Chapter 19: (Niko)

While the outcome hadn’t been exactly as planned, the overall results were still a net positive. Kal had been able to connect with his true self, his wolf self had begun to converse, and Niko had even been able to get Elina out as a bonus; not bad for a first / second meeting.

Of course, that left the little Hyalti-shaped wrinkle in his otherwise flawless plan. It would be far too reckless and dangerous to keep her around, knowing how her kind tended to mess everything up, but that now required some additional smoothing over with Kal.

Kal would come to see it his way ... eventually. It might sting in the short-term, but his was a position of kings, not someone who should be rolling around with those below his station. Either way, he’d be back, if for no other reason than to learn more about what he was. If he didn’t, Niko could always meet him in the Wandering Realm. His feral aspect seemed much more open to talking now. It was always easier dealing with ferals once that communication barrier finally broke. They were honest with their wants, uninhibited by the human ego.

Turning his gaze from the pitiful lights of the small town, Niko focused on his sister’s closed doors across the way. She’d been pouty since her release, barely saying a thing before holing herself up in her bedroom. That wasn’t much of a surprise though, few had ever remained a wolf for that long. She likely needed some time to reacclimate herself to her surroundings.

Draining the last of his wine, he turned and marched toward the doors, Elina’s maid bowing before him to bar his entry.