We got back to Lunae, but I didn’t go looking for Candido. I went back to the barracks, putting on the stupid cuffs and collar again. I saw Estella as I headed into the barracks. Claire didn’t come find me, I bet she and Francium were together and having sex.
I burned with envy. If only Candido would just…
I thought back to the Blood Moon. Could I ask for that too? Cillian hadn’t said there was a restriction on what I could ask for. Maybe the Goddess would listen to me. I was… half vampire? Would that make me closer to her? Would that make her more willing to listen? I hadn’t believed much in her, but would that make her less likely to listen to me?
Couldn’t she see how unfair this all was to me? Couldn’t she see how badly I wanted Candido?
I waited and kept to myself for days. No one came looking for me. It burned me, even more, to know that Candido was probably out with Estella. Maybe he’d met her
I hurried up the wood and stone path. Wherever that person was going had to be where the temple was, and if not, they knew where I needed to go. I rushed up the path after the figure.A large stone building came into view through the trees. The trees were covered in snow-white blossoms tipped in blood red. I had never seen flowers like these. The person ahead of me entered the temple and the doors slammed closed in my face.I tried to pull on the stone, but my fingers slipped and scraped against the stone. I rushed around the sides, trying to find another entrance, but there wasn’t one. The building wasn’t large. It was perhaps the size of a small house. I could walk the entire perimeter, but there was nothing.I went back to the doors and tried to pry the doors open again. They didn’t budge. I didn’t see a hinge or anything.I yelped as one of my nails broke. As the blood started to well up beneath the broken nail, I screamed.
I couldn’t breathe seeing them. They weren’t doing anything. They were even too close, but the sight of them in matching cloaks, laughing, looking so at peace together was too much. He was even wearing a clean shirt, pants, and shoes. I marched toward them and cut them off.The two older people looked at me kindly.“Hello—”“What are you doing with her?” I asked. “Is this what you’ve been doing all this time?”“Hedy,” he said sternly. “This is not the time or the place.”“The hell it isn’t!” I cried. “Look at you! You’re so cozy with her. I haven’t seen you in days. You haven’t even called to check on me, and you’re here with her to what? Get married?”“Really?” Wren asked from behind me. “You’ve come to your senses?”Candido glared over my head at Wren. “Uncle Wren, please. Don’t stir the pot.”Wren laughed from behind me as Candido looked down at me.“If you had ever come to the temple with me before, you would know this isn’t a marriage altar,” Candido said. “No one is getting marr
I turned around and saw Cillian standing across the clearing, draped in the same red cloak that Candido had been wearing. He looked up at the moon then to the temple doors.“I assume you missed the last prayer session.” He hummed. “Though, you don’t have to look so distressed. The doors will open again soon.”“She’s in there with Candido,” I sniffled. “She’s in there with Candido and probably asking the Goddess for a blessing on their life, and I…”Cillian’s head tilted as I slumped against the wall. I couldn’t even be sure she would grant my wish, but it seemed that she’d already granted Estella’s, and it wasn’t fair.I couldn’t let it end like this. Candido can say that he had a plan, but I know he’s lying. He was desperate. I saved him. Why else would he have kissed me like that after we left the ceremony?No. This was all Estella’s doing. I had to stop her.Cillian turned. “Well, if you don’t want to wait for the next prayer session here, you could always come with me to the older
The bloodlust took over. I was going to kill her if I could. She wouldn’t take Candido from me. I felt maybe a little faster, a little stronger. I thought I would finally strike her, but before I realized it, she had moved, darting forward and slamming her fist into my face. It felt hard and unyielding. My jaw cracked. I felt a sharp pain in my nose, then I crashed to the ground. Before I could get up, she was on me, wrenching my arms behind my back and binding me.“Let me go!” I screamed. “Let me go, you evil bitch!”“It’s been a long time since I’ve been called a bitch by someone I did nothing to.” She sighed and plopped down a few feet away. I saw her pulling something off her hand: metal knuckles. My face swelled and I felt blood dripping down my nose.“Are you going to tell me who you are and why you’re so upset with me in particular? Or are you like this to everyone who keeps you from drowning.”“Go to hell!” I cried, tears spilling down my cheeks. “You know who I am! You know w
When he asked, all I could hear were her words.I love you, ‘Dido.“I didn’t lie. She did attack me!”Candido put the last little jar inside the box and put it in his pocket with a sigh. “Defending herself—”“So you’re just going to believe her over me?” I asked. “I’ve been here all this time. She just—”“Your heart skipped, Hedy,” he said, turning to look at me. “I heard it when you said it. I know you lied.”“It didn’t.”“It did,” he said. “And given that you were covered in leeches, I’m far more inclined to believe her even without that.”“Just because I was in the lake?”“How did you even get in the lake?” Candido asked and looked up at the sky.“I don’t know, but why does it matter? I—”“It matters,” he said.“She must have sent me here somehow and—”“Estella has been with me this entire time,” Candido said. “In the temple for at least an hour. There is no way she could have sent you into the lake.”“She must have prayed to the Goddess to get rid of me!” I said. “I know she wants
I couldn’t believe he would say that. It was so clear that he agreed with her. Had she been comparing me to him? Had she really had such an effect on him? This couldn’t happen. This couldn’t go on. I had to get rid of her.I bet if those leeches hadn’t been on me, I could have caught her. I reached up to my face which still throbbed painfully. I caught sight of myself in a window and my jaw trembled. Maybe he hadn’t been tempted because I looked a mess. My face was swelling and purpling. I could still taste blood in my mouth.She didn’t have to punch me so hard. My eye was swelling and I wasn’t even sure if one of my teeth hadn’t gotten loosened. There were ugly bleeding rings on my neck and chest, bleeding through my wet almost transparent white dress.Something warm settled on my shoulders. I looked up and saw Cillian. He’d placed his temple red cloak on my shoulders. He said nothing as he tied it around my neck and eyed me.“Is there a reason that you look like you got into a fight
I was a little nervous about my decision. Cillian looked thoughtful. I thought he might say no, but he nodded and nodded me upstairs.“There should be something upstairs that will fit you.”I stiffened. “Do you… often have women’s clothing?”He smirked. “Jealous or just curious?”My face heated, and I scowled. “Just answer me.”Cillian shrugged. “Which answer would bring you more comfort?”I narrowed my eyes at him as his eyes twinkled. Then, I turned and headed upstairs. I couldn’t believe I was going to do this, but what other choice did I have? If Candido wasn’t going to pay attention to me like normal, then I had to get his attention somehow.I had to make sure that he saw me as an adult, as his mate, and stopped looking at Estella. Just the thought of her irritated me. When I reached the second floor, I went into the nearest room. It looked like a woman’s room, and I set my jaw at the thought. Did Cillian have a wife? I thought he loved my mother. She’d only been dead for twenty
“Pork?” I turned back to look up at Cillian as he offered me a bowl. His eyes lifted a little and his lips twitched. “Ah. I suppose you are a bit distracted. Do carry on.”I turned back and his arms were still around her. Her fingers were in his hair, stroking his hair. He seemed to tremble a little before they pulled back. He threw his head back with a laugh and Estella laughed too. What the hell were they laughing about? He pulled a box out of his cloak and offered it to her. Her eyes lit up and she beamed up at him before taking it out of his hands and hugging him again. I was about to charge over there and rip her away from him, but she cupped his face for a moment and turned, hustling back down the street the way they came. He stepped out of the alcove with a smile as he watched her go. He looked up and turned towards me. I turned around swiftly.“We should have real dinner,” I said quickly. “I don’t think I can&hell
She cocked an eyebrow. “They might be related, but there’s no way to know if they’re compatible.”“They’re both golden wolves. That should be enough.” I swallowed. “I don’t care what you have to do, you have to keep him alive.”Her eyes drifted down to Candido with an odd expression on her face. “I’ll see what I can do,” she looked up at me. “But… there will be a hefty cost.”“I don’t care,” I said. If Candido was really being used to stabilize Solare, whatever that meant, then I had make sure that he had enough life force, that his body still remained, after that was done to wake up. “I developed a drug that strengthened wolves,” she said. “I have a feeling that it would at least help.”My eyes bulged. “You’re… You’re the one who made the drug for the vampires.”She smiled. “I am. And?”I growled at her. “You’re a traitor.”Her smile turned cold. “And you aren’t the alpha king’s mate.”She cocked an eyebrow. “Given the state of the world, do you think they’ll care?”“Of course, the
“It was unsure if my Beloved King would have ever risen again and to what world,” she said. “It was for the best that I changed the path.”“We’re mates,” I said again. “We’re mates. Nothing you say can change that.”“Mates,” she scoffed. “A tool for conquest. Were you not listening? The vampiric power you inherited from your mother was the only reason you could fake the moon mark. The white fur you inherited from your father turned platinum because of it. When you were no longer a vampire, after Cillian had drained the last of that power out of you, you were just a plain werewolf…”“I don’t believe you,” I said. “I won’t believe you. You’re just trying to trick me.”“Your real moon mark vanished the night that your mate died trying to protect you.”I saw the senior diving in front of me and jerking as the bullets hit him in the chest. “Him?” I growled. “No. I can’t believe that.”“Neither could your mother,” she laughed. “By the time you met your grandfather, I had already been makin
I pushed at the wall, trying to get over there and drag Estella away from Candido. Then, Vanessa appeared dressed in a wispy gauzy red dress. She looked younger than the last time I had seen her. Two younger men followed her, chatting with her though I couldn’t make out what they were saying. They were dressed in red tunics. Then, I saw Claire and Francium striding towards them in red. They were holding hands. Her hair was gathered up in a flower wreath as they smiled together. They looked so happy together as they sat beside Candido and Estella. Soon, I saw other people. I saw Claire’s parents and the people I remember dying over the course of the war. They sat together in a circle around Candido and Estella, chatting happily. “Don’t be happy!” I yelled, banging on the wall. “Claire! You’re supposed to be my friend! Get her away from my mate!”No one even noticed I was there. They laughed and chatted, welcoming other people as they came to join them. Everyone else was wearing red,
Weeks passed, and in that time, I made the remaining people do what needed to be done. They fixed up the building Candido and I were in. While they couldn’t get the water or electricity working, there was a roof and the floors were cleaned. They brought me food when they came to check on Candido and busied themselves with trying to contact whoever else might be alive. “Miss Hedy.”I looked up, glaring at them. “How many times have I told you to call me luna?”The man lifted his head. “Until the king confirms it, I would never disgrace the position that way.”I glared at him. “Then, I suppose you’ll be tried for treason, then.”His eyes narrowed as two people entered the room. “You’re supposed to be regent, right?” The woman asked. “You have some authority.”I lifted my head. “I’m luna.”She pointed at the man beside her. “Then tell this man that I want nothing to do with him and he should leave me alone.”“We’re mates!” He growled. “You’re not going to leave me.”“There is no mark,”
When I opened my eyes, I knew I wasn’t awake. Candido wasn’t there with me. I was seated across a long table that I had never seen before. The windows were all made of stained glass. Moonlight filtered through the colorful glass and sent the colors splashing everywhere. At the other end of the table was the vampire king. He was darker than I remember, but his hair glowed the way it had in that castle. The crown on his brow twinkled with light. To his left, like an odd reflection, was Marius. His blonde hair didn’t glow, and he didn’t wear a crown, but looking at the two of them it was so obvious that he was related to the thing. Their eyes glowed the same. I clenched my jaw and glared at them both. “Where am I?” I asked. “If you think you can change my mind about—”“The time to change your mind has long since passed, Hedy,” the vampire king said softly. His lips twitched into a small smile. “The time to make different decisions is long since over.”He took a deep breath and shook h
I shook my head. “You’re lying. You have to be lying. How would you know if the door was closed?”He laughed. “It was closed to her and all the other traitors. No child of Lunae who still walks in the Goddess’ grace would be turned away from returning home.”I swallowed and shook my head. “She never got Candido’s grandfather or father… I imagine she’s burning with jealousy that you’re so close to what she wanted,” he smiled. “Or maybe she’s proud that you share the same tastes.”“None of that matters,” I said. “I’m not a vampire. I never was. I’m a werewolf. I’m Candido’s mate. Tell me what you plan is. What are trying to do? If you’re trying to hurt Candido, I’ll never forgive you.”He laughed, throwing his head back. “Why would I give a fuck about your forgiveness, traitor?”“I— ““You’re even worse than Hedwig in some ways,” He laughed. “At least Hedwig mourned Candido’s father and grandfather. At least she was faithful in her pursuit. You jumped at the chance to get as close to f
I fell to the ground, choking. For a moment, I imagined Candido stroking my hair like we were in one of the parlors at the Estate before the war. I could almost hear him reading a book to me, some book that I was supposed to read for class but didn’t want to. I didn’t remember the words. I wasn’t even paying attention to his words or the book. I didn’t care. I just loved that he was spending time with me. It was all that I wanted. It was all that I had ever wanted. I closed my eyes and let myself sink into the memory. Slowly, the darkness faded. I felt his lips on my forehead then he was gone. It was so cold. I shivered in the wind that picked up over the mountaintop. I opened my eyes. Dawn was coming over the mountain. I shook and rolled over and tried to get up. I could see Candido there. His fur was still golden. He hadn’t turned back. He didn’t move. I crawled toward him. “Candido?” I whispered. “Candido? You can’t be gone… She promised me. I… You promised.”I got to him and we
“Fuck!”I rolled over and tried to see what was happening as I sucked in breath after breath. I choked, trying to catch my breath as I saw a glint of silver cut through the air. The man barely choked as his head tumbled through the air. His body went up in flames. Then, I saw Raven’s face. Her eyes were filled with blood-red light.She walked toward me. A flash of silver went by me and the gag loosened. I spat it out and my hands fell apart like the cuffs were broken. Her sword was aimed at me. Her expression was cold as she looked at me. Her hand trembled. Tears streamed down her face. Her jaw trembled. Then, she lowered her blade. I couldn’t believe it. I looked around, searching for someone else, but there was no one. It was just the two of us behind the barrier. Then, the wall of light shimmered and started to fade.I heard a stroke of thunder and turned as lightning fell from the sky and slammed into the side of the mountain. I smiled. Candido was using his power and winning. W
The fury simmered behind the tears in her eyes before she turned back to the group. They talked a little longer When they broke apart, none of them came my way. Most of them went with Wren, but the man with bandages headed toward a different truck. I eyed him suspiciously. What was he doing separate from the rest of them? Were the rest of them going to Candido and leaving him behind? Where were they going?I looked across the way as Harper and Wren and the others looked at me, glaring. Their eyes were filled with red light. They drove away, never taking their eyes off me. One of the women was crying. I looked over at the bandaged man as he hauled himself onto the back of the truck, still leaning to one side. Then, the truck I was in started to drive away. I turned back to see where were going and knew we were headed toward the mountain from my vision. My heart started to race. It seemed like we were heading to the end of the war now.“Black Team,” someone said. “En route to Gold Tea