“It seems Laura has obtained a wolf endowed by the Goddess of Night,” Josie elucidates. “The implications of this remain unclear. What we do know is that Ricky is an exceptional variant of human, as her wolf can only thrive within a vessel such as hers.”
Tiana gasps audibly. “Ricky acquired a wolf?”
“Indeed,” I murmur, the witch taunting me with her irritating laughter.
“Indeed, you have much to elucidate, Tal,” Tiana chuckles. “You shall not evade my enquiries so effortlessly. Furthermore… Blessed by the Goddess Night… Hmmm…” she muses contemplatively. “The initial thought that arises is Letum.”
“Letum?” I enquire, my mind teetering on the brink of implosion due to fear. “What is Letum?”
Tiana takes a moment to compose herself before answering. “Letum humans are humans whose blood has been enchanted by faes and is deadly to vampires,” Tiana begins, her voice very animated. “It is believed a Fae once had a human lover and cast a spell on their human partner so that any vampire who dared to drink their blood and harm them would die a slow and painful death. For centuries, this Fae spell has passed on through a human bloodline known as the Letum Bloodline. Vampires who drink from a Letum human go insane before dying. The blood itself is impossible to detect as it looks, tastes and smells just like human normal blood, but since it’s magic, there’s no way to break the enchantment and there’s no known way to cure Letum in vampires.”
“Do you believe I am one of those accursed individuals with lethal blood?” I enquire, suddenly experiencing a sense of claustrophobia.
“It is not a curse, Tal,” Tiana laughs. “If anything, it is a blessing. Indeed, it is genuinely a relief. I entrusted you to Josie’s protection due to a vampire threat, and now you are safeguarded from vampires?! It feels like a miracle!”
“Was there a vampire threat in Liberty Bay?” I enquire, teetering on the brink of unconsciousness as my foolish wolf mocks me.
“The threat has been neutralized,” Tiana states. “There is no cause for concern now. You and Bray are permitted to return to Liberty Bay if you wish. I am presently engaged in another mission and have received confirmation that you will be safe upon your return. You may come home.”
I glance at Jadi, whose expression is grave despite his attempt to mask it with a faint smile. River Moon is presumably the first environment where he has experienced safety and belonging. He receives respect from all the wolves here and has formed friendships with several guards during training. River Moon embodies a sense of home for him, and he represents my home. How can I now request that he depart?
“You are more than welcome to remain,” Josie’s voice echoes in my mind. “You need not depart. We can accommodate a few peculiar wolves.”
I am reluctant to respond as I have not yet conferred with Jadi, but Josie alleviates my apprehensions.
“You need not respond immediately,” she states. “Simply contemplate it.”
I nod and the Queen thanks Guinevere for her help and almost hangs up when Valentina, the Queen’s aunt interrupts.
“Does being a Letum human confer any unique abilities upon either of them?” she enquires, indicating Bray and myself. “I seek to comprehend the precise implications of the Moon Goddess’s assertion that your wolf is blessed and can only be bestowed upon a human such as yourself. Have you or Braylon exhibited any signs of a gift? Any unusual capabilities you suspect you may possess?” Valentina queries, observing the boy and me intently.
“Letum humans are fundamentally similar to other humans, distinguished only by their enchanted blood,” Tiana elucidates. “However, according to the Moon Goddess’s pronouncements, this may not apply to Letum wolves, about which I regrettably possess scant knowledge. Locating Letum humans is exceedingly difficult, and even more so to find those who have undergone transformation. The majority of Letum humans are unaware of their own identity as Letum.”
“Ms. Ricky,” Patrick enquires. “Did you experience any changes upon acquiring your wolf? Have you observed anything unusual?”
I shake my head at the Alpha. “Not exactly. My senses have intensified, and I can perceive Devina in my mind.”
“Has she spoken to you yet?” Josie enquires.
“No,” I reiterate, shaking my head. “She merely… purrs,” I admit bashfully, evading Jadi’s amused stare.
“I understand,” Josie chuckles. “And Bray?”
“Bray?”
“Indeed,” the Queen affirms. “Have you observed anything unusual regarding Bray? Anything that might vaguely resemble a gift?”
“Not that I can contemplate-”
Jadi abruptly grips my hand to gain my attention, prompting me to observe him fixated on the puppy engaging with his stuffed wolf.
“Dr-dreams,” he murmurs to me softly. “K-Bray and his dr-dreams.”
Nina
For several days, I have experienced a persistent, soft whine and whimpering in my mind, which is becoming increasingly maddening. Each night, my wolf mournfully calls for her mate, expressing her anguish and sorrow until the early hours of dawn. Confined to a motel room has exacerbated my descent into introspection, leaving me feeling suffocated by my own thoughts.
I am exceedingly fatigued by this.
My sole aspiration has been to exist independently of my sister’s influence, to lead a life where I may radiate with equal brilliance. However, I continue to falter. No individual seems to regard my current circumstances, not even my husband. I question whether he has even acknowledged my absence.
