Page 117 of Moon Kissed

Cygnus tensed, jaw ticcing. Of course he remembered, he was there.

One day when I was around ten, a fire alpha woman named Elaine started preaching in the streets, claiming she was apsychic and Luame was sending her visions of people’s futures. She predicted that a young woman would rise to fame, fortune, and power. Her name was Sunella. Two years later, Sunella was tapped to join the alpha council.

After that, Elaine’s legend rose. Sunella gushed about her being the real deal to everyone she met, so of course it did.

It happened the night of the solstice when the alpha council and all the clan alphas gathered for the feasting and celebrating. Elaine was invited to be the entertainment for that night. Lucky for me, my father brought me along too, and I remembered being all excited to see my first real psychic in person. I couldn’t wait to ask her if I was destined to live a happier life than the one I had.

Elaine stood up before the entire party, began to tell us about a vision Luame sent her about dark days ahead, and she burst into flames.

Right there in front of us all, Elaine caught fire like someone doused her in gasoline, then revved up the flamethrower. She was nothing but ash and bone before I stopped screaming.

“I’m not lying, Councilman. She would never let me lie.” I lifted my shirt, revealing the mark where my belly button should be. “War is on the horizon and it must be stopped.”

He was silent for so long, my neck hairs stood on end. I couldn’t help it. Having those dead, expressionless eyes fixed on you would make anyone’s skin crawl.

“When did you have this vision?” he finally asked.

“Over a year ago.”

His eyes flickered. “Before you— Is that why you—?” He couldn’t bring himself to finish the sentence.

“Everything I’ve done has been for a larger purpose. Luame’s purpose.”

“Why did you tell no one about this?” he barked. “If you’re truly preventing a war, why take up the charge alone?”

“Because no one else has the stomach to do what must be done,” I hissed. “Even now, you’re trying to justify and rationalize doing away with all the changes I’ve made to the academy.”

“Because they’re nonsensical!” he burst out, not bothering to deny it. “They’re obscene! You’ve allowed omegas to hold false trials against alphas, and punish them how they see fit. You’ve promised epsilons the highest, most important positions in our society. None of that will prevent war. If anything, it will ensure it!”

I didn’t outwardly react to his speech. “See? I knew you wouldn’t understand what I’m trying to do here. You can’t, because you didn’t spend a year living among the mundanes like I have. You didn’t witness the seedy, evil underbelly of the vampire nation. We wolves think ourselves above both societies, but we’re not,” I stated, making him bristle. “We’re just better at it.”

“What on earth are you talking about?”

“Inequality. Control. Injustice. Oppression. We’ve perfected it. We’ve planted, grown, barreled, aged, and bottled it, and then we got so happily drunk on it, we convinced ourselves we did something good.” I took a step toward him, then another. “We’re about to be proved wrong—in a big way—unless something is done about it.

“So I did something.” I swept out a hand, passing over the grand castle. “Corvin Academy is a beacon. It’s the one place in all of Wolf Nation where every wolf from every clan representing every power comes together. If we can change the academy and prove that we can create a fair and equal society here, then all the clans won’t have a hindleg to stand on when they bleat and whine that it’s impossible.”

Cygnus’s skeptical glare went nowhere.

I heaved a sigh, frustration coloring my voice. “Don’t you see? They need a voice,” I cried. “Epsilons and omegas. They need the power to choose their own paths in life, and to know that if anyone tries to throw them off that path, they’ll be held accountable. Giving them that choice starts here by lettingthemchoose their tracks. Lettingthemwork for the careers they want instead of being told what they want. All they want is to be heard, and if they are, there will be no war.”

He lifted his chin, staring down his nose at me. “You’re certain of this? Luame has told you this is the way to end the war?”

“No, she didn’t tell me, but—” I cut off at his smirk, instantly pissed off. “It’s not like I can ring her up for a chat, but this is the way. I know it.”

Cygnus laughed. “You don’t know. You just said you’re simply guessing and stumbling your way through.”

“Listen—”

“No, you listen!” he roared, shooting my heart up to my throat. “You know nothing! You are nothing but a stupid, vapid, petulant little girl who let delusions of grandeur inflate your head! Because of this, you killed my son, shamed all of Wolf Nation, and now you’re wreaking holy terror on everything we hold sacred and dear!

“Did it ever occur to you that Luame sent you that vision as encouragement? As assurance that you were doing the right thing in carrying out your duty as mother wolf, and bringing about the golden generation of wolves?”

“Why in the fuck would that occur to me! Omegas and epsilons weren’t slaughtering alphas and betas because the next generation was born mundane! That doesn’t even make sense!”

“Nothing you’ve said or done makes sense! You killed my son! YOU KILLED HIM!” Spittle coated my cheek. “For nothing! To prevent an imagined war that will never happen! Don’t youdare! Don’t youdarestand there and justify your actions to me! Nothing you did was needed, necessary, or wanted! And I can promise you this.”

He roared up on me, shoving his forehead against mine. But I didn’t react. I didn’t move. “You will complete the bonds, you little bitch. Tonight! I don’t care if I have to hold you down screaming and crying. The second it’s done. The second the new generation is assured, I’m going to bite your heart out of your chest!”

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