Lucien waved, and the orb cleared.
Dyna slowly faced the sorceress. “You … are an Astron?”
Lucenna sighed, tangling a lock of white hair around her finger, her lilac gaze meeting hers unsurely. She should have known. The sorceress not only had the same features as Azeran, but his Luna Medallion also hung from her neck.
“Well, before I explain, can I ask that we keep it between us?”
Dyna nodded.
Lucenna stood and took a deep breath before giving an elegant curtsey. “I am Lucenna of House Astron, daughter of Galveston Astron, sorceress of the Lunar Guild.” She lowered her eyes. “I am a descendant of Andrez Astron. He was Azeran’s only brother … and the one who betrayed him.”
Dyna was at a loss for words. There was another soft thud on the dome. Zev frowned at them from the other side, motioning at it questioningly. Training would have to wait. She was glad that Lucenna had placed them inside of the dome. They were going to need privacy for this conversation.
Chapter 19
Zev
Zev caught the faint voices drifting from the tent as he worked on stretching the tight muscles in his back. They must have finished their private conversation within the golden fortress. Cassiel was miffed about it. He’d grumbled about mages and inappropriate advances to himself most of the morning. All Zev could get out of him was that Dyna had met Lucien through Lucenna’s orb. To introduce them must mean the sorceress had taken a liking to her.
A bitter gust passed through the forest, rattling the trees. The morning sun glimmered over the layer of frost coating the ground and grass. Cassiel trained with his sword, his breaths swirling in the chilly air. Sitting by the fire, Rawn worked on fletching more arrows.
Zev pulled his arms taut in front of him and rolled his neck, every muscle stiffening. How deep would he have to dive? A jitter of anticipation went through him. Yellow leaves fluttered past, brushing his cheek.The water must be cold, but he would hardly feel it with the heat of his wolf.
A sensation of broken glass crunched beneath his feet.
He could hold his breath for possibly five minutes and get enough scales for them. It shouldn’t be too difficult.
Blood dripped from the walls.
How dark were those waters?
His mother’s scream tore through his ears. The stench of rotting flesh flooded his nose.
Stop!Zev shouted in his head.
The bombardment of bloody memories ceased. Zev froze. He had never spoken to the Madness before. He simply ignored it and learned to live with it.
I know what you’re planning, beastie,it whispered.
Zev grit his teeth and moved on to stretching his legs, feeling his aching muscles pull taut. Dyna had done a number on him when she practiced levitating him in the air.
Rest,the Madness said. It prowled around him, its claws caressing his mind.Be at peace.
There would be no peace for him until—
One moment he was in the woods, and in the next, he was inside his home in Lykos Peak. No blood stained the walls. No smell of death lingered. The sunset streamed in through the window, lighting the ash trees swaying outside. His father stood before him, smiling with so much love as he clapped a hand on Zev’s shoulder. He inhaled a sharp breath at the touch. It was warm and solid, like this was real. The scent of the forest, of home, of his father, all hit him. And the scent of silver. The mound of chains his father held hit the floor when he let them drop to his feet.
“It’s time,” his father said, exactly as he had in the past. “You don’t need these chains anymore, Zev.”
He shook his head, fear tearing through him. “I do, Father. Please put them on.”
“You’re strong. You’re in control.”
The moon pulled at him as the last of the sunset faded. The Other’s bloodthirsty excitement rose to the surface. It pushed against his skin with a strength that threatened to shred him apart. Zev learned far too late that he had never been in control.
Screams ripped from his throat as his body cracked and twisted, breaking into a new form. He tried to fight, tried to hold it at bay, but any semblance of control faded as the dark creature of nightmares took his place. His father’s face paled as he backed away.
Don’t show me this!Zev squeezed his eyes shut and gripped his head.Please!
