Chapter 50 Ready For Survival
ARYA
I arched into him, water streaming over us as pleasure built. His mouth was doing sinful things, and when his hand slid between my thighs, I gasped.
“Always so responsive,” he murmured against my skin. “Always so wet for me.”
“Only for you.”
“Damn right, only for me.” He slid two fingers inside me, curling them expertly. “No one else gets to see you like this. No one else gets to touch you, taste you, hear those pretty sounds you make.”
“Luca, please—”
“Please what? What do you need, little wolf?”
“You. Inside me. Now.”
He lifted me effortlessly, my legs wrapping around his waist as he positioned himself at my entrance. The first thrust was deep, claiming, and we both groaned.
“Mine,” he growled, setting a brutal pace. “Say it.”
“Yours,” I gasped. “All yours.”
“Forever.”
“Forever.”
He fucked me against the shower wall with an intensity that bordered on desperate. Like he was trying to merge us into one being, to make separation impossible.
When we came, it was together, our bond singing with shared pleasure so intense it was almost painful.
We stayed there, pressed together, breathing hard, neither willing to let go.
“Three days,” he finally said. “Three days until the full moon. Until you face the dark magic.”
“Three days to prepare.”
“Three days to train you, protect you, and try not to lose my mind with worry.” He kissed my forehead. “I’m going to be insufferable.”
“I’m counting on it.”
\-----
After the shower, we dressed and headed down to dinner. The atmosphere in the dining room was tense. Everyone knew about the dark magic now.
Bardon sat at the head of the table, ancient texts spread before him. Sage and Ryker were in deep conversation with Caspian about security measures. Even the staff seemed subdued.
“Luna Arya,” Bardon greeted as we entered. “I’m glad you’re here. We need to discuss the cleansing ritual.”
We all settled around the table as food was served, but no one seemed particularly hungry.
“The dark magic at the Moonborne lands is older than I initially thought,” Bardon began, pulling up one of the texts. “It dates back to before the massacre. Someone in your family line was practicing blood magic.”
“That’s impossible,” I protested. “Moonbornes were known for their light magic, their healing abilities—”
“Most were. But every family has its shadows.” He showed me an illustration of a Moonborne with dark eyes and twisted features. “Your great-great-uncle, Mordecai Moonborne. He was obsessed with immortality, with power beyond what the bloodline naturally provided. He began experimenting with blood sacrifice.”
My stomach turned. “What happened to him?”
“Your great-great-grandmother, the ruling Moonborne at the time, tried to stop him. They fought. The battle destroyed half the Moonborne city.” Bardon’s expression was grim. “She won, but barely. Mordecai was killed, but his blood magic remained, seeping into the land itself.”
“So for centuries, my family’s land has been cursed by one of my own ancestors?”
“Essentially, yes. And it’s been growing stronger, feeding off the violence and death that occurred during the massacre.” He closed the book. “The good news is that Moonborne magic created the curse, so Moonborne magic can break it. The bad news is that it will require significant power and will be extremely dangerous.”
“Define dangerous,” Luca demanded.
“The dark magic will fight back. It will try to corrupt Arya, to turn her power against her. It will show her visions, play on her fears, attempt to break her mentally before destroying her physically.” Bardon looked at me seriously. “You’ll need to be absolutely centered, completely sure of who you are and what you’re fighting for. Any doubt, any weakness, and it will exploit it.”
“I can do it.”
“I know you can. But preparation is key.” He pulled out another book. “For the next three days, we’ll work on mental fortifications, shielding techniques, and channeling large amounts of power without burning yourself out.”
“I’ll help,” Sage interjected. “Combat training will continue. If the magic fights back physically, you need to be able to defend yourself.”
“And I’ll be researching protective wards,” Caspian added. “Anything that might give you an edge.”
“I’m coming with you,” Luca stated flatly. It wasn’t a request.
“Of course you are,” I agreed. “I’ll need your strength. The ritual requires a power source, and a Lycan King bonded to a Moonborne should provide that.”
“Plus I’m not letting you anywhere near dark magic without me.” His hand found mine under the table, gripping tightly. “Non-negotiable.”
“I wasn’t going to argue.”
“Good. Because I had a whole speech prepared about how you’re stuck with me for better or worse, and worse includes cursed ancestral lands.”
Despite the tension, I smiled. “I love you.”
“I love you too. Even when you make terrible decisions like volunteering to fight ancient blood curses.”
“Someone has to do it.”
“Why does that someone always have to be you?”
“Because I’m the Moonborne heir. It’s literally my job description.”
“Your job description needs updating. Add ‘drive mate insane with worry’ to the list.”
Sage laughed. “I like you two. You’re weird, but in a good way.”
“We’re bonded mates facing an apocalyptic summit while fighting dark magic and a coalition of extremists,” I said dryly. “Weird is relative.”
“Fair point.” She raised her glass. “To weird. May it keep us alive.”
“To weird,” we all echoed.
As dinner continued, the conversation shifted to strategy and preparation. But underneath it all, I felt the weight of what was coming.
Three days to prepare for something that could kill me.
Three days before I’d face my family’s darkest legacy.
Three days to make sure I was strong enough to survive.