“Traitor! I feed you five times a day, and this is the thanks—Ow! Those are attached!”
I giggled as Brumous nipped at Zane’s earlobes.
Casimir intervened with a sigh that didn’t quite hide his smile and pulled a dried venison strip from his pocket. Brumous froze mid-shake, nose twitching.
“Guard stance, Brumous.”
The wolf spun, haunches quivering. When Casimir feinted left, the pup mirrored perfectly. Casimir tossed the treat, and Brumous snapped it midair, but immediately resumed position, waiting for praise.
“Good boy.” Casimir’s nod held more tenderness than his tone.
“So our dear commander’s plotting to turn the fluff monster into a four-legged broadsword,” Zane chuckled.
“Youtried teaching him to steal cupcakes,” I accused, making the moonlight sphere orbit my hands.
“Strategic reconnaissance! Bakeries are—”
“You know, Seri, with training, you could…” Casimir broke off and looked toward the lake.
“Excellent idea, bro!” Zane grinned, cutting in. “My new partner in battle chaos!”
“What? She could do what, Cas?” Koa looked from one to the other.
“He wants to weaponize our moonbeam’s moonbeams!” Zane crowed.
“No!” Koa’s voice rose, his cautious tone layered with immediate concern. “She’s not a trained hunter, let alone a fighter! She doesn’t belong in combat!”
“No one’s weaponizing anything.” Casimir scowled, visibly catching himself mid-thought, his strategic mind warring with his instincts. “And Iknowthat, Koa.”
But I saw the calculation in his stare, the same look he wore while analyzing reports before a hunt. Excellent. The seed I’d planted weeks ago had taken root. Now I only need to continue nurturing it.
Like Koa said, I wasn’t a hunter or a fighter, and I didn’t want to be. I just wanted to help.
And maybe there was something still inside me that wanted to prove I wasn’t the worthless girl Eluned and Amabel always said I was.
“Oh, look!” Beaming, I pushed a touch more power into the sphere. “I made it brighter!”
Casimir groaned, dragging a hand down his face.
Koa muttered something under his breath about a disaster waiting to happen.
“Wait, hold up.” Zane’s grin faltered as he watched the glowing ball in my hands. “Should she be doing this while she’s on her period?”
I froze as Casimir choked.
“What?” Koa turned, staring at Zane like he was insane.
“Y’know… bloodletting under the full moon?” Zane nodded sagely, completely serious except for the mischief gleaming in his gingerbread eyes. “That sounds like prime ritual territory. What if she accidentally opens a portal to the spirit realm or some shit?”
“Cruor! That’s not how magic works, dumbass!” Casimir pinched the bridge of his nose.
“You sure? Well, if she starts speaking in tongues, I’mrunning.”
Winding up, I launched the moonlight sphere straight at his chest. It passed through harmlessly, of course, but he yelped and clutched at his sternum, pretending something physical had hit him.
“Are you done?” I crossed my arms.
“Never.” He smirked, completely unrepentant.
