Fie Wright's P. O. V

The next few moments fly by in a blur of buzzing and shouts as Malleus rushes from behind Rui and darting over to the unconscious people in front of us but not before signalling to the young War General to maintain her position in front of me.

I find myself peeking over the woman's shoulders, barely noticing the fact that Ezra has sidled his way beside me as a flurry of guards enter into the large hall, a little too late if the circumstances were more dire than what they are now.

"What's exactly going on?" Ezra whispers to Rui and I just as the guards shoulder the four people's body weight over their own, tethering their strength to take them off to God knows where.

"Ron is going to be in deep shit." Is all I end up saying while Rui's lips sink into a thin line, her eyes taut and alive as they follow the scurrying of everyone with sharply skilled eyes.

"That's true. He failed to realise the severity of the situation and how many people have been affected by the magic. This is going to look bad on all of us," Rui says with a grimace, shaking her head and adjusting her gait at the same time.

"Where are they being taken to?" I ask in intrigue, wondering how far the magic has spread and hoping it isn't too far down the line. I mean Luna Aria was ill for months and nothing too drastic happened to her. I hope it's going to be the same for those young wolves too.

"Most likely to the wing where all the Mages are. Ezra told me that King Malleus healed your Luna so I guess it's safe to say the mages are trained on how to heal them." She says just as the last guard exits the room, the vast hall settling into a chilling silence as piercing blue eyes fall from the side doors and move to an overly sweating red man who shuffles on his feet.

If I could try to describe the expression on his face, I'd say it's something akin to a child being caught with their hand in the cookie jar. Or rather that embarrassing moment when the entire family walked in on Ezra watching porn on the main television in his parents' house.

Grimacing at the memory, I scoot away from my cousin while I contently ignore Rui's worried glance at me. The threat, if there was one at all, has vanished now and the way Malleus is already making his way to the podium is enough to let me know I'll be dragged to his side soon enough, anyway.

"What exactly were you saying before we were intruded upon?" Malleus' voice rings clear, a stark contrast to the hustle and bustle that preoccupied it moments ago. I guess a cacophony of sound is a not very unprecedented occurrence, and I'm not quite sure how I feel about that considering it is a matter of security.

"Your Majesty, I didn't- I don't-," Reaching my mate's side, I meet eyes with him and try to plead with him to drop it. Anyone with half a brain can tell the poor man was telling the truth the first time around, and although he might have messed up and become incompetent momentarily after a lapse in judgement, I think I'm coming to quite like the weird little human. I'm getting a soft spot for the man.

"I think that man is two seconds away from fainting and being just one other person to add to the mage's long list of patients." I whisper slowly to him, low enough for me to be satisfied that Ron won't hear a peep.

Malleus closes his eyes as he throws his head back and lets out a loud exhale. I raise my hand up, clutching his left one in between my own as I give him a gentle squeeze. He must be at his wits' end if he's this pent up about this.

"I'll be having a word with you in my study later on Ron. Make sure you're within the castle's premises till I deem necessary. You're not allowed to leave until after I've met with you." His words leave the man more jittery than previously before which has me sighing in disbelief.

Ron doesn't wait a further second before he's running off back from where he came from, through the little opening that ventures out into a little cave like room where all the other soldiers lounge about feasting and eating on their day off.

"You did good for your first day." Malleus announces as he finally turns to me, eyes now open and an endearing smile tugging at the corner of his lips. I bat my lashes at him in faux wonder, ignoring the loud scoff which comes from a man that I don't particularly want to pay heed to at the moment.

"She didn't do shite except for breaking into giggles every two seconds."

It's funny how the wind howls around the empty corridors and rattles the window panes in such a manner that it sounds something akin to words. Luckily it's just that and nothing more.

Malleus purposely follows my lead and instead pays attention to Rui, asking her to accompany the two of us to the wing where the mages are currently working their literal magic on the infected people.

"I hope they're all okay now. This magic is spreading like a virus. It needs to be contained as soon as possible." I murmur to the group as we make our way down the new corridors I've never traveled through previously. Malleus throws his arm around my waist and pushes me into his side just as Ezra pokes his head in between the gap through Malleus and I.

"I better not catch it. It'll throw off my vibe and I just met my mate. I need to be on my A game every second if you know what I mean." The sly tone in Ezra's voice has me scrunching up my face in disgust while shoving his face away with my hand, watching a flushed Rui avoiding eye contact with everyone, including her mate as she stares at the wall.

"I think everyone knows what you mean." I chirp just as Malleus oh so kindly adds his own two cents in.

"That's because you only last for seconds." My mate's words have me tripping over my own feet, nearly choking up at the way he smites my cousin. Malleus' grip on my body allows me to glide along with him, not missing a single step but I can't say the same for Ezra who staggers forward slightly, maybe even exaggerating it a bit if it weren't for Rui who starts to panic and hold on to him for dear life.

"There haven't been many lows in my life. I'll be the first to man up and admit," Ezra begins after clearing his throat and pretending like he wasn't just about to trip over thin air as he straightens out his shirt, "But that wasn't just low, that was before the belt. I thought we were bro's Malleus."

Malleus in turn scoffs as we enter through two clear double doors that have a keypad, which stops anyone from entering into it. The man doesn't even pause to punch in the numbers and passes through with all of us following.

"You are the farthest thing from a 'bro' I could ever possibly have."

"Don't you mean person?" Ezra tuts while I subconsciously flex my ears like I would do if I was in my wolf form, a sign of me wanting to broaden my hearing since the wing is eerily silent. Even though my Luna and I both didn't end up shrieking in pain from the weird magic pulsing through our veins, I was expecting some sort of hustle and bustle and not just plain silence. I mean, it would be silence if not for my mate and Ezra bickering around like two children.

"No. I mean thing." Of course, Malleus has to have the last word in every conversation unless it's me he's conversing with. You can't win all your battles, and my mate is quick to learn that when it comes to me.

"Where are they?" I cut through, taking heed of Rui's grateful expression as she tightens her hold on my cousin as a sign to shut the hell up.

"Through the next set of doors. They're being contained in the last room right at the end. I don't want any hysteria rising up from this. Not if I can help it." I start rubbing circles onto my mate's hand. The pent up tension oozing out of him and through our mate bond over to me, the mark making all the feelings heightened, and I'd be chewing viciously on my lower lip if not for Malleus' constant forbidding of me doing so.

I'll settle for chewing on my cheeks instead.

The only sound is that of our scurrying footsteps and even though Malleus told me a few moments ago that they're all at the end of the hall, I still can't help but to feel on edge due to the silence surrounding us. Reaching another set of doors, I take in a deep breath and tighten my grip on my mate's hand just as we step through the threshold.

My eyebrows raise in surprise as multiple hospital beds line each side of the room, bright fluorescent lights which are already starting to give me a never-ending headache, but what garners everyone's attention are the slumped over patients clearly wiped out and drained of energy as loud snores ring through the once annoying silence. The mages themselves are standing over one patient in particular, which Malleus makes a beeline towards with me being dragged along beside him.

"I expect everyone to be healed and the situation to in order." Malleus asks rhetorically in a no nonsense tone just as the two mages turn to the man with their heads bowed.

"Yes, Magus. We healed them in no time at all but due to the lack of skill Mary Grace possesses, it took a higher toll on her since we were dealing with two patients simultaneously," The woman fumbles over her words while the younger girl awkwardly looks to the side at Malleus' questioning glance.

Way to throw someone under the bus.

"Oh, no. You misunderstand me, Magus. I have only recently taken her under my wing. She is a new apprentice. I would say she's doing a fantastic job since Mary Grace is already so far ahead of what other apprentices are. It is clear that she is very talented." The older mage splutters out while the younger mage turns an even brighter shade at the compliment.

A smile begins to form on my lips at the rather cute teenage girl, but when I catch Malleus with a similar smile on my face, a little green monster rears its horns and shoves into rather painfully.

I didn't think I'd be the jealous type, especially over something as redundant as this, but that still isn't stopping me from wanting to pick the girl up and throw her out of the nearest window.

I thought she was cute, but now I'm ready to kick drop her.

The mortification sets in slowly at my vivid and horrifying thoughts towards a clearly innocent girl. I nearly splutter out my own apology but I bite down on my tongue since Malleus is eager to continue on with the conversation and for all our sakes, swiftly diverts the topic away from Mary Grace and onto the patients who snore louder with each passing second.

"What of the patients? Have you noticed anything different? Anything that points us in the direction of what exactly the magic comprises?" The grim expression on the mage's face is enough to let everyone know her answer is in the negative.

"Not exactly. I've managed to take a sample from each patient. It's stored in a vial and is already being sent to be looked at by the Head Mage. She'll get into contact with you as soon as she manages to find something." The woman diligently replies.

That seems to signify the end of the conversation as Malleus pulls his hand away from me, my wolf huffing at the thought and practically snarling at the man through our mate bond. All my wolf and I get in reply is a loving pat on the head as he motions for the mages to take their leave. Once they're gone, Malleus tilts his head to the side, monitoring their footsteps and only makes a move once they're out of the wing entirely.

Rui makes herself home to a corner of the room while I cross my arms, eyes trained on my mate as he himself assesses each of the patients thoroughly and humming to himself in content once he's done with them.

"Are they okay?" I ask just as Ezra cuts in with a question that has me wondering as well.

"Why are they snoring so loud?"

Malleus turns around after one last glance as he lets out a loud sigh, the bones in his neck cracking as he flexes his head from one side to the next while I cringe at the sound, shudders running down my spine.

"They're fine. I just wanted to give them a once over myself. I'll have my ass handed to me if they end up worse than when they arrived," the answer has everyone frowning but he speaks up before anyone can butt in, "The reason they're snoring so loud is because they've been put into a deep sleep so they can recover faster. The strains seems to have affected them worse than usual. Fuck."

Not a peep is heard from anyone except for my sulking wolf who perks up at the vulgar word in interest.

"What is the next plan of action, Your Majesty?" Rui the ever so serious one questions while I'm still hung over his previous words.

Who on earth does the King answer to? I've always assumed King's aren't questioned on matters because they can simply go and behead the person who's dared to ask him.

"I need to gather as much information about this as possible. I'm positive Ron is innocent in all of this and I'd be able to tell if the human was lying anyways. Thaddeus the gate keeper doesn't know much as well and I've had to keep him away from the forest because I'm sure he'll be susceptible to it as well. The only thing I can deduce from all of this is that it affects the supernatural which is why the human's in the town don't know anything." Malleus finishes, running his hand down his face in frustration.

"Isn't there anyone that would know what's happening? I'm sure there has to be at least one person in this realm who can make heads or tails of what's happening." A sharp intake of breath has me whizzing my head around, all eyes focused on Rui who looks the perfect picture of what a light bulb going off in a persons brain would look like.

"Your Majesty, it's a long shot but I'm sure we could ask..." The warrior trails off just as I begin to lean in with intrigue, however that gets cut off as Malleus straightens himself up, both the wolves sharing a knowing glance.

I pretend as if I don't care much for it but the look Ezra and I give each other is clear as day when it comes to us being disgruntled at being left out on something that our other halves know much about.

"It'll be difficult to find him." Malleus murmurs while I whip my head between the two wolves.

It's a him. That's interesting information.

"He is a recluse but I'm sure he'll answer to me if I call for him." Rui muses just as Ezra tenses up, eyes narrowing into a glare while Malleus nods in agreement.

He's a recluse? That's also interesting.

"That is true. He doesn't even usually answer to me when I request his presence but he always answers when it's you." Malleus continues as Ezra coughs, purposely stepping into his mate's line of vision with his arms crossed and a small pout on his lips.

"I'm sorry but who is this man that I've heard nothing about. I say no to calling him. He seems shady. He must be out of his mind. I mean what kind of idiot doesn't respond when the damn King calls for him?" Ezra retorts in fury just as I quip back with a quick;

"You."

Glancing from Malleus and over to Rui, I ponder over their words since I already know it's a done deal and no amount of bickering and whining from Ezra's end is going to stop this from happening.

The deal has already been sealed.

"Who exactly is this mysterious person? Unless he's so mysterious that not even you guys know who he is? Also how will you contact him if he's so reclusive? Are you going to send a pigeon with a letter tied to its leg to try and find the man?" Okay most the last two questions don't make much sense but the curiosity is eating me up inside.

Rui only now seems to catch up to Ezra's disgruntled expression which she hurriedly gets rid of by clasping both of her hands in his. The man turns to mush immediately to which I roll my eyes. He's so whipped and he doesn't even know it.

It's sad really.

"The man is my brother. I swear. It's nothing." Rui says cautiously to her mate who goes blank the next second.

"Let's go to my office, love." Malleus coo's softly to me, practically carrying me with him the way he pushes all of my weight onto him so I have to pretty much run to stay upright.

"No one needs to see what's about to happen in there." Malleus tuts while I frown in confusion.

What does he mean by that?

—————-

AN: Helloooo everyone! Hope you've enjoyed this chapter. Not much Malleus on Fie in this but you gotta do what you gotta do.

Question: Would you rather burp confetti or fart glitter? ✨ 🎊

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