CHAPTER 34: CHAPTER 33. THE MOST LOYAL

Mara can feel the warmth of the woman sitting behind her; she’s at the smaller size of a woman, just like the grand duchess. But seeing the way she kills her old comrade, Mara knows that the woman behind her isn’t just an ordinary beta female.

Meanwhile, as a half-white tiger beastman and half-demon, her appearance reflects the fierce blend of two powerful bloodlines. Her tall, muscular frame exudes raw strength, honed through countless battles.

Her skin carries a faint, pale undertone, reminiscent of moonlight on snow, hinting at her white tiger heritage. Dark stripes mark her arms and shoulders like natural war paint, subtle yet unmistakable, glowing faintly when her beast blood is roused in combat.

Her long, black hair flows like a wild mane, streaked with silvery strands that shimmer under the moonlight, a sign of her demon lineage. Atop her head, sharp, furred ears twitch restlessly, their white tips contrasting with the darker fur beneath.

Mara’s red eyes, the demon’s trait, slit like a predator’s, are her most arresting feature. When her demon side surfaces, they burn with a crimson glow, radiating a dangerous, otherworldly aura.

Her mouth hides sharp fangs, which lengthen when she’s enraged, and her claws are as deadly as the twin chained maces she wields, weapons shaped like snarling wolf heads forged in dark iron.

Her armor is crafted from dark steel mixed with demon-forged materials, strong, durable, and lightweight. It’s adorned with fur lining from her beastman heritage. It’s both practical and symbolic, with engraved runes that enhance her strength and suppress her more destructive demonic instincts.

Mara’s demon blood grants her heightened regeneration and brutal physical power from the beastman side, but it also comes with a volatile side. When her rage overwhelms her, black mist seeps from her body, and her movements become almost too fast to track.

During these moments, the white stripes on her body glow like molten silver, and a faint, spectral tiger manifests behind her, echoing her every motion, a terrifying fusion of beast and demon. Thankfully she’s a beta female; she never gets the need of rut or heat like the other alphas or omegas.

Loyalty is at the core of who Mara is. Though fierce and wild, she has bound her life to Roxanne, seeing her not just as a master but as the only one who accepted her despite her mixed heritage. In battle, she is relentless and unyielding, a whirlwind of claws, chains, and raw power, earning her the title "The Crimson Fang of Borgia."

"Is this... the true power of the Grand Duchess?" Marvessa asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper, though her tone carried an undeniable sense of awe.

Mara glanced at her, taking in the way Marvessa’s usually cold, emotionless face now glimmered with something new: wonder. Those dark purple eyes now shone like gemstones as they reflected the soft glow of the ethereal forms swirling in the air.

Dozens of spirits floated and danced around the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess’s horse, their silver threads weaving together in an endless, mesmerizing pattern. The faint glow of those threads illuminated the cold mountain path, a stark contrast to the oppressive darkness of Dreadfang.

"You see them, right?" Mara asked curiously, tilting her head as she studied Marvessa’s expression. "The spirits?"

"Yeah..." Marvessa breathed, her gaze following the graceful movements of the spirits with childlike fascination. "They’re beautiful... so beautiful." Her voice trembled slightly, like someone seeing a miracle for the first time.

Some of the spirits noticed her presence and drifted closer, their delicate forms hovering just inches from her face. Mara could see the way they seemed to respond to Marvessa, acknowledging her as someone connected to their realm. It’s a sight both strange and intimate, though Mara herself couldn’t see the spirits directly.

Marvessa’s lips curved into a faint, rare smile as her eyes darted around, tracking every tiny spirit fluttering near them. "And that’s what made you swear your oath to the Grand Duchess, isn’t it?" Mara asked, her tone curious.

"Yes," Marvessa replied simply, her voice steady but filled with certainty. She didn’t elaborate further, her attention too consumed by the spirits. It’s as if she couldn’t bear to look away from them, afraid the vision would vanish if she blinked.

Mara’s tail twitched in mild frustration as she tried to imagine what Marvessa was seeing. She sighed and shook her head. "Too bad I can’t see any of it," she muttered, almost sulking. "You’re talking about something incredible, and I’m stuck seeing nothing but cold air."

Marvessa’s head turned sharply toward her, her usually calm voice breaking with a hint of excitement. "I can make you see them... Do you want to see what I see?" Her tone is almost too eager, like a tightly sealed jar suddenly opened after years of being suppressed. Even she seemed startled by her own enthusiasm, immediately lowering her eyes as if ashamed of showing too much emotion.

Mara raised a brow, smirking a little at the sudden burst of energy from the normally quiet woman. "You can do that?" she asked, genuinely intrigued.

"Yes," Marvessa admitted with a small nod, her voice softer now, more controlled. "One of my abilities allows me to temporarily share my vision with others. If I concentrate, I can open a person’s eyes to the spirit world. It’s... rare, and it takes a great deal of energy, but it’s possible."

For a moment, she hesitated, her gaze distant as memories surfaced. Ever since her childhood in Elderglen, Marvessa had been forced to hide this power. Her parents had warned her never to reveal it, even to her own comrades, fearing that her abilities would make her a target.

She had lived like a living doll, her emotions locked away, her talents used only for survival and assassination. The lineage of spiritualism in her family had been dormant for generations, tracing back to a great-great-grandmother whose blood carried the ancient gift.

No one thought it would surface again until Marvessa was born. For years, she kept this part of herself hidden, even as she rose to become one of the most powerful shadow knights of her generation.

"Then do it," Mara said with a toothy grin, her sharp fangs glinting as her golden, beast-like eyes glimmered with excitement. "I want to see what they see—what you see. Show me the world you’re always staring at." She starts to take a liking to the woman behind her.

Marvessa blinked at her, surprised by the sincerity in her voice. For the first time in a long while, a genuine smile tugged at Marvessa’s lips. Perhaps, just this once, she could let someone into the hidden world she had always been forced to keep to herself.

-

When they set up camp that evening, it didn’t take long for Marvessa to find her place among Roxanne’s knights. Despite being a newcomer, they welcomed her quickly, sensing the loyalty that radiated from her.

The blood oath that bound Marvessa to the Grand Duke is not like a simple pledge of allegiance; it was forged through the ancient magic of any Elderglen’s lineage, tying her very soul to Roxanne de Borgia. Because Roxanne carried royal blood, Marvessa could never raise a hand against her, even if she wanted to.

But Marvessa’s oath went beyond that. Her vow was also bound to the Grand Duchess, making her the only person in their entire group connected to both of their masters in absolute, unbreakable loyalty. Where others followed out of duty, respect, or fear, Marvessa’s devotion was woven into her very being.

While some of the knights busied themselves with cooking and preparing supplies, Marvessa sat with a few of them near the fire. For the first time, she revealed a glimpse of her gift, summoning faint, silvery wisps of spirits that circled gracefully in the cold night air. The knights are captivated, leaning closer to watch the ethereal shapes drift and dance like starlight made flesh.

"This is nothing compared to what I saw earlier!" Mara suddenly chimed in, her red eyes glinting with excitement.

She slapped Marvessa’s back so hard that the smaller woman nearly pitched forward. "You guys should’ve seen it! There were these massive spirits surrounding us, protecting us! It was incredible; no wonder all the monsters are staying away from our path!" she exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear.

"Hey, she’s not a mixed-blood like us," one of the knights warned with a laugh. "Don’t hit her so hard; you’ll break her spine."

"Oh, sorry, my bad!" Mara laughed, raising her hands in mock surrender before giving Marvessa a sheepish grin.

Maxim, sitting nearby, frowned as he noticed Marvessa shivering slightly. "Marvessa, don’t you have any extra clothes? Your outfit looks thin, and you’re trembling." Without waiting for an answer, he offered her a sturdy leather coat.

Marvessa hesitated before taking it with a small bow of her head. "Ah... thank you. I didn’t bring much with me. We had to move fast, so... extra clothes weren’t exactly a priority," she admitted, slipping it on.

Before she could say more, Mara plopped down behind her and wrapped her large arms around the smaller woman, pulling her into a snug embrace. "You’re so tiny," Mara teased, resting her chin on Marvessa’s head.

"You’re the one who’s tall and huge!" Marvessa shot back, her pale cheeks turning faintly pink.

She felt embarrassed for the first time in her life, but she couldn’t deny the warmth that spread through her as Mara’s body heat enveloped her. Mara’s touch is surprisingly comforting, chasing away the lingering chill of the night.

"Mara’s half demon and half beastman," Red explained with a grin as he stirred the stew over the fire. "Her blood runs hotter than ours. Stick close to her, and you’ll stay nice and warm." He let out a hearty laugh, clearly enjoying the sight of Marvessa squirming under Mara’s attention.

From a distance, Roxanne and Vivianne stood slightly apart from the group, quietly observing the lively scene by the fire. "Well," Roxanne said with a small smile, crossing her arms. "It seems we’ve gained a powerful ally. And from the look of her, she’s completely devoted to you."

Vivianne arched a brow and sipped her warm milk, her sharp eyes glinting knowingly. "That’s why you sent her to Mara, isn’t it?"

Roxanne’s lips curled into a sly grin. "Kind of," she admitted, glancing at Vivianne with a flicker of mischief. But her playful smirk faltered as a sudden, intense wave of Vivianne’s pheromones hit her, making her body shudder involuntarily.

Vivianne gave her a pointed look, her tone half-amused, half-exasperated. "Your rut isn’t over yet, is it?" she asked, rolling her eyes.

Roxanne exhaled sharply, gritting her teeth. "...No," she admitted, her voice low and strained.