Chapter 44 The New Queen

Chapter 44 The New Queen
Luna POV

I couldn't look at Ethan. I could not see what he had turned into. In his face I could see the hunger. I could make the First look back at me. I could watch my husband fading away into something. His amber-colored eyes were turning green. His appearance was no longer that of a werewolf. He had become something primeval and strong and fearsome.

"Why would you do that?" I asked him. Why should you renounce all this? My voice was breaking. All I was inside me was breaking.

"Because I love you," Ethan said. His voice was so sad. You could hear how sad it was even as he was changing. I would rather be the Queen of the First than not live, said.

At least now, I cannot even be near you, I said. "I can feel them. I can feel the hunger. You're going to hurt someone. You're going to hurt me." I had known it would be good as I said it.

"Never," Ethan said. At first his form was becoming more solid. Light was emanating through his body. I will dedicate the remaining part of my life to ensuring that I do not hurt you. I will be applying my authority to save humanity. To protect the world above. To ensure that the First are in peace.

The Queen no longer touched Ethan on the shoulder. Good, small one, you have done well, you have done well, said the old woman. "You have saved my people. And you have rescued the world above. But the price..." She trailed off.

Well, the cost is that I will no longer be human, stated Ethan. The cost to me is that I am no longer anything I used to be. But it was worth it. Because she gets to live."

I wanted to scream. I wanted to tear my hair out. I wished to turn back in time and persuade him against doing this. But I couldn't. Because he'd already done it. He'd already transformed. He had already made a sacrifice on the shrine of love.

Aurora assisted the Queen on her feet. The Queen was already getting back on her feet. Change as she knew it was due was no longer in her as she was replaced by Ethan. He had shared the responsibility of bearing the First. He had become the anchor.

"You should go," Ethan said to me. His voice was thickening out. His eyes were gleaming with First light. You ought to go back to the world up above. You should live your life. You ought to make the future we wished to have.

"I can't," I said. "I can't just leave you here." I was making my way to him, but was arrested by Aurora with amazing force.

"You have to," Ethan said. Because stay with me, and I shall harm you. Since hunger is not going to leave altogether. Since I will always be part predator, and you will always be prey. Due to the fact that, at some point, I might not be strong enough to resist the drive to eat.

"I don't care," I said. "I don't care what you are. I love you." I was fighting to get free of the grip of Aurora, but she would not release me.

Ethan was becoming less human with each look at me. Then give glory to that love by living, he said. Live the life that we both have dreamed. Have children. Build the bakery. Make the peace we struggled to get. Do everything on our behalf, that I can no longer do it.

I felt the First inside him. I felt them taking over. I saw Ethan drifting away still more as the First consciousness filled his body.

"Will I ever see you again?" I asked. Will you ever be able to speak to me?

"Perhaps," Ethan said. This was something that was happening to his voice. It was something that resembled the voice of the Queen combined with his own. It was beautiful and dreadful at the same time. "But you must go now. Before I change completely. Prior to hunger consuming it entirely. And lose myself before I lose myself completely.

Aurora was kind and she guided me back to the Underground City. I didn't resist. I couldn't resist. I wanted to remain there, and I knew I wanted to remain there, yet I knew I had to go. And all I could do was nothing to save him. I could not do anything to revive him.

It was early in the morning when we came to the surface. A new world was rising in the sun. A world that Ethan was no longer a human. A world where I was alone.