Page 78 of Luna Rising

“Why are we all different?” I asked.

“We’ll have to ask Essie and Walter for their theories. It might be as simple as chance. You drank vampire blood before the comets. If that hadn’t been the case, the dreams may have started then for you as well,” Colleen said.

I didn’t share Tish’s trigger for her nightly journey down memory lane because Colleen still didn’t know that we’d been to see her and Lucca. We probably needed to come clean about that before the pair showed up, but I figured I should talk to Winter before outing her to her mother.

“What did your father say about the enchantments on the prison?” Mrs. Wynn asked Reggie.

“Only that they’re fortified once a year. The ritual takes three days. A group of fae show up, Dad leaves, and he returns seventy-two hours later. He used to take me on vacation during that time when I was a kid. If I’m not working, we still go,” she said.

“Do you know who the fae are?” Colleen asked.

Reggie shook her head. “There’s always a member of the Zodiac Fae Council with them, but the others are never the same.”

“Let me guess, it’s renewal season, isn’t it?” I met Reggie’s gaze.

“Yep. One week.”

“What happens if the magic isn’t fortified?” Brooke asked. “Does Demi get out?”

Reggie held hands palms up. “No idea. It’s never happened.”

On that ominous note, the conversation ended. Reggie was anxious to return to Traitor’s Hell, not wanting to leave her father alone with Mat and the others circling the prison. She also seemed worried about her sister. I couldn’t imagine how scary it must have been to be Demi, locked away for crimes that weren’t her fault by the people who bore the real blame, with no memory of the ancient vampire who claimed to be her true mate.

Once again, I thought all my other guests might realize they should leave too, and yet none of them did until Kiernan fell asleep against my mother’s shoulder. Slowly but surely, the gathering did finally break up, with only Penn and Charlie remaining when Ewan finally came home, smelling of blood and snow and regret.

“Drake is at the lodge,” he told Penn. “Charlie, if you could stay at my mother’s tonight.”

“You got it, boss.”

The two betas left. Ewan folded me in his arms and buried his face in my hair. “It’s done. Kiernan’s parents are dead.”

I stiffened, not prepared to hear those words.

“The meeting ended about an hour ago. I didn’t have a choice. They poisoned us. That’s treason. They were family, so I did it in private. I just wanted it over with before we assigned the accords, you know?”

He was all over the place and visibly upset with his actions, so I didn’t ask questions. Instead, I threaded my fingers through his and led him to the stairs.

“It’s late. Let’s go to bed.”

Ewan hesitated. “I need blood first.”

I started up the stairs, tugging him behind me. “You can drink from me.”

“Why are you being so nice and accommodating?” He raised a suspicious eyebrow.

I feigned outrage. “I’m always nice and accommodating.”

“No, you’re not.”

“Okay, you left me alone with my mother all day, and she seized the opportunity to lecture me on the qualities of a good mate. I’m proving a star pupil.”

He shook his head. “Did this lesson come with a potion of some kind?”

“If you’re suggesting my mother drugged me, fair. But no.” I walked him to bed and pushed him onto the mattress.

Ewan stared up at me as I climbed on top of him, straddling his hips. “You seem very Stepford-Zara right now.”

I pulled my shirt over my head. “I don’t know what that means, but sure.”

---