Shadow Meeting
1351 Words
☽ Lucan ☾
After my trip to Ashridge, Nyra and I watched Vespera whenever we could. I noticed that she moved through the pack as if she owned it. And she probably felt that she did. After all, Zarek had chosen her as his partner, and everyone seemed to like her. People smiled and waved. Some even stopped to chat. All of it made my stomach turn. Zarek was always around as well. He wasn’t attached to her in any way. In fact, it almost seemed as if he was keeping an eye on her as well. Then again, whenever he did see Nyra, he watched her as if she were a problem. I couldn’t help but wonder how he felt about rejecting her. Nyra wasn’t weak or pathetic. She was brave, strong, and still young. While I did hide while watching Vespera, I didn’t hide from Zarek, and every time our eyes met, we silently challenged each other. I dared him to act, but he didn’t.
I didn’t care about his pride.
Instead, I noticed that Vespera’s habits were careful. She did her duties in a way that was visible, but not quite helpful. It wasn’t until the fourth day that I caught her sneaking into the forest. I followed closely, but kept my distance. It was late, and the moon sat high above Blackpine Villa. I kept to the shadows, moving slowly, as I matched her pace. She didn’t look back. Clearly, she believed no one would challenge or follow her. She had no idea she was being watched.
Good.
At the bend, she stepped off the path and into the brush. I waited a few heartbeats and went after her. The trees thickened, and the ground dipped into a shallow ravine that smelled of damp stone. Ahead, a small orange glow flickered between trunks. Vespera stopped at the edge of the light, and I saw a man standing there. I immediately knew he wasn’t one of us. His scent hit me like smoke and old blood. He held himself too still, too sure. Even in human form, he had the weight of a predator that didn’t fear being hunted.
Vaelor.
The name of the rogue king made me sick. I took a low breath and hid behind a fallen log. Vespera smiled at him like he was a gift.
“You came,” she said.
“You called,” Vaelor replied. “Speak,”
“You promised I would have her power,” Vespera said, and her tone was overly sweet. I could tell that she was frustrated. Vaelor, on the other hand, smiled. Not in a kind way, but in some sort of twisted way.
“You will have what I allow,”
“The first attempt failed because she destroyed the Veinstone,” Vespera snapped.
“Then bring me another,” Vaelor said. “Or bring me the girl,”
“She is protected now. Lucan returned,” Vespera hissed. Vaelor tilted his head, almost amused.
“Is he watching you?”
“The pack trusts me,” she said. “They don’t trust her,”
“Good,” Vaelor said. “Isolation makes her easier to take,” Vespera leaned in.
“Zarek is starting to regret rejecting her. I can push him into making a mistake,” she said, and I frowned. Why would Zarek suddenly regret his decision? Was it something Vespera had done or said? Or was it something else entirely?
“I don’t care about your Alpha’s feelings,” Vaelor said.
“You should,” Vespera insisted. “If he thinks she is his to reclaim, he will do so without thought. And that will make our plans harder to execute,”
“Irrelevant,” Vaelor dismissed her concerns with a flick of his hand. “Now, tell me about her,” Vespera sighed loudly.
“She doesn’t understand what she is,” Vespera said. “But she is changing,”
“Naturally, that won’t stop,” Vaelor said. “White Wolf power rises with the moon,” Vespera’s eyes glittered.
“Then give me your blood sigils. The next rite must be stronger,” Vaelor paused as he stared at her.
“You want my secrets,”
“I want my reward,” she fired back. I frowned as I watched them, but then, Vaelor’s cocky smirk turned vicious as he snarled at Vespera.
“You want to be her,” it wasn’t a question. It was a statement. Vespera flinched, but then she lifted her chin.
“She was nothing before her rebirth. A weak girl. An orphan,” she said, and my chest tightened. I didn’t quite understand what Vespera had just said. Nyra wasn’t an orphan.
“Orphans are useful. They can be shaped,”
“I overheard her and Lucan talking. He thinks he can save her,” Vespera stated, and Vaelor’s eyes narrowed.
“Can he?”
“No,” she replied with a soft laugh. “He isn’t even her real brother,” her words hit me so hard I felt as if I couldn’t breathe. My hands went numb against the bark of the tree I was hiding behind.
“What do you mean?” I heard Vaelor ask. “Explain,”
“His parents took her in after a rogue raid,” Vespera said. “Lucan thinks she is his sister, but she isn’t. Not by blood,” my mouth went dry.
“Does she know?” Vaelor asked.
“No,” Vespera said. “Lucan doesn’t know either. Not yet. If he ever does find out, he will hesitate,”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning, he will be torn between duty and desire,” she snapped. I froze as the word washed over me.
Desire.
I slowly shook my head as I peered around the tree. Vaelor nodded.
“Very good. That weakness can be used,” he said. Vespera stepped closer.
“Then give me what I need. I will deliver her,” Vaelor looked down at her like she was a tool.
“You will deliver her when I say. Until then, keep them doubting her. Keep them watching the wrong doors,”
“And what then?” Vespera demanded. I had to hand it to her, she wasn’t afraid of him. Not really. Or at least, it didn’t appear that way. Vaelor scoffed in response.
“And then when the moon turns full, her power will rise. She will be caught off guard by it…and she won’t have anyone to help her,”
“That’s when we snatch her?”
“No, you fool!” Vaelor suddenly roared. Vespera shrieked back, and I had to stop myself from making a run for it. He scared the hell out of me. “She will beg,” he said. Vespera suddenly looked pleased, but then he glanced toward the trees. Toward me and for a heartbeat, I thought he knew. “Time for you to go,” he said. She nodded, and I pressed myself against the tree. Vespera left, and I watched as she passed me. I waited a breath of a moment before I relaxed slightly. I glanced at the clearing, but Vaelor had disappeared. Instead of returning to the cabin quietly, I made a run for it. I didn’t care who heard me. I needed to get back as quickly as possible. Vespera’s words looped in my head.
Nyra wasn’t my sister.
My parents had taken her in.
Torn between duty and desire.
By the time I reached our cabin, I was out of breath. I slipped inside, and of course, Nyra was waiting for me. I stared at her before I looked away.
“Where were you?” she asked. “Did you find something?”
“Not tonight,” I said, and the lie tasted bitter. Nyra studied me, but I headed straight to my bedroom and closed the door behind me. I knew then that I needed to know if it was true.
And even then, I wasn’t sure I would tell her.
☽☾
- Writer
