The Moon's Chosen

THE POWER AWAKENS

I woke up to firelight and pain.

My wrist was on fire. The silver crescent burned like someone had pressed hot iron to my skin and held it there.

I hissed and tried to sit up. The room spun.

"Don’t touch it," a voice said.

Kael was sitting across from me on a wooden chair, sharpening his sword. The sound of stone on metal was steady. Calm.

We were in a small cabin. One room. Wooden walls. A fireplace. His black cloak was drying on a hook.

"Where am I?" My throat felt like sand.

"My cabin. Two miles outside Ashvale. Safer than the orphanage."

He stood and walked over. In his hand was a wet cloth. He pressed it to my wrist and I sucked in a breath.

"The mark wasn’t just a symbol," he said quietly. "It’s a weapon."

I pulled my hand back. The crescent glowed brighter, like it had heard him.

"What did that woman do to me?"

"The Moon Goddess. She chose you." He sat on the edge of the cot. Close. "A thousand years ago she chose the first Moon Chosen to guard the Moon Crystal. The crystal keeps the Shadow King trapped. Now she’s chosen you."

"Why me? I’m nobody. I clean floors."

"Then why is it burning?"

He grabbed my wrist before I could stop him. The moment his skin touched mine, the pain stopped. The glow dimmed.

My heart was pounding. His eyes were so close. Blue. Cold. Tired.

He let go like he’d been burned and stood up.

"Training starts tomorrow," he said, turning away. "The mark gives you moon magic. Right now it’s wild. If you don’t learn control, it’ll kill you."

"And if I refuse?"

"Then the Shadow Beasts will kill you first."

That night I couldn’t sleep. The mark kept pulsing with the moon outside the window.

Every time I closed my eyes I saw red eyes. Smoke. The beast’s jaws.

At dawn, Kael dragged me out back. There was a frozen pond behind the cabin.

"Focus," he said. He stood behind me. "Feel the moon in you. Pull it out through your wrist."

I closed my eyes. Nothing.

"Again."

"I’m trying—"

"Again!"

Hours passed. My hands were numb. My head hurt.

"Kael, I can’t—"

"Again!"

Frustration exploded in my chest. I screamed and threw my hands up.

Ice shot from my palms. It cracked across the entire pond with a sound like breaking glass.

Kael stared. Then the corner of his mouth twitched. "Not bad."

I was smiling for the first time in days when we heard footsteps.

"Luna?"

Lyra.

She stood at the treeline with a basket of bread. Eyes wide. "What are you doing here? Sister Miriam thinks you ran away!"

Kael stepped in front of me. "She’s helping me hunt. Go back to the village, Lyra."

"And who are you?"

"A friend."

Lyra looked between us. She didn’t believe him. But she left, glancing back twice.

That evening, Kael made me practice again. This time with targets.

"Smaller bursts," he said. "Don’t throw everything at once."

I tried. A small bolt of silver light shot out and hit a tree.

"Better."

"Is that all I can do? Shoot light?"

"For now. Later you’ll learn shields. Blades. Healing."

"Will it hurt?"

"Yes."

We ate dinner in silence. Bread and soup.

When it got dark, I couldn’t stop staring at my wrist. The mark was brighter tonight.

"Why is it glowing more?"

"Because the moon is full. It gets stronger."

A tapping sound at the window made us both freeze.

A black crow.

In its beak was a single black feather.

Kael went pale when he saw it. He opened the window and the crow dropped the feather and flew off.

He picked it up with two fingers. Crushed it. Black dust fell to the floor.

"What is it?"

He wouldn’t look at me.

"Kael. What is it?"

"The Shadow King knows your name now," he whispered. "He knows you have the mark. He knows where you are."

My blood went cold. "How?"

"Crows. They’re his eyes."

He threw the dust into the fire.

"We don’t have much time."

I couldn’t sleep that night.

At 2am I heard Kael get up. He went outside.

I followed.

He was standing in the snow, shirtless, sword in hand. Practicing forms. His breath came out in white clouds.

The scar on his side from the beast was still red.

"Can’t sleep?" I asked.

He didn’t turn. "The King’s army moves faster than I thought."

"How many are there?"

"Thousands."

I walked up beside him. The cold bit through my nightgown.

"Teach me another one."

"Now?"

"Now."

He looked at me. Really looked.

"Fine."

For the next hour he showed me how to hold my hands. How to breathe. How to pull the moonlight without burning out.

My wrist ached, but the light came easier this time.

"Good," he said. "Again."

When we went inside, the sky was starting to lighten.

Kael poured me tea. His hands were shaking. From cold. From exhaustion.

"Thank you," I said.

"For what?"

"For not leaving me."

He didn’t answer. He just stared into his cup.

"Kael?"

"Hmm?"

"Do you think I can do this? Beat him?"

He met my eyes.

"I think you have to."

Before I could answer, something hit the roof.

THUMP.

Then another.

Then a scratching at the door.

Kael was on his feet instantly, sword drawn.

"Stay behind me."

He opened the door a c***k.

Outside in the snow were footprints. Big. Clawed.

And leading away from the cabin.

But on the doorstep was a message.

Carved into the wood with a claw.

I KNOW HER NAME

LUNA ASHFORD

3 DAYS

Kael slammed the door and barred it.

"They’re testing us," he said. His voice was low. Dangerous.

"What does it mean? 3 days?"

"It means in 3 days, he comes for you."

He looked at me.

"So we train harder."