The mark pulsed violently, then...nothing.
It felt as if she was hanging by string that had been suddenly cut. Her legs collapsed under her and she fell forward, unable to protect herself, only caught by Thorien before she hit the water.
"Easy," he murmured, his hand against her back. His breath brushed her ear. "You did good, little lamb."
She laughed humourlessly. Nothing had happened though. She sagged against Thorien, exhausted.
Kaelith was silent, eyes fixed on her. He reached forward to her slowly, brushing her hair from her neck as she moved to allow him better access to the mark. The mark was still there, red and pulsing. It faintly glowed, as if from beneath the skin. Not gone, not dimmed. Just watching.
Enid hissed when he touched the mark, and he withdrew immediately.
Thorien glared at Kaelith, before the chamber suddenly thumped with energy. The trio looked around, unsure, waiting.
The light from the runes flickered out. Silence flooded the chamber, thick and breathless.
The ritual had failed.
Enid stood trembling between Thorien and Kaelith as the last trace of moonlight withdrew from the sigils on the floor. The air smelled of ozone and burned herbs. Her skin was slick with sweat, her pulse too loud.
Kaelith exhaled sharply, a muscle jumping in his jaw. "It didn't work."
Thorien scoffed as he still supported Enid, who was now atleast able to stand on her own feet. "Or maybe it half worked. She didn't explode. That's progress."
His smirk didn't quite reach his eyes. They were tight and dark, watching her as though any second she might shatter.
Enid knew she wouldn't though. She couldn't.
She grit her teeth, groaning lighty, and pushed herself away from Thorien, ignoring his attempts to pull her back.
Enid tried to breathe, to speak, but her throat closed around the words. Why me?
The same question she'd asked when she had been dragged from near the well, her water bucket splashing against the ground where she was snatched up.
The question that still had no answer.
The three of them looked at each other, wondering as to what would happen next.
The air grew colder just as they decided that there was nothing more to it. From the shattered circle of light came a single whisper- not heard, but felt.
'A debt remains. The chosen was not random.'
Thorien froze from where he had started wading through the water, going towards the edge. Kaelith turned toward the echo, his fingers twitching near the hilt of his blade.
"The moon doesn't let go easily," Kaelith said. His voice was low, as though the walls might listen. "I was afraid of it. It marked you for a reason. Not as prey. As something else."
"What reason?" Enid whispered. "What am I?"
Neither man answered.
Kaelith sighed as he stepped closer to her, close enough for her to feel the heat of him. The energy was deep and restless as it coiled under his skin. "We'll find out, " he said softly, "But not tonight."
His hand raised to brush against her cheek, the back of his hand barely grazing her skin. It was light, fleeting, just enough for her to heart to skip before it was gone.
Thorien's eyes flicked to the motion, cold fury tightening the air between them.
"Don't touch her," He said.
Kaelith showed a rare grin as he faced Thorien. "Possessive already, brother? We agreed to protect her, not lock her in a tower."
Thorien's reply came like the strike of a blade: "Protection and possession are not the same."
"But not so different either."
Enid stood between them, pulse thundering, caught between fire and ice. She could almost feel the bond tugging at her chest- this invisible, unwanted, but real thing that she had refused to acknowledge until now.
It was somehow stronger now, more real.
-------
They were back there, in front of Enid's room- or rather the room she had almost been attacked in. She uneasily looked at the doors as they stopped.
"Uh..."
But words failed her. She watched as Kaelith and Thorien stepped through the door. She took a deep breath, following behind them.
"Listen, I-"
She stopped in her tracks. The alphas were moving around the room, picking up her things.
Her dress- tattered and torn, her boots, the small coin purse she had, her hair ribbon. All in all, not an extensive list of items.
They had gathered it all in an embarrasingly short amount of time as they neared her, looking her over.
"Let's go." Thorien nodded at the doors as he stepped around her, carrying her small pile in his hands.
She looked after him, dumbfounded, her mouth opening and closing like a goldfish.
"Enid." She turned at Kaelith's voice, "You won't be staying here."
Her breath left her in a woosh as relief flooded her system. She had not expected this, but she was grateful.
The chamber door creaked open just as Thorien reached it. Two guards stepped in - the same ones who had tried to kill her when she first arrived, their eyes now lowered, their movements too rehearsed.
Enid was pleased to note that they sported bruises around their eyes, and the burly one had his arm in a bandage.
Good.
Thorien's tone turned venomous at the sight of them. "They volunteered to keep watch tonight, it seems" he said, with a glance sharp enough to slice. "How noble of them."
Enid took a step back. Like hell. "No," she said quickly, shaking her head. "Not them."
Kaelith's glare pinned the guards. "Out."
When they hesitated, a low growl curled from his throat- primal, commanding. They fled, leaving the door ajar.
---------------
Thorien muttered, "You're terrifying, you know that?"
Kaelith ignored him. He turned to Enid, voice softer now. "You'll stay in our chamber tonight. Until we know what the moon intends."
Enid's breath hitched. "With you?"
Thorien smiled. "Don't look so horrified. We'll even take turns pretending to sleep."
She didn't trust either of them- not completely. But after the guards' betrayal, and the whispering mark under her skin, she had no other choice.