Chapter Text
Eberwolf the Huntsman watched as Alador Blight lowered the de-sigiling glove onto the boy’s wrist. Blue light rose from each healer, four in total, holding the tubes through which oracle mist flowed. The glove began to shimmer an odd blue-white hue before flashing slightly. The boy pulled his wrist away, then all of the adults craned to look.
It was bare.
Alador began to smile a little, and Darius Deamonne grabbed him by the shoulders, shaking him excitedly, before seeming to realise who he was holding. He dropped him and folded his arms to scowl and pout, though he had one eye on the man to make sure he wasn’t offended by the overly expressive gesture. Raine Whispers turned to their lead note-taker, starting a quiet conversation. Alador had the boy do a few light tests before they quietly began to whisper with success. A soft susurration ran around the room, brightening to a feverish pitch.
It had worked.
They could take off sigils now.
He took in a deep breath, slow and sure, then turned to the window. He saw Owlbert hovering, watching them. Raine stepped over and checked outside.
“Darius? Eberwolf? Alador? Emira? Viney?”
“Thank you Mx. Whispers.” Their researcher grinned. “You all go and have fun.”
Fun. Eberwolf tried not to grimace. He was thinking too hard.
The group that headed downstairs was ebullient, bubbling and gossiping, with much too-ing and fro-ing of the rivals. Eber lagged behind, where Viney and Emira moved to flank him.
“Are you alright Mister Huntsman?”
“[Are you flying Puddles, or translocating with us?]” He deflected.
“Flying. But, are you ok?” She was undeterred.
“[I’m…]” He hesitated. “[I’m pretty tired right now. Sorry.]”
The two girls exchanged significant looks.
“Do you want to fly with us?”
He considered the offer. Darius was now arguing specifics with Alador. Raine looked ready to bonk them both.
“[If you’re willing?]”
“That’s why I offered. Puddles is big enough.”
“I’ll tell dad and mister D. I doubt they’ll really notice.”
Probably not, Eber agreed, they were well into the weeds now. He greeted Puddles, who nuzzled him all over, and accepted the boost up to her back. He even managed to doze on the flight with the two girls.
When they landed, he could still hear Darius arguing with Alador, and turned to find the food that his nose was telling him was close by. Emira pulled him to one side as Viney found a spot for Puddles to relax. She didn’t flinch as Diva wriggled up to them, cuddling and petting his Ratworm.
“I’m gonna be blunt, I’ve been watching you since I was brought on, and I think there’s something seriously wrong with you at this point.”
He met her eyes, hers a golden yellow, his own a soft purple. She was full of anxiety and worry. He sighed softly.
“[Do you speak any Beast at all?]”
“I understand small fragments. I know that conjugation. Type please.”
He looked at her for a moment, then sighed.
‘I’ll start typing if you could grab me some juice, abomigranate please?’
She gave him a look, but from the way he had slumped against Diva, she believed he’d stay put. He began typing.
The juice helped perk him back up. He passed over his scroll. She read slowly, then moved to squeeze him in worry. He sighed softly as he reclaimed the device.
‘I think I have about three, maybe four months. I don’t know if I can get much done in that time.’
Her lip was trembling. He could smell the pain.
‘I haven’t told Darius.’
“WHAT?!”
The cry was loud enough to attract attention. He glared at her and started to move away. She grabbed his arm, and received a snarl. Emira quickly let go but her expression was clear. He turned away and headed to talk to Raine.
~
The party was subdued. Of course they were all there to support and cherish Luz, but it was clear that Hunter’s absence was felt. The quad showed off their tattoos to the other, a red cardinal. He nodded to Camila, who was hovering. Vee was quietly chewing on something in a knot of the older folk.
He was surprised to see Eda’s parents, one of whom was his own coven. He slid over.
“[Gwen. Imagine running into you here.]” He looked up and smiled. “[And Hawksley of course.]”
Her Palisman mantled ever so slightly as he adjusted himself on her staff. Gwendolyn Clawthorne gave him a smile.
“Coven leader Huntsman, it’s a surprise to see you too. Last I heard you were trying to overthrow the government.”
They shared a grin and he took a seat beside her, fetching a small bowl of nuts to nibble on. They sat in silence for a while as a little joy swept through the field.
“[I have a request. Though, it’s more for your husband. I also will understand if it can’t be accommodated.]”
She turned to look at him, her expression gentle and understanding. In a lot of ways he was reminded of his grandmother Rosie, but she felt more like one of his uncles in temperament. He caught his breath at the spike of pain then focused on the question.
“[Would I be able to get a Palistrom tree seed? I have a place and a guardian, I just, I know. It’s a lot.]”
She frowned a little, thick grey eyebrows knitting over a tiny button of a nose.
“That is a lot to ask.” Her voice was quieter, slow and thoughtful. “I have to ask, what’s it for?”
“[To plant on my son’s grave.]”
His whisper was quiet. He felt her pity wash over him, then another sadness.
“He was a grimwalker, yes?” He nodded. “A tree likely died for him.” Another nod. “I’ll ask.”
“[Thank you kindly. I heard she might come tonight, and I haven’t enough energy to chase this down on my own. Do you have my scroll number?]”
She didn’t, so they swapped devices and added themselves. Eber resumed his light grazing.
“A human eh? I never would have thought I’d live to see it.”
He rumbled, not sure how much he wanted to talk about it. He didn’t blame the girl, but it still hurt that she had survived. He knew his son had taken his own life, but, it hurt nonetheless.
After a few more minutes she left him be, muddling through the party-goers to whisper in her husband’s ear, who moved on to talk to the Bat Queen. He was aware of the large Palisman approaching him and did his best to stand properly. She silently touched a claw to his chin, and he gave her his throat, trusting and honouring her.
“Tell me.” Her voice was throaty and rumbling.
“[You understand Beast Tongue madame?]”
“I do.” Her accent rolled over him, making him think of violets.
“[My son was the seed-child Belos created from his brother. He had been making them for… a long time. We set their souls to rest as best we could, but it was too much for my child. He took his own life not long after.]”
“You are needing this soon?”
He met her gaze. She knew, and understood.
“[I wish it to grow on his grave, where I can see it.]”
“Hmm. I shall think on it. I will contact.”
“[I know Eda and her family.]”
“I will contact.” She nodded sharply and walked off.
Darius strolled over, grinning warmly, cups of something fruity in his hands.
“Someone’s popular this evening.”
He smiled as best he could, reaching out for a drink. Darius handed it over and draped an arm around him, kissing his ears. They stayed there, comfortable and quiet, until the fireworks exploded in the sky. Eber pressed his face against his mate’s cheek, feeling the love and vitality in him. Eber’s chest hurt deeply knowing how much the next few weeks were going to make him feel useless.
They headed home sometime around one, Eber asleep, carried in his arms.
Darius was reading when he woke. He must have been hoping for his mate to come around, and instantly dove in with kisses.
“Morning love. I’ve got you something, and I’m ready to talk about the next meeting.”
Eber grumbled a bit. He’d put his thoughts to his sister, and she’d given about a dozen swearwords for his plan, but he was still going through with it.
“[Dar, wait up, I need to talk with you.]”
The man was already out of the room. He sighed and laid himself back against the pillows.
Breakfast tasted nice, though it sat heavily in his belly.
“[Dar?]”
“You look so serious today.” His mate smiled.
He patted the bed next to him. The other flounced over to flop. He smiled weakly and moved a hand to stroke his head, then fished out his scroll.
‘My dearest Darius. I know this is not what you want from me, but it is needed. I need to withdraw from our relationship. This is nothing you have done, and will hopefully spare you more pain.’
Darius went still, freezing up. His eyes darted over the passage again and again, then finally he looked at the demon.
“What?”
His voice was a croak, unsure of what to think.
Eber reclaimed his scroll, thinking for a bit before writing slowly.
‘I have something I need to do, and if we are together, it will only hurt you more. I don’t want that on my soul. I want you to be free to look for your true mate, one who can marry you, and give you that child you always pretend you don’t really want.’
Darius stared at him, his breathing coming in tiny bursts. Eber’s chest began to ache fiercely.
“No.” The abomination master sounded like he was trying to deny his message. “No! You’re my mate Eber! I will not just give you up because, because you’re, I don’t know what you’re about to do, but, I forbid it!”
Eber looked up at him, eyes nearly grey with the exhaustion in him. Darius met his gaze and held it, something cold slipping into his veins.
“Please, what’s wrong?”
Eber lifted his hands for a moment, then sagged. It was too much. He wasn’t responsible.
Darius gathered him against his chest, trembling and stinking of fear. Eber let himself be hugged for a while, and the other clearly thought the moment was past. When he finally left him alone, Eber picked up his small pack and slipped out quietly.
It wasn’t hard to get Diva to him, even if summoning was getting more and more difficult. He was glad she understood him so well, aiding him onto her back, and she wriggled for the forests without being told.
After an hour he had his scroll out, well aware that Darius had already thrown himself at the blocks he’d put in place before leaving. He stared at the device for a while, then opened the messages. Eda wasn’t too far from the top.
‘Hey Eda. Sorry to bother you, but have you a room I could crash in for a few nights? I meant to ask last night but…’
It didn’t take long.
‘Does this have anything to do with Darius blowing up Raine and my scrolls?’
‘Yes’
There was a fair amount of waiting this time. He had meant to arrange somewhere to stay last week, but the lassitude was spreading fast than he accounted for. He dozed for a bit before he was startled awake again by his scroll ringing. He pawed his eyes groggily before answering it.
“[Sorry Eda.]”
“Sorry my ass.” She countered. “What did you do to him?”
“[I broke it off with him. And I left the house when he wasn’t looking. He wasn’t going to let me go.]”
She had her arms folded, and was scowling hard. He could imagine how pissed off she was.
“We’re not done talking about this. The house is locked, but Hooty isn’t there, so I know you can get in.”
“[Thank you Eda.]”
She gave him a finger of disapproval, but it was at least not of dismissal. He set Diva on the path to her home.
He slept through the ride.
The house was locked. He spun a gentle spell to open it, and even that small strain made him sweat. Diva went to snuffle in the dirt, he got himself some water and set up on the couch.
~
The sound of Eda and Raine talking as they landed was what alerted him. He woke from the half-doze to them strolling in, Eda swinging her staff around her shoulders, Raine petting the fox that settled around theirs. They stopped at the demon waving lightly to them, grimacing.
“I’ll start dinner.” Raine angled for the kitchen.
“And I’m gonna grab a drink. You want?”
Eber held up his water glass. She snagged it to refill. Soon she was beside him, sipping apple blood.
“I need at least a little info, shortstack.”
Eber sighed softly, pushing his mane back.
“[I’m aromantic, to begin with. I like being with Darius, but it’s always been a matter of comfort and convenience. Now there’s, something, that I need to do, and I know it will emotionally destroy him if he can’t cast me as a villain. So by breaking it off now, as opposed to when it happens, it gives him time to start that process while I’m still visible.]”
Her eyes were level over her mug, her stump arm loose at her side. He’d seen her take the hook off and hang it by the door as she’d come in.
“You want him to villainize you?”
“[It’d be better for him if he did.]”
She drummed her fingers against the cup, frowning deeply.
“I’m trying to think what in the titan you’d be doing that he’d villainize you for.”
“[At the moment, breaking up with him.]” Eber grimaced back. “[I don’t like doing it. I don’t like making him upset, but, it’s better. Trust me.]”
“Do your siblings know?”
“[Yes.]”
“And Sibyl says…?”
“[About an hour of swearing at me.]”
“Hmm.” Eda’s eyes narrowed at him.
He met the gaze, sad but steady.
“[It’s better this way.]”
“What have you got planned Eberwolf?”
He looked away, sighing softly.
“[At the moment I need the mental space to get the plans done. That means no attachments that I can’t trust to the bone. That was not Darius. He’d try and change it, and it’s not something you can just stop.]”
“I’m just sayin’ I ain’t happy about any of this.”
“[I’ll leave if you wish.]”
“Where will you go if you can’t stay here?”
“[I’ll be making my way up to the Knee.]”
The eyes went wide, then closed again.
“You’re staying at least until your sister can get you.”
“[Thank you Eda.]”
“Dinner’s ready!”
The pair rose from the couch and headed into the kitchen to eat.