No Next Time

My hoofbeats are strong as I gallop through the woods. There is honor in vengeance. There is honor in revenge. There is honor in death. I remind myself as I race. If they’ve touched her, I swear to God, I will bring hell down on them. My heart is beating faster than my hooves, it feels almost like flying and if the situation wasn’t so dire, I imagine I’d actually be having fun.

If they touched my mate, hell will not know my bounds. If they’ve placed a hoof on her, the devil will stand and watch in horror at what I’ve become. Adrenaline ran through my veins, fueling me to be faster, smarter, and angrier. 

My breath comes in shorter huffs as I finally reach the village. My rage makes the temperature ten times hotter as I try to find her. 

“Who are you?” A loshenka with red cloth hanging around its neck asks. I bother not with a reply. Shouts echo as I run right past the guards, and I hear hoofbeats behind me. They're chasing me. Where is she? Where the fuck is Koda? My mind races, running to the worst possible outcomes first. They could have already killed her. They know she’s my mate. 

“Odith, stop please.” A familiar voice begs. I stop dead in my tracks, and whip around, greeted by Koda. My mind calms for about two seconds before I realize she is in chains. They’ve chained her. My vision reddens with rage as I take my sword out of its sheath with my teeth. 

“You’ve asked for death.” I calmly state, my eyes locked with Koda even though my words are not meant for her. “Hell will not know my bounds.” I mumble, the sword still in my mouth.

“Stop this madness.” A familiar voice, not Koda this time, booms. I whip around, only to be greeted by Estella. An old friend of mine. “We’ve come for Koda. If you do not let us leave with her, then the lot of you won’t leave with your heads, is that clear?” Her voice is loud, and the threat seems to be taken as the soldiers back up, offering Koda. Estella eyes me, before walking closer.

“Undo the chains.” I ordered dropping my sword to the ground, staring into Koda’s green eyes. Her eyes calm, and little does she know, they are all that is holding me together. 

Two soldiers step forward and quickly undo the chains, they step back as they carefully watch us. Koda meets my embrace as I meet hers. 

“I’ve missed you.” I whisper into the warmth of her neck. 

“I missed you two Odith. Next time-” She starts.

“No. No next time.” I pull back to look at her. “Koda promise me there is no next time.” I urge her as I stare into her green eyes. 

“I will not make a promise that I can not promise will be done.” She says. I love the fact that she’s honorable, but God please. 

“No next time.” I say sternly, my eyes staring into hers still. 

“No promises.” She says, a small smirk tugging at her lips.  

“Koda don’t-” I start. 

“Odith, just be happy I’m alive. You can’t fight tomorrow’s war today, so enjoy the peace today brings.” She said softly, her warm breath tickling my nose. 

I pick up my sword, and tuck it safely back in its sheath. She’s not wrong.

“I don’t mean to break up this, erm, reunion, but we should get going before the soldiers decide their heads don’t quite fit on their shoulders.” Estella interrupted, cocking her head at the soldiers. 

“She’s right.” Koda said, slowly walking to Estella.