Repercussions
~
Accalia
~

Accalia could hear boots following after her, hot on her tail and when she came to the bottom of the staircase, Lycus reeled her back.

"What?" Accalia snapped and pulled her arm out of his hold, eyes swivelling with demand.

Lycus leered down at her. "We don't know why she's screaming—"

"Exactly, so let me pass." Accalia countered, her cheek heating up and lips still tingling.

Accalia didn't wait for his reaction and dashed upstairs, running around the corner to Cadence's room.

Her screams grew louder, mightier as did her feeble cries for help. It hit home and Accalia shoved the door open, stepping into the room.

Lycus came up behind her and placed his hand on Accalia's waist, pulling her to the side.

Accalia wanted to scowl at his protectiveness, especially when it came to Cadence who wouldn't do anything to her.

"Cadence," Accalia called out, taking a step toward the bed and garnering a clear look at her.

Her hair clung to her forehead and her grey shirt was matted in sweat as she attempted to move from side to side. Something was stopping as if she was restrained tightly in place.

"Somebody let me out!" Cadence begged, flailing her head against the pillow as whimpers shook through her. "Somebody!"

Accalia couldn't stare at her any longer, couldn't her cries any longer and Accalia made her way over to the bed, looming above her cousin.

"Accalia, don't," Lycus warned but she ignored him.

Accalia once thought if Cadence was a hunter in her wakeful life, who knew what haunted her in her dreams? The huntress became the hunted and Accalia couldn't bear to witness it. She called for Cadence and was left with an empty response.

Exhaling, Accalia outstretched her hands to her cousin's shoulder to shake her awake but as her hand met cold and sweaty skin, a glint of silver came right to her throat. A nick pricked at her throat and she felt the blood being drawn.

Lycus roared, dashing to the bed with black eyes and outstretched claws, an arm raised.

"Don't," Accalia shrieked to him and zeroed her gaze into Cadence who was awake with alarm and hysteria, leading to the action of pulling a knife from under her pillow and having it against Accalia's throat.

Lycus halted, a snarl booming out of his throat and shooting daggers at Accalia.

"Cadence," Accalia murmured gently, trying to seep her voice into Cadence's skull to shake her out of this wakeful nightmare.

Cadence's onyx eyes leered to the knife at Accalia's throat, lip curling and then she looked to her cousin, a realisation dawning on her. The knife fell from her hand and she slammed herself into the headboard, tucking her arms under her legs.

"Accalia," Cadence croaked out, voice cracking like tears could fall. "I'm—I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

The blood trickled down Accalia's neck and Cadence recoiled, burying her head between her knees.

Accalia wiped at her neck and only saw a few droplets. Nothing to worry about.

"It's okay, Cadence. You were just having a bad dream," Accalia grabbed Cadence's knee and caressed it.

"No, it's not," Cadence shrieked out and moved away. "I could've killed you, sliced your neck open and you would've died. None of this is okay."

"Was it the same dream?" Accalia asked.

Cadence peeked out from her hands, her pools of ink irises had yet to shed a tear. She wouldn't cry, especially in the presence of a lycan that she locked eyes on.

Accalia looked back and wanted that snarling sneer written off Lycus's face. He looked at Cadence with so much distrust and doubt as though she was truly capable of hurting Accalia.

"Lycus, can you give us a minute? I'll be fine." Accalia assured him, eager for him to leave.

Lycus crossed his arm and said nothing, but gave a nod. Leaving the room, Lycus left the door wide open and his footsteps echoed down the hall.

He would still be able to eavesdrop, Accalia imagined.

"It's the same dream, but I don't want you to worry," Cadence admitted and pulled the covers over her trembling form. "Can you just stay here until I fall asleep?"

Dismissive, withdrawn and as usual, sweeping things under the rug. On any given night, Accalia would have told Cadence off. But not now, not with those baggy eyes hanging low and a throat that would be sore from screaming.

"Do you want some water?" Accalia inquired and adjusted the blanket over Cadence who laid back down.

"No," Cadence rasped out and squeezed her eyelids shut, trying to force sleep upon her.

Accalia scooped her legs off the ground and onto the bed, rocking in silence as she watched Cadence drift in and out of rest.

"Accalia," Cadence called out after minutes drifted by, her voice sleepy and exhausted.

"What's wrong?" Accalia asked.

"Take the dagger away from me."

Accalia nodded, picked the dagger up from the bed and twirled it between her fingers, gazing out the window.

Why is she experiencing these dreams? Accalia pondered. Was it a psychological thing? It seemed to have grown worse over time. Maybe it was linked to her past, seeing her dead family and being unable to help them. Maybe Cadence truly believed she would die soon.

But she's only eighteen, Accalia thought, peering down at her cousin and making sure nothing else could haunt her. She couldn't be dealt those cards.

Cadence fell asleep quickly and she clutched the pillow tightly in her hands.

After her breathing became even and controlled, Accalia slipped out of the room and decided to leave the door wide open.

Clutching the dagger tightly, Accalia rounded into her room and immediately seized up.

Lycus sat on the bed and his lip drew into a lazy smile that almost seemed boyish. Then he rose to his full height and all essence of youthfulness ebbed away, a stark and brutal aura descending on him.

"Is your neck alright?" He didn't need to ask, he was already in front of Accalia and gently pulled her long hair out of view to inspect.

His thumb brushed against the mark and when he pulled back, he seemed satisfied. "It's not deep, just a scratch. I'll patch it."

Accalia flipped her hair back over to cascade down her front and she shook her head. "I can deal with it,"

Lycus scanned Accalia's face, trying to search for something. "You're not going to explain any of this to me, are you?"

Accalia debated on it, but thinking of the explanation meant delving into Cadence's life that she wouldn't approve of being said. Cadence was private about the matters that took place in her life and words being exchanged to her enemy would stir up a storm that wouldn't see the light of day.

"I can't. Cadence wouldn't like it. She's sleeping right now. Why are you in here?"

Lycus ran a hand through his hair, not liking this one bit. But he didn't push for more, even though his lycan battled him to. It wasn't often an Alpha went without knowledge when it came to their mate and pack, it was their job to know everything.

"What if this has something to do with Cadence being taken those weeks back? We still have nothing on that and she won't budge." Lycus pointed out.

Accalia nibbled at her lip, considering this. "Vaela said she couldn't find anything on her being taken, too many fractures within her mind, but nothing has happened since then. But maybe the nightmares could be linked to what happened."

"She should go see Vaela again," Lycus said coldly.

Accalia headed over to her drawers, pulling them open to find clothes to wear for bed. "Give her time. If we force something on her, she'll resist."

"Fine," Lycus grumbled, "But we check this out soon. We take her to see Vaela."

Accalia nodded and went to pull her shirt over her head.

She stopped and faced Lycus. "Turn around."

Lycus groaned, head snapping up to the roof but turned on his heel, facing away from her.

Minutes drove by and Accalia gave him the green flag to turn back around. His eyes drank her body in that wore shorts brushing against her upper thighs and a singlet that announced every angle from her wide hips to her shapely chest.

"I'm sleeping in here with you," Lycus growled and pulled his shirt over his head, tugging his jeans down.

Accalia didn't have any strength in her to refuse and she didn't like the idea of being on the opposite end of the manor. She had to be close with Cadence tonight and maybe every other night afterwards.

Pulling the duvet over her, the mattress dipped under Lycus's weight and he wasted no time in closing the distance between them.

His hand drew over her hip and pulled her to face him, chest to chest.

"I don't think you understand personal space," Accalia said against his firm chest and Lycus responded with a throaty laugh.

"Not with you, I don't. Is that ... okay?" Uncertainty linked his tone and Accalia placed a hand on him to keep him in place.

"I don't mind," Accalia whispered and that only secured his arm to drape over her waist. "Goodnight, Lycus."

She felt a soft and soothing kiss press upon her forehead and that was enough to have darkness draw over her.

"Goodnight, Accalia."

~

Edited: 4/10/2024. Early two years after the original post.

Please tell me how you feel about Accalia and Lycus's relationship.

— Caranyx