Agara told her gently, as they finished dinner in the building where Ogain was staying.

"He’s right," Arkilla added, signaling for Gloria to pour Ren some more apple juice. "You’re running yourself into the ground, Luna."

"I’m fine," Ren replied, brushing off their concern. "I sleep well, I eat well...what I need is to finish this poison on time. Gamma Axe is out there, fighting in the Ice Lands with countless others. They’re buying us time. We have to make this count. The Fae vampire has built a monstrous army. They have even vampire giants. Just imagining that..."

Her voice trailed off as she cut a piece of roasted meat and set it on the floor for Ogain, who sat at her feet, his tail gently wagging.

"Thank you, don’t be sad... I don’t like it." came a small, childlike voice...clear and... unexpected.

Ren jolted upright in her chair, her heart leaping to her throat. Her breath came out loud, oh Gods!

"What... what did you say?"

Ogain calmly swallowed the meat, then looked up at her with bright blue eyes and repeated, "I don’t want to feel your sadness..."

"He talks!" Ren announced.

Everyone froze.

All eyes turned to Ogain, wide with disbelief. But none more stunned than Orgeve. Pity, they couldn’t hear it.

"Did he just talk...?" Org murmured in disbelief.

"Yes. He said ’thank you,’" Ren confirmed, still stunned.

Org smiled, but his gaze briefly flicked to Arkilla, then darted away just as quickly. Damn. He had promised himself he’d confess eventually, but it was proving harder than he thought.

"The bond between you and Ogain is growing stronger," a familiar voice said.

Kai stood in the doorway, a soft smile tugging at his lips.

"Yes, I think so." Ren gently stroked Ogain’s head. "Good boy. Try your best to master flying soon."

She could hardly wait to begin practicing what she had learned in the Dreamland, with a fully matured Ogain by her side.

"If you’re ready," Kai said, "we can go try the poisons."

’Have you eaten? You’ve been in the forge since morning,’ she asked through the link, glancing over her shoulder.

Kai’s eyes narrowed slightly. ’Do you even care?’ he retorted.

’I do. Now answer me...did you have dinner?’

’I did. Rail joined me in the forge.’

Ren approached him, lowering Ogain to the ground. "You’re getting heavier and bigger," she said with a smile. "I won’t be able to call you ’little one’ for much longer."

According to the archives on his species, Ogain would grow fast, and soon, she wouldn’t be able to lift him at all. He was already the size of a fully grown dog.

They picked up the wooden box on the table and made their way toward the dungeons just as Rail approached, carrying a sealed clay bottle of blood.

"Is this enough?" he asked quietly.

Ren nodded. "It is. I only need to observe how quickly they heal after the poison is administered if they drink blood. This will do."

Her gaze lingered on his face, his eyes dim with grief. He wasn’t the same lively young wolf she’d known just days ago. Kamin’s death had hollowed him out. He hadn’t even gone to check on Gloria. And now, even as she stood nearby, he avoided looking at her, rubbing his eyes and turning away.

"Rail," Ren said softly, "please escort Gloria to Healer Rigo. She needs to deliver a message for me."

She didn’t need him to go, Gloria was more than capable of handling it alone. But Ren saw an opportunity, a gentle nudge. They needed time, together, even if they didn’t realize it yet.

"Yes, my Luna," he replied with a bow, not daring to protest.

As he turned toward the infirmary, Gloria blinked in surprise, clearly startled by her lady’s not-so-subtle matchmaking. Flustered, she quickly hurried after him. No man could undoubtedly distinguish the purpose behind that, but a girl definitely could.

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