Page 5 of Luna Rising

The potion was odorless and colorless, yet it gurgled inside the cup in a way that made my stomach turn. My lips clamped shut as Ewan lifted the mug to my mouth when I refused to take it.

“I promise it will be painless.” A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. “And if you don’t drink it, you’ll go to bed hungry.”

“Sadist,” I muttered and grabbed the mug with two hands.

The potion tasted like hot, steamy, nothing, which should’ve been a relief, but I found it more depressing. As a member of the undead, my senses were heightened—more defined. Everything tasted more complex than it had when I was human. Even the air had a range of flavors, from the tart bite of Ewan’s shampoo to the crisp sweetness of the outdoors that still clung to his skin.

And yet, the potion tasted like nothing. It just wasn’t right.

I drank the entire mug and handed it back to Ewan. He patted my head, a very condescending gesture that made me swat his hand. He laughed. I feigned annoyance, secretly pleased he was in such a playful mood. This was my Ewan, the man I’d fallen in love with. The man I’d married.

The man I married.

Growing up, I had often felt like my entire purpose in life was to be some important wolf’s mate. That was my job as my father’s daughter and my duty to the pack. Yet now that I was some very important wolf’s mate, it didn’t quite feel real.

He kicked off his boots and stretched out beside me on the bed, resting his head in my lap. There were no lights on in the room, and the sun had yet to rise outside, but I had no trouble seeing his perfect features. I ran my fingers through his dark, windswept hair and tried to ignore the tickle in the back of my throat.

“The Zodiac High Fae council wants Essie to step aside as leader of the Geminis,” Ewan said after a long moment. “They’ve heard rumors about Winter, about who and what she really is. They know she’s eternal, and that Essie hid that fact from everyone.”

My thoughts wandered to the conversation between Brooke and Zach. My brother had mentioned the council wanted to question Essie. The non-beating heart in my chest clenched. Essie had been a rock, an ally, helping me, protecting me–just as she’d done for Winter. Essie didn’t deserve punishment. She deserved a medal.

I brushed the hair back from Ewan’s forehead. “What did they expect her to do—kill her great grandchild?”

Even as I asked, the answer popped into my head. That was precisely what the high fae assholes had wanted—for Essie to end Winter’s life before it began. Instead, she’d sent Colleen and Winter away, hiding them among the humans.

It was easy to understand why a great-grandmother would defy logic and law for her family. Love was a powerful motivator, a drug that scrambled thoughts and brought even the sanest of people to the brink. In my non-beating heart of hearts, I knew Essie loved Winter, but I didn’t believe for a second that affection was the only reason for the Sable matriarch’s decision.

“They expected her to kill Nicasia,” Ewan said, startling me out of my thoughts. “No matter who she was born in this life, or any other, they only think of her as Nicasia.”

Just as I will always be Zosia, I thought.

Ewan’s crimson eyes locked on me. “No.” He shook his head. “Zosia is your past.” He turned and crawled on top of me, his mouth brushing mine when he spoke. “You. Are. My. Zara.” He punctuated each word with a kiss.

My arms circled his neck, pulling him closer. He trailed kisses along my jawline and down my neck, his fangs grazing the sensitive skin at the hollow of my throat. A moan escaped my lips.

Dear Gaia, bite me, I thought, a little surprised at the morbid desire.

Ewan laughed softly and nestled his chin between my breasts. I wore an oversized Arcane University t-shirt with no bra beneath. “Are you trying to kill me?” he teased.

His muscles bunched as I ran my hands down his back. “Is my blood still toxic?” I asked, stomach turning.

Ewan’s expression turned serious. “We don’t know yet, and no one wants to volunteer to test it out.” He averted his gaze. “Not after what happened.”

To Angelica, I thought, finishing the sentence in my head.

“Yeah,” Ewan agreed, reading her name from my mind. He rolled to the side and propped himself up on his elbow. “Look. I need to tell you something that you aren’t going to like. There will be a memorial for Angelica.”

I stiffened, my wolf rising to the surface. Jealousy shot through me. She’d tried to kill me. It was her fault Ewan had to turn me. It was her fault that I’d become a monster. That backstabbing wench didn’t deserve a memorial.

Gold ribbons threaded through Ewan’s crimson irises. His eyes locked with mine and his alpha power washed over me. Pressure built inside my head as his dominance warred with my stubborn nature.

“She was a member of the pack,” Ewan said, clipping each one of his words. “It’s only right. You will attend. The pack needs to see you, to know you. You are my mate, and we need to show a united front.”

I shook my head, shoving his shoulders as I scooted away from him. Ewan took the hint and moved to sit on the edge of the bed, angling his body so his gaze never drifted from my face.

“Is that an order?” I asked, voice so cold even I didn’t recognize it as my own.

Silence fell between us. He studied my face as if committing it to memory.

---