My Wild Beast-Chapter 82: The Call of Tayun (5)

Nova’s grin split across her face as she brushed her fingers through Yoa’s tangled hair, trying to tame it a little as he’d been telling her about the Trial of Choice. She sat to his side and managed to tame half of it down without causing too much damage or pain to his scalp. But now her mind swum with glee and pride about Yoa.

Even back when he was ten, when children were still learning and growing, Yoa put aside his goal, all of his training, and followed his heart. She couldn’t hold back the burst of energy his story ignited in her, and pressed a few quick kisses along his jaw and cheek while her fingers were still entwined in his hair.

Yoa chuckled, leaning into her more. "What was that for?"

"Just being you," she breathed, grinning against his skin as she cuddled his face. "You passed because you chose to save someone instead of winning. I’m proud of you."

Yoa purred into her, startling her at the softness, and he closed his eyes, content in her arms. They stayed like that for a while, feeling the heat blossom between them, their breaths and heart syncing to the same rhythm before Nova broke the comfortable silence.

"So, do you and Chitaka still speak?" She pondered aloud.

Yoa smirked. "Yes. Chitaka told me a few moon journey’s later, that he and the other child weren’t Marked. He showed me his skin. There was no mark, no sign from Tayun that he’d been chosen to pursue the role of guardian."

Nova’s brows pinched together, and she leaned back to stare at him in confusion. "What do you mean... They weren’t...? They... So, they weren’t meant to participate in the trial?" Her heart rate leapt at the conclusion forming before her.

If that was the case, then that child died for no reason at all...

"Chitaka said they’d been driven from first light to meet Zahul. He described it as if the island whispered to them, enchanting them to join the trial. They didn’t understand it, but they followed through with what was asked.

Zahul—like the twisted phantom guide he is—did not question them. He only followed the path shown by the island or the gods, which led him to deliver two Takaru children to the cove where the second trial had been held.

The test was meant for only me and Sahco. And the other Marked children. I’m sure there were others who’d risen from their sleep to join the trial," Yoa explained.

Nova’s lips parted. So there might have been several children who died for the sake of a trial?

Yoa read her expression and could almost hear the questions flooding her mind. He loved that she cared so fiercely. Even now, her heart fought for the ones who didn’t make it. He answered them as best he could before she could voice her anger.

"The Trial of Choice was always destined to be at that cove," he said. "Only one Takaru child died, and that was purely because of Sahco’s nature. If the waters were meant to drown the others, they were then spawned on the beach the moment the Marked ones made their choice and followed through with it."

Nova frowned. "How do you know that?" She whispered, needing reassurance that he wasn’t just saying that to calm her. This was the wild, and she was adjusting to her new home.

But Tayun... and these gods... they seemed to have their own agenda.

Which, ironically, was the entire reason she was here.

"I’m Yiska, Tayun’s guardian," Yoa said, with a slight smile, his voice low and deep as he held her gaze, his eyes bright. "Of course, I know a lot."

Nova chuckled at the light tone, but something in his expression told her he meant it more than he let on. She cleared her throat, drifting her fingers through his locks, pushing back his hair from his forehead. "So, who actually failed the trial?"

It didn’t really matter now, but she was curious, and she just wanted to listen to him talk. He was the mysterious Tarzan figure after all, and now someone who had been fated to be hers? Nova internally shook her head, still coming to terms with it, though the magnetic way she’d been pulled towards him was evidence enough.

Yoa hummed deeply, enjoying her fingers in his hair.

"Three failed in total. Sahco from the Apatka, Kotan from the Oncari, and Arien, niece of Ixana, from Silver Feather. And with the death of the capuchin in the first trial, the pool of competitors was reduced to just three..." He said quietly.

"Tell me more?" Nova asked softly, moving to his other side, and inspecting his wounds beneath the Miroth leaves. A small smile curled at her lips. The gashes were still there, but they’d already dried out and were scabbing, healing at a rapid pace. It truly was remarkable to see.

When she lifted her gaze, Yoa’s eyes were already on her. A blush crept up her cheeks. She would never tire of the way he looked at her like she was the most captivating person in the world to him.

"I was twelve when I met the other Marked Children..." He trailed off, his brows furrowing into a scowl that Nova moved forward and pressed her lips against.

His eyes brightened, and his lips curled at her touch. His hand slipped around her waist and wrist, and he tugged her onto him. Her body fell onto his, so she straddled him.

"Yoa!" Nova gasped, glancing at his wounded side. "Careful!"

Yoa smirked and playfully nipped at her neck. "Mmmm... It’s healing. I just want to feel you, mouse."

Nova huffed, but she couldn’t deny she enjoyed being pressed up against him. His hand slid up her back, pressing her torso fully against his. A low rumbling growl of approval escaped him at the feel of her chest against his. His gaze darkened, drifting down to the swell of her breasts.

"Alright," Nova whispered breathlessly. "But I still want to hear the rest about your trials."

She swallowed, trying to ignore the warmth spreading through her veins where their skin touched. She was completely naked, and only his loincloth separated them. Her body ached, the heat of desire was like warm wax dripping onto her skin, melting, and causing her skin to pebble.

But one thing did dull the edge of her desire— the pecking sensation in her chest.

It was a constant reminder of the Nokari bond between her and Vulcan. Nova might have been wrong about it being a tracker. But like the Serakai bond, she suspected Vulcan could still follow his senses to find her.

If he was strong enough to do so. She doubted it. He hadn’t been in any form of good shape the last time she saw him.

Her heart twisted at that, and she frowned, irritated.

Yoa sighed, clenching his eyes shut, and pushed aside that urge again to claim Nova. Neither of them was in their right mind or best shape to complete the Serakai bond.

"Tell me the rest," Nova whispered, resting her face against his chest, and listened to the healthy beat of his heart.

"Right... The other two Marked Children... Or I should say Marked ones. The other two were older. There was Noko from the Vohraki. He was the eldest, with more experience and time to build his strength, knowledge and character at the age of eighteen..."

Yoa trailed off, seeming to pinch his brows together again into a scowl before he told her about the other Marked One...

Nova’s brows rose up, and her heart rate spiked at the name mentioned.

This content is taken from (f)reewe(b)novel.𝗰𝗼𝐦