Page 25 of Moon Cursed
“As I was saying,” he continued, this time sitting upright as he took the towel and resumed the process on the wounds on his chest, “the Hunters are formidable, but we’ve encountered them before. The ones who bred with our pack were killed, leaving only those who allied with the other packs and believed in supernatural purity.” He glanced at me. “Being what you are… I knew that they would be coming for you.” He frowned. “I just didn’t expect them to be so quick about it. I thought… we had more time.” He gave me a mournful look. “I’m sorry about this, Kaitsja. I promise I’ll make this up to you.”
Right.
Whatever you say, Kane. And can you not call me by my wolf’s name? She’s not here.
He stared at me for a long time. I began to wonder if I hadn’t sent my thoughts at him properly. I wasn’t exactly used to communicating telepathically.
I wasn’t used toanyof this.
“Your wolf is always with you,” he assured me after a moment. When he pulled the towel away, I realized that he’d been suffering a great deal of pain as he treated the wounds on his chest. The moon dust he applied seemed to give him enough reprieve to talk. “Let me be clear, Kaitsja. You and your wolf are two halves of a whole. She is you, and you are her. But our species benefits most by separating the two sides of ourselves.”
That sounded like a case of the crazies to me, but I kept listening.
“She has always been with you, even if you couldn’t feel her. She has silently guided your every decision, been that subtle voice or urge that gave you motivation or drive when you needed it most. Your wolf is simply another part of you, one that you must accept if you’re going to survive what’s coming next.”
That was quite the speech, but deep in my soul I knew that he was right.
I’d always been driven by some unseen force.
I’d somehow found the strength to infiltrate the High Moon Ceremony against impossible odds.
But just because she gave me strength didn’t make my wolf right.
I glanced down at my paws, then sighed.
How was I going to return to human form? I wasn’t sure how this had even happened in the first place.
“You’re beautiful in both forms, Kaitsja,” Kane said, surprising me with his softness. “You’re moonlight come to life. You’re the love of the Goddess incarnate.” He winced as he positioned himself on one knee. “I meant my vow, Kaitsja. My life is yours to command. Yours to rule. Yours to take.” He exposed his throat, something my wolf recognized as submission. “I cannot protect you if I’m dead, which is why my vow now puts me in a difficult situation.”
He made the mistake of reaching out a hand within range.
My instincts reacted, recognizing that I could reach him.
I lunged, then clasped my teeth over his hand.
His bones crunched under my powerful bite, but he didn’t even cry out. He allowed my retaliation as the taste of his blood filled my maw.
“I understand you’re angry. You have every right to be. But I promise you that everything I do is for you. The Hunters came for you just hours ago, but they found us instead.” He twisted his wrist, allowing blood to gush down my throat.
I choked on it and let go.
Because it burned.
He held up his wounded hand, demonstrating the silverly light that glowed within the blood. “They sensed this. The blessing of a corrupted Goddess.” The light turned inky black a moment later, reminding me of the storms glittering with diamonds.
And then it faded, leaving only dark blood.
What is that?I asked, shoving the question at him.
He opened his mouth to answer, but then glanced into the darkness as if something had caught his attention.
The scent of pungent incense hit my nose, making me sneeze and jolt to my feet. It wasn’t the smoky kind of scent like charred wood that I had found pleasant a moment before.
Althea’s gold-rimmed eyes cut through the darkness.
“Approach,” Kane said with an authoritative voice.
Permission given, Althea eased into the light I realized was being provided by a particularly concentrated amount of moon blossoms hanging from vines all around us.
