Chapter 87 Ancient Rights
LIRA POV
I couldn't sleep.Dawn was three hours away, and I sat in Darion's tent, staring at my hands. They still trembled from holding moonfire for so long.
The warrior I'd killed haunted me, his screams echoed in my memory.
"You did what you had to." Kael's voice came from the tent entrance.
"Did I?" I didn't look up. "Or did I lose control and murder someone?"
"He was trying to kill you." He entered, sitting beside me. "That's not murder. That's survival."
"Tell that to his family." I finally met his eyes. "Tell them their father, brother, son died because I couldn't control my power."
"I'll tell them he died following an illegal order from a corrupt alpha." Kael's voice was firm. "That his death is on Eldric's hands, not yours."
I wanted to believe him, I wanted to shift the guilt onto someone else. But the moonfire had responded to my rage, my fear. My desire to hurt.
That made it mine.
"You need rest." Kael touched my shoulder gently. "Dawn comes quickly."
"I can't rest." I stood, pacing. "Not when Eldric's planning something. Darion's right—he accepted too easily."
"Maybe he's overconfident." Kael suggested. "Thinks he can beat you."
"No." I shook my head. "Eldric's smart and caculting, he saw the moonfire, saw the rogue warriors, and still accepted. He has something planned."
"Then we'll be ready for it." He caught my hand, stopping my pacing. "Whatever trick he tries, we'll counter."
"We?" I raised an eyebrow. "This is my challenge, Kael. You can't interfere."
"I know." His jaw clenched. "But I can prepare you, train you. Help you think through the possibilities."
"I've been training for three days straight." I pulled away. "I'm as ready as I'll ever be."
"Are you?" He challenged. "Because you've learned offense. Power. But have you prepared for what happens if he fights dirty?"
I hadn't. I'd been so focused on controlling moonfire, on shadow-walking, on becoming stronger. But Eldric wouldn't fight fair, he had proven that by planning to poison me.
"What do you think he'll try?" I asked.
"Poison is still possible." Kael moved to the tent's table, spreading out weapons. "Silver dust in the fighting ring, berserker herbs in your water. He would do anything to destabilize you."
"I won't drink anything." I joined him. "Won't touch anything he provides."
"Good." He pointed to a silver dagger. "What about silver weapons? They're technically illegal in challenge combat, but Eldric might hide one."
"My moonfire should counter silver." I picked up the dagger, flames instinctively coating my hand. The silver sizzled but didn't burn me. "See? Moonblood resistance."
"Good." He set down a spiked gauntlet. "What if he goes for your eyes? Your throat? Pressure points that drop you fast?"
"Then I burn him before he gets close." I demonstrated, moonfire creating a barrier around my body.
"That requires constant focus." Kael observed. "Can you maintain that for an entire fight?"
Honestly? I didn't know.
"I'll have to." I extinguished the flames. "What other tricks might he use?"
"Psychological warfare." Kael's voice turned grim. "He'll try to destabilize you emotionally, make you lose control."
"How?" I asked, though part of me already knew.
"By bringing up your past, your time in the cellar, your failures." He met my eyes. "By talking about me, about what we did to you."
My stomach clenched. "He wouldn't"
"He absolutely would." Kael interrupted. "Eldric knows your weaknesses, he would exploit every one."
"Then I won't listen." I turned away. "I'll focus on the fight, not his words."
"Easier said than done." He moved behind me. "Practice. I'll say things designed to hurt you but you try to maintain control."
"Kael" I started to protest.
"You need this." His voice was gentle but firm. "If I can't break you, Eldric won't be able to either."
I took a breath, summoning moonfire. "Fine. Do your worst."
"You were always worthless." His voice changed, becoming cold. "A broken toy I kept because I pitied you."
The words stung, but I'd heard worse but the flames stayed stable.
"I fucked Mira because you disgusted me." He continued. "Weak, timid, pathetic. She was everything you weren't."
Anger flared, the moonfire flickered but held.
"Your mother died ashamed of you." His voice turned cruel. "Knowing her daughter would amount to nothing. A failure of a Moonblood."
That one hit harder as my flames surged dangerously.
"Control." Kael coached. "Breathe through it, his words can't hurt you unless you let them."
I focused on my breathing, pulling the moonfire back under control.
"Killing that warrior today?" Kael pressed. "That's just the beginning. You'll kill more. Innocent wolves who are just following orders, their blood will stain your hands forever."
The guilt threatened to overwhelm me. But I pushed it down, channeling it into cold determination. The flames stabilized, burning steady and controlled.
"Good." Kael's voice returned to normal. "That's exactly what you need to do tomorrow."
"That was horrible." I extinguished the moonfire, turning to face him. "I know you didn't mean any of it, but still."
"I know." He pulled me into his arms. "I hated every word. But you need to be prepared for worse."
I let myself lean into him for a moment. Drew strength from his presence.
Then pulled away. "What else?"
"Eldric will try to separate you from your wolf." Kael continued the lesson. "Force a shift when you're not ready, or prevent you from shifting at all."
"How do I counter that?" I asked.
"By maintaining constant harmony with Selwyn." He tapped my chest. "She needs to be ready to emerge at any moment, but also content to stay dormant if needed."
"Selwyn?" I called internally.
"I'm here." Her voice was calm. "And I'm ready. Whatever he tries, we face it together."
"Good." I refocused on Kael. "What else?"
We spent the next two hours running through scenarios. Poison counters, dirty fighting techniques, psychological defenses. By the time Aria entered with food, I felt more prepared.
But also more terrified.
"You need to eat." Aria set down a tray. "And drink. You're dehydrated."
"I don't trust anything from pack territory." I eyed the food suspiciously.
"It's from Darion's supplies." She assured me. "I watched it prepared myself no one else touched it."
I ate mechanically it tasting nothing, the food sat heavy in my stomach.
"Lira." Aria sat across from me. "I need to tell you something about the challenge."
Her tone made me pause. "What?"