She looked up at him with somber green eyes that matched his own. “Zev, Cassiel and I may no longer be together, but that doesn’t mean you can no longer be friends. During the night of the full moon…”
“I remember what Cassiel did to stop me.” Zev paused by the windows as they watched the procession of lords and ladies come to the castle. “But I don’t know if it’s enough to pay for all those nights that you suffered and every tear you cried. Even if I wanted to forgive him, how could I forget that?”
Dyna searched his eyes a moment in surprise. “You …remember?”
He nodded.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Because it was frightening. If he could remember what the Other did when it took over, it meant that something was changing.
“I have not told you this, Dyna, but I summoned the Other at will when fighting the Bloodhounds in Dwarf Shoe. The lack of a moon didn’t keep it at bay. It’s evolving, or I am. I don’t know what it means.”
He wished there was someone here with the answers. A question had been circling in his mind since it first happened. What if the next time the Other surfaced, he couldn’t change back?
Dyna squeezed his hands. “Zev, if you can summon your Other at will, that must mean you’re learning to control it.”
“That type of belief is what led to my father’s death. When I’m the Other, I don’t have control of myself, and I’m not conscious of what I’m doing. I only remember after.”
“But you will. I believe it.” Dyna hugged him. “Oh, Zev, this is wonderful news!”
He couldn’t say if it was. His greatest fear was hurting his family again.
“Once this is over, we are headed to Loup Garou next, you hear me? It’s decided. Lara will know how to help you.”
The mention of her name stirred something in Zev’s chest. He could almost see himself there, running through a forest he didn’t know, alongside a white wolf he wished he did.
A servant came by and called Dyna away to be presented with Cassiel. Sowmya followed on her heels.
Zev reached the main hall where gentle music flowed. He came to the entryway of the ballroom and found Lucenna standing there, frozen still.
Coming up behind her, he found what she was looking at. Klyde stood by adorned tables filled with tiered plates of food. He was mid conversation with an elf. His hair was no longer long but cropped short on the sides and slicked back. And he had shaved. Zev had already seen him, but to her, he must be nearly unrecognizable compared to how he had looked this morning.
Klyde noticed her and strode over to them.
“Close your mouth,” Zev whispered, and Lucenna’s jaw snapped shut. Keena shot him a grin, and they made their way inside.
“Lucenna,” Klyde greeted when he reached them. His admiring gaze slowly roamed over the lilac fabric clinging to her curves. “You could start wars in that dress, love.”
She flushed. “You-you shaved.”
“I did.” Klyde’s mouth lifted in a half smile. “Do you like it?”
The question seemed to clear her head, and she fixed her expression into a flat glower. “I hate it.”
“Do I at least look submissive and breedable?”
Lucenna rolled her eyes with a groan of disgust and strode away toward the tables.
Keena snickered behind her hand and fluttered around Zev. “She’s absolutely smitten, isn’t she?”
He chuckled as Klyde followed after Lucenna. “She’s not the only one.”
Zev flinched at the sudden fanfare of trumpets as the herald made an announcement. On the balcony overlooking the ballroom, King Leif and Queen Ossenia appeared with their newborn son in her arms. Only Lady Aerina wasn’t present.
Guests quieted and faced the balcony.
“In the presence of King Leif and Queen Ossenia, presenting before the court, their first-born male, Crown Prince Lotham, heir to the throne of Greenwood.”
