Page 15 of Luna Cursed

Ciara found Bayn's backup burner phone collection and helped herself to one. She needed to talk to Lachie, and if she sat up with Freya and Bayn, she would have to endure another lecture. It was good to be back in a familiar place with some of her gear to ground her.

Ciara had known the second Tor left the apartment and flinched as something yanked on her insides. He was back in his own city. It made sense he would want his own bed and space now that he had Bayn and Freya to keep an eye on her. She didn't know why it made panic tickle up her spine.

Has to be the stupid bond, she told herself. She should be relieved he put some distance between them. She wouldn't have any once they started hunting Varg.

Ciara sat on the guest room bed and dialed her brother's number. It was probably the longest they had ever gone without talking to each other.

Lachie's phone rang out. Ciara messaged him:It's your sister, not a one-night stand you are trying to ghost.

Ciara huffed out a laugh as her phone instantly started ringing. "You're unbelievable."

"I don't answer numbers I don't know! Where the fuck are you?" Lachie answered.

"At Freya's place. Can you talk? I'm… I'm not okay," she replied.

Lachie was the only one she let know when she was having a bad day. She couldn't handle a certain level of vulnerability, even with her cousins. Lachie and Ciara were two years apart, and losing their parents had made them band tighter together than twins.

"Yeah, I got time. I've just finished up with the new recruits for the day. We had another four people turn up, wanting to be hunters. Kenna is getting overwhelmed, so she asked me to hang about a bit and help," Lachie explained. "There're even a few cute ones."

Ciara laughed. "Just don't seduce anyone that you're training. We need all the hunters we can get, so don't shit where you eat."

"I said they were cute, not that I wanted to seduce them. Like I have time for that shit anyway."

"Doesn't sound like you."

Lachlanalwayshad time to charm the pants off everyone who crossed his path—sometimes literally. It was Ciara who had the problem getting close to anyone. Attachment and relationships always meant opening up and allowing yourself to be vulnerable to another person. The thought of doing that made her feel like her whole body was turning to acid. Ciara just couldn't do it.

She remembered what Layla had said about Apollo and him at the party. "Is this sudden celibacy something to do with whatever Apollo Greatdrakes is pissed off at you about?"

"Gods no. Goldie is angry at me because I stopped him from going home with trash a few weeks ago. We were out at Monkey Paw, and this guy who is always sleazing around there tried to pick him up. I sent the fucker on his way, and Apollo decided to be offended over it."

"You cock blocked him! No wonder he's pissed off at you."

"Did you not hear what I said about the guy being total trash? He's repellent, and if he ever touched Apollo, I would have to break all the asshole's fingers on principal alone," Lachie complained.

"Not really your call to make, is it? I mean, how would you feel if Apollo did that to you?"

Lachie made a frustrated noise. "The Greatdrakes are practically family. We protect our family from nasty sleazebags with god knows how many gross STDs. Apollo can be pissed about it as much as he wants. I won't apologize for looking out for him. He needs someone watching him because his brothers don't seem to care."

"Ah, huh. Well, good luck with protecting his virtue in the future. Just remember he's a magician, and if you act like too much of a dick, he'll turn you into a frog or some shit," Ciara teased him.

"Oh please, like he would dare."

"You know Apollo. He's going to get revenge. Be prepared for him to cock block you every chance he gets now," Ciara said, fighting back a giggle.

"He won't get the chance. Like I said, I'm too busy to fuck about at the moment anyway. I'mextrabusy because someone tried to be a hero and ended up getting fucked up. You better spit out what really happened, sis, before I come over there and throttle you for making me worry so much."

Ciara chewed on her lip. "Promise you won't get mad?"

"Absolutely not."

Ciara sighed and told him everything anyway. Unlike when she was talking with Layla, she let Lachlan know how scared she had been, how she had thought she was going to die, and how now she was possibly going to turn into a wolf. She didn't have to explain herself to Lachie. He knew precisely what turning into a wolf would mean to her.

"Fuck, Ciara," Lachie murmured once she was done. "Fuck."

"Yeah. I have about two weeks until I know for sure. I want to focus on catching Varg until then…just in case I'm not the same after," Ciara replied. At least hunting would stop her mind from running about in circles non-stop.

"I'm sure you're going to be fine. Tor got you to help super quick, and a wolf shaman will know their shit." Lachie was silent for a long moment before continuing. "If you do turn, what do you want me to do? I know what you used to say, but times have changed. All the creatures are out, and Tor won't let you go through the transition alone. He'll help you. I'll still love you if you can shapeshift."

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