I couldn’t believe what I’d seen. I knew that Ian and the rest of the vampires were against us, but to see the vampire king still alive…To know that the man who had killed Candido’s family was still alive hurt. It wasn’t fair. I tried to get back inside, but there was no doorway. The stone didn’t yield to me. Cillian said nothing. He didn’t even seem to be paying attention to me. Then, Ian and Raven came out. “You—”Raven rushed past me into Cillian’s arms, sobbing and shaking him.“Why didn’t you say anything?” She cried. “Why didn’t you tell me? All this time! All this time, I—”Cillian wrapped his arms around her, hushing her gently. I turned back to Ian whose entire expression seemed to be without feeling. There was blood smudge on his temple and at the corner of his mouth. Dust and dirt clung to him and stained his clothes, but his hair seemed perfect like white gold.Then, there was the sound of footsteps rushing towards us. Through
The woman walked away from me after telling Candido whatever she had to. I tried to hear what she was saying. I wanted to step in and pull them apart, but there was a barrier around them. I couldn’t hear anything. I couldn’t even read Candido’s lips or see his expression as they talked. Jealousy burned in me. I had just gotten rid of Estella, and that had been hard. I was still trying to get rid of the rest of his family and everyone else who would be against us being together. I had never expected to have to try and get rid of a vampire too. I hurried towards the bubble, but before I could slam my hand against it and try to break it, the light faded. My hand fell through the air. Candido turned away. I dashed in front of him, cutting him off. He cocked an eyebrow at me. I stared at him, waiting for him to say something, but he said absolutely nothing. For a few moments more, I waited, but still, he didn’t say anything. I couldn’t handle it. I couldn’t stand it. The anger boiled in
The other members of Moon Shadow were around, and I still wasn’t sure how I was going to get rid of them, let alone kill the vampire king. Then, there was the issue of the Heart of the Moon and the fact that Ian was planning to separate me from Candido because we were the last artifact. The few trucks were either loaded up with people or with supplies. I heard them passing orders back and forth and watched the few people of Wolf Fang working with them. Whenever someone stopped to talk to me, I ignored them as I continued watching Candido’s movements. How was I going to tell him what Ian had planned and make sure that he was grateful, that he sided with me when I confronted Ian about it?There were several women who seemed to be getting close to him. One of them had been the woman who called me a disgrace. She stood too close for my liking. Candido looked at whatever she was showing him before taking the mirror and heading away from the camp. I narrowed my eyes and stood to go afte
Candido turned back to me. For the first time, there was something familiar on his face. He almost smiled. His eyes were as clear as before and I thought that maybe it meant that Estella’s enchantments were finally completely wearing off. “Thank you,” he said and turned, heading back towards camp. I set my jaw as he walked away. I couldn’t believe he just walked away after that. I was willingly staying behind. Why hadn’t he at least hugged me, if not kissed me?I didn’t get a chance to ask him why or confront him because as soon as I headed back to camp, the jeeps were leaving. The trucks had already started to head out into the forest. I saw Candido standing in the back of a truck with a few other people disappearing into the woods. I watched the truck leave, leaving me behind with most of Wolf Fang and a few other people who had been rescued from the vampires. There were a few fighters among them, but not enough. I didn’t see any of the members of Blue Moon or Moon Shadow except
My heart raced. They had to be talking about me. But what could they want with me now? The artifact…I was the other artifact. He probably wanted to keep me away from Candido to stop Ian or something even worse. I didn’t even know who this guy was, but I guessed he had to be another prince. If he was anything like Marius, I didn’t want anything to do with him. I turned and rushed into the craggy rocks. I heard people panicking ahead. “I don’t understand why they did nothing,” someone said. “Wasn’t that weird?”“It has to be some type of vampire trick. L-Like hypnosis or something.”“What do we do now?” A woman cried. “We don’t have a way to contact the king! We don’t have any weapons!”I turned the corner and found the small group of them huddled together. All of them were covered in blood. They looked at me and glared at me.“You’re supposed to be the next luna, right? Then, do something! Don’t you have a way to contact the king?”I reached into my pocket to pull out the crystal mi
Shiloh nodded and vanished as Messiah gathered something on the ground.“You said—”“Vampires have no business meddling with the fall of this world,” Messiah said. “You think you understand what is going on, but you’re blinded by your own desires.”“Enough,” Ian said. “Messiah, go.”Messiah huffed, sneered at me, then vanished into a portal. Ian didn’t face me for a moment, but then he slowly turned around. For the first time, it felt like he was really looking at me, not just looking near me. The anger in his eyes seemed to grow molten hot before cooling and the look of indifference came onto his face. “What details Candido chose to share with you about the deal that was struck between us is not our concern.” Ian’s eyes twitched and he skimmed his gaze over me. “The original deal between Solare and Lunae or even just this recent truce is none of your concern—”“I’m going to be—”“Because you do not truly care,” Ian said. “Consider this… an act of kindness. Listen to Candido for once
“Hurry up,” someone said ahead of me. I didn’t know how long we had been walking, but it felt so long. My legs were trembling underneath me, but I had to keep going. “How much farther?” I asked, panting. I leaned against the tree and looked ahead of me. The moonlight streaming through the trees looked like it was growing duller. They were several hundred feet ahead of me. They didn’t even look back at me. I saw Harper at the front with the radio. Then, I heard the rumbling of a jeep coming closer. Then, I saw it and “Rendezvous is a go,” Harper said. “We’re headed to you now.”“Roger,” someone said. I lunged and stumbled forward, grateful to see the jeep. Finally, I could rest. There were others in the back of the jeep. Most of them were unrecognizable, but none of them sneered at me. I guess these were people that were actually loyal to Candido and the werewolf cause.“All units, come in,” Candido’s voice came through the radio. I scrambled to get closer as Harper climbed into
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
“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
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