Tears of the Moon

by Quinn Loftis

“So, you have no idea how you ended up in the human world?” Jen asked, finally looking away from her daughter.

  “I’ve been digging, and I’ve spoken to some of the sprites in their realm. My parents are no longer alive. They were killed by feral wolves they came across while in the human realm searching for me.” Lilly’s face fell, and Sally’s heart ached for her. “I don’t have any memories of when I lived in the sprite realm,” Lilly continued. “The furthest back I can remember was when I was around seven or eight and in my first foster home.”

  An idea hit Sally. “Ms. P, could I try something?”

  “You’re going to do some of your healer mojo aren’t you?” Jen asked.

  Jacque nodded, obviously understanding what Sally was planning. “It’s worth a try.”

  “You want to search my memories?” Lilly asked.

  “I know that is invasive so if you’d rather me not, I will totally understand. But if there’s a chance I could find something about when you lived with your clan, maybe you’d finally know or remember what happened to you.”

  Lilly thought about it for a minute, and Sally knew the minute she decided against Sally’s offer. “I appreciate it, Sally. But there are some things that my daughter’s best friend shouldn’t see. And regardless of how I ended up in the human realm, I wouldn’t change it.” Lilly was looking at Jacque and Slate. “I have those two wonderful blessings, not to mention you two, and I wouldn’t have had that if I’d stayed in the sprite realm.”

  Sally understood. It was a lot to let someone into your mind to see your most intimate and private memories. And to be honest, Sally didn’t want to see Lilly’s private memories. Unfortunately, it could be a hazard of her ability.

  “Can you tell us more about the sprites?” Jacque asked.

  “Of course,” Lilly smiled. “There are different clans, and each clan is a different kind of sprite. There are seer sprites, elemental sprites, mentalist sprites, luminous sprites, and healer sprites. Sally’s mom is a healer sprite.”

  Jen grinned. “Big surprise there.”

  “Actually, I get my gypsy status from my dad’s side of the family.”

  Jen’s mouth dropped open. “Shut. Up. Is your dad a sup too? Pixie butts, are my parents the only boring, hum drum humans of this trio? Which seems ridiculous considering how supernatural I was before we knew I had any supernatural blood.”

  “So humble,” Jacque muttered.

  “And there has to be supernatural blood somewhere in your family, or you wouldn’t have been a dormant werewolf,” Sally pointed out.

  “Yeah, but having a sprite parent just sounds way cooler,” Jen whined.

  “Get over it, Thelma,” Jacque said. “You have the most beautiful little girl in the world. Isn’t that enough?”

  “There. Was that so hard to admit?” Jen asked, smiling triumphantly, her blue eyes sparkling with humor.

  “You two are taking this really well,” Sally said.

  “I agree,” Lilly said.

  “I’m mated to a werewolf, my mom is mated to a warlock king, my best friend is a gypsy healer, and a high fae is our protector and sadistic mentor. Why on earth would you think this would rock my world?” Jacque asked.

  “You have a point,” Sally agreed.

  “So, this is the secret that’s been eating you alive for all of eight or so hours since you and Costin have been back?” Jen asked.

  Sally rolled her eyes. “You know how I feel about secrets.”

  “They’re like buttholes: dirty and everyone has them?” Jen asked.

  Jacque and Lilly groaned at the same time Sally said, “Eww. What is wrong with you?”

  “Doctors don’t know, and they’ve been looking for a cure for a while now. Turns out there isn’t a cure for pure awesome, badassness.” Jen’s smirk was wicked.

  “I’m sorry I kept this from you, Jacque,” Lilly said. “I was going to tell you and soon. It was just a lot for me to take in myself.”

  Jacque’s face softened as she looked at her mom. “I’m not mad, Mom.” Then she paused and looked at Sally. “Okay, now my mind is blown. We’re half sprite.”

  Sally nodded. “That does sort of make the brain cells explode, doesn’t it?”

  “Oh, come on!” Jen groaned, and Thia made some sort of sound as though she was trying to mimic her dramatic mother. “Not only do you get cool supernatural parents, now you get to have mixed supernatural blood? Was I just in the wrong line when they were handing out supernatural genes?”

  “You do realize that the whole world is not about you, right?” Sally asked.

  Jen’s eyes widened. “You’re kidding right?”

  Jacque snorted. “Jen, give us this moment, okay? Let us wrap our minds around the fact that we’re not just one thing. Then we will go back to letting the world revolve around you.”

  Jen nodded. “As long as you put the globe back on its axis where it belongs.”

  “Rotating around your big axis?” Sally asked.

  Lilly laughed. “Sorry, Jen, but that was funny.”

  “I have no problem giving props where they are due. Good one, Sally.” Jen winked at her friend.

  Lilly looked back at Jacque. “Yes, you have sprite blood. But I have no idea what that means for you. Will you have any extra supernatural abilities from my blood? Who knows? I guess time will tell.”

  “Fane’s going to freak,” Jacque said staring down at Slate. “His first thought is going to be whether or not I will have to go spend time in the sprite realm or something.”

  “Possessive fur butts,” Jen muttered as she took turns with Titus, tickling Thia.

  Lilly stood up and walked over to Jacque. She leaned down and pressed a kiss to her forehead and then to Slate’s. “Are we okay?”

  “Of course. Though I may have questions when my brain stops exploding,” Jacque said.

  “Call me anytime.”

  She hugged her daughter and called Nissa. After they’d gone, Sally sat down on the couch next to Jacque. “Are you really okay?”

  Jacque ran a finger down Slate’s cheek and smiled before looking at Sally. “I am. I’m just so thankful my mom has finally gotten some answers.”

  “Meeting’s over,” Costin’s voice filled Sally’s mind at the same time Jen groaned.

  “Playtime’s over,” Jen said. “B said they’re on their way here.”

  Sally looked at Jacque. “When are you going to tell Fane?”

  “He’ll know something’s up since I didn’t let him sift through my mind while he was in his meeting.”

  The door to Sally and Costin’s suite opened and in walked their mates. Fane was the first in line despite the fact it was Costin’s suite.

  Fane’s eyes met his mates and softened for a brief moment and then started glowing and there was a growl in his voice. “What are you keeping from me, Luna?”

  “Sally,” Jen said as her eyes bounced between Jacque and Fane, “get the popcorn.”

  Chapter Five

  “The world is growing smaller every day. As the magic in the other realms begins to wane, more and more supernatural beings migrate into the human realm. These new arrivals soon find they can share power with one another. The boundaries between races has been swept aside, not merely so we supernaturals can survive, but so we can grow stronger. The next step in our rising will be to put the humans in their rightful place … at our feet.” ~ Ludcarab, King of the Elves

  Zara stepped hesitantly through the doorway of the gypsy headquarters. There were tables lining the walls all the way around the room which held books, jars, beakers, and all manner of scientific instruments. She expected to smell a pungent chemical odor, but the scent in the room was a mixture of pleasant spices and the outdoors. It was refreshing but warm and inviting as well.

  “Please come in,” Rachel said as she looked over at Zara and Wadim from where she stood measuring out a purple liquid into a large beaker. The substance made Zara think of grape juice. The healer motioned to a stool. �
��Have a seat there, Zara.”

  Zara complied and turned to face Rachel. “Am I going to have to drink that?” Zara asked.

  The healer shook her head. “No, I just have to pour it on your head while you stand naked under a full moon. It will be tonight, when the moon’s pull is at its strongest.”

  Zara’s mouth dropped open. She couldn’t tell if Rachel was joking. The woman’s deadpan face was the best she’d ever seen. She looked over at Wadim to see if he was smirking, but he just waggled his eyebrows suggestively at her. No help there. Stupid males and their love of nudity.

  “There’s nothing wrong with nudity, Z. We come into this world naked, after all,” he said in her mind.

  “Maybe you did,” Zara quipped and smiled when Wadim laughed out loud.

  “So, you came out wearing clothes?”

  Zara nodded her head. “Completely covered and speaking, to boot. My parents said it was the damnedest thing they’d ever seen.”

  He rolled his eyes at her. “Did you change your own diapers too?”

  “Pssht, please. I was potty trained.”

  The grin on her mate’s face was contagious. Wadim had a playfulness about him that made her feel comfortable, as if she’d known him her whole life. She liked how he understood her sense of humor and liked it even more that he could dish out his own jibes right back to her.

  “Are you two done playing goo-goo eyes at each other?” Rachel asked as she transferred the contents of the beaker to a glass and then sat it down on the table in front of Zara. “Drink that,” Rachel said with a smirk.

  “I totally knew you were kidding about the whole dancing naked under the moon,” Zara said as she picked up the glass and took a sniff of the mysterious drink. It didn’t smell like grape. Rather, it reminded her of pine cones. Not exactly what she would want to put in her mouth. But it could be worse.

  “Sure, you did,” Rachel said, folding her arms across her chest and leaning back against the table.

  “What will happen? Are you sure this isn’t going to go terribly wrong and wind up killing me? Or maybe turn me back into a wolf and I get stuck like that forever?” Zara asked.

  “Yes, that,” Wadim said, pointing to her. “What she said. Is there a possibility that could happen?”

  Rachel sighed. “Do you really think I would give her something that might kill her?” she asked Wadim and then looked at Zara. “There’s no chance the potion could kill you. It’s made with some harmless plants mixed with a few secret ingredients. I can’t exactly divulge those, or Peri would kill me. But they’re perfectly safe. Just trust me. And it won’t force you to phase. The potion will have the opposite effect. It will keep you from phasing.”

  “For how long?” Zara asked.

  “After you drink it, I will place my hand on your chest, and I will use my magic to bind your wolf magic. I’ve written the spell so that it will dissipate upon completion of the Blood Rites,” Rachel explained.

  “What does that mean?” the girl asked.

  “It means you stay human until you and I do the nasty,” Wadim cut in, waggling his eyebrows at her. Zara’s eyes grew wide.

  “Stop teasing your mate,” Rachel scolded. “There is nothing nasty about the Blood Rites,” she said to Zara in a soothing voice. “Once you and this adolescent book-Nazi complete the bonding ceremony, you will be able to phase as normal. Being mated should calm the wolf raging inside of you. Hopefully, with your mate’s steadying influence, you will then be able to phase to your wolf and back like normal.”

  “Hopefully?” Zara asked with raised eyebrows.

  “A situation like yours doesn’t come along very often. Peri and I have a lot of experience dealing with weird supernatural maladies, but we don’t know everything. The mate bond is mysterious. Still, I’m certain this will work. There’s nothing to worry about. The Great Luna doesn’t make mistakes. She wouldn’t have given you to this lout if she didn’t think he could handle you.”

  “Hey, I’m not a lout,” said Wadim, a faux hurt look on his face. “An adolescent book-Nazi? Maybe, but not a lout.”

  “Would you prefer hooligan?” Rachel asked.

  Wadim appeared to think deeply for a moment. “I think I would. Hooligan has an air of gravitas that I think I’m due. Think about it. People will say, ‘Look, there goes Wadim, the library hooligan.’ Sounds much better than ‘Look, there goes Wadim, the library lout.’”

  Rachel narrowed her eyes on him. “Were you and Jen somehow separated at birth and then somehow separated through time as well?” Before he could answer she shook her head and waved him off. “Fine, whatever, hooligan. Just get your girl to drink.”

  Wadim turned to Zara. Go ahead, Z. I’ll be right here, no matter what happens. The potion could turn you into Mr. Hyde and I wouldn’t care. I’m yours and I’m not going anywhere.

  Zara nodded at him, smiled, and said, “Bottoms up,” then she put the glass to her lips and tilted it back, pouring the liquid into her mouth. She barely registered the earthy taste as the drink hit the back of her throat, and she swallowed quickly. Zara put the glass down on the counter and waited to see if something happened.

  Rachel stepped closer, pressed her hand to Zara’s chest, and closed her eyes. Zara watched the healer intently and forced herself not to push Rachel away when she felt the invasion of the healer’s magic inside of her. Zara’s veins began to warm as though hot liquid was being poured into them, starting at her chest and making its way down through her body. The outside of her body felt cool, and she shivered at the contrasting temperatures.

  Rachel stepped back and dropped her hand, watching Zara intently. “How do you feel?”

  “Like you poured hot chocolate into my veins,” Zara admitted. All of a sudden, she felt an emptiness insider her. The sensation was surreal. She hadn’t even realized there’d been something previously filling the empty hole. “And I feel like something is missing inside of me. Like a part of me is gone.”

  Rachel nodded. “You won’t be able to feel your wolf while the spell is active. Even though you haven’t known her long, she was already a part of you. Being separated from her soul will feel odd to you now. If it becomes painful, I need you to let me know.”

  Zara felt her energy level suddenly plummet and weariness settle over her. Wadim must have felt it, as well, through their bond because he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her down from the stool.

  “Come on, beautiful,” he murmured quietly. “You need some rest.” He looked at Rachel and said, “Thank you for your help, healer. It will not be forgotten.”

  Rachel bowed her head at them and smiled. “It’s what I’m here for.”

  After a few twists and turns, Zara and Wadim reached the hall that led to the archive stairs. All of a sudden, Wadim stopped. Zara took another step before pausing and turning back to him. Quickly, he scooped her up into his arms and nuzzled her neck.

  “I can walk,” Zara said, though she didn’t sound the least bit convincing, even to herself.

  “I’m sure you can. But I want to have you in my arms. Humor me.”

  She laid her head on his shoulder and sighed. If Wadim wanted to pamper her, then she wasn’t about to stop him. It had been so very long since anyone had taken care of her, unless of course you count vampires tossing a small bowl of mealy rice into her dark cell a couple of times a day just to keep her alive.

  “Thank you,” she whispered as she closed her eyes.

  “It is an honor to care for my mate,” Wadim said. “Now rest, my love. I’ll be here when you wake up.”

  Cyn watched as Thalion, the elf prince and her husband, inspected the swords the elven blacksmith had forged. One by one, Thalion laid them down on a table, lining them up straight. She waited for him to finish and let her know it was time for her to work her magic on the blades. Cyn would like to think that this would give them an advantage in battle, but Ludcarab was old and crafty. He would no doubt have some tricks up his sleeves.

  After anoth
er fifteen minutes, Thalion finally turned to her. “If you will,” he said and motioned toward the swords.

  Cyn walked over and ran her finger over the first blade, slicing her skin just deep enough for it to bleed. She let drops of blood fall onto the blade as she whispered a spell in her people’s language. The blood absorbed into the sword as if it were a sponge and not steel. She continued the process on each blade until all fifty blades were done.

  “Are we going to do the arrows as well?” Cyn asked as she turned to face Thalion.

  “If you are willing,” Thalion said.

  “We need all the help we can get, Thalion,” Cyn said. “This magic will ensure that wherever you aim your sword, arrow, or knife blade, it will land true. A child could throw one of the knives I’ve magicked and not miss. So yes, my love, I’m willing.”

  “Then I will have all the arrows brought here.”

  Here was the makeshift camp they, meaning the elves who refused to pledge their fealty to the elf king, had built in the forest three miles from the palace. They’d erected tents for shelters, and Cyn had put a cloaking spell over the camp. It wasn’t a long-term solution to their problem, but it would have to do until they could take on Ludcarab without getting massacred.

  “Tonight, we’re going to scout the castle grounds,” Thalion said. “I need to get confirmation my father is involved with the Order.”

  “Why?” Cyn asked. “Isn’t it enough that he lied about his death and has chased his son and any who do not want to follow him out of their homeland”

  “If he is connected to the Order, then he has committed crimes against the elfin race, and I can execute him without any formal trial. As it stands, he still has a right to a trial,” Thalion explained.

  “As it stands,” Cyn said, using his words, “I can execute him without a trial.”

  Thalion’s lips twitched as if he fought a smile. “Why is that, my love?”

  “Because I don’t care about formalities when it comes to protecting those I care for.”

  He stepped closer to her. “And you care for me?”