Lycus's pov

Spyro never listens to me, except in few cases but this was not one of them. After more than ten minutes of pleading with him not to do anything rash, I pleaded with him as we watched fay stand few feet away from us with her arms at akimbo carrying herself with the same pride and regalia like she always did which irritated me but not as much as it irritated Spyro. He hated her, never liked her, and with past occurrences, he had more reasons to hate the witch.

His hatred had grown like a young plant being watered daily. Her face was blank, I couldn't read any expression and I was too tired to try harder. I pleaded with Spyro and he replied with an 'okay' and almost immediately lurched into the air tackling Fay to the snowy ground as a yell tore through her.

"You cursed wretched witch!" He growled as he trapped her beneath him baring his fangs and drawing his claws dangerously close to her face, "I could claw your eyes out for what you have done!" He snapped, "Casting spells and brewing potions to separate me from her uhn?!"

"I didn't…" Her words finished off as a wheeze as he clamped his paw on her throat, with his claws slightly digging in her skin enough to draw blood but not enough to kill. She struggled underneath trying to get free but Spyro only kept his hold, his intentions developing into actual murder.

Spyro stop! I barked at him harshly as I saw that kind words and gentle pleading did nothing on him, You are going to kill her!

She deserves worse than death! He snapped back at me and he was right. She was the one behind the mystical problems Nyx and I had which made me wonder what she was doing here and why she had chosen now of all times to reappear.

"Spyro, I know you hate me but…" She gagged trying to breathe.

"Seize your gibberish!" He snarled at her stopping her words, "I do not want to hear any more lies! I should kill you and cast you into the icy stream." Fay's next move was to defend herself. She reached out her hands to grab at Spyro's neck but he was faster than her. Her two hands were pinned by her sides instantly with his paws, "You dare think of a defense after all you have done?!" He bared his canines and swooped down at her neck which made me realize instantly that I had to take control or else she shall be done for.

Spyro! I growled before force shifting, he was thrown off her body, and immediately he gave me back full form but not without growling and whining.

I stood to my feet dusting the snow off me as I watched fay do the same. Her face spelt fear at the fact that Spyro could have easily slain her.

She stood up straight and began walking towards me, "Lycus I…"

"Stand back." I stopped her motioning with my hands, "Do not come any closer."

"You look like shit." She addressed me regarding my stressed form with her arms crossed around her chest and her look of fear gone.

"You should leave." I said and abruptly turned on my heels and began to walk towards the castle, "I do not know why you came back." I could hear her following me but I didn't turn around.

"Lycus if you will just…" She had placed a hand on my shoulder which I had caught, twisted, and immediately backed her up against a tree.

"What are you going to say?" I let out a dry chuckle giving her an icy cold stare. We were so close, I could feel her breath mingling with mine, "You have the nerve to reappear after all the funny tricks you pulled up?"

"I do not know what you are talking about." She shook her head staring back at me.

"Shut the fuck up Fay!" I yelled, "The spells, the spells you casted, and every other foolish thing you brought up with your magic!" Her eyes widened in shock like she didn't know what I was talking about. I wasn't going to buy that, over the years, I have known her to be cunning and sly, I wouldn't let her fool me, "Get away from here or I will kill you." I released her and turned on my tracks again.

"I swear by every supernatural being I do not know what you are talking about." She cried out trying to catch up with me again, "Just listen to me please."

"I am not buying into your antics fay!" I snapped at her, "Get lost! I have got things to do."

"And that is why I am here to help." She said. Her words pulled me to a halt. I turned around to meet her gaze as she stood before me, her fists by her side laying limp, "Believe it or not I am h…"

"After destroying everything?" I snarled curling my fists by my side, "You are here to help?! You cast spells and fucking ran away! Nyx and I had to deal with shit! You helped them with potions each time they tried to separate us and now…."

"Stop accusing me wrongly!" She yelled at me, "Why is it so fucking hard for you to see that I had not a hand in any of this?"

"Why did you disappear Fay?"

"Cause I needed time to get over you." She muttered lowly not meeting my gaze, "Seeing you again made me realize that it didn't work." She mumbled lower for herself alone but I heard it. I decided to brush it aside. It was none of my damn business, I was only bent on finding Nyx and Amara.

Lycus! Lycus! Where the fuck are you? I was about to say something to Fay when the mind link interrupted. It was Xerxes. He sounded frantic and worried, Where are you son?!

In the forest, I said to him while wondering what the urgency in his tone was for, Is anything the matter?

Yes! We must see immediately! He said to me, I just found out something and I need to tell you, it's important!

About what? I asked him getting curious and worried. He sounded frantic like he was in danger.

It's about Nyx and Amara, He said, Hell it's about every fucking thing that has been happening from the very beginning, I can't believe it.

What is going on? I asked impatiently, Tell me!

I must tell you in person, He said, But first, you should know that what you are about to know will blow your mind and you won't believe it at first but it's the truth. Do you trust me?

You have never given me a reason not to, I replied, my heart thumped faster thinking of all the things he had to say that would have shocked me or made me doubt him.

Good, no matter what happens, you have to believe me, He said, Meet me in that cottage far away from the castle, we need privacy. I am already on my way there. Believe it or not, I have found the sole master of our problems and once this person is taken down, it will all be over.

Okay, Xerxes, I replied to him with hope swelling in me, I will meet you there in a few minutes.

Okay, son, I will be waiting.

The mind link was cut off forthwith and Fay immediately threw in the questions, "What was that?"

"Nothing of your concern, you should leave!" I turned on my heels but she grabbed onto me forcing me to face her.

"Please listen to me." She pleaded, "I want to help because of my love for you and the fact that I have done Nyx so much wrong."

"We do not need your help." I pushed her off me but she managed to hold onto me again, "Let go, Fay."

"No!" She remained stubborn, "You are dealing with dangerous beings which you do not know of yet, the wolf council isn't backing you up and you can't do it all alone. You are weak, sorry to say that. Nyx is gone and without her, you are nothing, so! Let me help!"

"How did you know all that?" I asked perplexed by her words.

"News travels fast, very fast but super fast if it is bad news." She said letting go of me, "Let me prove to you that I am innocent."

"I will think about it." I said calmly but for now, I have to go." I said to her with a nod and turned around. Before I could step further, a loud caw was heard and I felt a shadow from high above loom over the forest area for a second and then something dropped few feet before me or rather someone.

"What is that?" Fay asked frightened but I couldn't answer. I was frozen in my place as I stared at the person a few feet away from me, first it was the familiar scent that hit me.

No! No! No! I chanted as I forced myself to move towards the body, No, it can't be, I tried to convince myself as I stood before the body.

His hair looked mangled and chaffed, his clothes and cloaks all made of black looked ashy now, his skin was pale like all his powers had been drained out of him with force, eyes which have looked upon me in fatherly love and narrowed into slits when I was out of line were now white and widened in fear. His stiff hands which have patted my back now clung to his staff which he had used to whoop me at times, No! He looked mangled up, lifeless, No! He was gone.

There was no need sugar coating it, he was gone, "Who is that Lycus?" I heard Fay stepping behind me but I ignored her.

I fell to my knees before him and drew my hand across his face closing his eyelids. Tears dropped from my face in one's, two's, three's. The only second father I ever knew in my life was gone coupled with the other losses I have had. I was tearing apart inside, who must have done this? He knew what he shouldn't and he wanted to help me with it but then they got to him before I could.

My hand rested on the cold skin as I tried to tell myself that it was all jesting, that this wasn't happening. I tried to tell myself that Xerxes wasn't lying before me dead with his skin as pale and lifeless as that of a corpse and body as cold as snow.

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I cried writing this and I wasn't okay for long, hardest chapter for me to write 😭😭😭😭

I beg you all with everything, vote and comment oooo😭😭😭