by Cara Wylde
“How did you get the subjects, if you don’t mind me asking?”
James smiled. “I do mind.”
For a second, Max was taken aback by the blunt answer. He couldn’t even begin to imagine what it implied. He tried to stir his mind in a different direction. He eyed the phial on the glass table again and the trick worked.
“What you’re saying… sounds wonderful. However, there are many implications to it. I wouldn’t know of any shape-shifters who would give up their ability to shift. The majority of us were born with it.”
“But you do agree that it can be a solution for those who weren’t born with it. Those who were turned before and during the war.”
Sabine’s dark brown eyes flashed through Max’s mind. “Yes… If they want it.”
“All of them want it, believe me.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that.”
“You’re thinking of your ex-bride, Sabine. Don’t you think this cure would be a blessing for her?”
Max took a moment to think about his question. He thought of Sabine as she had been when he returned to the Schloss after the war was over, of her turning before him to show him how well she had learned to control the change. He had no idea how she had been as a human, but he knew she loved to run through the woods in her wolf form. “No. I don’t think she’d take it. She’d always loved being a werewolf, enjoyed every second of it.”
“Except when she went mad with jealousy thinking that you were cheating on her because she couldn’t get pregnant. The cure would take her wolf from her, but would give her a fertile womb. A new chance at happiness.”
“I don’t think that would work out so well.” Delyse’s soft voice startled them both. They turned towards her, and she looked at them hesitatingly, almost feeling sorry for having intervened. Well, there was no turning back now. She rarely disagreed with her brother, but when he was wrong, he was wrong and she had to let him know. “Maybe she’d give up on her wolf and take the cure, but then she’d just want to destroy Avelyn. I can’t claim that I know Sabine or understand her, but from what Avelyn told me, it doesn’t seem like her obsession with you,” she turned to Max, “has anything to do with the fact that she was turned into a werewolf and taken away the chance to ever become a mother. If things had been different, she would have done the same. Jealousy is not something one develops in time, under certain circumstances. My two cents is she’s always been that way, you just didn’t see it.”
Max smiled at Delyse. “You’re right. Thank you for that.”
“All right,” said James. “I see how your ex-bride becoming a hybrid would do you and Avelyn more harm. Nonetheless, you get my point. Even if there wouldn’t be too many shape-shifters thrilled at the idea of the vaccine, at least they would know it’s there and they have a choice. Don’t you think it’s only fair for the members of your species, born or turned, to have a choice?”
“With that I can’t argue,” said Max. “Sure, having a choice is always a good idea. It would also mean humans would have a choice. They could turn, become stronger and faster, get a longer lifespan, then take the cure and ditch the ability to shift. As you said, it can bring the species to the same level.”
“And wouldn’t that be… fair?”
There was a small challenge in Harington’s voice, and Max didn’t miss it. While humans dominated through sheer number, shape-shifters dominated through physical strength and magical abilities often too complicated and enigmatic to comprehend. The possibility of humans being brought to the shifters’ level was frightening to say the least, but it might as well have been the novelty of the notion that made Max uncomfortable. A fleeting thought crossed his mind: he was probably feeling now exactly how the Councilors of the shifter factions felt when Arthur Harington presented his project to them.
“Yes, I guess it would be only fair.” For now, he had to agree with the young Harington. He needed the cure for Avelyn. He could reconsider all the implications of a globally distributed vaccine and make up his mind later.
James nodded, his expression sober. “I’m sorry. I’m very passionate about my job and I often get sidetracked when I talk about it.”
“No problem.”
“As you can see, I have the dose for your bride. It must be injected intravenously. It will take effect in 24 hours, so, as long as she gets it at least 24 hours before the full moon, she should be fine.”
Max took a deep breath, not taking his eyes off James. “Thank you. You’ve saved my wife and my child. Now, tell me, what can I do for you?”
James finally set the empty cup back on the glass table. He leaned forward in his armchair, resting his elbows on his knees. He looked at Miss Delacroix, then at his sister.
“My sister took your rejection rather well, I can’t say the same thing about our father.”
Delyse dropped her gaze to her hands, clasped tightly in her lap. She blushed up to the tops of her ears.
“I’m sorry,” said Max. “I never meant to offend anyone.” He turned to Delyse. “I am very sorry. It had nothing to do with you, Delyse. You’re simply wonderful, and any man would be lucky to have you.”
“It’s okay,” she whispered. “You don’t need to apologize to me or anyone else. You and Avelyn were meant to be together. You make her happy, and that’s all that counts.”
“Nonetheless,” James interrupted them, “my sister is in need of a husband.”
“James!” Delyse couldn’t believe her brother was doing this to her. She had wondered why he had insisted that she and Miss Delacroix would be present at this meeting, but it had never crossed her mind this was the reason.
“Lily, it’s the truth. I’ve been worried about you, so I spoke to Miss Delacroix, trying to figure out why no one has chosen you after the incredible number of interviews you’ve had in the past two months.”
Delyse turned to the headmistress. She completely missed the fact that James had called her by her real name.
“I thought it was better to tell him, child,” confirmed the woman.
“What’s happening?” asked Max, a look of concern mixed with curiosity flashing in his green eyes.
James turned to him. “Lily has been sabotaging her own interviews on the assumption that no shifter who has asked her since you chose her friend is good enough for our father.”
“And it’s true!” said Delyse. “What was the best I got? The Alpha of two wolf packs in Northern Ireland? He wasn’t even cute! What else? Three Beta foxes, one Alpha eagle, five Alpha bears. Five bears. Seriously?”
Miss Delacroix started massaging her temples, feeling the threatening stab of an impending migraine. “Jesus,” she thought. “It’s getting more and more difficult to marry these girls off. And, as if the business wasn’t already going to hell as it was, now we have a cure that can make shifter females able to procreate. I can already see Alma Venus turning into a normal high school.”
“I’m with you, sister. All the way. But it can’t go on like this.”
“What do you want me to do?” whined Delyse with the cutest pout on her rosy lips. “It’s not that I don’t want to be bought, but I don’t want to disappoint father… again.”
“And you won’t,” James said matter-of-factly. “Because, in exchange for the cure, Max here is going to find you a worthy husband.”
“What?” Max’s brows rose in disbelief. “That’s what you want for the vaccine?”
“Yes. What did you expect?”
“I… I don’t know.”
“I love my sister, Max. Lily deserves the best, and even though I don’t agree with her silly obsession of getting back in our father’s good graces, I will support her no matter what. As a Donation, she can pretty much choose whomever she likes, and I encouraged her countless times to follow her heart. Most shifter-brides can’t afford this luxury. But, if she wants to impress our father, then so be it. You’re one of the advisers of Councilor Voinom. You’ve got connections. Use them and find my sister a worthy Alpha
.”
“This is… weird. I don’t think I can promise anything…” Max couldn’t believe he had just been asked to play the matchmaker. He would have laughed if James’ serious expression didn’t make it all too clear it would’ve been a very bad idea.
“You’ll have to.” James turned to the headmistress. “Miss Delacroix, please remove Lily’s catalog entry as soon as you get the chance. She won’t be having any interviews from now on.”
The blunt request took the old woman by surprise. “That’s unprecedented.”
Delyse’s eyes brightened with joy, and she looked at the headmistress hopefully. The idea of not having to attend any more interviews was exhilarating. They had become so bothersome and exhausting, especially since she had to work so hard to make the shifters change their mind about buying her. She was damn expensive, of course, but most of them were willing to get neck deep into debt just to have her and all the social and political advantages attached to her name.
“I don’t think I can do that,” continued Miss Delacroix, even though the plea in Delyse’s blue eyes made her voice waver.
“It’s your boarding school,” said James. “You can do whatever you want. Besides, no one else has to know about it.”
“I…”
“Please say ‘yes’!” Delyse jumped off the sofa and leaned over the edge of the desk, hands clasped on her chest.
The woman took in the girl’s timid smile and big, blue eyes. How could one resist that cute, innocent face? “All right…”
“Yes!” Delyse pumped the air with her fist, then ran to her brother, dropped next to him on the armchair, forcing him to move over and make space for her narrow hips, and circled his neck with her arms. She pressed one quick, noisy kiss to his cheek. He laughed and one of his hands went around her waist.
“So, what do you say, Max?”
Max looked at Miss Delacroix’s smile, then at the two siblings. They were so much alike. The same eyes, the same blond hair, the same energy and passion well-balanced by keen intelligence and a drop of innocence. No, no one could resist them.
“I’ll help you.”
CHAPTER FIVE
The Mating Ritual
Avelyn stepped on the front porch of the Crescent Wing and thanked Max for holding the door for her. The wind played with her long curls, whipping them around her head and shoulders. A chill ran down her spine and raised goosebumps on her bare arms, but it wasn’t because of the cool night. Actually, it was rather warm, a sign that summer was finally taking over the Black Forest Mountains. She felt Max’s hand covering hers, and she entwined her fingers with his. She looked up at him, and he smiled reassuringly. She tried to smile back, but gave up when she realized it would probably look like more of a grimace. She faced the front courtyard again and took a deep breath before taking the first step. They climbed down the stone steps together, hand in hand. The green eyes watching them glowed eerily in the joyful flames of the bonfire.
The werewolves were silent. They were all in their human forms, dressed casually, most of them barefoot. Jocelyn was standing on the right side of the bonfire, with Ryan close behind her. The Moon Children had claimed that side as their own, and Avelyn spotted Val among them, her long hair moving freely in the wind. Kevin was standing on the left side of the courtyard, flanked by Caleb and Daniel, who had taken a break from their investigation to attend the Thunder Moon party. Christine and Rosanna were right next to the two Deltas.
Avelyn took another deep breath, aware that if she didn’t control it, she’d soon start hyperventilating. All eyes were on her, and she was so scared she’d screw everything up. Max squeezed her hand, and she was grateful he was there, by her side. He had been there in the past week, calming her down every time she freaked out and started crying because she didn’t feel any change after Dr. Stevens injected her with the cure. Her body hadn’t reacted to it in any way. Now, as she was making her way to the middle of the courtyard, feeling the Crescents and the Moon Children closing the circle behind her and Max, her heart was beating the dreadful rhythm of fear and despair. What if it didn’t work? They were half an hour before midnight, the moment of truth. The full moon was up in the sky, dominating the Schloss and the woods around it. Avelyn didn’t dare look up to face it. They stopped a few steps away from the bonfire, and Max turned towards her, taking both her hands into his own. She looked into his green eyes and felt a bit of courage making its way through her veins when she saw the love and kindness there. She felt the scorching heat of the fire on her skin and a tiny drop of sweat that trickled down the nape of her neck.
“Avelyn, here we are. Finally. I’ve been waiting for this moment since the day I met you.” Max’s voice was low, warm, yet clear and determined. “When I saw you in the garden at Alma Venus, book in hand, basking in the sunlight with your eyes closed and a serene smile on your lips, I knew you were my mate. I knew you were the only one for me, the woman I had been dreaming of my whole life. I couldn’t believe I found you. You were there, just a few steps away, yet so far, so unreachable. In this confusing world we live in, where men like me take what they want and women are taught to never say ‘no’, you made me fight for you, Avelyn, and for that I’m grateful.”
She smiled at him and tried to blink the tears away. She had been such an emotional wreck all month, and she would have really loved to be able to control herself at least now. It was useless. A tear ran down her cheek and stopped on her jaw, dangling there for a few moments before throwing itself on her chest. What Max was doing was only the introduction. She knew what followed next: his vows. He had insisted to have the mating ritual before midnight, so they would be united forever when Avelyn’s fate was decided by the full moon. Whether she turned or not, she’d be his wife, and he’d be her husband. She swallowed heavily, bracing herself for his next words. Her stomach contracted in fear when the fleeting thought that she might forget her own vows when the time came crossed her mind.
“I promise to encourage your compassion, because that is what makes you unique and wonderful. I promise to nurture your dreams, because through them your soul shines. I promise to help shoulder our challenges, for there is nothing we cannot face if we stand together. I, Maxwell Blackmane, take you, my darling Avelyn, to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward. I promise to be true to you, to love and cherish you until death do us part.”
A deep sigh came from the audience, a moment of relaxation right before the next few minutes of tension that would accompany her own vows. “Oh, God, here goes,” she thought. Her hands trembled in his.
“I looked up to the sky, stole the pale moonlight, and trapped it inside my ribcage.
I knew that was the soul.
I looked upon the horizon, stole the shimmering skyline, and trapped it in my eyes.
I knew that was light.
I wandered through the darkest woods, stole the trill of a nightingale, and trapped it between my lips.
I knew that was prayer.
I dove to the bottom of the ocean, stole a trembling wave, and engrafted it on my chest in the shape of my collarbone.
I knew that was adventure.
I bathed in the cold beads of a waterfall, stole the velvet of the water, and smoothed it over my body in the shape of my skin.
I knew that was lust.
I looked upon you and I forgot about soul, light, prayer, adventure, lust…
I gave them all away in exchange for your company.
I created Heaven of soul, light, and prayer.
Only to destroy it.
I created Hell of adventure and lust.
Only to drown it in tears of longing.
I created the world from what was left of my body so I could offer it to you,
Because I looked upon you, and I knew it was love.”
“That was amazing,” Max mouthed. “You’re so wonderful. Thank you.”
Applause started to rise here and there, only to be shushed by Christine before they became too loud. The ri
tual wasn’t over yet. They could all worship Avelyn’s poetic talents later. The old she-wolf stepped closer and stopped by their side. She extended her arms as to embrace them both.
“Crescents and Moon Children… and Dark Wolves who never leave that London of yours…” Someone chuckled then coughed to cover their amusement. In fact, Christine’s voice had a tinge of sadness when she named the missing pack. “We have gathered here to witness the union of two souls who have found each other. Maxwell and Avelyn have spoken their vows and promised to love, honor, and worship each other for the rest of their long, long lives.”
She made a dramatic pause, closed her eyes for a moment, tilted her head towards the sky. The wind played in her long, white hair, her palms turned to face the stars, and silence fell over the entire castle. Not even the leaves dared whisper a sound. It was like the trees stood still and the forest froze in its own darkness, waiting for the elder’s words to bring it back to life. Avelyn felt tiny thrills crawling under her skin, tickling her very core with the fear of the unexpected, the excitement of the unknown. Something had changed in the air. She could feel it, smell it, taste it… And she knew what it was. She could almost name it. Almost. It was there, on the tip of her tongue, hanging off the edge of a thought. Magic. It was the pure, crisp, frightening spark of magic. The elder opened her eyes and, for a fraction of a second, the full moon shined brighter.
“May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
May the rain fall soft upon your fields.
May you see your children’s children,
May you be poor in misfortune, and rich in blessings,
May you know nothing but happiness from this day forward.”
The elder’s eyes fell on Max and Avelyn’s joined hands, and the old, bony palms came down to touch the tops of their heads. She whispered a few more words that no one understood, her hands tenderly caressed Avelyn’s red locks and Max’s dark hair, only to fall on their shoulders and gently push the two newly wed towards each other.