Page 99 of A Luna's Dynasty
When you are in need of me, call me, and I will come. You now have the gift of fire. Use it wisely.The phoenix circled overhead, then dived, the flames folding around her in a cocoon.
And in the darkness, a new sun was born. Lita opened her hand, and a flame appeared. It started off small, and then it blazed around her and Asher, swimming around them much like before. When she closed her hand, they were both back … in the training arena.
Chapter 60
Grayson was beside Lita and Asher the instant they reappeared. He wrapped his arms around both of them, his heart pounding in his chest.
“I didn’t realize we were this close yet,” Asher teased with a chuckle. However, the smile quickly faded when he noticed Grayson’s distraught face. “She’s okay. I was with her. I wouldn’t let anything—”.
“It isn’t just her now!” Grayson snapped. “It’s you, too. You’re both my responsibility now. And losing you both like that … and there was nothing I could do.” His hands were trembling and he had lost his composure. “The last I saw of you both, you were on fire, and then you were gone.”
Asher immediately understood his feelings. The feeling of losing someone and there being nothing you can do. They came back, but that feeling of pure and sheer dread Grayson must have felt was something he understood.
“Gray.” Lita leaned against him as Asher swung his arm around and patted his shoulder.
“I understand how you feel. I want you to know that if anything ever did happen, it wouldn’t be your fault. We both know you would do anything and everything you could to protect us. And I want you to know that ahead of time, just in case.” Guilt and blame was something he still struggled with. What if he would have done things differently? What if they hadn’t gone after the demon wolves and had instead waited for them to come to them? “The what ifs will destroy you. Trust me … I know.”
Grayson smiled and ruffled Asher’s hair. “I know you would have done everything and anything, too. Whatever you blame yourself for, cut yourself some slack.”
“D’awww … aren’t the three of them just precious? The two wolves and their teddy bear.” Caden chuckled, trying to lighten the mood. “Seriously, what happened?”
“We met a phoenix. Like, an actual phoenix. She called herself Seraphina. She said she was a tier-three deity. She has linked herself to me as my summon, and I can now control the element of fire."
Caden whistled, impressed. “So you’re, what, a fairy-wolf-phoenix now?”
“More like a fairy-wolf who can use phoenix powers, I think?” Lita gave a small laugh and shrugged. “She said our bloodline will be tasked with bringing peace to the world. I don’t know what that means, but it sounds like a heavy burden to bear.” She looked up at Grayson, who nodded his head, his brows knitted in concern.
“If the gods are getting involved, it’s more than just peace. This is deeper than we realized, and we may not know the truth for some time. If anything, we need to be aware and be prepared. I think that means taking you two to Elysia soon. If a god has attached itself to you, that is something the fairy queen needs to hear about.”
Lita nodded in agreement but was still battling with her own feelings about meeting her mother again. There could have been a less traumatic way to disappear. She understood that the wolves had to think she was dead and gone, and her memories needed to be sealed in order to protect her from the wolf, but that event had caused her a lot of trauma. It was poorly thought out. Maybe that was because it wasn’t exactly planned. Her mother had just reacted in order to save Lita’s life.
Asher comforted Lita through the bond and gave her a small smile.“We will make the trip, but not yet. We just got back from the centaur village and need to get the pack adjusted to their new luna. It’s best to build these relationships while they’re fresh. Leaving the pack while things are new may make them feel vulnerable, and it could start a panic—”
“AHHHHH!” They heard screams in the distance, making everyone snap their heads in that direction.
“We’re being invaded!” someone yelled.
“Centaurs!”
Asher groaned as Lita giggled.
“Caden, get them calmed down. These centaurs are not here to invade. They’re here for extra protection.” Asher watched as Caden nodded his head.
“I’ll make sure no one gets trampled, but I am not a stable boy! I am not mucking out their stalls.”
Asher chuckled and looked at Lita. “Guess Brad wasted no time.”
“We aren’t going to just leave them on the outskirts of our territory, right? Do we have guesthouse accommodations?”
“We don’t exactly have a stable.” Garrett chuckled. “Seriously, our houses wouldn’t fit them.”
“They would if they shifted into their human forms. I don’t know the logistics, but I know they can. But they would be vulnerable. They are strongest in centaur form.” Grayson watched as Lita stepped away from everyone and looked around.
“That is an excellent idea!” Asher grinned, nodding his head.
“Share with the class? We’re not all mind readers,” Caspian teased.
“We can turn one of the training arenas into a shelter. They’re covered and there’s plenty of room. There’s even a mess hall at the end, and showers large enough to accommodate centaurs.” Asher smiled at Lita. “I was hoping for maybe … thirty minutes of peace.”
