Page 10 of The Night Prince

“What is Oidhche Fhada?” My mouth stumbles on the unfamiliar words.

“It’s a wolf ritual that will take place next week,” says Callum. “We believe Oidhche—or the Night God, as you call him in the Southlands—has a prison in the sky in which he keepsGhealach—the Moon Goddess—prisoner.”

“I remember,” I say.

“Oidhche moves her into a different cell each night, so she can never be found by those who seek her. On the night of the full moon, that is when she’s closest to us. Once, though, every two and a half years, he moves her so deep inside his prison that her light cannot touch the earth. For a few moments, the world is cast into darkness. That is when we perform Oidhche Fhada.”

I think he’s talking about the lunar eclipse. We have a festival to mark it in the Southlands, where we light bonfires to honor the Sun Goddess, and cast away the darkness.

“And you don’t wish to perform it this time?” I ask.

“It’s not the ritual I object to, but the alpha Blake wishes to invite. Lochlan Christensen is the alpha of Glas-Cladach, and we cannot trust him.”

There’s a map of the Northlands on the table, and Blake taps part of the coastline. “Lochlan has the second biggest army in the Northlands, and we have a mutual enemy.”

“James?” I ask.

Blake inclines his head. “I wish to persuade him to join our cause. If we want to move effectively against James, we’re best doing it while he’s licking his wounds after the battle withSebastian. We have three weeks until the full moon. I want us to make our move just after. We’ll need an army to get into the castle, and the support of at least four alphas to join us if we are to hold it. Lochlan can provide us with an army.”

Callum grits his teeth.

“You don’t like Lochlan?” I ask.

“I’ve nothing personal against the man,” says Callum, “but while it’s true that he and James don’t get along, he has as much reason to dislike me.”

“He thinks inviting Lochlan could put you in danger,” says Jack. “Particularly after—”

Callum makes a low sound, a little like a growl, and Jack shuts his mouth.

“Why would it put me in danger?” I ask.

“Do you remember when I rode out to aid my brother while we were at Madadh-allaidh?” says Callum. “We lost the battle against Sebastian and I was shot with wolfsbane.”

Fear had clenched my heart when Callum fell to his knees in his chambers, covered in sweat and gore. Blood ran down his arm from the bullet wound in his shoulder. A lick of shame flickers through me. I’d told Callum that morning that Blake was not as bad he seemed. How wrong I was.

I nod.

“The fort Sebastian took used to be a part of Lochlan’s territory,” says Blake. “The alpha who took over in his stead was someone Lochlan was fond of. He’s likely dead, now, or worse.”

“Sebastian was only there because he was looking for me,” I say. “Lochlan may blame me for what happened.” Myvoice is dull as I realize why I may have an enemy in Lochlan, despite never meeting him.

“Aye,” says Callum. “We cannot trust his loyalties.”

Blake sighs. “Lochlan will find Aurora delightful. Trust me.” I don’t bother pointing out that we can’t trust Blake. “I’ve already invited him, anyway. This conversation is fruitless.”

Callum’s jaw hardens. “What?”

“Come on, Callum. You and I can handle him, and you know it. Why don’t you tell your little pet the real reason why you’re being so overprotective?” A dimple punctures Blake’s cheek and my head snaps toward Callum.

“Blake.” Callum’s voice is laced with warning. Jack smirks.

“What is it?” My tone is sharp.

He pinches the bridge of his nose, then pulls a piece of parchment from the pocket of his kilt. I take it.

“Ryan and his lass, Becky, arrived yesterday,” says Callum. Relief courses through me. The sixteen-year-old boy I spared in the Borderlands fighting ring is alright. “James let them go, but he sent them with this letter.”

Callum McKennanis scrawled in ink across one side.The wax seal is broken, and I flick it open. I turn the parchment over, and read.

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