Book One – Chapter 4

She did not recognise him when he lay there, enchanted. It was very different from when he was resting or sleeping or healing from severe injuries. It was even worse than those weeks when he did little more than sleep and eat and waste away. In that miserable and shameful state, he was still present. He was still there.

But when he used the feathers, his essence was gone. To Midnight, he was gone. For hours, she could not feel the bond with him, and every instinct compelled her to leave, because her wizard was just not there anymore. It disturbed her. It disturbed her to be in the presence of the something that was left. It disturbed her to feel the other one emerge and meddle. It took conscious effort to remind herself that Yves would be back.

Amidst these disturbing feelings, she focused on protecting the something and their hideout, ensuring their safety against any potential harm. Her senses stayed sharp, her claws were ever-ready, and her fangs bared, as she endured the haunting feather wailing.

As the feather’s melody began to fade after four hours, Yves returned. He blinked repeatedly and shook his head, looking around the room disoriented. As he sat up, Midnight finally stopped her pacing and lay down on her cushion. She felt that Yves noticed her just then. He smiled and scratched the slick fur behind her ear.

Midnight snorted, turned her back to him and closed her eyes.