River Cast: Part Two in the Tale of Lunarmorte

by Samantha Young

  “What are you saying?”

  She gulped. “I’m saying that I’m the most powerful weapon they have, and Gaia put me here for a reason. I’m saying that if they knew what Marita was up to... Vil can to take me to the Council, and I’m going to challenge Marita to the post. If they agree, a political campaign will begin and the Coven will vote for their choice of candidate.”

  “Caia, if the Council discover what Marita is up to there will be no election.” Lucien shook his head. “They will kill Marita.”

  “No, no, we’re better than that, than her.” She jerked her head. “I would ask for them to keep her alive. She could keep the trace, work for me, do for me what I’ve been doing for her.”

  He snorted. “Yeah, I can see that happening.”

  “She would have to. It would be her only choice.”

  Lucien ran a frustrated hand through his hair as his silver eyes drank her in. He was quiet for so long, and she knew he wasn’t as convinced as she was. Still, he kissed her softly, and wrapping her in his arms he whispered in her ear, “I’ll make the badges and banners, you can write the speeches.”

  Caia smiled slowly, relief flooding her, and she pulled him in for a grateful kiss.

  ***

  They somehow managed to disentangle themselves from each other to make the difficult decision to lie to Marion. When they found her waiting in the Reception for them, her bright eyes wide with hope, Caia felt awful duping her. She and Lucien walked with a deliberate distance between them, fake frostiness preceding them to the waiting magik. Caia winced, watching Marion slump in disappointment, glaring at Lucien as if he were to blame.

  Tactful as always, however, she didn’t mention the state of their relationship.

  “Ready then.” She heaved an exasperated sigh, gesturing to the portal awaiting them past the security.

  Lucien surprised her by pulling her into a hug. “Thanks for everything, Marion.”

  Caia wanted to slap him; he was going to give them away.

  Sappy idiot.

  The witch giggled unexpectedly at his affection and pushed him off. “I didn’t do anything apparently,” she tut-tutted him and pushed him gently towards the portal, missing the mischievous grin he threw over her head at Caia.

  Trying her hardest to ignore him, a herculean task since the very thought of him made her want to melt into a puddle, Caia hugged Marion and prayed to Gaia that her friend would forgive her as she lied, “See you in a few days.”

  “Hmm, yes you will.” Marion shook her head at her as she pulled back. “Silly girl.”

  With a vague gesture, Caia smiled wryly at her and headed towards Lucien, who waited by the portal for her.

  Wary of Marion’s eyes on them Caia stuck her hand out to him as if it was the last thing she wanted to do. He reached for it tentatively but gripped it tight.

  Relief and anxiety poured through her as the gel-like quality of the portal slithered across her skin. In moments they were blinking past the light streaming in from the lamp post outside the windows of the disused workout room in Magic Fitness.

  She felt like a bird freed from a cage, only to find it was now so tame it had no idea how to survive on its own.

  “Are you OK?” Lucien pulled her to him, wrapping her in his solid comfort.

  “I just can’t believe I’m going to do this,” she mumbled into his chest. It rumbled with his laughter underneath her and she buried deeper into him.

  “Yeah, I can’t believe you are either. But I believe in you.”

  Tilting her head back she was surprised to find his eyes smoke with fierceness. “You really do, don’t you?”

  “You need to stop sounding surprised by that.”

  She smiled shyly. “But I am surprised.”

  He chuckled and took hold of her hand, leading her out of the room and out of the fairly quiet gymnasium. “If you’re going to be this bad mother—you know, then you are going to have to start sounding like you’re aware you’re the bomb.”

  She snorted. “The bomb?”

  Lucien turned to her as they walked across the parking lot. “Was that wrong?”

  “So wrong it was painful.”

  He shrugged, unfazed. “Well, you know what I mean.”

  Caia nodded, straightening her shoulders back. “I have to be confident, match my badass powers.”

  “Yeah.” He grinned. “That’s what I meant. Damn.” Lucien stopped, crouching down by the wheel of his truck. Yellow clamps stood between them and the pack. Of course the car had been sitting in the lot for days now.

  “Do you want me to...?” She wriggled her fingers.

  Lucien huffed, “This doesn’t need magik.” He quickly looked around the lot to make sure there was no one else around and then gripped the clamps with both hands. With what appeared to be the gentlest of tugs the clamp split in two and he pulled it out from under the car. He did the same with the others, and gestured for Caia to get in.

  “Wow.” She smiled cheekily as she slid her seat belt on.

  “What?”

  “Was that a deliberate attempt to make me feel like the ‘little Mrs’?”

  Lucien grunted and started the engine, speeding out of the lot before anyone found them with the clamps, “I don’t think that’s possible. I was just reminding you that I have my uses. You don’t have to do everything yourself.”

  Caia snuggled into her seat. “You don’t how good that is to hear.”

  He reached across the distance between them and linked his fingers with hers, keeping one hand on the wheel and his eyes on the road. “You’re my mate.”

  She bit her lip, undecided whether she should ask the question that had been sneaking closer and closer to the forefront of her mind since Lucien had declared his love for her.

  Her mate seemed to sense it and tugged on her hand.

  “Caia, I’m willing to take my pack into a political war against the Head of the Daylight Coven for you. Surely you realise you can say anything to me by now.”

  Laughing at her own stupidity, Caia blushed a little. “I guess.”

  “Well?”

  I hope this comes out right or this might be the shortest relationship in history.

  “Well, are you afraid that what we feel for each other is only because of the mating?”

  When his silence stretched into awkward, Caia began to worry her lip with her teeth, her eyes unblinking, watching him for signs of his anger. Finally, he glanced at her briefly, before returning his eyes to the road. She felt a measure of relief as he squeezed her hand.

  “Does it matter if it is?”

  She frowned. “Doesn’t it though?”

  “No.” By tugging on her hand he pulled her closer to him, his scent enfolding her and warming her instantly. “Maybe we do love each other because of a deal our fathers made with a god, but it doesn’t make that love any less real.”

  “So you’re not worried that it wasn’t your choice to love me?”

  Lucien snorted. “No. And if I remember correctly that line of argument is the reason we haven’t been together from the start, so I think it might be best we burn those thoughts forever. Seriously, Caia, do you want to give this up just because it was preordained by our dads?”

  She could sense the worry in his question and felt a peculiar need to tease him. “I don’t know. I mean, down that road is a dangerous journey - wanting the fairytale because reality blows. Neo would be most unimpressed by us.”

  “Well, since his third movie sucked Neo can go to Hades.”

  Caia grinned at him. “You got that reference?”

  He rolled his eyes at her and sighed wearily. “Really, Caia, what do you take me for?”

  “A lykan with very little attachment to the television.”

  “Yeah, but with a friend who watched The Matrix Trilogy ninety times when he should have been out kicking some rogue’s ass.”

  “Ryder,” Caia laughed.

  Lucien grunted, “I should be thankful he keeps me soci
ally adept.”

  She tried to suppress a grin. “But you’re not thankful.”

  “Have you seen The Matrix Revolutions?”

  22 - Loyalty

  The sound of gravel crunching beneath tyres was like a welcoming trumpet to Caia and Lucien’s ears. They tumbled out of his truck, tired but still filled with love-fuelled restlessness. Caia mused over how strangely comfortable it was for them to walk with their arms around one another into the house. It felt like something they had been doing forever. They found Magnus and Ella standing in the doorway of the sitting room, waiting on them.

  They were both grinning at their return, and then Ella’s eyes washed over them clinging to each other and they widened. “Does this mean...” she looked quickly to Magnus to see if he had noticed, and he was grinning from ear to ear, his eyes twinkling.

  “We’re together,” Lucien’s voice rumbled with satisfaction.

  The Elders launched themselves at them with Magnus booming, “It’s about time!”

  Caia laughed and allowed them to squeeze her to death. Noticing the tears running like twin streams down Ella’s cheeks, Caia pulled her aside to hold her close.

  “I’m so happy. Albus would have been so happy.”

  Before Caia could reply, Magnus was lifting her off the ground in a massive bear hug, his own eyes suspiciously wet. When she was firmly back on the ground, he held her face between his hands and gazed down at her adoringly. “I feel like a proud father.”

  Her throat burned and she worked her jaw trying not cry. At last she managed a hoarse, “You have been like a father to me, Uncle Magnus. Thank you.”

  The best moment in her life so far, a moment when she finally felt she was really a part of a family, was cut short by a shrill ringing. Cursing, Lucien pulled out his cell phone.

  “Ryder,” he muttered and hit the answer button. “What’s up?”

  “You’re back,” they all heard Ryder, “When?”

  “This minute. How did you know?”

  “I’ve been trying your cell for the last 24 hours.”

  Lucien frowned and hunched over into the conversation. “What’s wrong?”

  “I’m guessing you know already. You and Caia too tired to come over to my apartment?”

  “No, we’ll be right there.”

  Ella didn’t look happy when Lucien hung up, “Surely he can let you two get some sleep before you visit him.”

  Lucien shrugged like it was no big deal. “Sounds important.”

  Magnus chuckled. “Oh it is.”

  Wait, what? Caia glanced sharply at her uncle. What did he know?

  Her expression must have mirrored Lucien’s because Magnus laughed harder. “I’ll let Ryder impart the news. But here’s a clue... Dimitri isn’t happy.”

  “Magnus.” Ella swatted him. “You’ll give it away.”

  “Give what away?”

  They remained silent and Lucien huffed, “Need I remind you I’m your Alpha. I have a right to know what’s going on in my own pack.”

  The Elders grimaced. “Well, you’re about to find out.” Magnus nodded and then shot a look at Caia. “Now that he’s your responsibility maybe you can begin pulling that stick out of his ass.”

  ***

  They wondered aloud as to what Magnus and Ella could have been talking about, but their worries were so focused on Vilhelm and Laila they were already at Ryder’s with still no clue. Ryder threw the door open with a huge, relieved grin and clapped Lucien hard on the shoulder before dragging Caia into a tight hug. She suppressed a laugh at the feel of Lucien’s hand on her waist, drawing her forcefully out of his friend’s grip and tight to his side, his hand cupping her hip possessively. At first Ryder stumbled back a little confused and then his expression cleared and he whooped, “All right, about time!” and held out a hand to Lucien. Caia looked on as they did their manly handshake and hugged quickly, a hug that was more of a battering of hands on each other’s back.

  “Congrats guys, really. Very relieved.” He grinned and then gestured for them to come in. “Actually.” He chuckled happily, following them down the hallway to his sitting room. “I have some news of my own.”

  Caia’s view of the sitting room was blocked by Lucien as he entered first, and she was surprised at the soft sound he made as his pace picked up, striding deeper into the room. Her eyes widened as she glimpsed Jaeden before she was swallowed in Lucien’s tight hug. Her heart sped up. It had been a long while, and she and the real Jaeden hadn’t really spoken since her rescue. Caia glanced anxiously at Ryder who smiled warmly at her, his eyes soon returning to stare at Jaeden. A feeling rippled out of him and Caia caught it on the air.

  “Ryder,” she breathed, disbelieving at the intensity of it, “Jaeden?”

  His eyes widened as he realised she comprehended the truth. “How did you know?”

  “Know what?” Lucien asked, as he and Jaeden drew back to them.

  Caia locked gazes with Jae, feeling awkward and useless. There was a time when she had thought of this girl as the greatest friend she had ever had. It was difficult to remember now if there had been any truth in that, and what she felt towards her likened to grief.

  Jaeden appeared to not know what to say either, her body rigid at first. And then she visibly relaxed, surprising Caia by hugging her, if a little awkwardly. “Cy, good to see you.” She nodded, her eyes seeming to ask Caia to relax as well.

  Feeling a little stupid Caia grinned nervously. “You too. You look great.”

  “Know what?” Lucien growled.

  Jaeden giggled at that, a sound Caia never thought to hear from her again, and then danced into Ryder’s arms, kissing him affectionately. “Ryder and I want to be mates.”

  Lucien’s emotions veered from gobsmacked, to confusion, and then delight when he realised his friend was serious. He had never seen Ryder look at anyone the way he looked at Jae, obliterating all his predictions that Ryder would be a perpetual bachelor. Sitting on Ryder’s sofa, he and Caia watched and listened as Ryder and Jaeden told the story of their return to the pack. Lucien grinned at Caia as the two of them bickered like an old mated couple. They didn’t even have to ask if he would give them permission to have a ceremony; Ryder most probably would have killed him anyway if he didn’t. He was not surprised, however, to hear that Dimitri was having a difficult time with the idea, considering Jaeden had only just been returned to him, and as his gaze fell on his own mate he was glad there was no waiting involved to be with her truly, as there was for his friend. It still amazed him how easily Caia had come to him when he told her he loved her, and ever since he had to stop from kicking himself that he hadn’t done so sooner. He sighed inwardly; knowing what the Hades was going on a female’s mind had never been one of his strong suits. As she laughed at something Ryder was saying, Lucien smiled softly. It had been a long time since he had seen her look this happy.

  At that a darkness, like a silent snowfall shrouding his world of colour and warmth, settled over him, sending chills across his skin.

  She had better enjoy it, he thought somewhat bitterly, because this battle she wanted to wage against Marita to win the war was going to slowly siphon that happiness back out of her. He was terrified for her. That the majority of Midnights could possibly be misunderstood was inconceivable, but Caia saw it, felt it, and he believed in Caia. A flare of pain radiated from his chest. He believed enough to drag his pack into a coup against the Head of the Daylight Coven.

  “Lucien?” Caia had reached over and was gripping his hand.

  He blinked away his contemplation and found the three of them staring at him in concern.

  “You OK, man?”

  “Fine.” He shook off gruffly.

  Ryder shrugged. “You looked a little put out that’s all.”

  Lucien frowned at him. “I said I’m fine.”

  Caia squeezed his hand and then released it, turning to Jaeden with a curious smile. “So this Reuben character?”

  Ryder growled and spu
n away from Jaeden, his body bristling. Obviously the vampyre was a problem for his friend, Lucien concluded. He could relate with the whole possessiveness thing - a genetic downfall of their species, if you asked him.

  Jae hid a grin at Ryder’s attitude.“Yeah, there’s not much else to tell except that he’s here, offering his help-”

  “Sticking his nose in,” Ryder interrupted.

  “No. Being a friend. He and Ryder don’t exactly get on. Especially since my attempted kidnapping the other day.”

  Lucien flinched like he had been hit. “What?” He blasted at Ryder, angry that this was just now being brought up.

  His friend’s face had gone red with anger as he glared back at Lucien. “Yeah, someone tried to snatch her off your grounds. I got there with Reuben just in time. The vamp chased the person into your woods but lost them.”

  “Did you see what they looked like?” Caia asked softly, her face drained of all colour.

  Jaeden shook her head, her lips pinched. “They were dressed in black apparently. Another kidnapping attempt. I’m beginning to think someone doesn’t like me.”

  “The Midnights?” Lucien automatically asked Caia, and regretted the accusatory tone of the question immediately.

  She snapped up off the couch with a disdainful look. “I would have felt it if it were the Midnights.”

  Jae crossed her arms over her chest defensively, her eyes which had just moments ago been sparkling happily, were narrowed, determinedly trying to mask vulnerability, “Well, maybe you missed something. Can’t you double check?”

  Caia bit down on her lip as all three of them gazed at her in expectation, and Lucien detected the shudder that ran through her body. “Caia, no pressure,” he assured her, throwing a couple of annoyed glances at Ryder and Jae.

  “I’ll check. I’ll be back in a second.”

  When she was gone Lucien skewered the two of them to the wall with a look. “Ease up on my mate.”