FHC B2 END Chapter 66: Final Sunset (Patreon)

I stared at the sun setting in the distance. The golden rays bathed the land in the scattered remains of warmth before crossing below the horizon. Peaceful, even with the misery unfolding below. I enjoyed the warmth and closed my eyes.

Freki nudged me gently, his horns snagging my hoodie as he licked my palm.

"Hey, I barely have any clothes left. Cut it out," I whispered.

He stood up and growled. It wasn't a warning, more playful than serious, but I found myself being wrestled to the ground by the giant wolf.

Giant was an understatement. He had grown; where before he came to my chest, his head now rested just below mine. And that was without the twin horns protruding from his head as spires of congealed shadows nursing a core of lava.

I grabbed both horns and wrestled him away as I finally stood up and dusted myself off.

The funeral below was coming to an end, the gleam of gold from the rows of knights like a lightshow as the sun continued its slow march downward.

I thought it was quick, but Mulren demanded a private ceremony for his departed beloved. The entire castle was in attendance, but not the citizens. Garret stood silent with Devon off to the side, respecting the silent funeral.

All because they chained up a kid.

I growled but kept it contained.

As I turned, the breeze blew, and I smelled her before she crested the hill. Alice stopped a few feet away and looked behind me, toward the sunset.

"Pretty," she said.

Freki dived and reappeared beside her, forcing Alice to acknowledge the wolf. I smiled and scratched his back.

"It is. I'm glad I got to experience it before we left."

She nodded and glanced at the funeral, where the older Grimms stared at us. "What did Garret want with you?"

I winced and looked away, but I knew Alice saw my reaction.

Of course, that's brought up.

Garrett found me during the night and asked me what I planned to do once I was in the Warren. Thankfully, Ashton's room was left intact, and he left after I told him to buzz off.

I didn't know what I was going to do. There just wasn't enough info or time to do anything. His words haunted the back of my thoughts, but there wasn't time. And I trusted Devon, no matter what he said.

And the system and its interruptions ruined my plans to ask Devon. And now I had to wait.

Probably for the best.

"Cain?" Alice asked.

"Huh?"

"You stopped responding."

"Oh, yeah, he just wanted to know if we were cool. I told him to go away, and hopefully, that's that," I said as I tried to play it off. It wasn't a lie, so I at least felt somewhat better. "What about you? I know he talked to you, too. What about?"

Her face darkened, and she idly scratched Freki's fur. The wind blew again, knocking her hood away and revealing the cream-colored necklace just below her neck.

It's not sentient, but at least she got something cool from all this.

"He wanted to discuss Elias," she growled, her eyes a dull crimson as she glared at the sun. "There was… much said. A lot left unsaid."

I bumped into her and exhaled. "Well, setting aside the penchant for Grimms and lacking social skills, at least you're coming back to the Warren stronger than ever. I'm sure Elias would be proud of you."

"He would," she whispered.

"Hey," I nudged, drawing her attention. "Did Garret ever find out why Nareid killed the old woman?"

"Yes," she sighed as she straightened. "Apparently, the old lady was her grandmother. But they couldn't have the prospective noble have a child, so they sent her to the orphanage."

Revenge then.

The funeral ended, and the king looked like a hollow shell of a man. From talks, I knew the eldest prince was set to be coronated within the following weeks but would be taking a more active role starting tomorrow.

I didn't blame him. In one night, he lost his wife, his castle, and his brother. It was probably best for the kingdom for him to step down.

He was the one to enforce the collar rules anyway.

I shook my head and leaned into Freki. "Let's go. I want to enjoy the last meal with the Ashton's. I still owe Yadalee an apology."

A hand gripped my shoulder, and I turned.

"Cain," Alice said.

"Yeah?"

"Will you attend Elias' funeral? It's private, usually reserved for blood relations or honored friends."

I smiled. "Of course. Just tell me when."

She didn't smile but she led the way, leaving me staring at her back and the balled fist.

—---

"You know, for all the time we spent traveling, our stay in the capital was relatively short," I said.

"Most hunts are fast. Long ones like this were only delayed because of the ley lines shutting down," Devon replied.

He waited, letting Garret take the lead and pull out a familiar coin. He bit into his thumb and let the blood drip down.

"When do we get our own coins?"

Devon turned and stared. He eventually sighed and reached down his collar. He tugged and tossed me the necklace. "I'll get another one from Maro. But keep that secured. They are not easy to make."

"Still a pup and he already gets one?" Garret muttered.

Alice crossed her arms. "And me?"

"Astra has Elias'. Ask her, and she'll give it."

Everyone quieted down as the black roots began to grow from the ground. The rainbow colors spread, creating the archway, and the portal stabilized, revealing Neina with her arms crossed.

Garret lifted Nareid, who was conscious and constantly struggling to break free. With a grunt, he flung her through before stepping into the portal himself.

Alice was next, and Devon turned before crossing over.

"Cain… Good job," he muttered awkwardly.

It felt wrong. So I nodded and hopped inside.

My cloak stretched and formed a shell as the world stretched beyond my senses. Eventually, reality snapped into place, and I straightened my clothes as Garret glared from across the room.

"I waved at Neina and searched for Alice and Devon.

"They're already gone," Neina explained.

"And I thought he'd be spewing chunks. I'm out. Inform Devon that I'll be in Haven Three if he needs me," Garret muttered.

He walked away, leaving me alone with Neina. The portal closed behind me, and I smiled.

"Long time no see."

She didn't smile. Instead, she walked closer and leaned forward.

"Neina?"

She sniffed and backed away while cocking her head.

"You smell off."

My eyes narrowed. "How so?"

She stared, and I stared back until she grinned, looking much too like a cat stalking its prey.

"No idea. But it's interesting. Maybe now that you're back, I can finally get your story," she said as she returned to her chair and sat down. She grabbed her book but lowered it and stared at my waist. "You never opened my pouch, did you?"

Pouch?

I pulled off my satchel and dug around. Sure enough, a small pouch rested at the bottom, somehow untouched throughout the entire journey.

How have I never opened this?

Neina tapped the chair, drawing my attention. "Save it. It's good that you didn't need it."

"Thanks. Do you know if Astra is around?"

She shook her head. "She'll be busy with Devon. Leave her alone and wait until tomorrow."

"Right. Okay. Nice seeing you again, Neina," I said as I headed for the whisper tunnels.

"Cain," she called out as I reached for the wall.

"Yeah?"

"Haven Five is open. But one other thing," she said. "My warning stands."

I sighed, resisting the urge to roll my eyes. I waved goodbye and stepped through. Alone, I began jogging, imagining the destination until a large black door came into view.

My hand slipped through, and I stepped into an expanded space.

Looks the same.

Except for the small pavilion in the middle, where the fire pit was. I stepped inside the gazebo and ran my fingers along the plush fabric adorning the small circular bed. It resembled the kind of dream bedroom one might imagine for an elf princess.

Despite the bed's inviting appearance, I first checked the area and noticed a familiar river, but no cave. No supplies; nothing. Finally, I surrendered to the bed's allure.

Heavenly. It was like sleeping on a cloud.

I groaned contentedly and rolled over.

Sleep first, food later. I'll torch Devon if he demands to leave on another hunt.

I chuckled to myself and closed my eyes, but no sooner had I done so than Freki emerged from my shadow, sending waves of heat rippling through my clothes.

"Well well well. That's a scary wolf you have there, pup," a voice remarked.

Colors flooded back into my vision as I unhooked my axe, ready for whatever came next.

I fixed my glare on the white-haired man with orange eyes standing before me and growled, "Grim."

Grim flashed a smile and tossed a sack in my direction. Reacting instantly, I knocked it away, only to see bloody, red meat spill out with a squelch.

What?

The other hunter crashed to the floor and laughed. "Sit down, pup. You have a story to tell."