The Veil of Darkness
Chapter 115: The Snow Lion

Chapter 115: The Snow Lion

Annalise felt her heart shattering as the realization of her failure dawned over her... she failed to save the snow beast and now it had lost its life, an innocent soul that first lost itself to the dark energy, and now it had lost to death.

Tears rolled down her eyes as she felt her powers crying along with her soul at the loss. She was supposed to save it, all those poor creatures out there needed to be saved, but she was too late to do that.

She felt her husbands moving around her before she felt their arms wrapping around her shaking body. Their warmth enveloped her cold soul but it didn’t take away the pain. She felt it at that point, the need in her powers to save the innocent creatures out there but because she had failed to do for the snow beast, her powers were at a loss.

"Little bird, you did try your best. If anyone is responsible for its death then it’s us, we only cared about killing it at that moment and didn’t even try to think that it’s just an innocent beast taken over by dark energy." Kenric tried to comfort her but even his words didn’t seem to help much with her pain.

She felt a soft tug on her powers but didn’t pay any attention to it, she just rested her head against Damien’s shoulder and let the tears roll down her cheeks.

"Annalise, look at this..." There was an urgency in Valerius’ voice as he shook her hand to pull her attention to whatever he wanted her to see and even though she didn’t want to, she still opened her eyes and followed the direction he was pointing at.

As soon as she realized what he was showing her, she immediately straightened up and watched along with all her husbands as the miracle took place in front of their very eyes.

The snow beast was covered in bright silver light and its size was growing smaller and smaller with each passing second. When the light finally disappeared after a couple of long moments, the four and a half feet tall snow beast had already turned into a baby that was merely the size of both her palms combined. Its majestic wings had also turned smaller and its body was rising and falling with every breath it was inhaling and exhaling.

"Is... Is it alive?" She asked with pure surprise even though the answer was pretty obvious considering the snow beast was now breathing even if it hadn’t opened its eyes yet.

"It seems like that..." Kenric was the first one to respond to her question as he moved closer to the baby beast. "Should I... try to make it move...?" The third dark lord seemed completely clueless and surprised to the core by the sudden miracle that just took place. Even Damien and Valerius appeared just as flustered as their younger brother.

They all just nodded their heads in unison as they had no other idea about what should they do. Kenric took a deep breath before he lightly tapped his fingers on the little paw of the snow beast. The baby lion merely moved in its sleep as if got disturbed but still didn’t open its eyes.

"Maybe not that gently?" Damien provided his opinion when Kenric turned to look at them with questioning eyes.

"What are you talking about? It’s just a baby beast, how can I not be so gentle with it..." Kenric mumbled under his breath as he returned his attention to the snow lion but his words were clearly heard by the other three.

"How about you give it a try?" Valerius finally spoke and his suggestion was directed at Annalise who nodded her head in response before she scooted closer to the baby beast and lightly grazed her fingers against the soft fur around its neck and ears.

It responded almost immediately, purring softly and stretching its body before it finally opened its eyes and looked directly at Annalise with its beautiful amber eyes.

She recognized the look in its eyes almost immediately, it was the same look she saw in the eyes of the other animals that she had saved all these years and while none of them were magical creatures, they were still the innocent animals that needed to be saved.

The baby lion finally stood up on its little legs and surprised almost everyone, mostly Annalise, as it hurried into her lap and immediately settled down there while nuzzling its head against her belly.

Valerius and Damien also moved to come closer to where she and Kenric were sitting on the floor and the former lightly grazed his index fingers on its throat, making the show beast purr once again.

"It’s a snow lion, it will love you around it," Damien commented as he gave a rare smile while looking at Valerius who nodded his head in agreement.

"It seems like we have got a new companion." Kenric finally spoke as he looked at the snow beast sleeping in his wife’s lap. "This all ended up way better than anyone would have expected."

Almost everyone nodded their heads in agreement as Annalise lifted the sleeping baby beast in her arms and allowed Damien to help her to her feet.

"Since even the spell wasn’t able to find anything amiss in this place other than the snow lion, I think there’s nothing helpful here. And it’s also getting pretty late, let’s head to the inn." Valerius suggested and they all agreed.

Annalise turned to look at the portal hall for the last time as they were all on their way to pass the entrance door. Her gaze once again landed on the lifeless portal and she felt the snow lion snuggling in her arms.

"Little bird, let’s go." Kenric took hold of her hand as they both finally stepped out and the door closed behind them.

Valerius also cast a spell on the door and strengthen the ward surrounding the Portal Hall, a way to secure the place from invaders even though they knew that nothing could stop those who really wanted to invade.

****

Annalise watched the baby snow beast sleep in Valerius’ arms in the cutest way possible. She brushed her fingers softly over its ear and immediately felt it purring in its sleep.

They all had just finished their late-night dinner and were currently sitting around a wooden table outside in the courtyard while enjoying the beautiful night sky.

"It’s already midnight, we all should be heading to our rooms now," Kenric spoke as he stood up and stretched his arms out while looking around the area. Almost all the other people staying at the inn had already retired to their rooms as it was pretty late at night.

They all stood one after the other and Annalise headed straight to the second floor where her room was located between Kenric and Valerius’ rooms. As for Damien, of course, he was sharing the room with her.

Valerius took the baby snow with him for the night and promised to look after it before he would return it to her in the morning before they would set out to Lakeshire town.

Since she returned to her room before her husband, she quickly took off the jewelry and changed into her nightgown. She was combing her long platinum blue hair when Damien finally entered the room.

Their gazes met as soon as he stepped inside and Annalise recognized the immediate change in the air, their bond, and their bodies, the attraction between them was unmistakable and she found her heartbeat racing when he moved closer to her.

She hurriedly put down the comb and stood up to face her man as he approached her. Her ocean blue eyes stared into his dark orbs as they both stood so close to each other with very little space between their bodies.

Damien raised one of his hands and trailed his fingers down her temple before tucking loose strands of her hair behind her ear. "You must be tired after the long day." He whispered softly and it almost felt like he was talking to himself.

Annalise immediately shook her head in negative to ensure him that she wasn’t tired at all, especially when she was alone with him.

A small smile appeared on Damien’s lips as he wrapped his hand around her waist and pulled her closer to him before giving her a warm hug. "Don’t give me hope, wife. You have no idea how hard it is for me to control myself around you."

Annalise felt her cheeks warming up at the hidden meaning behind his words and she had to bury her face deeper against his chest to hide from the embarrassment. "You don’t have to..." She ended up whispering and her voice was almost inaudible that she thought that he hadn’t heard her when the man gave her no response for a while.

But then... everything was moving at once, his hands, his lips, and their bodies...!