Chapter 26 Continuation
The pain grew worse. Mara wanted to die. Wanted it to stop.
But then she heard voices. Memories.
Zevran's voice. "I love you."
Riven's voice. "I am proud of who you have become."
Isla's voice. "You are braver than I ever was."
The Moon Goddess's voice. "Trust yourself."
Mara focused on those voices. On the love they represented. On the light inside her heart that would never die.
The pain began to fade. The shadow and light stopped fighting.
They merged.
When the transformation was complete, Mara stood on four legs. Her fur was no longer flickering. It was stable. White with black streaks. Like moonlight cutting through shadow.
"There," Theron said with satisfaction. "Now you are balanced. Light and dark working together instead of fighting."
Mara looked at her new form. It was beautiful in a strange way. Powerful.
"How do you feel?" Theron asked.
"Different. Stronger. But also scared."
"Good. Fear keeps you humble. Pride leads to corruption." Theron walked around her, examining her from all angles. "You have potential. Raw, untrained potential. We will spend the next few days shaping it. Teaching you to use both powers without losing yourself."
"What if I fail?"
"Then everyone you love will die. And you will become a monster." Theron smiled. "But I have faith you will not fail. Now, shall we begin the real training?"
"That was not the real training?"
"That was just accepting the power. Now I teach you to use it." Theron raised his hands. Golden light formed between his fingers. "Attack me with everything you have. Do not hold back."
"But you are a ghost. How can I hurt you?"
"You cannot. That is the point. You need to learn your limits. Your weaknesses. And the only way to do that is through combat." The golden light grew brighter. "Now attack! Or I will attack you first!"
Mara lunged forward, jaws snapping.
Theron moved like water. He dodged easily and struck her side with golden light.
Mara flew backward, crashing into a stone pillar.
"Too slow!" Theron called. "Use the shadow! Let it make you faster!"
Mara stood up, shaking. She reached for the shadow power inside her.
It responded eagerly. Too eagerly. She felt it trying to consume her light.
"No! Control it!" Theron appeared beside her and struck her again. "Shadow is a tool! Not a master!"
Mara focused. She pulled on just a little bit of shadow. Just enough to make her faster.
She attacked again. This time, she was quick enough to actually reach Theron.
But her jaws passed right through his ghostly body.
"Better! But you still cannot hurt me!" Theron laughed. "Again! Keep trying!"
For hours, they fought. Mara attacked. Theron dodged and countered. Again and again.
Each time, Mara learned something new. How to move faster with shadow. How to see better in darkness. How to sense other creatures near her.
But she also learned the shadow's hunger. Every time she used it, it whispered to her.
More. Use more. Take more. Consume everything.
"Do not listen to it!" Theron barked. "The shadow always lies! It promises power but delivers slavery!"
"It is so hard to ignore!"
"Of course it is hard! Nothing worth doing is easy!" Theron struck her again. "Now get up! We are not done yet!"
The sun was setting when Theron finally called a halt.
"Enough for today. You did well. Better than I expected."
Mara transformed back to human form. She collapsed on the ground, gasping. Every muscle hurt. Every bone ached.
"Tomorrow we will work on your light powers," Theron said. "You have been neglecting them. Focusing too much on the new shadow. Bad idea. You need both equally strong."
"Can we not rest for one day?"
"No. The Shadow King is coming. You have maybe five days before he arrives. That means five days of training. No breaks. No rest. Just work."
"I will die from exhaustion before the Shadow King even gets here."
"Then at least you will die in better shape." Theron started to fade. "Sleep here tonight. I will create a protective barrier. Nothing can harm you inside it. Tomorrow at dawn, we start again."
He vanished completely.
Mara lay on the cold ground, staring at the stars. Her body hurt. Her soul hurt. Everything hurt.
But she was still alive. Still fighting.
A shadow moved at the edge of her vision. Mara tensed, ready to fight.
But it was only Zevran. He walked into the stone circle, carrying food and blankets.
"I thought you might need these," he said quietly.
"Theron said no one should disturb me."
"Theron is not here. And I am your husband. I go where you go." Zevran sat down beside her. "How was training?"
"Brutal. Painful. Terrible."
"Want to talk about it?"
"Not really."
They sat in silence for a moment. The bond between them was still there but it felt strained. Hurt.
"I am sorry," Mara said finally. "For making the deal without asking you first. You were right. We are partners. I should have included you."
"I am sorry too. For getting angry. For not trusting that you knew what you were doing." Zevran took her hand. "I was just scared. Scared of losing you."
"You will not lose me. I promise."
"You cannot promise that. Not with Shadow Wolves hunting you. Not with Morgana's deal hanging over us." Zevran's voice cracked. "What if you become like them? What if the shadow takes you away from me?"
"Then you will bring me back. Like I brought you back from the curse." Mara squeezed his hand. "We save each other. That is what we do."
Zevran pulled her close. They lay together on the hard ground, holding each other.
"I love you," he whispered.
"I love you too. Always."
Mara closed her eyes, feeling safe in his arms. The shadow whispered at the edges of her mind but she ignored it.
She would not let it take her. Would not let it win.
She was Mara. The Moon Wolf. And she was stronger than any darkness.
But as she drifted off to sleep, she did not see the figure watching from the forest.
Morgana stood in the shadows, smiling.
"Enjoy your peace while it lasts, Moon Wolf," she whispered. "Soon I will collect my payment. And when I do, you will wish Ravak had killed you."
She vanished like smoke on the wind.