Page 66 of Hellfire

Luna crouched beside me and picked them with me, dropping them in the Heshan bag. “It’s not toxic, is it?”

“Pays to be wise, Princess.” I patted her knee. “I’ll wear gloves for those.” I patted my jacket pocket where I stuffed them.

When we filled up the eight-by-four bag, I tugged the drawstrings tight and added it to my backpack. “Does this bring back any memories?”

“Only little bits and pieces, like my grandmother crushing them to make a paste.” She rubbed the back of her head. “Nothing substantial like what she used them for, and they’re brief flashes, not enough to get more detail.”

I swallowed back the resistance screaming,“Don’t go fucking back there,”and asked, “Want me to have another look in your mind? Your conscious mind might be protecting you from trauma.”

Hell, I was no therapist, and I probably shouldn’t touch her mind when it took me two years working with a clinical psychologist specializing in cults to deprogram from the Brotherhood’s indoctrination. Two years of hell to unwind their tentacles and free myself from Camus’ grip, preventing him from accessing me through magical or brainwashing means, and becoming accustomed to thinking more normally and living in the real world. Therapy I’d put my sister through when she wasmentally fit enough. Right now, she was fragile and breaking, and I wouldn’t do that to her until she agreed.

“We might need to.” Luna launched to her feet with me. “The Academy hasn’t been forthcoming on what they’ve found on my mind scan. I feel like their science experiment. A ticking bomb waiting to off.”

I placed my hand over hers, relishing her soft warmth. “Maybe they haven’t solved it yet. We had to seek Castor’s input to decipher the last symbol.”

Fuck. Listen to me being optimistic. This woman really changed me. Though, the darker, older, wiser side to me said the Guild withheld their findings for a reason. Luna Prince was their weapon now, deployable when they gave the order. I warned her once of their potential motivations and wouldn’t do it again. It was up to her to decide if she wanted to be their weapon.

“Maybe.” Her voice trailed off.

I turned to face her, curling her into my arms, reassuring her that I was by her side, no matter what eventuated with the Guild or the Brotherhood. “We’ll get answers, Princess. Don’t give up.”

She poked my side. “Since when are you the voice of reason?”

I groaned and squeezed her. “Stop reminding me. Look what you’re doing to me—making me hopeful and confident.” I poked her back. “How dare you? I’ve got a cynical reputation to uphold!”

Humor was all I had in the Brotherhood, where no hope or light existed. Sometimes it got me into trouble, but I didn’t give a shit.

She laughed hard and ended on a snort, then flushed red, burying her face in my jacket.

“Princesses don’t snort.” I rocked her from side to side.

“They do! It’s a secret concealed by royal PR agents.” She smacked my arm, and we both laughed.

I never wanted lighthearted moments like these between us to end, when at times it felt like the world was full of darkness.

“Come on.” I wrapped an arm over her neck and guided her away. “Teacher Gable needs to impart his wisdom.”

We ambled deeper into the grassland, then the forest, harvesting more flowers, grasses, herbs, and seeds, and I explained their properties, medicinal values, and applications. Once our bag was full from our venture and our bellies full from our picnic, we got back on the bike and descended the plateau. At the bottom, we met Dash, Alpha heir to Pack Lumbry, at the bottom, parking next to his bike, a restored2018 Honda 125Fthat gave mine a run for its money.

The wolf shifter had a good four inches on me, looming over our bike, his shadow blocking the winter sun. Most of the wolves were taller than me, descending from two-legged Lycans, standing at up to eight feet tall. The werewolf packs bred them big to defend their lands.

Looks wise, the guy was attractive—dark hair, eyes darker than my gray, burning with a rebellious fire, body brimming with muscles, a jaw that made a model jealous, clean-shaven because his father was ex-military and demanded precision. Dash made every attempt to piss off his father, wearing torn jeans, a white tank top like me, and denim jacket.

Luna shook off her helmet and squeezed it under her arm. I followed suit, resting mine on my handlebar.

“Dash, my man.” I extended my palm for him to slap and shake.

“Who’s your lady friend?” His gaze shifted into an angry storm and slid to Luna, and she hardened against me. The shifter had reason to be suspicious. I didn’t clear it with him before bringing her into his turf.

“My bad,” I admitted, patting her leg, using it as a front to grab her hand and keep it glued to her leg. He couldn’t see hersnake tattoos. “This is my girl, Luna. I should have cleared it with you beforehand. I’m sorry, I’ve been caught up with my sister.” I intentionally left out the part about Luna studying at the Academy for her safety.

Shifters and the Guild were at war, many packs in hiding from them, using my magical wards to protect them from detection and slaughter.

“That mistake’s gonna cost you a twenty percent discount on next month.” Dash’s father taught him how to ball-bust.

Umbra Lumbry, the Alpha, also didn’t know about our little deal, and would break my fingers for stealing from his lands.

“Fine.” I stretched out my hand and shook Dash’s. In our world, a gentleman’s agreement was their contract.

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