The Blood Moon

Selene

Jasper

Raine and I are sharing a bed tonight. She’s exhausted and has already fallen asleep. She spent most of her day trying to connect more with Sienna. She wants answers about her ancestry. It must have drained her because she fell asleep before dinner and hasn’t woken up since.

I shift my weight and roll out of bed slowly. I can’t sleep. My mind is racing in anticipation for tomorrow’s council. I’m afraid we won’t be able to hold Pierce and then Raine’s trouble with him will never end.

I make my way to the patio and sit in one of the padded chairs. I look up at the moon and see it has turned red. I look around and realize a low purple haze has surrounded me. She appears in front of me, my goddess Selene. I bow to her, and she smiles in return.

“My champion. You have helped my sweet child more in the last three weeks than I anticipated. I am proud of your progress,” She is smiling so warmly at me that I can feel it in my bones. My wolf wags his tail and prances around my mind. He is so happy that his creator has noticed us.

Her eyes are dancing with glee as she watches him in my mind.

“Ajax is truly a fantastic partner. One of my favorite wolves I’ve divined. He will be the perfect partner for you as you begin the long road ahead,” she smiles at me again.

“What do you mean, moon mother?”

“There is much you need to know. I will try to make it brief. As you know, Raine is one of my most special children. Her mother is one of my direct descendants. However, her father was a disciple of the night. A warlock and a follower of my sister, Nyx. Nyx blessed him with her darkness before Raine was conceived, which makes her a direct descendant of Nyx as well. She is a very powerful being. Nyx needs her to open the gates to her realm. With my light, Raine would be able to not only open the gates but destroy them. Though I fear it would destroy her in the process.”

I feel my heart rate increase hearing that Raine is in danger.

“Nyx knew that I would protect Raine. So she convinced Pierce Vernon to be her champion. She helped him imprint on Raine. Raine is his chosen mate.”

I growl deeply and look back towards raine’s sleeping form. No wonder she still feels a pull towards him. As long as he’s alive, and she is unmated, she will feel him. The urge to end his existence swells inside me. My hands are shaking in anger.

“I know this is hard to hear. But you need to understand. Pierce will escape after the elders council. He will come for Raine, he can feel her wherever she is. He has been tasked with bringing her to Nyx. This cannot happen Jasper. Nyx’s realm is home to many fearsome creatures of the night, such as vampires. We must protect the world from her reign.”

“Why does she want to open the gates so badly?”

“Her husband resides there. He cannot leave and she cannot enter. She misses him fiercely. I cannot say I blame her. I would miss my dear mate if he were taken from me.”

I nod in agreement, looking back again towards Raine. She is still sleeping soundly in my bed. I cannot imagine life without her presence anymore.

“You know what you must do Jasper. Even if you must destroy Pierce, Raine must not be taken to Nyx. I have been trying to reach Raine to talk to her and explain. But I still can’t get through to her. I fear the darkness in her is blocking my path and I won’t be able to see her.”

I nod in understanding.

“I will keep her safe, moon mother. You can count on me.”

She smiles warmly at me again and touches my cheek with her hand. Her hand begins to glow and her warmth intensifies on my cheek.

“I hereby bless you with my light. May it clear the darkness when it overwhelms you.”

The heat from her hand is becoming overwhelming. I close my eyes and grit my teeth as I feel it surge through me. Then it suddenly stops. I open my eyes and Selene is gone.

I sit back in my chair and try to process everything I had just learned. I have to make a plan to keep Raine safe. There has to be a way to break an imprint, right? Just like one can break a fated bond with a rejection. An imprint is just a chosen bond. Maybe I can sever that link and keep her hidden from Pierce until he can be dealt with.

Or maybe I can get rid of her darkness? Eliminate the grip Nyx has on Raine. Prevent her from being used and destroyed. Then Pierce won’t come after her at all.

I sigh and walk back to the bed. I lie down and pull Raine into my arms. I hold her close to me, concentrating on her breathing, grounding me to this moment.

I can’t let anything, or anyone, take this amazing woman from me.