NOVPUB
Chapter 56: The Woman With The Beastkin
She responded immediately, picking up speed.
Within moments, the town was behind him, the last of the warm lantern light swallowed by the darkness of the open road.
The sound of hooves striking damp earth filled the silence. The road stretched endlessly before him, a slick path illuminated only by the occasional break in the heavy clouds above.
The moonlight was faint, casting long shadows that danced with each flicker of movement.
Zayn kept his posture relaxed, letting the mare find her rhythm beneath him.
Riding through the night had always given him a strange sense of peace. There was no chatter, no merchants blocking the way, no unwanted distractions.
Just the steady beat of hooves, the whisper of the wind through the trees, and the distant rustling of unseen creatures moving in the underbrush.
...
Zayn exhaled as he finally reached Timberstead. The journey back had taken roughly three hours, and while he had made good time, his body was feeling the strain of the ride.
His muscles ached from staying in the saddle for so long, and the dampness from the lingering drizzle had soaked through parts of his clothes.
He would have liked to head straight to the guild and report his mission, but first, he needed to deal with the horse.
One of the local stables was located just off the main road, a modest structure lined with wooden stalls and filled with the scent of hay and damp earth.
The stable master, an older man with grizzled gray hair and a thick mustache, glanced up from where he was brushing down another horse.
"You need some help?" the man grunted, eyeing Zayn with mild interest.
"Yeah. Need to leave her here for a while." Zayn patted the mare’s side before digging into his pouch and pulling out a silver coin. "One month should do."
The stable master nodded, accepting the payment without question. "You ride her hard?"
"Not too hard," Zayn replied. "She held up well."
The older man grunted approvingly. "I’ll make sure she gets proper care. Name?"
"Zayn."
The stable master gave a small nod before motioning for one of the stable hands to take the horse.
Zayn watched as she was led to an empty stall, her hooves clopping softly against the wooden floor.
He had to admit, he was growing a little fond of the mare.
Maybe he’d keep her for longer than just the month.
With that taken care of, he stretched his arms above his head, letting out a breath before heading toward the guild.
The building stood tall against the night sky, its entrance illuminated by the soft glow of lanterns.
Zayn was just a few steps away from the entrance when something solid slammed into him.
It was like hitting a wall. A very furry wall.
The impact sent him stumbling backward, his boots slipping slightly on the damp steps.
He barely had time to regain his balance before a powerful hand grabbed the front of his shirt and yanked him up with ease.
Zayn found himself lifted off the ground, his feet dangling as he came face-to-face with a towering beastkin man.
The guy was massive, easily over six and a half feet tall, with broad shoulders and a thick mane of dark fur running along his arms.
His feline-like ears twitched with irritation, and his crimson eyes burned with hostility.
For a moment, Zayn simply blinked at him. Then, despite the situation, he grinned.
"Damn, you’re tall," he quipped.
The beastkin let out a low growl, clearly unimpressed with his humor. Without another word, he tossed Zayn aside like he weighed nothing.
Zayn twisted in the air, landing on his feet with practiced ease. He wasn’t about to be thrown around like a ragdoll without at least keeping some dignity.
His hand instinctively went to his sword, but he hesitated when he noticed the beastkin wasn’t making another move.
The tension in the air shifted as a soft voice rang out from the top of the stairs.
"Raik, that’s enough."
Zayn turned his head to see a young woman descending the steps.
She was striking — long blonde hair that fell past her shoulders, fair skin, and crimson eyes that matched the beastkin’s.
There was something elegant about the way she moved, each step deliberate and poised.
Yet, what caught Zayn’s attention most wasn’t her refined demeanor or her apologetic expression — it was her figure.
’Damn.’
’What is it with women in this world and their damn hourglass figures?!’
She had curves that were impossible to ignore, and the way her dress hugged her figure only emphasized them.
Zayn had met many beautiful women before, but there was something about this one that made his thoughts momentarily derail.
She reached the bottom of the steps and dipped into a graceful bow.
"I sincerely apologize for Raik’s behavior," she said, her voice smooth and composed. "He is my companion, and I take full responsibility for his actions. I assure you, I will discipline him properly for his rudeness."
Zayn raised a brow, glancing between her and the beastkin — Raik, apparently.
So she was his master? That explained why he had backed down so quickly.
Beastkin were known to be fiercely loyal to those they served, and while some followed their own code of strength, others bound themselves to individuals they respected.
Still, Zayn wasn’t one to hold grudges over something so trivial.
He dusted himself off and gave a casual shrug. "No harm done. Just wasn’t expecting to be manhandled tonight."
The woman straightened, a small smile gracing her lips. "You’re quite composed for someone who was just thrown aside."
Zayn smirked. "I’ve been through worse."
There was a flicker of amusement in her gaze, but she didn’t press the topic.
Instead, she clasped her hands together and gave another small nod. "Regardless, I appreciate your understanding. I am Evelyn, and this is my companion, Raik."
"Zayn," he introduced himself, then shot a glance at Raik.
The beastkin still looked annoyed but had at least relaxed his stance. "You always let your guy do the throwing, or was I just lucky?"
Evelyn chuckled lightly. "Raik is... protective. He doesn’t take kindly to unexpected encounters, but I will be sure to remind him to be more mindful in the future."
Zayn hummed in response.
He had met beastkin before, but Raik’s reaction had been almost excessive. Then again, if Evelyn was someone of importance, it made sense that she had such a loyal protector.
"Well," he said, rolling his shoulders, "I’ve got a report to turn in, so I’ll let you get back to whatever you were doing."
"Of course," Evelyn replied, stepping aside to allow him passage. "Perhaps we will cross paths again, Zayn."
He gave her a lazy salute before finally stepping into the guildhall.
