Mating Enigma Of The Luna

The conflict has claimed the life of your first husband. A devastating development is followed by another. And now, as her Papa put it, "you are a widowed human girl." Prey included humans, and the Descendants of the Moon in particular. Vampires who dominated the nobility drank the blood of Direct Descendants to restore their health, and werewolves who protected the country were lured by the scent of their flesh. Indira Lochan was at a loss for words. Her gut sank and her hands trembled in shock. The wind howled outside, and the fluttering drapes at the door revealed a growing queue of other tributes. Indira managed to stifle a "that'd be impossible" in there. Although she may not have a deep understanding of her husband, she does know that he is skilled in battle. From next to where Indira’s dad was standing, another voice shouted up. Matriarch Lochan said, "With his death, there is no marriage or husband to protect you. That's why you're here today, celebrating a decade of achievement. Lochan , the matriarch, looked at her grandchild. This mild-mannered woman would be unprepared to deal with the fallout from the loss of her husband. People out there will soon recognize her true identity, even if Indira doesn't yet, thanks to her silver hair and purple eyes. Lochan , the Matriarch of the family, said coldly, "Your life is on the line." "You're a human female, just bereaved and robbed of your virginity. This is your sole chance of finding a guardian. Indira stuttered, "O-on the same day I'm supposed to mourn my husband, I'll be wedded off again," since she couldn't speak properly without her annoying tongue. Lochan , the Matriarch of the family, snarled, "Precisely," her eyes narrowing in horror at the disgusting practice se. She saw the absurdity of their predicament, but could do nothing about it. The time to act was immediately. Seeing Indira’s reluctance, Matriarch Lochan added, "The Decade Tribute Ceremony happens every 10 years, you won't have another opportunity like this again." Mumbling, "I know," Indira attempted to respond. Indira tried to speak but could only blink and her hands shook as she formed words. The question, "Are you sure?" Matriarch Lochan snarled at her expressionlessness. After a violent war against werewolves and vampires, humanity forged a contract that launched the torturous tradition of the Decade Tribute Ceremony. Every ten years, the noblest and bluest-blooded human households that participated greatly to the conflict ten generations ago must send a female tribute to remind humans of their lowly place in the food chain. Only by sacrificing humans could peace be maintained among the three species. Indira’s father started off by saying, "We're not trying to give you away again, but this is the only way to protect you." "Mason ," Lochan , the patriarch, scolded, trying to silence her son. Indira nervously confronted her stern father. His ghostly face betrayed a flash of guilt. Matriarch Eve considered him useless due of his cane and weak leg. Once, when protecting Indira from Matriarch Lochan ' blows, her father had taken a horrible beating in her place, but the old woman was too severe. When her own son tried to intervene, Lochan broke his legs, permanently paralyzing him. "Everyone dies at some point," Mason reminded her in a dejected tone. Veterans of the nation's werewolves and vampire lords of the nobility are not immune to death. Madhur was only human; his demise was predetermined, even if he was the son of a duke. The speaker stammered, "I-is that all?" Indira whispered drowsily. She was so consumed by her sorrow that she didn't even see the maids brushing through her hair so roughly. Strands of silver fell to the ground and accumulated like dirty snow. All the evil and powerful werewolves and vampires are here," Lochan , the matriarch, said, with a bustle in the background. She cast an uncertain glance outside the tent. With her scalp scorching from the insensitive maid, Indira cast a sad gaze at her grandma, but she was used to it. Lochan , the Matriarch of the family, became the Head of the House ten years ago. Indira was only ten years old when the ailing Patriarch heard about the terrible thing that had happened to her. Since then, Lochan 's mother has held a deep-seated hatred towards the young woman. Shock: "I-is he really dead?" Indira was too distracted by the ceremony to pay attention. She was still struggling to make sense of her husband's unexpected demise. Matriarch Lochan ' icy stare transformed her private study into a wintry landscape at the first hint of Indira’s stutter. Indira’s spin was jolted by the cold. Matriarch Lochan snapped, "Stop talking right now." Every time Indira’s terrible habit reared its ugly head, her patience wore thin. Indira recoiled at the intensity of her grandmother's stare. She immediately began to bite her lip. Her grandmother's beatings left more of an emotional scar than a physical one, so she could never dare disobey her. "Indira ," Lochan , the matriarch, said to her daughter with the same disdain she could show a servant. We married you off to him when you were 18 to keep you safe, but he deflowered you and then vanished the next morning to join some kind of war, leaving you effectively a widow. Indira’s body went into a deep freeze. "Since then," Lochan , the matriarch, said. He is presumed dead because no human would survive a battle in a world where werewolves are the soldiers of the nation and vampires control the nobles with vengeance to keep us humans imprisoned, however his family has not received a single word concerning him or the battle. This was it then. "House Lochan is expected to present a tribute," Matriarch Lochan said. You traumatized your older sister when you brought her out to the festival two years ago; because of this, you must take Alessia 's place today, even if it means death. Indira felt the pain of regret like an arrow piercing a bird. Indira recalled the day vampires attacked her and her older sister Alessia . Alessia 's arrival was the catalyst for the festivities; her beauty alone had everyone waiting. Alessia insisted on staying for the Festival of the Setting Sun on that tragic day. Indira still had nightmares about Alessia 's eerie cries. Indira recalled Alessia 's pleading eyes as she struggled to escape the vampire's vicious bite. Again, what were the vampires saying? Suddenly, Indira recalled his nasty response: "Not that one." But she's the only one who smells so sweet," another moaned, his bloodshot eyes penetrating Indira’s skin. His friend grabbed Alessia by the hair and said, "You know the order, anyone but her," as Indira stood there transfixed with disbelief. "Sit up straight and bid the lovely lady good day." The question was, "Even though we assaulted her sister?" "Yes." "Enjoy yourself today, young lady." The words came back to Indira as if they had just been spoken. Even though she was surrounded by a pack of bloodthirsty outcast vampires, not a single one of them dared approach her. Anyone but her, Indira thought back. What exactly did they intend by that? The absence of human blood gave them a mummy-like look, and Indira recognize them as renegade vampires because of their skeletal appearance. Despite being close to death, the vampires refrained from drinking her blood. Indira had no idea why, but she would find out soon enough, and for the wrong reasons. - - - - - Indira was destined for this role from the start. Indira had just entered the grassy clearing when she noticed the massive white tents, the color of which resembled surrender flags, decked up with the symbols of aristocratic human houses. Families watched as one by one their daughters lined up like pigs for s*******r, reminding the humans of their historic defeat. An alpha murmured to his beta, the second in command, "Near silver hair and amethyst eyes, they're traits of the Moon Goddess' descendants, could it be...?" Werewolf pack Alphas and vampire lords passed the women by without a second glance. However, for a split second, they all pecked in Indira’s direction. Betas and heads alike turned to look at her at once, their interest piqued. They were all rapid-firing assertions at their Alphas, and the Betas were, "Perhaps," Second-in-Command. Their discourse was inaudible to Indira . Where did their gaze go? As soon as they laid eyes on her, they looked to their advisor for permission, who could only shake their head. It felt like everybody was checking her out. Why? Grandma Lochan yelled, "Indira ," as she hurried up to her granddaughter with a man at her side. Indira was forced to look even though she didn't want to. She stopped dead in her tracks when she saw the man who was old enough to be her dad. Her breath froze. An undead creature. His pigeon-blood eyes mirrored hers as she looked at him in terror. "Wife, please genuflect before your future husband, Easton Levi."