CHAPTER 15 #2
“All of that,” Fia repeated with a nod. “It’s an impressive list, I’ll give them that. But with each passing full moon, their sanity drains away. They become almost like vampires, unable to walk under the sunlight in their wolf forms.”
She patted her arm, fingers placed upon a considerably large scar marked into her skin.
“A challenge to fight, but not unbeatable,” she said.
Her lips formed a proud smirk. “And if they cause a bigger ruckus ever again, we’ll be prepared.
” The light of the flames roared brighter for a split second, and the glossy white raven around Fia’s neck shone brightly.
A strange sense of comfort fell over Lenore, fascinated by the small ceramic piece until only the orange light of fire itself flickered across its white surface again.
Curiosity kept her lingering on the white raven, but she ignored it for now, choosing to focus on the conversation.
“I see...” Lenore murmured. Her brows furrowed. “But… why aren’t there more like me?”
“The moon deity herself, Lunantha, was killed,” Fia answered.
She laughed at Lenore’s bewildered look.
“It was a long time ago. A great werewolf, Ieric, defeated the creature in that time—a war between werewolves and Lucyn.
They say he struck it down with his mighty claws, like a bolt of moonlight that burned the self-crowned god away.
“With her gone, her followers were either slain or scattered. But a demon doesn’t go away completely.
There’s a world beyond what we can see that still has influence over us.
” Fia lifted the bottle to her mouth, drinking down the last bit of moon nectar.
A loud sigh left her. “And because of that, a few Lucyns still show up here and there—werewolves that choose to give in.” Her eyes fell.
“And it can happen to anyone you know. Even your friends.”
Lenore loosely held the wrist of her right arm. “Then the one who attacked me...”
“Was a moon worshiper—a Lucyn,” Fia said.
Her brows furrowed. “I’d say you’re in the Moon’s Sovereign’s grace, seeing you didn’t get dragged away by that beast. The Lucyns lose the blessing to know their fated mate.
” She looked her up and down and shook her head.
“And I’d say it was a high chance you were what that Lucyn wanted for a mate. ”
Lenore’s face paled. “Oh skies above,” she replied, her words barely audible.
Bright lights and yelling surged through her mind, entwined with the memory of the night when everything she had known changed.
Her legs wobbled, a dizzying spell swarming her head as yellow eyes flashed by in her mind, engulfed in the shape of a snarling black werewolf.
Breathing heavily, her hands gripped the edge of the countertop.
Fia was quick to appear by her side. Her hand placed itself on Lenore’s upper back. “Deep breaths,” she said.
Lenore exhaled a long, shaky breath as she struggled to breathe deeply. Her vision blurred. Fia lifted a cup to Lenore’s lips, holding it in her free hand.
“Drink it,” Fia told her. “It’s either that or I’ll knock you out if you can’t control yourself.”
Lenore scrunched her eyes shut. She opened her mouth, drinking down the liquid as soon as Fia tipped the cup.
She spluttered on the last gulp, coughing and wheezing as she hacked out droplets of the moon nectar.
In spite of her coughing fit, the drink soothed her—its refreshing taste washing over her in a calming wave.
It cooled the heat under her skin without dulling her thoughts.
“Good,” Fia said. “The nectar can’t stop any major sort of fit, but it’s enough to calm you for now.” She squeezed Lenore’s shoulder. “I can get you more.”
“No, I’m—I’m okay,” Lenore breathed. After a minute or two, she spoke. “Then the reason everyone’s been cautious of me—it’s because I’m a product of a Lucyn?”
Fia dropped the bottle and cup onto the counter, responding with a grunt. “Fear can make even the most hardened werewolves believe the wildest tales. A lot of werewolves believe that a Lucyn-turned werewolf will turn into a Lucyn too.”
Lenore desperately wished she could deny the claim with confidence.
But a hint of doubt tainted her heart. From that blot, the black wolf leapt out from the depths and back into her mind, fangs on full display with his lips curled back.
Ice ran through Lenore’s veins—frozen in time as the vision seeped into reality.
You and I are the same, he whispered. Your blood speaks of it.
As soon as the wolf uttered his last word, Lenore jerked her head to the side, pretending to stare into the flames that burned away her mind’s intruder. The heat of the fire did nothing to ease the cold that stiffened her limbs.
The doubt within her swelled. She gripped her hands, masking the tremble.
“... That’s too bad,” Lenore finally said. She laughed softly. “I’m struggling to even find my footing in being a werewolf.”
If Fia noticed her internal strife, she didn’t comment on it. And for that, Lenore was thankful.
“A werewolf’s life is tough,” Fia said. “Can’t deny that.
But you’re a werewolf in our pack now, which means you’re not alone.
We watch each other’s backs. The others will warm up eventually once they realize campfire stories don’t match reality.
” A light smirk crossed her face. “You may be a Nyven, but you still got a bite too. All werewolves do.” Fia stood up straight and placed her hands on her hips.
“Now, do you need another minute, or are you ready to get back to work?”
Lenore pressed her fingers against the wood grain.
“Another minute would be welcomed,” she said. “And, um, if it’s alright with you, another round of moon nectar.” A second later she yelped out loud as Fia landed a playful but hard smack against her upper back.
“Atta girl,” Fia chuckled. “Best to enjoy it before our stock suddenly runs dry. They’ve been giving bottles of it to Auden to make him feel better.”
The sickly visage of Auden popped into Lenore’s mind. She frowned. “Is he going to be okay?” she asked. “I heard that he might have Simurgh’s Blight. I’ve never seen that in person before...”
“Hm.” Fia’s face turned thoughtful. “I heard about that, too. We did have a skirmish with a simurgh recently, so it makes sense why it’s showing up now.
” A crease formed between her brows. “For it to only happen to him—either he’s the unluckiest werewolf out there, or everyone else is just incredibly lucky.
It isn’t contagious, but he wasn’t the only one fighting that monster off. ”
Lenore’s frown deepened. “That’s awful.” Her eyes fell to her right sleeve, to where her scars hid underneath. Edmund’s words about Auden flickered through her mind, unsettling her as she remembered the cold that had seized her when she entered the pavilion.
She hated it, but the feeling forced her to confront the budding truth.
Something wasn’t right.
A soft grumble from Fia pulled her back to reality. “Never mind all that,” she said after a pause. “You don’t need your mind stuffed with extra blabber when you’ve got a lot coming your way.”
Lenore opened her mouth to protest, only to be startled back when a chicken was thrown haphazardly onto her counter space. Loose feathers flew all over, fluttering downward in scattered places. She plucked a feather from the top of her head.
“Back to work, girl. You won’t be hearing another peep from me until all these chickens are defeathered and ready to be gutted.” Dirt scraped underneath her boots with each step back to the moon nectar.
“I could possibly be doing a terrible faux pas toward you, but would you like to come over for tea sometime soon?” The feather in Lenore’s hand twirled back and forth.
“Um, once I figure out some tea blends from what grows out here, and uh, a proper kitchen setup, then... I’d like to do something to thank you for all the help you’ve done for me tonight, Astra Fia. ”
Fia snorted. She kept her eyes steady on the cups she placed before her, pouring another bottle of moon nectar out. “Do you even know what Astra means, newblood?”
Ryker’s earlier comment—honored oldies—came to mind, but Lenore only shrugged.
“All the more reason to have tea with me?”
The bottle in Fia’s hand hit the counter’s surface with a loud thud. She made a face. “Don’t tell me you see me as some sort of teacher for you.”
“Please?” Lenore whimpered. Her eyes grew wide, dollish in form as she looked up at Fia with hands held to her lips. “It’d just be nice to drink tea with someone else too.” She tilted her head.
“You certainly know how to play up the puppy-eyed faces,” Fia grumbled. She rolled her eyes. “You think that’ll work on me?”
“Well, is it working?” Lenore tilted her head ever so slightly.
“No. I’ll consider it if I see that your work is good. Now, drink up the nectar, and shut your yap.” A dismissive hand was waved at Lenore.
Even though Fia’s words sounded outwardly harsh, Lenore brightened. She silently mouthed, thank you. A lighthearted scoff was sent in her direction. Another chicken was thrown onto Lenore’s counter, floppily crashing into the other carcasses.
Chuckling, Lenore’s fingers wrapped tightly around her cup of freshly poured moon nectar, no longer bothered by the once gruesome sight.