His Forsaken Luna-Chapter 138: Children of Day (3)

The palace grounds were quiet in the early morning, a little eerie after the shrieks of the newly turned Blood Wraiths dying in the sunlight. I pushed myself forward, the rhythmic sound of my feet hitting the stone pathways filling my ears. Any slippery surfaces didn’t slow me down as much as my balance seemed superior now.

After the crazy and bizarre days I’ve had since my wolf awakened and learning more about the world that felt so much bigger than I believed it before, I knew I had to be better. Better prepared for anything. Even if I was going to run off to the South, I had to be ready for that as well.

My breath came in steady bursts, visible in the crisp dawn air. Every muscle in my body protested, still aching from the attacks, but I ignored the pain. It wasn’t enough to stop me.

"You should give yourself more time to recover," Soren mind linked me, and my steps slowed a little when I felt his presence. My head swivelled in the direction he was standing across the courtyard, now watching me, his expression stoic like usual, Calix by his side.

"I’ve spent enough time recovering," I’d replied sharply, brushing him off. "I’m done being the victim. Done being the damsel."

It wasn’t just words. I’d been helpless too many times before, trapped in circumstances I couldn’t fight my way out of. Not anymore. I had strength now, stamina, and my wolf. I would put it all to good use, no matter how much it hurt.

As I rounded the corner near the eastern gardens, the axe strapped to my back shifted slightly. It was a new weight, but one I was growing accustomed to. I’d kept it after the fight with the bat-winged creatures, a grim trophy of the chaos we’d barely survived.

It was a reminder of the fallen warrior the axe belonged to, the blood spilt and the strength I gained from such a dire situation. It wasn’t just for show, either. Soren said he would teach me how to use it.

I slowed to a stop where Soren waited for me, his arms crossing, gaze flicking to the axe strapped to my back, his usual stern expression in place. "If we’re really going to do this... You should turn up on time," he said like he hadn’t scolded me earlier. His tone did lack any real bite, though.

"I’m not late," I shot back, smirking as I reached for the axe. "Just warming up."

He rolled his eyes but said nothing more, stepping aside to make room. The morning’s lesson began with the basics—stance, grip, and movement. Soren was relentless, pointing out every misstep and correcting every flaw, but I didn’t mind. I wanted to learn. Needed to. With each swing of the axe, each practice strike, I felt more in control. Stronger-- mostly stronger; my muscles screamed at me, trembling, but I could at least hold this weight and use it.

By the time the session ended, sweat clung to my skin, and my arms felt like lead. Still, I smiled as I handed the axe back to Soren, who gave me a rare nod of approval.

"It’s your first session and you’re already improving," he admitted. "But don’t push yourself too hard."

I wiped my brow with the back of my hand. "I’ll rest when I’m dead."

Soren sighed, but before he could respond, Cohnal approached. He’d joined us halfway through the session, but his focus ended up on teaching Calix different fighting techniques; it had distracted me a few times. His style was swift and agile, yet he was so big.

Calix beamed at us, thrilled to have been taught by a Southern Were. It was clear he had no opinions yet about our enemy. His expression then turned stoic, following his father, chin held high. Soren looked at him out of the corner of his eyes, his lips curling slightly.

"Does Her Highness wish to visit the children now?" Cohnal asked.

I nodded; it was late enough now that they would be awake. It was time to get a few more answers.

I fell into step beside Cohnal, Soren and Calix, following us as we made our way through the palace corridors. My steps felt heavy from training but my mind was too alert. The weight in my chest hadn’t lifted since the Blood Wraiths had burned in the morning light. My wolf was restless, pacing in my mind, anxious for news.

"Any word from Eryx?" I asked, my voice betraying the impatience I’d tried to suppress.

Cohnal’s jaw tightened. "Not yet."

It was the third time I’d asked since the sunlight burned the Blood Wraiths, but I couldn’t help it. Cohnal, his Beta hadn’t heard from him meaning he was still too far away to receive any message or he was injured, worse--

My wolf whined in my mind. I shook off the thoughts and my wolf’s behaviour. Still, it gnawed at me.

Would the High Fae try to get to him to get to me? The possibility was a dagger in my mind, sharp and unyielding.

Before my thoughts could spiral further, we reached the children’s room. Their laughter and chatter filtered through the door, a small relief amid the tension. Cohnal pushed the door open, and the noise quieted as the children’s eyes turned to us.

Xan sat at the centre of the room, his small frame hunched slightly as he toyed with a wooden carving, a blade in his hand in the middle of creating a horse. He looked up as we entered, his expression shifting to one of cautious curiosity.

This sneaky... Where did he get a knife? He needed another minder, no a guard. I pinched the top of my nose. Calix peered into the room behind me, he and Xan stared at each other like they were enemies.

Didn’t Asa say they were friends? That didn’t matter right now.

"Xan," I began, stepping closer, getting straight to the point. "Was it you who caused the attack?"

Xan’s eyes narrowed at me.

"Did you turn the servants?"

The boy scoffed, stabbing the wooden horse and putting it down, crossing his arms and fixing me with a look of irritation. "No," he said, his tone clipped.

His behaviour was a little suspicious.

Before I could press him further, the girl who had spoken up the last time I’d confronted Xan leapt to his defence. "It could be Zane, Billy, or Finn! They all have black hair!" she said, her voice firm.

I held up a hand to calm her. "I’m not accusing Xan without reason," I said. "But Xan has sent me off to the woods before. That’s why I ask."

Xan’s expression softened slightly, and he nodded. "I understand. I will be careful from now on."

Satisfied but not entirely reassured, I knelt before him, meeting his eyes. "Tell me everything about your condition," I said, my voice low and steady. "Don’t leave anything out. Big or small."

Xan hesitated, his gaze flickering to the other children before returning to me. "It started when I was bitten," he began, his voice quiet but clear. "I didn’t feel different at first. But then I got... hungrier... Thirsty. Not for food. For something else."

He swallowed hard, his small hands clenching into fists. "When I couldn’t hold it back anymore, I attacked. But it wasn’t just hunger. It was like... something else was in my head. Something that wanted to take over."

I listened intently, my heart sinking with every word. This wasn’t just a simple transformation. It was something darker. More insidious.

"And the others?" I prompted. "The ones who attacked the palace?"

Xan shook his head. "I didn’t do it. I swear. But... if they were like me, they couldn’t stop themselves. The hunger is too strong. Or... they wanted to take my spot. Zane and the others... they were the ones taken, willingly left."

"Your marks... Do you know what they are?" I pressed.

"Elora..." Xan said, frowning. "She marked us..."

"Who is Elora?" I asked, hoping he would know.

Xan looked at me. "I do not know... But..." He reached out and touched my hand. I gasped when an image flashed across my eyes.

Golden hair, skin and eyes. A woman of incredible beauty. A woman of pointed ears. A ball of light sparking between her fingers and flicked towards me. I jumped back but the image was gone, leaving the taste of magick in my mouth and the feeling of a mark burning into my skin. I checked my neck but there was nothing there.