by Jan Delima
KOKO (AD 1868–AD 1946)
Luc’s deceased wife and mate of choice; her works of art are displayed throughout Rhuddin Hall.
LLARA
One of four leaders who occupy the territories of Russia; views the Original Guardians with disdain.
LUC (AD 342–)
Youngest brother of Dylan and Elen; son of Merin; husband of the late Koko; banished at birth by his mother for being born in wolf form; raised by Dylan; known as the Beast of Merin.
LYDIA
Daughter of Enid; sister of Sulwen; works in the kitchen of Rhuddin Hall; cannot transform into a wolf.
THE MABINOGION
Also referred to as The Mabinogi; a collection of Celtic folklore from medieval Welsh manuscripts, including The White Book of Rhydderch and The Red Book of Hergest. The first translation of The Mabinogion into English was by Lady Charlotte Guest in the mid-nineteenth century.
MADOC
Leader of the mountain regions of Montana; captained the ship that brought Luc, Elen and Dylan to the New World; views the Original Guardians with disdain.
MADRON
An Original Guardian killed by Taliesin; had a sexual preference for preadolescent girls. His death was witnessed by Elen and Leri as children; at the time of Madron’s death, Leri was his current victim.
MAELORWEN
A witch who lived in the hills when Dylan and Elen were children; taught Elen the medicinal uses of plants; the first Guardian descendant born without the ability to shift; tortured by the Guardians; currently resides with Rosa in the White Mountains territory of New Hampshire.
MALSUM
Second in command under Luc in Dylan’s guard.
MATH
An Original Guardian; leader of the White Mountains territory of New Hampshire; husband of Rosa; loyal to the Council of Ceridwen.
MATTHEW
See Taliesin.
MELISSA
Daughter of Taran; niece of Cormack and Siân; four years old.
MERIN
An Original Guardian; mother of Dylan, Elen and Luc; resides in Wales as a member of the Council of Ceridwen.
NIA
Leader of the northern New York territory; views the Original Guardians with disdain.
PENTEULU; HEAD OF FAMILY
Leader of a territory; alpha wolf.
PORTER (AD 1682–)
Head of home security of Rhuddin Hall of the Katahdin territory; has a tattoo of a Celtic cross in honor of his Irish mother; cannot transform into a wolf.
RHUDDIN; HEART OF TIMBER
The name Dylan chose for his territory, located around Katahdin, the highest mountain peak in Maine; the northern end of the Appalachian Trail.
RHUN
An Original Guardian.
ROSA ALBAN (AD 1702–)
Wife of Math; leader of the White Mountains territory of New Hampshire; the last unmated female shifter.
SERPENT OF CERNUNNOS
A flexible sword in the shape of Cernunnos’s horned snake, forged in the Otherworld as a gift for Taliesin. The wearer of the Serpent is given a heightened perception of their surroundings and a connection to beings of the Otherworld.
SIN
Dylan’s ex-lover; eldest sister of Taran and Cormack; threatened a pregnant Sophie in the woods the night Sophie left Dylan; the woman who gave Sophie her scars.
SIN
See Taliesin.
SOPHIE (AD 1975–)
Wife and mate of Dylan; mother of Joshua; daughter of Francine; the first human to give birth to a shifter in over 300 years; her aging process has slowed since carrying Dylan’s child.
SULWEN
Daughter of Enid; sister of Lydia; works in the kitchen of Rhuddin Hall; cannot transform into a wolf.
TALIESIN; "SIN" (42 BC–)
Son of Ceridwen; possesses powers of transformation and prophecy; uses the current alias Matthew Ayres; Sophie’s former employer. Taliesin spent much of the medieval ages intoxicated; therefore, it was during this time that many stories of his antics were documented by humans. Though the Original Guardians were assigned by his birth mother as protectors, Taliesin views most of them with disdain.
TARAN
Sister of Siân and Cormack; mother of Melissa; a valued member of Dylan’s guard.