Chapter 10 NINE
\[NYRA'S POV\]
The creature's hollow eyes are locked on mine.
In my entire life I've never seen a creature that leaves me so shaken. It feels like its hollow eyes are luring me into a pit from which I'll never leave.
It's pale.
Not the vampire pale like Valrik. More of a ghostly type of pale with prominent bones around its neck and hands. It practically looks like a skeleton that's been donated some pieces of skin to cover up.
I quickly look away, returning my gaze to Riven. “What does it want?"
“Don't look at it," he warns, arms pulling me closer. “It's going to feed on your magic. You don't know how to control your powers yet so you are at a disadvantage."
" Riven,” I hear Kade's voice before I spot him. He approaches us, a worried look on his face. Lucien trails behind him, looking like he'll rather be anywhere else than here.
“He doesn't feel her yet because her magic hasn't fully surfaced. But he'll definitely sense the mark if he gets closer.” Riven says.
Kade shakes his head. " We can't have that shopping. Take her to the arctic,” he says, turning to Lucien who stares at him blankly, not making any attempts to move.
" Now, Lucien!” Riven barks. Lucien sighs, reaches over and grabs my hands, pulling me along with him without so much as a word.
We get to what I assume is the artic. He pushes the door open and pushes me inside before stepping in. The place looks rather organized, unlike the dusty, cobweb filled artic back at Moonshadow pack.
My gaze meets Lucien's and it's blank. Not challenging like Kade's or filled with lust and desire or with restraint like Riven, just blank.
I don't think I've ever seen him portray any emotion aside from boredom. He always looks like the world as a whole is a bore to him.
I look around the room taking note of the things I see there. It's more like a storeroom, with barrels and containers and bottles filled with several unidentified liquids.
“You’re only gonna get hurt, you know “
His voice is so soft I almost think I imagined it. Lucien doesn’t look at me when he says it. He's staring at one of the shelves like it suddenly became the most fascinating thing in the world.
I blink. “What do you mean?”
He exhales through his nose, long and quiet. “All of this.” He gestures vaguely; maybe at the attic, maybe at the danger downstairs, maybe at me, I don't know. “You’re not prepared for any of it.”
I fold my arms. “That’s why you’re supposed to help train me, right? You are my mates for a reason.”
That finally gets his attention. His eyes slice toward mine—cold, metallic, unreadable. “Training doesn’t stop people from dying, Nyra. It just delays it. And us being your mates only adds to the danger.”
His words sting, sharper than a slap. “Wow. What an inspirational speech you got there.”
He doesn’t smile. He never does. “You asked.”
I’m about to snap something back, but a violent tremor shakes the ceiling. Dust sprinkles down like gray snow.
Lucien stiffens. “It’s closer.”
My chest tightens. “I thought Riven said it couldn’t sense me.”
“It can’t.” He closes the distance between us in two steps, his energy wrapping around me like a cold wind. “But Riven can only hold it off for so long. It came here for something and it's not leaving without it.”
“Then why are we here?” I demand. “Why aren’t we helping them?”
Lucien’s jaw ticks.
That’s the closest thing to emotion I’ve ever seen on his face. “Because if you step foot outside that door, the Dark Alpha will feel the pull of the mate bond. If he senses you, it’s over. For your mates. For this pack. For you.”
My mouth goes dry.
I'm confused how the Dark Alpha would sense me when his minion can't, but I can't find it in me to ask.
A crash echoes from downstairs, louder this time and I flinch instinctively. Lucien grabs my wrist, steadying me.
His touch is ice. And yet, I don’t pull away.
“You’re shaking,” he murmurs.
“I’m not scared.”
His gaze drops to my hands, trembling slightly. “Your body disagrees.”
Another crash.
A roar that doesn’t sound like anything from this world follows, rattling the glass vials on the shelves.
I swallow hard. “Riven and Kade are down there. They’re fighting that thing because of me.”
“Not because of you,” Lucien corrects. “Because you’re theirs.”
Something flickers in his eyes. Regret. Pain. Something he smothers instantly.
“You hate this,” I whisper. “You hate that I’m your mate.
You won't even acknowledge it.”
He stares at me like I’ve peeled back a layer he thought was impenetrable.
Then he steps back.
“I don’t hate you, Nyra.” His voice is low. “I hate that the prophecy chose you. I hate that you had to be mated to a monster like me. ”
My breath stutters. “The prophecy… about the Luna heir?”
“No.” His eyes gleam, deeper, darker. “The prophecy about the only wolf who can destroy the Dark Alpha, or become the reason he wins. If he gets his hands on you, he's going to Synchof your powers and use them to activate the Lunar Crystal
”
Before I can ask him what the hell that means, something hits the attic door hard enough to knock dust from the hinges.
Lucien moves in front of me instantly, shielding me with his body.
His hands glow—icy blue, then white.
“Stay behind me,” he whispers.
But a strange heat rushes through my veins, burning hotter with every heartbeat. My vision sharpens. My hearing explodes outward. My muscles coil tight like they want…
No.
Like they need to shift.
Lucien feels it before I say a word. His head snaps back toward me, eyes widening for the first time ever.
“Nyra,” he breathes. “Your magic…it’s surfacing.”
Another blow to the door.
BANG.
BANG.
The creature outside screeches, a void-like howl that rattles my bones.
Lucien’s glowing hands flicker. “Don’t shift. You can’t control it yet…”
But it’s too late.
Lyric howls inside my head demanding to be let out. She's feral this time and it's taking all of my efforts to reign her in.
“Let me out, Nyra."
I shake my head. I can't, not now.
But I don't have any control over it. The power explodes inside me like a star being born.
My knees hit the floor.
My vision blurs.
My skin feels too tight. My bones stretch. Bend. Break. Re-form.
This is not my first shift but it feels like it. Painful as fuck.
Lucien curses under his breath, reaching for me…but a surge of energy blasts him backward, sending him crashing into a shelf.
Bottles shatter.
The door cracks under another hit. The creature screeches louder this time.
I scream…but it comes out as something else.
Something primal, something wild.
Something unlike I've ever felt before.
As my hands change to furs, a voice sounds in my head…ancient, powerful.
“The awakening of the Lunar Heir!"