SERENITY

Darkness.

There was only darkness when I opened my eyes. I pulled myself from Mason’s body as a chill shook through me. It wasn’t normal for me to feel such extreme temperatures. I frowned and looked down at the table, where a thin area of frost lay. I dipped my fingertip in it and squished the ice between my fingertips.

It melted against my skin immediately.

When I turned around, Mason was still sleeping. A smile crossed his perfect lips as he turned away from me and into the couch.

I shivered again and realized I’d need to light a fire if I had any chance of getting the chill out of my bones. Besides, I didn’t want Mason waking up cold.

Did immortals like him, ones with mixed blood, even get cold?

So many questions still bounced around in my head. Mainly, I wondered if he would take his place as king, as the Alpha.

And the other part.

Where I was involved.

My parents.

All of it.

I tried to think of my earliest memory, but it had always been my mother’s face as she wept with joy over her new baby.

I’d felt such elation that I’d caused her so much happiness that all I felt was contentment in her arms.

I quickly shook the thought away and added a few stacks of dry firewood, some newspaper, and then lit.

The flare erupted in my face. I jumped back as one flame narrowly missed my cheek and then swirled in front of me again like a whip, out to lash my body with its rage.

I scooted back farther.

The flame only followed.

Until my back was against the couch.

The fire stretched to my face and touched my cheek with a fiery singe. I couldn’t look away as the flames danced before me; they shifted into wolves around a campfire, howling at the moon in celebration. Tears stung my eyes as a tall hooded figure approached followed by another and another.

Twelve stood tall with the wolves.

The wolves stared right back in their true form, their eyes piercing through the darkness as the hooded figures lowered.

I gasped at their jet-black hair and clear blue eyes. They were beautiful, too beautiful to be real. I blinked again as they held their heads high, watching, waiting.

“This…” One of the wolves stepped forward and transformed back into a naked man. “…this is not your realm.”

“No…” The voice was musical, yet strong. “…it is not.”

The wolf glared. “Then why are you here?”

“What will you do, protector? Kick us out?”

He fisted his hands and waited, his jaw tightening as the wind blew some of his hair across his dirty forehead. He was massive, at least seven feet tall, not someone I would want to fight.

“No. We do not kick out friends, no matter how unwelcome they may be at midnight.”

The man’s lips twitched.

The wolf sighed. “Well, get on with it Danu. What is it that you need?”

The woman at the man’s side stepped forward. “We come to give a warning.”

“Lovely.” The wolf hung his head. “And what would that be?”

Danu hung her head. “I was bribed. His beauty was unlike anything—”

“That is enough, sister!” the man yelled. “Tell them what you have done.”

She lifted her head. “I have birthed a babe.”

The wolf let out a gruff howl. “The Creator will punish you.”

“The Creator,” Danu spat, “already has.” She shook her head. “The babe will not stay with me. She will spend her time here, on this realm. One day her blood will run in your kin’s veins. I ask only this. Protect her. Protect her from the one who might steal her away. A favor is still owed. He will ask it of you.”

The wolf hesitated then spoke. “Who has the babe?”

“She’s being shielded under the vampire king’s watch. He is to keep her safe in this life. And your son…” She choked out the words. “…your son will do the rest. She knows nothing of her power, of her abilities. She knows nothing of our world, and because of my sin, she will know only loneliness in yours… until him.”

“They must mate…” The wolf said it with a shake of his voice. “…musn’t they?”

“He will be her protector, and she will be his serenity.” Danu’s voice cracked. “Vow this to me, wolf! Vow it!”

The Alpha walked over to the flames and held his hand high. Danu followed and pressed a hand across his forearm, and as both of their joined hands hit the first flame, it wrapped around their arms like an embrace, searing the blood oath into their skin. “What is meant for evil will be good,” they said in unison.

“Thank you.” A single tear slipped off Danu’s face, extinguishing the fire.

“Anything… for the goddess of the earth.”

The dirt then strained to touch her legs as she walked back toward the group; it swirled around her, beckoned her, wanted nothing but more of the goddess as she stopped and looked up to the sky and whispered. “Guard her well, my Creator. Guard her well.”

A star twinkled and then fell from the sky.

“The Creator’s promise,” the Alpha whispered.

“He is fair.” Danu nodded. “He is good.”

They retreated into the forest and with a flash of light disappeared. I watched the smoke until my eyes hurt then sleepily rubbed them and collapsed back against the couch.