I waited until Rayult was asleep before I left. I could see Faeras's campfire from where we slept, and I wanted to speak with him.
It was a short walk to their camp, and I knew they were still up because I could see their silhouettes. I tripped on a log in the darkness, and I squealed in surprise when I fell.
"Who's out there?" I heard Faeras yell.
"It's me, Laeli," I said as I walked into their camp. "I wanted to talk to you." The three of them looked surprised at my intrusion.
"What is it?" he asked. I didn't say anything and waited for him to get the hint. "Very well. Come, let's walk a bit."
We walked until they were out of earshot, then stopped. Faeras looked at me, waiting for me to speak.
"You're going to tell your father, aren't you?" I asked, even though I already knew the answer.
"Of course. What Rayult did was inexcusable," he insisted.
"Oh, but it is excusable," I said in a low voice, "You're going to forget this ever happened. You won't tell your father, and neither are the others."
"And how are you going to stop me?" he challenged.
"I could kill all three of you right now, and tell your father the Western Republic killed you." To prove my point, I stopped the air in his lungs, suffocating him.
"You wouldn't kill me," he gasped.
"Yes, I would," I bluffed, and pulled some of the air out of his lungs. He fell to his knees and struggled to breathe.
"Alright," he wheezed, and I released him. I let him catch his breath. "I won't tell anyone. I promise on the graves of my ancestors I won't breathe a word about it."
"That's all I'm asking," I said and helped him to his feet. I dragged him back to his camp and said, "Remember our bargain. Tell them now." Then I morphed into a panther and left them behind.
It wasn't hard to find where I had left Rayult sleeping. I just followed my scent. I silently laid down next to him and morphed back.
"Where did you go?" he mumbled.
"Just to have a chat with Prince Faeras," I explained. He muttered something else, but I couldn't understand what he said.
He rolled over so my back was to his chest and wrapped me in his strong arms. I was glad he did that, because it was starting to get colder at night. The combined heat of the two blankets on top of us and Rayult's warm body next to me warded off the chill in the air.
"What did you tell Faeras?" he asked.
"Not much. I just threatened his life and told him that if he told his father about what happened this afternoon, very bad things would happen." Rayult chuckled and kissed my neck.
"Good girl," he whispered. I smiled and let sleep overtake me.
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